Brett A Blackburn

Aurora, Utah - Brett Blackburn, age 71, passed away on April 13, 2026 after a two year battle with pancreatic cancer, surrounded by a loving family and a multitude of devoted friends.

Brett was born on February 16th 1955 in Cedar City, Utah to Lester Paul and Betty Joy Blackburn. He was the third of six children, growing up in a close-knit, rural family alongside his siblings Terry, Don, Paula, Scott, and Penny.

As the son of a Utah Highway Patrolman, Brett’s childhood was a tour of Southern Utah. Following his father’s badge, the family lived in Cedar City, Monticello, Kanab, Orderville, Hidden Lake, Hurricane, and Toquerville. He learned the value of hard work early on between helping Lester tan hides, cut wood, and dig fences to picking fruit for pocket money in the local orchards. He was a cowboy at heart, and his passion for life reflected in his pursuits that he maintained throughout every stage of his life.

Brett graduated from Hurricane High School in 1973 and later earned his Auto Body certifications from Utah Technical College. Some years later he purchased a shop in Aurora and maintained his business, A & R Auto Body, for 43 years. On November 19th 1988, he married his partner in life, Stacee Marie Roberts, in Redmond Utah.

For nearly 40 years, Brett’s life followed the rhythm of the mountain. He built deep, lasting friendships along those trails, and it was in those high peaks that he felt most connected to God. Every May and October, he was out herding cows; a commitment so deep that he famously missed Mother’s Day and Stacee’s birthday every year to be in the saddle. He shared his love for the wild with his children by taking them out to chase bear and mountain lion every year in season, and in the process passed on his deep affection for his hound dogs.

While he was a man of the land, Brett was also a lifelong learner with a deep love for reading. He was a father who took great pride in sharing his knowledge of history and so much more with his children and grandchildren. If a friend stopped by to visit at the shop, they were liable to get an education on the latest subject he had dived into.

He was a world-class teaser with a wit as quick as a cutting horse; if you didn’t have a nickname, he probably hadn’t met you yet. While the world knew his grit, his children and grandchildren will always remember the time spent with him in the body shop, where he’d dance along to 70’s rock on the radio. Some of their most cherished memories were built in that shop, where his children grew up by his side learning the trade of auto body and the value of a job well done. Through every season of his life, Brett remained a man of faith with a strong belief in Jesus.

Special thanks to Kristin Gurney and At Home Health for their compassionate service through this difficult transition.

Brett is survived by his wife, Stacee Blackburn (Aurora); his children: Chris Blackburn (Redmond), Destiny (Eric) (Salina), Jason (Katia) Blackburn (Salina), Kindsey (Jed) Woolsey (Bicknell), and Wyatt (Vyv) Blackburn (Aurora).

His legacy continues through his grandchildren: Shyanne (Marcus) Fielding, Boe (Alex), Janessa Blackburn, Jagan Blackburn, Lily Blackburn, Shaina Blackburn, Shamea Blackburn, Tazley Woolsey, EmberLee Woolsey, McKenley Woolsey, and Tillman Woolsey; and his great-grandchildren: Payzlee and Kreed. He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Betty Joy, and his twin boys, Brett and Bryce.

A Celebration of Life for Brett will be held at 1:00 P.M. on May 16th, 2026 at the Aurora LDS Church, 85 North Main Street, Aurora.

Cremation services are under the care of Springer Turner Funeral Homes of Richfield and Salina, Utah.