Thelma Colene Oviatt

Our kind, sweet mom, grandma, great-grandma and friend passed away peacefully on the afternoon of March 27, 2024.

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Mom was born November 16, 1933, in Hill Spring, Alberta, Canada to Archibald Reece and Anne Elizabeth Allred. She was the eldest of five siblings, three sisters and one brother. She grew up on a farm in the small town of Hill Spring and would often tell us about the “adventures” of

farm life. She was forever grateful for indoor plumbing after having grown up needing to trek outside, in the snow, to the outhouse. Mom lived in Hill Spring until the age of 18 when her parents decided to emigrate to the United States and move the family to Provo, Utah in 1952.

In our mom’s early teen years her mother discovered that her three oldest daughters loved to sing and that they blended and harmonized beautifully. They soon found themselves singing together often at local community and church events. They continued to sing together until the death of her younger sister, LaVon. Memories of her and her sisters singing Your Cheatin’ Heart, Mr. Sandman and Sentimental Me will live on forever.

She married Lester C. Oviatt, from Hartley, Alberta, Canada on September 1, 1954 in the Salt Lake Temple shortly after he returned from his mission to the British Isles. They then settled down in Provo, Utah while our dad continued his education at Brigham Young University. Both

mom and dad became U.S. citizens in 1961. They were blessed with five children: Carol Lee, Michael McKay, Lisa Anne, Marilyn Kay and Anthony Reece. Together they raised their children while living in Utah, Northern California, Southern California, a few years in Dayton, Ohio and then back to Utah where they remained until our dad’s passing on March 29, 2007.

A few years after our dad passed away, mom became reacquainted with a high school beau who had also recently become widowed, Jack Folsom. The two were able to rekindle their romance and were married in April 2010. They split their time living between Utah and Canada

until Jack’s passing in 2012.

Mom was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She willingly served in various callings throughout her life with her favorite being Primary Chorister and Choir Director. She had a talent for drawing music out of almost anyone. Mom loved to sing and could often be found quietly directing any song that she was listening to or humming to herself. She had a strong and unwavering testimony of the gospel and a deep love for her Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ.

Mom was an amazing person, an excellent cook, homemaker, seamstress, and homemade chocolate maker. She could sit for hours working on counted cross stitch patterns. Many of her finished products are proudly on display in the homes of her children, family and friends. She

was known for her sense of humor, bubbly and sometimes feisty personality and fiery red hair. She had a way of making everyone she met feel loved. Her health started to decline in the last couple of years which required a move from her home in Draper, Utah to an assisted living

facility in Kaysville, Utah. She felt deeply the loss of leaving her friends at the Ivy Place in Draper. As her eyesight began to fail, her wonderful friends at the Ivy Place would spend hours reading to her. As a family we are so very grateful to all of them for loving our mom and taking such good care of her. She considered you family, and you will always have a special place in our hearts. Our family would like to express our gratitude to the wonderful staff at Whisper Cove Assisted Living for taking such good care of our mom during her stay there.

Mom is survived by children: Carol Peak of Carlsbad, CA, Michael (Sheralyn) of Providence, UT, Lisa (Steve) Madsen of Saratoga Springs, UT, Marilyn (Kent) Jacobsen of Washington, UT and Tony (Jami) of Kaysville, UT, 19 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, brother McKay and sister

Lori. She is preceded in death by her parents, husbands Lester and Jack, sisters JoAnne Dowdle and LaVon Hatfield, grandson Michael Lee Oviatt, and great-granddaughter Ruby Lee Ramos.

A viewing will be held on Friday, April 19, 2024 from 10:00 am to 11 am with a graveside immediately after at 11 am at Larkin Sunset Gardens (1950 E. 10600 S., Sandy, Utah). Interment at Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery.

To watch the service via zoom, please click on the tab above that says “Watch Service” or follow this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81942916695