Shirley Richards Garrett

1934 ~ 2011
Each life that touches
ours for good
Our loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away surrounded by her family in American Fork, Utah on December 20, 2011. Born at home in American Fork on March 17, 1934, to Dr. Guy Smith Richards and Roxie Cornell Adams, she was the fifth of six children.
Shirley was educated in American Fork graduating in 1952, where she was the student body vice president. As a young girl Shirley showed musical talent playing the violin, French horn, and piano with perfect pitch and excelling in the high school marching band and orchestra. She continued at the University of Utah in the marching band.
On Valentine's Day her childhood sweetheart, Lewis Garrett, proposed, and they were married September 16, 1953, in the Salt Lake Temple. They traveled the world together while Lewis was a pilot in the US Air Force and a Tenor with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
Shirley was a wonderful cook publishing her own cookbook which her family cherishes.
She lived a life of service to her community, church and family holding many church positions including; Relief Society President, Primary President, seminary teacher, church service missionary, and a temple worker at the Provo and the Mount Timpanogos Temples.
Shirley was instrumental in opening the Heritage Care Center and was involved in many aspects of the building conversion from the old American Fork Hospital to a skilled nursing facility in 1984. With Lewis as the administrator Shirley worked as the activities director and became the facility administrator a year later. She held the position for 12 years. Shirley had a talent for helping people, especially the elderly. She was very proud that all of her children hold responsible positions in the health care field.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Joseph James Richards and Dr. Guy Adams Richards; and two sons who died in infancy, Ronald Eugene Garrett and Isaac Richards Garrett. Survived by her husband, Lewis Eugene Garrett, children; Lewis Richards Garrett (Kathy Spruce Garrett), Laurel Ann Fraser (Steven Rex Fraser), Larry Curtis Garrett (Deborah Lee Garrett), Layne Matthew Garrett (Kimberlee Bennett Garrett); fifteen grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren and sisters; Mildred Dyer, Lucille Garrett, and Donna Nielsen.
Funeral Services will be held Friday December 23, 2011, at 11:00 AM in the Highland 7th Ward, 5212 West Country Club Drive. Friends may call at Anderson & Sons Mortuary, 49 East 100 North, American Fork on Thursday December 22, 2011, from 6:00-8:00 PM and Friday at the church from 9:45-10:45 AM prior to the services. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.andersonmortuary.com.
Interment in American Fork City Cemetery.