Every week, the Legacy team reads thousands of obituaries. Some are especially lovingly written to be so much more than just an announcement: They’re beautiful life stories, a unique celebration of a unique person. On this page, we collect some of the most thoughtfully told life stories from Ogden, Utah, that families have recently shared.
‘He rode roller coasters with his grandchildren’
“Johnny E. Stevens, 79, passed away on May 16, 2020 at Davis Hospital in Layton of natural causes…. He loved car shows, traveling, seeing new things. He went to the Statue of Liberty, top of the Empire State Building, the glass bridge at Grand Canyon, hot air ballooning in New Mexico; walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, and rode roller coasters with his children and grandchildren. Johnny looked forward to Sunday and coffee with his friends.” (Read Johnny’s full obituary.)
‘She watched at least 10,000 eruptions’
“Dee was born in Tooele, Utah on December 15, 1933…. She was raised on a farm and her favorite childhood memories were of her pet black lamb that she fed with a bottle and a brown and white tom cat that she used to dress up and push in her buggy…. Dee worked several years at the Old Faithful Post Office before taking on a job at the Visitor Center Bookstore…. As a result of working all day within view of the famous geyser, she probably watched more eruptions during her lifetime (at least 10,000) than any other person. Dee always stopped whatever she was doing to watch it…. She was the only mom in the trailer court at Old Faithful to take us and our friends to the Firehole River to go swimming.” (Read Dee’s full obituary.)
‘You would catch her singing and dancing’
“Geraldine loved color, from flowers to jewelry. She also loved music and especially loved to sing and dance. You could tell when she was happy because you would catch her singing and dancing her way through the house or wherever she was…. She had a beautiful smile that made her eyes sparkle and a magical laugh. Kind words and hugs were her currency with her children and grandchildren. She promoted kindness and cheered for others to succeed.” (Read Geraldine’s full obituary.)
‘Even in death, his heart lives on’
“Mark Allen Lund, age 40, passed away May 14, 2020 from a massive brain aneurysm…. Mark was currently serving as bishop of the Three Mile Creek Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. His life ended in a moment of service, while he was wearing a clown wig and delivering ice cream to the youth and children in his neighborhood. Mark’s heart only grew in service to his ward flock, and he particularly loved the youth. A bigger heart could not be found. Because of Mark’s brain aneurysm, he was able to be an organ donor. The doctors at the University of Utah Hospital were able to successfully retrieve his heart, both lungs, both kidneys, and liver successfully for transplant. Even in death, his heart lives on.” (Read Mark’s full obituary.)
‘At 101 she still enjoyed getting her nails done’
“As a military couple, Lucille and Bob lived in Oregon, Alaska, Ohio, Guam, Michigan, and retired in Clearfield in 1965. She and Bob owned a small airplane and would fly around with the Aero Club to different cities for Sunday breakfast…. Lucille had a classy style and took pride in her appearance; at 101 years old she still enjoyed getting her hair and nails done regularly.” (Read Lucille’s full obituary.)
‘Sunsets reminded him of his Mom’
“Eric loved spoiling his family with gifts. He always made a point to give flowers and write a sentimental card for every occasion. He took those opportunities to express each and every emotion. Writing was his outlet and he wrote beautifully…. He called life the way it was and there was no sugar-coating it. That was just the way he rolled…. He was especially fond of sunsets because they reminded him of his Mom. He loved watching comedies, but baseball movies were his favorite. ‘The Natural’ was his all-time favorite movie and he cried every time he watched it. (Read Eric’s full obituary.)
‘She was a car hop at the Pink Bunny drive-in’
“Joanne May Holbrook Niederhauser, age 80, returned home to her Heavenly Father on May 14th, 2020…. Joanne graduated from Davis High School in 1957. She was so fond of ‘dear old Davis High School’ that her children all heard this song as their lullaby song when they were children. She met Karren Niederhauser while she was a car hop at the ‘Pink Bunny’ drive-in during her high school years. They were married in 1959 in the Salt Lake Temple.” (Read Joanne’s full obituary.)
‘If he could keep her laughing, she would never leave’
“Kip contracted polio at the age of two and lost the use of his left leg and had only partial use of his right. But Kip was a fighter and attempted all the things his childhood friends did while using leg braces and canes…. Kip and Joni were married in June of 2002 and had 18 years together. He said if he could keep her laughing, she would never leave him, and he was right!” (Read Kip’s full obituary.)
Resources for writing good obituaries:
Guide to Writing an Obituary
How to Write Your Own Obituary
