Shirley Wight Graham, age 87, passed away peacefully at Rocky Mountain Care in Riverton, Utah, on October 9, 2021. Shirley was born on March 9, 1934, to her loving parents, Ephraim Emery and Lucille Lillywhite Wight in Brigham City, Utah. She was the ninth of nine children.
Shirley had a passion for teaching. She started out at Brigham Young University to become an elementary education teacher but then soon discovered a love for sewing and cooking. She transferred to Utah State University to finish her degree in Secondary Education teaching Home Economics. Her first job was at Montpelier High School in Montpelier, Idaho. She taught there for three years and then transferred to teach at Granger High School in Salt Lake City, Utah.
While going to school at Utah State University, Shirley got a job working at the school cafeteria. There she developed her love of cooking and serving others. Some of the highlights she had were being able to serve at various banquets with dignitaries including; Ezra Taft Benson and David O. McKay.
While living in Salt Lake City, Shirley was in a ward that had over 100 young men and young women her age. There she was involved in planning many activities and participating in others, including pitching on the ward softball team and playing center for the ward basketball team. It was at these activities she got to know a handsome man by the name of Grant Graham. She knew by the end of their first date she wanted to marry him. She was sealed to the love of her life, Grant Elwood Graham, on February 2, 1962, in the Salt Lake Temple. Together they welcomed five children into their family.
Shirley’s love for baking never stopped. Grant and Shirley moved to Milburn, Utah, to take over the Graham family farm. Later Shirley began working at a local bakery in Mt. Pleasant to help make ends meet. There she was able to experiment on new recipes and develop her skills as a baker. During a family reunion her brother-in-law suggested that Shirley and Grant open up their own bakery. Soon after Shirley and Grant opened a small doughnut shop in Grandview, Washington, called “Mom’s Pastry Palace”. Wherever Shirley moved she became part of the community.
After all of her children left home and moved to Utah, Grant and Shirley moved to West Jordan and built a lovely new home. Shirley was able to spend her time as a mom and a grandma watching her family grow. She used her sewing skills to make or crochet a baby blanket for each of her grandchildren. She grew a large garden during the summer then canned and shared her harvest in the fall. She loved creating things and used her talents to make many homemade gifts for her family.
From an early age Shirley was quite the sports fanatic competing in Softball, Volleyball and Basketball. She had the opportunity to represent Utah State University on the Women’s intramural Basketball team to play against BYU and the University of Utah. The love of sports carried on to her children and grandchildren where she loved watching them compete in football, volleyball, tennis, basketball, swimming, softball, baseball, and track and field.
Shirley was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served faithfully in many capacities including Young Women’s Presidencies in the ward and stake, Primary, and Relief Society President. Shirley is a kind and faithful woman who loved her children and grandchildren. She is a woman who could take whatever she had and make enough for everyone.
She is survived by her children: Russell (Lorie) Graham, Susan Barfuss, Jill Graham, Carol Perry, Brad (Jenny) Graham; 21 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, her sisters-in-law: Darlene Graham and Mary Jo Wight and a large extended family. Shirley is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Grant Graham, who passed away January 7, 2017, her parents, and all of her siblings- sisters: Muriel Nicholas, Marie Matthews, Janice Nicholas, Beth Crook, Kathryn Allsop, and Lola Richards; and brothers: Leland Emery Wight and Jerald Ross Wight.
Friends may call on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at the Broomhead Funeral Home located at 12600 South 2200 West, Riverton, Utah, and prior to the funeral on Thursday, October 14, from 8:45 to 9:45 am. The funeral will be held at the Riverton 10th Ward LDS Chapel at 10:00 am located at 12830 South 2700 West, Riverton, Utah. Interment will be in the Fairview City Cemetery at 2:00 pm. Funeral services will also be held on Zoom. https://zoom.us/j/93659950734
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