Mace Dana Pratt Jacobson

1958 - 2018

Mace Dana Pratt Jacobson

St. George - Mace Dana Pratt Jacobson, born March 16, 1958, fought cancer like a pro for several years. On March 23, 2018, she may have lost the battle, but she took the cancer down with her. Viva la resistance!

She lamented the fact that, once a person reaches 60 years old, death doesn't seem to be as tragic than if they were in their 50s. With that in mind, she was 59 years and 372 days old when she passed.

Mace was the youngest of three daughters born to Dana and Angie Pratt. With her oldest sister, Ann Durfey, and her next-oldest sister, Marcia Cooper, being 16 and eight years older than she was, respectively, Mace spent much of her younger years in Hinckley, Utah, utilizing her imagination as her best friend. This love of make-believe translated into a talent for theater arts later in life.

She excelled in drama at Dixie High School and later at then-Dixie College, Southern Utah University, and Utah State University, where she participated in repertory theater. She was even named Best Actress in the State of Utah in 1976.

It was through these theater programs at Dixie College she met a handsome young actor named Matt Jacobson. The two fell in love and wed in the St. George LDS Temple on March 14, 1980.

Mace and Matt created four arguably amazing children: Matthew James, Taylor Pratt, Laura Linsday and Colin Peter.

Mace spent many years caring for Colin, who was born with one of the most severe cases of autism a person can be diagnosed with. As Colin grew and was able to begin attending school, Mace began pursuing her own dream of educating others.

She began teaching general education at Benjamin Franklin Academy, and later at Millennial Quest Academy, both in northern Utah. Using her unique experiences with her son Colin, Mace was able to bring an empathetic touch to her teaching. She became a champion for students who had been dealt not-so-stellar hands and made it her goal to help them achieve success. With this goal in mind, she found her way back to Dixie State College, where she began working in the registrar's office, helping students get on the path to success.

It was during this time that Matt Sr., who had a myriad of health issues, passed away after a bout with MRSA that left him unable to continue fighting off his illnesses.

Following the death of her true love, Mace doubled down on helping students succeed. She returned to school to earn her bachelor's degree in organizational leadership. She took a job at the TRIO program at Dixie State College, where she began advising at-risk, non-traditional and returning students and helping them earn degrees.

She, along with Ernie Doose and Cindy Stay, was integral in the creation of the Roene B. DiFiore Center for Arts and Education, an artistic hub that was founded to bring art, music, dance and literature to students through the legacy of Dixie College's Roene DiFiore - the larger-than-life impresario of Program Bureau. PB, as it was lovingly referred to, eventually evolved into Dixie State University's show choir, Ragin' Red.

She may have been dedicated to student success and the arts, but Mace's No. 1 priority was always her family.

She loved to spend every possible moment she could with her children and grandchildren. Her very existence revolved around spending time together as a family.

In her final years, that's exactly what she did thanks in part to generous donations from friends, family and strangers, who helped Mace; Matt Jr. and his husband Rustum; Taylor, his wife Kelli, their children Addi, Payson, Charli, Dashton and Rogan; and Laura, her husband Matt, and their children Marshal and Parker, cross a few items off Mace's bucket list together. Colin, whose condition and need for constant care, wasn't able to join the family in the weeks of travel. However, he was able to come visit Mace several months before she was immobilized.

Mace may be gone from this world, but the light she shone will likely never dim as long as we have reminders of her contagiously warm personality. We'll always think of her and her love of old movies whenever we turn on TCM. Whenever we see a unique piece of art or jewelry, we will remember mom and her love of collecting visually stunning works. And every time we see a dachshund hound, we'll remember her fondness for weenie dogs.

Her legacy will live on through a memorial TRIO scholarship, which will be available to returning, non-traditional students who submit an essay spotlighting the hardships they've overcome and the goals they want to achieve at DSU, and also through the DiFiore Center, which will continue bringing arts and education to students and community thanks to her efforts. ??

She's survived by her children and their families and her sisters and their families. Preceding her in death are her mom, Angie, and her dad, Dana. And after 10 years of being apart, she'll be joining her hubby Matt Sr. for what we assume is going to be the best reparatory theater productions heaven has ever seen.

Could there be a Best Actor in Heaven award on the horizon?

A viewing will be from 9 - 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 27, with a short service at 11 a.m. (per Mace's request), both at Spislbury Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff St., St. George. Interment will follow directly afterward in the Pine Valley Cemetery. An open-house celebration of life will be Wednesday, March 28, from 5 - 7 p.m. at the Roene B. DiFiore Center for Arts and Education, 307 N. Main St., St. George. The celebration of life will be strictly casual: Gathering. Talking. Music. Come with a heart full of joy and a few stories to share about Mace.

Per Mace's adamant wishes, DO NOT PURCHASE FLOWERS! Mace wants any money you'd spend on something that's going to last a week to be donated instead to the DiFiore Center, www.difiorecenter.org, where it will be put to good use bringing the arts to students in southern Utah.

We love you, you "weenie dog's left hind leg!"