Lynn Langer Meeks

Lynn Langer Meeks died peacefully and painlessly on Oct. 14, 2006 of pancreatic cancer after dealing with her disease in a wise, witty and inspiring way for 17 months. Full of faith and fortitude, she supported her friends and family through some very hard times and some very, very good times. Born June 4, 1946, to Bud and Bunny Meeks in Jerome, Idaho, she graduated from Jerome High School in 1964, took her B.A. at the College of Idaho in 1968, her M.A. in English literature from Arizona State in 1977, and, while working full-time as a teacher, she completed her Ph.D. in English from Arizona State in 1985. She taught high school for many years in Scottsdale, Ariz. In 1985 she joined the English faculty at Utah State. In 1988 she became the Language Arts Consultant for the State of Idaho. In 1994, upon marrying Norm Jones, she returned to USU where she became a Full Professor of English, Director of Writing, and the Director of the Utah Writing Project. Lynn loved students, and she loved to teach. She believed that every student could learn to write, and she demonstrated it in her teaching and her scholarship. A foe of grammar sheriffs everywhere, she insisted, as she titled one of her books, that we should teach the way students learn. In 1990 she met Norm Jones, her soul mate. They married in 1994 and had twelve fabulous years together. A great learner herself, she had many passions. Reading, clothing design, antique jewelry, travel, ballet, opera, horses, skiing, scuba diving, bridge, cats, and a dachshund named Zoe were among them, but most of all she loved her husband, Norm, and her nieces Leah and Jenna. A proud Idahoan, she was always involved with the family ranch and her nieces´ 4-H projects. Her ranching experiences were the source for hilarious stories, published and unpublished, and a well-aimed kick from "Spot the Maimer," gave a beautiful set of new teeth. Her deep, calm Christian faith kept her stable through her challenges. Lynn and her family would like to thank Ali Ben-Jacob and his wonderful staff at the Cache Valley Cancer Center, Mark Ott, Scott Cunningham, and the kind and supportive nursing staff at the Logan Regional Hospital who helped us through these months with skill and great humanity. We especially thank Morgan Carlson for his help. We deeply appreciate the loving ministry of Rev. Ruth Eller of St. John´s Episcopal Church and all of our friends there, Lynn´s English Department colleagues who stepped in to help, and the way Lynn´s Utah Writing Project friends supported her. She is survived by her husband, Norm Jones, her mother Bunny, her sister Janet Meeks, her brother Jim Meeks, and her nieces Jenna Meeks and Leah Meeks. She leaves a posterity of great teachers who benefitted from her instruction and example. Most of all, she leaves a legacy of love. Her funeral will be held on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2006 at 2 p.m. at St. John´s Episcopal Church in Logan. Gifts in lieu of flowers may be made to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network ( www.Pancan.org ), the American Cancer Society, or the USU English Department. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenmortuaries.net