Claudette Smith Keisner

Claudette Smith Keisner, 84, passed away January 1, 2025, at West Jordan, Utah. She was born June 10, 1940, in Long Beach, California to Robert Lee Smith and Hazel Jean Robinson and named after her mom's favorite 1930s and 1940s movie actress Claudette Colbert.

She married Darrell Allen Keisner on March 11, 1966, in the Los Angeles Temple in Santa Monica, California.

Claudette was raised in Torrence and Redondo Beach, graduating from Redondo Union High School in 1958.

She was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on July 24, 1954.

Claudette was called to serve a stake mission for the Church in the Terrance Stake and later called to serve a full-time mission starting April 1963 in the Southern States Mission.

After returning from her mission, she met and later married Darrell Keisner and settled in Alhambra, California. Claudette was called to serve another stake mission in the East Los Angeles Stake.

She gave birth to a daughter, Sheri Lynn Keisner, on November 1, 1969, and then a son, Derek Eugene Keisner, on February 22, 1973. Both children were born in San Gabriel, California.

Claudette lived in Alhambra for over 25 years, serving in the Church as a teacher, Primary President, Ward Relief Society President, Stake Relief Society Counselor, and back to Ward Relief Society President. She always gained life-long friendships with those with whom she served. Claudette was a real workhorse in the Church, never asking others to do something she wouldn't do first -- a true leader.

She moved to St. George, Utah in 2003. She was always serving others and trying to make others happy.

Some fun information about Claudette:

She lived her life actively loving and serving family and Heavenly Father's children and trying to follow Jesus.

Her earliest ambitions were to be a member of Jesus's Church and serve Heavenly Father's children.

Being with her family and friends and serving in the Church made her happy.

Her proudest family moments were seeing her daughter go on a mission for the Church and her son become an Eagle Scout.

Her proudest career accomplishments were working with school children with handicaps.

She hopes that others learned how to love, how to serve, and how to forgive others from her.

Special callings she held included Ward Relief Society President, Stake Relief Society Counselor, Primary President, and teacher.

Her favorite song was "Little Purple Pansies", and her favorite color was pink.

She enjoyed puzzles, travel to Israel and New Zealand, and organizing things.

The thing she loves most is her family, and she would like to be remembered as a good friend.

She is survived by her husband, Darrell Keisner, West Jordan, Utah; daughter, Sheri Keisner, Mesa, Arizona; son, Derek Keisner, Chatsworth, California; granddaughter, Aybuke Keisner, West Jordan, Utah; sister, Patricia Winnie, Roy, Utah, and sister, Reni Curtis, Tucson, Arizona.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Hazel Jean Taylor, her father, Charles F. Taylor, brother Robert Gene Smith, sister Carol Ann Hutchinson, sister Linda Lee Smith, and brother Jimmie Lee Smith.

There will be a viewing on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at 10-10:45 AM.  The funeral will follow at 11:00 AM, and both will be held at McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 South Redwood Road, Taylorsville.

 To view the Funeral Services remotely, please click on this link. https://vimeo.com/event/4830234