Gladys Mae Dodgen Mayfield

Gladys Mae Dodgen Mayfield, 73, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully on August 27, 2012, surrounded by her family. She died of complications of pulmonary fibrosis and pneumonia. She was born in Miami, Arizona, on September 28, 1938, to Bee Leslie and Ethel Mae Collins Dodgen. Gladys was raised in Manassa, Colorado, and graduated high school at the age of 17. She set out on a new journey, moving to live with her older brother in Washington, where she found a better job that allowed her to send money home to her struggling family. She saved her money, and went to attend Brigham Young University, where she met a handsome returned missionary, James Dean Mayfield. Jim asked her to homecoming, and there began a relationship that lasted 53 years, until her passing. Jim and Gladys were married December 18, 1959 in the Salt Lake Temple. Gladys did many things in her life, including working for Davis County as the purchasing manager for many years. She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many different callings throughout her life. "Served" is an appropriate word for Gladys, as she was a stellar example of service to others. She went hungry many times in her younger years, so she always made sure that no one ever left her house hungry. Jim and Gladys served several missions, including one to the Washington, D.C., Temple and also one to Switzerland, where they worked with the young students of the LDS Institute. In December 2010 Gladys was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, and was forced to relocate to Washington, Utah, where she proceeded to make even more new friends. She never met a stranger. Everyone was immediately her friend. She is preceded in death by her father and mother; a sister, Carol; and a brother, Amos. She is survived by her husband, James; her children: Debra Bowman (Ron); Natalie Draney (Jeff); Doug Mayfield (Heidi); Sandra Winchester (Paul); Brenda Wendt (Scott); and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all of whom had a special place in her heart. She is also survived by her sisters, Helen Hawkins, Betty Miller, Dorene Regnell, and her brother, Don Dodgen. A viewing will be held at the Kaysville 17th Ward Chapel, 875 East 200 North, Kaysville, on Tuesday, September 4, 2012 from 6-8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, September 5, 2012. Friends may also call at the chapel from 9-10:30 before the funeral services. Interment will be in the Kaysville City Cemetery. Dearly loved, precious to all, she will be missed. Please send us your condolences and a memory at www.leavittsmortuary.com