Jerilyn Hessing

Jerilyn Lee Searle Hessing, 75, of South Jordan passed away January 22, 2026 at home. Jeri was born September 10, 1950 in Salt Lake City. She was the third of four children born to Allen Watkins and Helen Jane Smith Searle.

She attended grade school and started junior high school in Salt Lake City. Due to her father's work, her family moved many times as she was growing up. Her family moved to Seattle, Washington in 1963 where she continued junior high school. Next they moved to Spokane, Washington in 1965 where she started high school. Then in 1966 they moved to Boise, Idaho. These were difficult moves for her family. While they lived in Boise she met Lyle Hessing. They dated during their last two years of high school graduating in 1968. They then both went to BYU. While he served a mission to Chile, she continued studying at BYU. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education in 1972, and on March 31, 1972 married Lyle B. Hessing in the Salt Lake Temple for all eternity. She taught kindergarten for many years after her children were raised; spending many of those years at Jordan Hills Elementary in West Jordan. She was a skilled and beloved educator.

She enjoyed tole painting, sewing, quilting, cross stitching, and crocheting. She won several awards at the Utah State Fair for her work. She enjoyed family history and spent many hours searching all types of records to find her ancestors and many more hours at the temple doing work for those she found. She served others her entire life. She had an unshakable testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. She knew her Savior, and his plan for us. She held many callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, teaching and leading music with the children and young women. She was president of the ward Relief Society, a visiting teacher, and taught the Relief Society class at different times.

She is the mother of four children. She loves them with all her heart and soul. She was a fierce defender of them, and her grandchildren. She loved them and supported them in all they did. If they had a game, concert, recital, or any other activity, she was there.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Helen; father, Allen; brother, Michael; sister, Lori; and son-in-law, Ryan. Survivors include her husband of 53 years Lyle; sister Patricia Gillespie; her four children and their spouses, Cindi (Michael), Jennifer (Nathan), Christopher (Kim), Brian (Alisha), and ten grandchildren, Michael, Ali, and Mandi Bradshaw; Kole and Paisley Epperson; Emilia Hessing; Azia, Aniston, Jaxon, and Nixon Hessing.

Her funeral service will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building, 2556 West 9800 South, South Jordan, Utah, on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. A viewing will be held 10:30-11:30 AM, with the funeral service to follow at noon. She will be buried at the South Jordan City Cemetery after the service.

We would like to thank Dignity Hospice, Drea, Andi, and Amanda, for the gentle, loving care they gave to Jeri during her final days.