Lorna Wilcox

1929 - 2025

Lorna Rae Keele Wilcox, 96, was born on August 13th, 1929 in a little log home in Independence, Madison County, Idaho. She was the second of five children born to Henry Jefferson Keele and Ida Margaret Hansen Keele.

She attended elementary school in Independence. It was the same school her mother had attended. She attended Rigby High School for one year and graduated from Madison High School in Rexburg.

After high school she started working at the Thornton Mercantile. She loved working with people. One day she met a nice young man named LeRoy Wilcox, whose family was building a potato warehouse across the street. They started dating were eventually married on August 9th, 1949 in the Idaho Falls Temple.

They rented a small 2 room house in Thornton which had been converted from a barn (a real barndominium). The next spring, Roy's family rented a farm in the Archer area so they moved to a house on the farm. While they lived in Archer, their 3 children, Linda, Richard, and Garth, were born. After Roy lost his right arm in a farming accident, they bought a house in Rexburg, while Roy attended Ricks College.

Their next move was to St. Anthony where they rented a farm. In 1960, they were able to buy their own farm with a house in the Thornton area. Lorna worked right alongside Roy on the farm and the kids were taught how to work from an early age.

After all the kids were in school, Lorna decided to attend beauty school in Idaho Falls. She spent a couple of winters commuting to school, where she graduated and received her cosmetology license. She worked for another beautician for a while until the house was remodeled to accommodate a beauty shop in her home. She had many loyal clients who would visit her weekly to do their hair.

As the family was growing up, they enjoyed many good times together, working, camping, fishing, waterskiing, snow skiing, and playing cards. They also took some family trips together to California, the Dakotas, Washington State, and Canada.

Lorna was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She held many callings in the Relief Society, the Young Women's program, Sunday School, and Primary. She was very interested in genealogy and family history. She compiled many volumes of the history of her ancestors. She also spent many hours in the Family History Center working on genealogy. Lorna and Roy served a mission in the Wisconsin Milwaukee Mission from 1995 to 1996.

After Roy retired from the warehouse after 43 years, they purchased a park model trailer in Washington, Utah near St. George. They spent the winters there for nearly 20 years. They had a lot of friends there and had many enjoyable experiences with them. They took up golfing at a nearby golf course and both Lorna and Roy had gotten a hole-in-one.

They were also able to do a lot of traveling during their retirement years. They traveled to Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Hawaii, and Mexico, and went on several cruises to the Caribbean.

Lorna is survived by her children, Linda Brown of Pocatello, Richard (Sharon) Wilcox and Garth (Kathy) Wilcox, both of Rexburg, a brother, Marvin (Toni) Keele of Shelley, 13 grandchildren, and 36 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Ida Keele, her husband, LeRoy Wilcox, her brothers, Merlin Keele and Robert Keele, her sister, Lila Mae Gideon, and a grandson, Bradley Wilcox.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, October 6th at the Burton West LDS church at 3958 W. 2000 S. with Bishop Brian Edstrom officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:30 to 7:30 pm on Sunday October 5th at Flamm Funeral home in Rexburg, and from 10:00 to 10:45 am Monday at the church. Internment will be at Burton Cemetery.