Lynette Asay

June Lynette Bennion Asay, 84, of Mackay, died of natural causes early Friday, Aug. 17, 2012, in Provo, Utah, at Beehive Homes of Provo.

She was born Aug. 16, 1928, in Salt Lake City to Parley Junius and Helen Burton Bennion.

She grew up in Afton, Wyo., in the heart of beautiful Star Valley. She graduated from Brigham Young University High School in Provo. Lynette earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from BYU in 1950.

Lynette taught over 700 high school and elementary school students in Salt Lake City and Mackay in a career that spanned over 30 years. She was also active in the LDS church. Of the many church positions she held, Lynette's favorite calling was music chairperson, which allowed her to lead the choir, play the organ and train other organists and conductors. She loved to teach young people so that they could fulfill music callings all of their lives.

Lynette loved to take care of others and continued to do so as long as she was able. She had a unique ability to make others feel that they were special. She was a talented pianist and passed on her love of music to children and grandchildren. Lynette always saw beauty in the world around her and captured it in photos and shared it through painting. She made the landscape of her home colorful by planting vibrant flowers in her garden.

Lynette always had a hug and a smile for each grandchild and kept up with their interests and activities. They have warm memories of hot cocoa before breakfast, ice cream with fresh berries, homemade quilts and many games of pinochle and cribbage, as well as daring rescues from rattlesnakes, which she killed with a shovel. Lynette was a strong woman who did what needed to be done.

Lynette is survived by her husband, Reed Z. Asay; children, Tan (Paul) Summers of Bountiful, Utah, Don (Loretta) Asay of Las Vegas, Christie (Daniel) Berndt of Woodbury, Minn., Robin (Robin) Pearson of Moore and Ruth Ann (David) Wagstaff of Provo; 22 grandchildren; and 29 great-grandchildren.

Lynette was preceded in death by her parents, Parley Junius and Helen Bennion; her brothers, Grant and Parley Bennion; and one grandson, Robert Asay.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, at the Leslie, Idaho, LDS Ward building, 3801 N. Highway 93. There will be a viewing from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24, at Anderson Family Funeral Home, 2555 N. Highway 93 in Arco. The family also welcomes visitors from noon to 12:45 p.m. Saturday at the church prior to services. Graveside services will follow at Mount McCaleb Cemetery on Main Street in Mackay.