Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
BORN
1930
DIED
2015
FUNERAL HOME
Olene Walker Obituary
Olene S. Walker
1930-2015
Olene Smith Walker our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, passed away from natural causes on November 28, 2015. Born in Ogden, Utah on November 15, 1930 to Thomas Ole Smith and Nina Hadley, she was the second of five children. She married her sweetheart, Myron Walker, in the Salt Lake Temple on March 25, 1954 and together they raised seven children.
A memorial service will be held in Olene's honor on Saturday, December 12, 2015 at 7:00 pm at the Mulberry LDS Chapel, 3381 Mulberry Drive, Bloomington, Utah. Online guestbook to post messages and tributes for the family is available at: www.HolbrookMortuary.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Olene Walker
Douglas Palmer
November 25, 2019
As a citizen of Utah and a journalist for the Deseret News, I remember Olene Walker as one of the most capable, outstanding and caring individuals and state leaders that I knew. I admired her for many reasons. It was an honor to know her and to observe her in action. I always felt that it was as shame that she didn't have the opportunity to do even more than she did for the state of Utah. I will never forget my association with her. May the Lord bless her memory and comfort and bless her family and others who had close contact with her.
jay beacham
December 14, 2015
One of the nicest persons I have ever met.
Royal Hansen
December 7, 2015
Olene was an extraordinary Governor, statesman and friend. Laura and I count ourselves fortunate to have enjoyed the association of Olene and her family. She left a great legacy of public service for her family. We extend our condolences and best wishes as you mourn her passing.
BK Sonneman
December 7, 2015
What I remember most about the lovely Olene Walker as Governor was her slogan,
"Do no harm." What a thoughtful legacy for others to follow.
Diane McMaster
December 7, 2015
Dear Walker family,
We were blessed to have known Olene as an incredible neighbor for about 30 years on the avenues. We were touched by her funeral and heartfelt words and music by her family and those who worked with her. She certainly was kind, humble, brilliant, compassionate and loving to all with whom she associated. We have many happy memories of her including falling out of a rubber raft while floating down the Green River, dinner at the governor's mansion, reading "How the Grinch Stole Christmas " to our church congregation when she was asked to give the Christmas address the Sunday before Christmas. She was an extraordinary person, treating all people with respect and kindness. Our lives have been enriched from knowing her and her outstanding family.
Brent and Diane McMaster
Bill Barton
December 6, 2015
Dear Family of Olene Walker:
I first met Olene in 1981 when we served together on the Utah legislature's Public Education Joint Appropriation Committee, she from the House and myself from the Senate. Incidentally, that is when we were first brought together with our present congressman Rob Bishop.
Olene demonstrated leadership and friendship from the start and it is clear to see how she eventually became Lt. Governor and then governor.
She was a fine lady with many great qualities. We will all surely miss her.
My heartfelt condolences to her family at this deep loss.
James Nebeker
December 4, 2015
I was impressed with the funeral earlier today. It was great to see Nina and Tommy (high school classmates) speaking along with all the others who conveyed the message of the "remarkable" life of Olene.
It might have been when I was at the Walker's home(as a high school aged kid) after tennis with Tommy, or perhaps something associated with Nena that I noticed a red E-type Jaguar in the carport. Olene said she had taken it away from her niece who was stopped for speeding at over 100 miles an hour. I offered to buy a battery and get it running which I did. To my surprise and pleasure, she let me take the car for two days. I will never forget it!
December 3, 2015
"REST IN PEACE"
Celia Cutler
December 3, 2015
A great lady! I loved and respected her work ethics.
December 3, 2015
My Aunt Olene was not only a great women, but an AWESOME Aunt. I have such great memories of her and the family, their potato chip business, their home in Salt Lake, and all the wonderful events me and my family have been invited to, due to her status.
Sadly, I am in Thailand and will not be back in time for the funeral. I feel so blessed to have known her. I was able to have a nice visit with her and Nena the day before I left for my trip.
Love to all the children and Uncle Myron.
-Karen Smith Ouimette
Barbara Amott
December 2, 2015
I had the privilege of knowing and working with Olene when she worked with Corrine Hill, the Volunteer Coordinator in the Salt Lake City Schools. Plus her dear father hired two home economica teachers to teach sixth grade in the Ogden City School District.
We did earn our elementary certificate and I will always treasure that experience. I was able to send her father a thank you note for giving us such a remarkable privilege.
I also was hoping to see her reelected governor because I respected her so highly.
I can testify that she is still very much alive and will stay close to her family back here still in mortality.
Our Savior gives us so much hope and truth as to what she will be doing until resurection. I wish you the choicest blessings.
My computer will not let me preview what I had written, so I hope there were not too many mistakes)
December 2, 2015
Tom, so sad to hear of your loss. I remember you telling me the best stories about your mom and how proud you were of her. I hope you can find peace in those memories.
Jennifer (Dougherty) Branca
Ed McConkie
December 2, 2015
I and my family will long be indebted to beautiful Gov. Walker, her exemplary leadership, seemingly unlimited compassion, and love of others, particularly the disadvantaged. She allowed me opportunities and challenges that continue to shape my life and benefit those within my care. I will always love this remarkable lady, leader, and friend. My prayers extend to her enduring widower Myron and entire family. In honor of her, I will sit down with MY seventh child tonight, Charles Redd, and read with him . . . whether he likes it or not--and tell him of a giant that recently left us.
Stacy Beck-Shemenski
December 2, 2015
Tom you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. May God wrap his loving arms around you and comfort you during this time of sorrow. Heaven gained a beautiful angel and you have gained a beautiful guardian angel. Keep your wonderful memories close to your heart. God bless you my friend.
Douglas Palmer
December 1, 2015
In my opinion, Olene Walker was one of the finest public servants to serve the State of Utah. I became acquainted with her while she was serving in the Utah Legislature, and I later had quite regular contact with her as a reporter during her other public service. In all my contacts with Olene, she was always friendly, fair, courteous and respectful. I never remember an instance when she didn't show these and other very fine qualities. I only wish that I had had even more opportunities to become better acquainted with her. May God be with and comfort her husband and other family members.
Peggy Childs
December 1, 2015
Dear Myron,
How sad I am to hear about Olene's passing. You and Olene were the best home teachers a person could ever have! It was always a pleasure to have the two of you in our home. It's hard for me to think of Olene without you. Your souls were connected. You are blessed to have such a love story with this incredible lady.
Sincerely,
Alan Jacobsen
December 1, 2015
Myron,
Jackie and I were saddened to learn of Olene's passing. We loved you both (and your kids) as neighbors and friends. We are sorry that we will not be able to attend her Thursday evening viewing as we serve as ordnance workers in the SL Temple on the Thursday PM shift. We are leaving early Friday morning for a trip to Bellevue, WA, to visit our youngest son, Matthew, so we will unfortunately also miss her funeral. Our warmest thoughts and prayers will be for you and your family during this difficult time.
Alan & Jackie Jacobsen
December 1, 2015
As a retired State employee I had a chance to personally meet Olene Walker. What a wonderful lady!
George K. Brown (Ret. Educator)
December 1, 2015
Thank you, Olene, for your thorough dedication to serving to make Utah and the rest of the world a better place. Thanks, especially, for taking a stance to support public education here in Utah. Thank you for your integrity and diligence in trying to make a difference for something better.
I wish to express my sympathies and condolences to the family in their time of loss of a truly great person.
Lauree Olsen, Hospice Chaplain
November 30, 2015
A Woman With Class
never runs scared. She is sure-footed and confident in the knowledge that she can meet life head on and handle whatever comes along.
never makes excuses. She takes her lumps and learns from past mistakes.
is considerate of others. She knows that good manners are kind sacrifices, which create good relationships.
bespeaks an aristocracy that has nothing to do with ancestors or money. The most affluent blueblood can be totally without class while the descendant of financially poor parents may ooze class from every pore.
never tries to build herself up by tearing others down. Class is not needy of others' approval and does not strive to look better by making others look worse.
can talk with crowds and keep her virtue, or walk with kings and keep the common touch.
Others are comfortable with the woman who has class because she is comfortable with herself.
Olene Walker was a woman with class.
Showing 1 - 21 of 21 results
Make a Donation
in Olene Walker's name
Memorial Events
for Olene Walker
Dec
4
Funeral services provided by:
Holbrook Mortuary - Salt Lake City3251 South 2300 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84109
How to support Olene's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor Olene Walker's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
