Barbara Henrie

Barbara Thompson Henrie

1926 – 2018

Our gentle, loving mother and grandmother, Barbara Thompson Henrie, passed away on Tuesday, January 16, 2018 in Bountiful, Utah at the age of 91. She was born November 22, 1926 in Centerville, Utah to Leander and Ida Merz Thompson, and was the second youngest of eight children. She was blessed with a happy childhood, but also experienced the impact the Great Depression and World War II had on her family. She seldom spoke of the hardships, but we believe the incredible strength and determination she showed throughout her life were forged during those difficult times.  The love she was shown by her parents, together with the many things they taught by word and by deed, served to create a strong foundation that strengthened her for the duration of her life.  She was blessed to be raised by parents who truly loved the Lord.

Barbara loved her years at Davis High School and graduated with the class of 1945. She and many of her classmates remained lifelong friends.  She entered nursing school just three weeks after graduating high school.  To put herself through nursing school she joined the Cadet Nursing Corp and entered with the last group of Cadet Nurses that trained at the W.H. Groves LDS Hospital School of Nursing, which was affiliated with the University of Utah.  The expectation was that after graduating nursing school the Cadet Nurses would be called to active duty to serve during World War II.  However, the war ended the summer after she entered the nursing program so she was able to begin her nursing career at the LDS Hospital immediately upon her graduation in 1948. She elected to pursue the special field of surgical nursing and spent her entire career in and around the operating rooms.  From surgical nurse, to charge nurse, to head of the surgical department, Barbara made a significant and meaningful contribution to the hospital and made her profession proud.  Her skill, intelligence, stamina, clarity of thought, and ability to lead, as well has her delightful sense of humor all served to help her rise to the top of her field.

Her devotion to her children and grandchildren was beyond compare, and was manifest throughout her life in the many sacrifices she made in their behalf, and, above all, in her unconditional and unfailing love.  Hers was not an easy life.  She was faced with significant challenges, which she endured with dignity and grace.  She met every challenge head on without complaint, always showing an abundance of wisdom, strength and determination.  She was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and served with great love, accepting any calling or task she was asked to perform.  Her life was a blessing to her family, and we are forever grateful to her for the marvelous example she was to us, and for the many, many sacrifices she made in our behalf.  Mom wanted her family to know that her happiest times in life were because of her five children.  She was grateful to have these “precious children” come into her home.  Her final thoughts and words were an expression of her love of family, and of her deep and abiding testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Barbara is survived by her children, Mark (Peggy), Robyn, Susie (Doug), James (Peggy), her 19 beloved grandchildren, 41 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.  She is also survived by her sister Katheryn Barker.  She was preceded in death by her daughter Sherrie, and her brothers Merz, Phillip, Grant, and Doug, as well as her sisters Jean Clayton and Evelyn Marshall.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 23, 2018 in the Mueller Park 10th Ward, 1800 East Mueller Park Road (1800 South), Bountiful, Utah.  A viewing will be Monday evening January 22, 2018 from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main Street, Bountiful and Tuesday morning 9:45 – 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services.  Interment will be in the Lakeview Cemetery, 1640 East Lakeview Drive, Bountiful. 

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Joshua Romney, the amazing caregivers at Barton Creek Assisted Living and Brighton Home Hospice, as well as mom’s living guardian angel David Woolley for their complete devotion and gentle care of our sweet Barbara.