DeAnne Walker

On the afternoon of June 1, 2018 our beloved wife, mother, Nana, sister and friend, DeAnne Walker passed away surrounded by loved ones.

DeAnne (the oldest of three daughters), was born on May 4, 1938 in Rupert, Idaho to George and Arabel Catmull.  Her family moved to Ucon, Idaho where she attended grade school.  Her father’s work as Superintendent of the Madison School District took their family to Rexburg, Idaho where DeAnne finished junior high school and graduated from high school as valedictorian of her class.  She attended Ricks College one year and then transferred to Utah State University where she completed a degree in business education.

DeAnne married Alfred Walker on June 17, 1959 in the Idaho Falls Temple.  Alfred was a forester with the U.S. Forest Service.  His work assignments took them to Rexburg, Idaho; the Shake Creek Ranger Station on the Sawtooth Forest; Buhl, Idaho; Kemmerer, Wyoming and Salt Lake City, Utah.

From a very young age, music was always an important part of her life. She began playing the piano at the age of 4 and by the age of 8 she was accompanying for her father.  She was an accomplished musician whose musical gifts blessed the lives of everyone around her.  She sang with and accompanied musical groups at Madison High School, Ricks College, Utah State University, and Sweet Adelines.  She played the piano concerto Rhapsody in Blue with the Ricks College Orchestra at the age of 17.  In 1976 she joined the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and sang with the choir for 20 years.

DeAnne work for 16 years as an assistant editor for the LDS Church Magazine Department.  From 1998 to 2000, Alfred and DeAnne served a full-time mission for the LDS Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  For the past 18 years the Walkers have been snowbirds with homes in Star Valley, Wyoming, Bountiful, Fruit Heights, and St. George, Utah.

DeAnne is survived by her husband of 59 years, Alfred Walker; her children, Greg Walker (Laurie), Lesli Suzanne Gray (Eric), Scott Hansen (Nancy) and her sister, Merrie Lynn Wood (John).  She has 18 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.  She is preceded in death by her parents George and Arabel Catmull, her sister Joan Hansen (Glen), and her daughter Paulette Hansen (Scott).

Funeral services will be held on June 8th at 11:00 am at the Mountain Road Chapel located at 901 S. Mountain Rd., Fruit Heights, UT.  A viewing will be held on Thursday, June 7th from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Russon Mortuary, 1941 N. Main St, Farmington, UT.  A viewing also will be held at the church prior to the funeral services from 9:45-10:45 a.m. Interment- Bountiful City Cemetery.

We will miss her greatly, but are thankful for her life, her example, and her love that she has shared with all of us.  The heavenly choir gained an excellent 1st alto with her passing.