Jackie Lorraine Peckham

Jackie Lorraine Mitchell Peckham, 94, passed away on August 13, 2019 in Cottonwood, Utah. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Peckham. She is the mother of Cindi Peckham, Kerry (Brent) Zimmerman, John (Susan) Peckham, Eric (Kim) Peckham, Jan (Jim) Phillips, Dave (Lori) Peckham, Ariana Peckham (deceased), and Moana (Scott) Workman.

Viewings will be held August 23, 6:00-8:00 pm, and August 24, 9:30-10:30 am, at the church at 1830 East 6400 South, with funeral services August 24, 11:00 am, at the same location.

Our darling mother, Jackie Lorraine Peckham, was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on July 9, 1925, the oldest of three children. She was the daughter of Dallas H. Mitchell and Phyllis Rees. She was joined later by her sister, Roberta (Bobbie), and her brother, Carl. At the age of eight, her parents moved their young family to the desert of California in the heart of the oil fields, to the small town of Taft, near Bakersfield. Now known outside her family as Lorraine, she received an excellent education at Taft Union High School. A talented musician, Lorraine belonged to the school orchestra as first violinist, where she fostered her acquaintance with Harry Peckham, a gifted pianist who also played the French horn and several other instruments. They became deeply in love; and a week after Harry’s return from service in the Air Force they were married in Taft.

Lorraine was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Harry was not a member at the time they got married, but was converted and baptized within two months of their marriage. Ten months later they were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. Thereafter, she continued her college education at San Jose State University and received a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education.

For the following fifty years, Lorraine and Harry filled their lives with service to their family, their church, and to mankind in general. In 1960, they carried their family of eight to Aotearoa (Land of the Long White Cloud) or New Zealand. There Harry taught school as head of the Science department of the Church College of New Zealand. This experience had a profound impact on their entire family, which impact continues to this day. They added two more daughters to their six children – Ariana and Moananui. Our beloved Ariana is buried in New Zealand.

After eight years in New Zealand the family returned to the United States to live in Salt Lake City, where Lorraine has been living ever since. The only exception was in 1991 when she and Harry returned to New Zealand to serve an 18-month mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Lorraine’s and Harry’s family has grown to include 30 grandchildren, 57 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren – and counting. Lorraine remained fiercely loyal to her family and to the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout her life.

She bore her final, powerful testimony with all of her seven living children gathered around her in her hospital bed at her home, just two days before her death. She had been barely able to speak at all until she began her unprompted speech. There she gave an accounting of her life, her witness of the truthfulness of the Church, and her love of the Savior, her husband, and her children.

She never spoke so clearly again, except for her final words two days later when she removed from her mouth a swab used to provide moisture, handed it to her daughter and said with her typical unselfish and generous spirit, “I’ve had enough. You can have the rest.”

Dear Mother, you indeed had had enough, and had done more than enough. Now, we as your children, will do our best to take on the rest.