Jessie Dawna Hayes

Beloved Jessie Dawna Holt Hayes, age 92, died of natural causes in Bountiful, Utah, on August 24, 2018. Born in Syracuse, Utah, on September 20, 1925, to Jesse Mabey Holt and Ethel Lundstedt Fullmer Holt, she is now united with her loving husband, Lloyd Nelson Hayes, who died in 2012. They were married seventy years ago on August 18, 1948, in the Salt Lake Temple.

Mom grew up in Syracuse learning hard work on the family farm. She graduated from Davis High School. She and Dad worked together as senior class officers and their stardust romance began. During World War Two, Mom worked as a secretary at the navy base near her home. While there, Mom received a prestigious civil service award. After the war, she served a full-time mission in California for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Mom and Dad married when Mom returned home from her mission. Coming from a heritage of nurturing mothers, our mother created a cheerful, well-fed, optimistic, and spiritual home where she cared for us unselfishly. Her family came first, but her love spilled generously upon countless others throughout her life as she cared for them unselfishly also.

She has an unwavering faith in her Father in Heaven and in her Savior, Jesus Christ. She accepted every call extended to her. Mom was a trusted companion and help mate to Dad as he served in his callings. She was a teacher, a leader, a cook, a listening ear, an arm around a shoulder, and a testifier of what she knew to be true. She was called to write curriculum for the church, and to be a missionary on Temple Square. She researched her family and wrote life histories. She was a member of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers.

Mom and Dad served joyfully in the temples together. They served in the Temple Department where they hosted translators from around the world. After they were ordinance workers, they trained temple missionaries. They served in the presidency of the New Zealand Temple from 1986 until 1989. They served in the presidency of the Bountiful Temple from its opening in 1995 until 1998. Morn went to the temple as a patron regularly until last month.

Mom was preceded in death by her husband, parents, brothers, sisters, and two grandchildren. She is survived by sisters-in-law, Etheleen Holt, and Ila Devereux, nieces and nephews, and her children: Roger and Suzanne Fluhman, Nelson and Shirleen Hayes, Craig and Cauleen Tueller, Gary and Carolee Cox, Wayne and Kathy Metcalfe, Randy and Laura Hayes, Scott and Dawna Lou Hirschi, Tod and Denise Jones, Alan and Robyn Mortensen, Ron and Susan Wood, 70 grandchildren, and over 180 great grandchildren.  Every member of her family is sure that they are Mom’s favorite.

Mom always taught about the eternal nature of families. Thank you, precious Mother.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am, Friday, August 31, 2018 at the Bountiful 54th Ward Chapel, 540 North 1200 East. Viewings will be held Thursday, August 30th from 6 to 8 pm at Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main, Bountiful, and Friday from 9:00 to 10:15 am at the church prior to the service.