JoAnne Francis Thackeray

JoAnne Francis Thackeray passed away at her home on Oct 22, 2022, at 10:33 in the morning, due to complications associated with cancer. She was surrounded by her loved ones.

JoAnne was born May 16, 1939, to beloved parents Charles Turner Francis and Mildred Coulam, she was third of four daughters. Her roots in the Morgan valley ran deep with her great-grandfather and grandfather being early pioneer settlers in Morgan. Samuel Ray Thackeray and JoAnne grew up together and were high school sweethearts. While Sam served his mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, JoAnne went to Weber State College and the University of Utah where she graduated with a degree in elementary education. She felt it important to educate herself and exemplify one of the important duties of motherhood, to educate her children. Within two weeks of returning from his mission, Sam and JoAnne were married in the Salt Lake Temple on August 28th, 1961 for time and all eternity. They were married for 57 years. Promptly after their marriage they moved to Scott Valley, CA to work with his brothers on a cattle ranch they had recently purchased in conjunction with their cousin Jane Friden and her husband Stan.

It was there that she gave birth to and raised 10 children for 36 years. The ranch was a wonderful place to raise her eight sons and two daughters. Her home was filled with hard work that kept many hands busy learning life lessons and sharing in laughter and faith along the way. She was a pillar of her church and the local community and a beloved aunt.

She believed a job worth doing is a job worth doing well. She would take classes to improve the skills she felt she needed to raise her family of ten children. Always one to take on the challenge of learning new skills, JoAnne learned to make cheeses, yogurt, butter, loaves of bread, blue jeans, art, design, fermented foods, and many other homemaking skills. She was known for creating family traditions. She truly strove to make her home a heaven on earth where family and friends felt warmth and love. She made sure her sons and daughters would be well-rounded themselves. She wanted them to be contributing members of the communities of which they were a part.

In 1997 the ranch in California was sold and they decided to return back to Morgan, UT where they lived out the remainder of their days. On returning to Morgan, JoAnne spent a great deal of time with her sisters in the care of their father’s beloved family ranch. She also took great joy in being a reading specialist at Morgan Elementary school. She helped many children learn the fundamentals of reading. She sought learning out of the best books and instilled that love of literature in her children and grandchildren.

There was a purpose to everything that she engaged in. All that JoAnne did she strived to master, be it education, gardening, sewing, cooking, cleaning, or serving. For her, this life was all about becoming an Elect Daughter of God. She had an enduring faith in her Savior Jesus Christ which shaped everything that she thought or did. She firmly believed that families can be together forever; this was a guiding principle in her life. She did all she could to instill this testimony in her family. She and Sam were privileged to serve a couple’s mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cincinnati, Ohio. Prior to leaving on their mission, they served together in the Ogden Temple before the remodel. Serving with Sam in these capacities meant a great deal to her and she was grateful for each opportunity.

She loved each of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They were always welcome in her home and she made herself available to them for instruction and teaching in skills that she had learned over the years. She was interested in their lives and accomplishments. She was frequently found in prayer for her family. She also kept close contact with her sisters until her death. Her children had a running joke about who was her favorite, in truth, they were all her favorite.

We would like to leave a special thank you to the selfless service given by her sons Royal and Robert and daughter Emily and Robert’s wife Heidi, who took care of her needs as her health was failing. We would also like to give a special thanks to Justin and Joni Bowen for the service they gave to JoAnne after Sam’s death and for their special friendship with the family.

JoAnne is preceded in death by her husband Samuel, her son Thomas, her grandson Seth, her sister Charlene, and her parents Charles and Mildred. She is survived by her children: Todd (Lorillee), Royal, AnnaMarie Whitlock (Boyd), Samuel (Jennifer), David (Jodi), Joseph (Mindee), Emily Watt (Guy), Annie (Thomas’s wife), Andrew (Tara), Robert (Heidi), sisters Lucille Ulrich and Gloria Francis, brother-in-law Paul Dickson (Ramona deceased); 47 grandchildren with one on the way and 12 great-grandchildren.

The funeral will take place on Saturday, Oct 29, 2022, with the viewing at 9 AM and the funeral starting at 11 AM. The funeral will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chapel located at 240 South Field Street, Morgan Utah. She will be buried in the Croydon Cemetery next to her husband Sam.

The services will be streamed live using the link below.

Morgan 9th Ward is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Sister Thackeray's Funeral
Time: Oct 29, 2022 11:00 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/96279669507?pwd=QlhLcmd6d1JPZGFZYXBsNjZ0YXVEZz09

Meeting ID: 962 7966 9507
Passcode: 367413