Julie Orchard

Julie Orchard passed away February 14 from a cardiac arrest. She was born April 12,1947 to Quentin and Marigene Peart in Logan, Utah. She grew up on a dairy farm in Richmond, Utah where she learned to work hard and to love everybody. Though she was a farm girl she didn’t much like getting her hands dirty. She was a tough, decent, honest, caring person.
Julie married Duane Orchard in the Logan temple June 4, 1969. They have loved each other since their first day at BYU. They are the proud parents of five wonderful children: Todd (Lara), Curtis (deceased), Christine (Bryan) Auernig, Eric (Cidne), and Michael (Lynndee). Her family is her most priceless possession. Her 16 grand children delighted her and took up most of her time, which she never regretted. She loved reading stories to dinosaurs and robots, dressing up in costumes, visiting the pit of despair, and throwing hard boiled eggs down the street.
Julie had a challenging life. She had type 1 diabetes and struggled with poor health her whole life. She was the recipient of a kidney transplant from a wonderful sister, and 15 years later from an equally wonderful niece. She had two broken legs, three hip replacements, dialysis, and eye surgery, but rarely missed a day’s work. One of her friends said that she was the toughest person she has ever known; in fact, someone’s going to have to strangle her before the resurrection to get her ready.
Julie had a great career. She worked as secretary to the Speaker of the Utah House of Representatives for Jim Hansen, and Norm Bangerter. She served as Governer Bangerter’s secretary and scheduling assistant, assistant director of the Department of Commerce, and most recently as secretary and administrator of the Utah Public Service Commission. She would often come home from work and say, “I love my job.” It wasn’t necessarily because of the work, but because of the people with whom she worked. She loved them. She served faithfully as a member of the Tabernacle Choir for 20 years and traveled the world with them. This was one of the greatest experiences of her life.
Julie will be missed greatly by her family and friends. She was a great example of fortitude and positive outlook. Hard things didn’t slow her down. She enjoyed life and loved everyone. She is survived by her mother Marigene Peart and her sister Elaine Watts.
Funeral services will be held in the Mueller Park Stake center 1800 East Mueller Park Road (1800 South) Bountiful, Utah, Thursday Feb. 21, 2013, at 11:00 A.M. Friends and family may visit prior to the service from 9:30 to 10:45. Also from 6 to 8 P.M. Wednesday, Feb 20 at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 295 North Main, Bountiful, Utah. Interment will be at the Bountiful City Cemetery.