Lauradene Lindsey

Lauradene Neeley Bryson Lindsey died August 5, 2014 in Bountiful, Utah of complications of Parkinson’s disease. She was 84 years old.
From her birth, March 29, 1930, to her death on Tuesday, she nourished everyone around her with love, faith, and service. Lauradene was born the youngest of seven children on a farm in Riverdale, Idaho to Orville Neeley and Laura Alida Petersen Neeley. She was her eighth grade class valedictorian, an honor student and a graduate in 1948 from Preston High School. She worked for the year book, participated in school choir, and was a member of the Pep Club. After attending Brigham Young University for one year, she returned to Preston to help her ailing mother and work for three years in Franklin City. After another year at BYU, she was called on a mission to Central America, where she served for two years in Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua.
Lauradene met a handsome young man, Ralph Bryson, during a history class. When he first held her hand, he leaned over and whispered, “First time in history!” She married Ralph Howard Bryson, son of Ralph Abram Bryson and Elfreda (Gus) Augusta Davis Bryson, of Vernal, UT on October 21, 1955 in the Salt Lake Temple. They lived for many years in Maryland and Virginia, enjoying the culture and history of the East. Over the years they also made their home in Jeffersonville, IN and Richfield, Brigham City, and Salt Lake City, UT. They especially loved the kind hearts and dear friends and neighbors of Bountiful. During these years they raised a family of six children. In 1983, after 28 years of marriage, Ralph passed away from complications of diabetes. Having longed for years to complete her college education, Lauradene graduated with honors from the University of Utah in Sociology in 1987.
On April 25, 1989 Lauradene married Myrl Sanders Lindsey, after being set up on a date by Lauradene’s son, Rick, and Myrl’s nephew, Dee. They successfully joined their families of eight living children and greatly enjoyed the association of all their beloved posterity.
Her church callings included ward Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary Presidents, Stake Relief Society Education Counselor and Stake Relief Society President. She especially loved Church programs for women. She taught Gospel Doctrine classes and early morning Seminary and in all the Church auxiliaries. She loved being a Visiting Teacher and was honored to have Visiting Teachers come to her home.
A talented writer, Lauradene wrote many poems and articles and prepared many family history scrapbooks. In 1997 she was inducted into the National Poetry Society, having many of her poems published. Her article, “Self-Reliance,” was published in the April 1997 ENSIGN and reprinted in 10 languages. She enjoyed membership in the League of Utah Writers.
From 1992-1995 she lived with her husband, Myrl, in Fresno, CA, where she managed the Rehabilitation Department at LDS Employment. It was a fertile time for helping people become self-sufficient, an era of great joy. In 2001 Lauradene and Myrl were blessed to serve as senior missionaries in the Kentucky, Louisville Mission.
Lauradene was a member of the American Rose Society and loved gardening and birds. She enjoyed traveling, visiting all the states in the union, Europe, Israel, Mexico and Central America, and Scandinavia.
Her greatest devotion was to her family. She worked hard to raise six children, always encouraging family home evening, family councils, and family prayer. Her greatest wish is that “all her family sit down in Heaven together”. She encouraged her children to do well in their education and occupations. She also promoted family unity in her extended families, instigating many family reunions.
She is survived by her husband of 25 years, Myrl S. Lindsey, her sister, Emma Ann Bigelow; her children, Ralph Neeley (Rick) Bryson (Evelyn), Mesa, AZ; Robyn Dee Bryson (Beto Aquino), Bountiful, UT; James Randall (Jim) Bryson (Stephanie) Bountiful, UT; Dianne Bryson Smith (Glenn), Saugus, CA; Rebecca Bryson Doxey (Michael), Modesto, CA; and Brent Howard Bryson (Julia), Gilbert, AZ. Also surviving are step-children, Todd Lindsey (Michelle), Herriman, UT; and Brett Lindsey (Heidee), South Jordan, UT. She adored and is survived by grandchildren Jason (Julie), Jamie (Judd), Chelsea (Brad), Leslie (Jordan), and Brooke Bryson; Paige and Spencer (Kristin), Connor and McKay, and Claire Bryson; Laura (David Hatch), Hunter, Preston, and Gage Smith; Jessica, Emily and Madelyn Doxey; and John and Adam Bryson. Also surviving are her step-grandchildren, Alisha (Jimmy Eaton), Jeremy (Jessica), Jordan (Alyson), Brittney (Tyler Cornia); Matthew (Laura), Daniel (Ashley), and Joshua Lindsey. She is also survived by 23 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Lauradene will be held on Saturday, August 9, 2014 at the Bountiful Hills Ward, 1190 East Bountiful Hills Drive, Bountiful, UT. The viewing will begin at 12:30 PM with the funeral to follow at 2:00 PM. Interment will take place at Lake View Cemetery, 1640 Lakeview Drive, Bountiful. The Bryson and Lindsey families would like to extend our gratitude to Shelby Mower for her attentiveness and loving care, the staff at Orchard Cove, to all the staff at the Welcome Home Assisted Living Facility. Online guestbook at www.russonmortuary.com