Mary Margaret Haynes Roth

Mary Margaret Haynes Roth, 85, passed away on April 1, 2024, in Lake Stevens, Washington, surrounded by her family and just twelve weeks following the death of her cherished husband, George Roth. Mary was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend who had relentless creative energy, curiosity, and a passion for learning.

Mary was born on February 5, 1939, to Frank and Lucy Haynes in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Baby Mary must have been something of a surprise to her parents, arriving 18 years after her older brother, Jim. Mary endured an early tragedy when her dad died of throat cancer when she was 7. This event shaped Mary’s childhood and she and her mother worked hard to support each other and live frugally on her dad’s railroad pension. Despite losing her dad, Mary had a happy childhood on the west side of Salt Lake. She recounted watching movies at the Utah Theater and getting burgers at Dee’s Drive-in.  As a teen, Mary learned that she infinitely preferred to garden instead of keeping house, so her mother did the housework and Mary maintained the yard. Mary’s love of gardening continued throughout her life, as did her dislike of housework.

Mary graduated from West High School and started working at Prudential Federal Savings Bank after graduation – a minor career decision that would be pivotal in her life. Mary was conscientious, hard working, and bright and was quickly promoted at the bank. While working as a teller, she would occasionally talk to the tall, skinny dark-haired man who appeared in her line every Friday to cash his paycheck. George Roth eventually asked her out and after dating steadily for a year, they were married on May 26, 1962.  Mary sewed her own wedding dress.

After their marriage, George and Mary decided that he would buckle down to get an engineering degree while she kept working.  After George graduated, Mary and George found a house in Bountiful, Utah. Children did not come as quickly as they had hoped, but Mary channeled her maternal energy into being a devoted aunt to her nieces and nephews.  

Eventually, Mary and George had three daughters who were their greatest joy; she delighted in being a mom. Mary especially encouraged her children to maintain a growth mindset, believing that they could do anything they wanted and counseling to view failures as opportunities to learn. Mary nurtured her daughters by encouraging all of their talents and paying for just about any type of lesson, but piano and swimming lessons were mandatory. She instilled in her children a life-long love of books and reading. Mary joined any support or auxiliary organization for her daughters including leading a Girl Scout Brownie troop for eight years, chaperoning band trips, supporting fundraisers, and helping us paint endless posters for class elections. Mary also ensured that all three of her daughters received a college education.

Mary’s creative energy was part of her family’s daily life. She taught herself to sew, quilt, decorate cakes, tole paint, and embroider. She made her daughters matching Easter dresses for years; grew oak trees from acorns, lovingly hand painted Christmas decorations, and gently tended roses in the backyard. Whenever she started a project, she would make three for each of her daughters and then that pile would grow as she thought of others who could benefit. One year she made us all tricot nightgowns and then about half of the girls in the neighborhood.  She made every grandchild at least seven blankets when they were born and then went on to make dozens for the children of her daughters’ friends, many of whom she had never met.

Family and friends were the center of Mary’s life. She loved being a grandparent and always wanted to hear what her grandchildren were doing in their lives. In the last few years of her life, her neighbors and friends were critically important and provided very meaningful connections to her. The family would like to thank the visiting teachers in Bountiful Mueller Park Second Ward for their regular and devoted visits. Mary could always be counted on for unusual and unvarnished opinions. She loved Johnny Mathis, reading about current events, shopping, a good project, road trips, quilt shows, ice cream, dogs, and babies. She violently hated any type of rodent, even though she eventually allowed a hamster in the house for one of her daughters.  We’ll let you guess whether it was the oldest or the youngest. If Mary loved you, you felt it. 

Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, George Roth, her parents and her brother, Jim. She is survived by her three daughters: Christine Mary Roth (Wesley Stien), Andrea Michelle Wright (Aaron Wright), and Aimee Anne Smith (Micha Smith) and 7 grandchildren: Noah Aaron, Zane George, Ian Roth, Olivia Kate, Jonas McConkie, Sadie Georgia, and Lucy Elizabeth. Special thanks to the Wright family for selflessly caring for Mary in her last month and the Providence Regional Hospice team for their incredible care and support.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 4, 2024, at Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main in Bountiful with a visitation prior to the service from 12:45-1:45 p.m. at the mortuary. Interment to take place in Bountiful City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. This cause was dear to Mary’s heart because of her granddaughter who lives with Type 1 Diabetes. We all continue to hope for a cure. www.jdrf.org