Shannon Lee Doughton Rayl

Eight days after celebrating her thirty-fourth wedding anniversary with her sweetheart, Shannon passed away unexpectedly of a pulmonary embolism on March 28, 2021. Shannon was born in Bountiful, Utah, on September 1, 1967. She was the second of four children born to Bobby Edward Doughton and Lola Efonda Sturgill. She grew up in Bountiful and Farmington City, and graduated from Davis High School.

Shannon met her sweetheart, Chris Rayl, when she was on her way to an aerobics class at church with a friend. She had to sit on Chris’s lap because there was not enough room in the truck. When they dropped Shannon and her friend off, she refused to work out because she did not want to be dripping with sweat when she had to sit on Chris’s lap again on the ride back home.

Shannon was married to Chris in the Salt Lake City Temple on March 20, 1987. She wanted to marry in March so that they could have their wedding photos with the daffodils and tulips. Whenever we see daffodils and tulips from now on, we will be reminded of our sweet Shannon.

They purchased their first home in West Bountiful, Utah, where she raised their two children. She had a daughter (Jennesa) at 21 years of age and a son (Bobby) at 42 years of age. She always joked that she and Chris liked to raise one child at a time.

She graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science in accounting in 1992. Shannon had a way with running numbers in her head. In 1994, she became an entrepreneur by hemstitching around baby blankets and selling them in boutiques. In 2005, she expanded her business and opened a yarn shop called Hemstitched Heirlooms at the Square in Bountiful, Utah.

Shannon was an amazing knitter and was always graciously helping others with their knitting projects. Whenever she started a new knitting project, she had a running joke with her daughter about it being another hat. Shannon knit many hats because they were quick and easy to knit. Shannon recently closed her business on December 5, 2020. Shannon loved her yarn shop, and it was very hard on her to say good-bye to her shop where she had spent so much time and hard work. She truly cherished all the friendships she made over the years with those that came into the shop.

In October of 2017, Shannon was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent two cycles of different chemotherapies, radiation, and a mastectomy. She showed the cancer what she was made of and was in remission. Shannon was tough and a fighter.
Shannon was so excited to become a grandma and loved her grandson (Davis) and granddaughter (Violet) very much. She was so proud of her two children and their accomplishments. She also was very proud of her husband and all that he did for her. She will forever be his “Dancing Queen.” She is remembered for the best back scratches, the best unlimited hugs, and running her fingers through our hair.

She is survived by her father Bobby Doughton, husband Chris, daughter Jennesa (Ryan) Voorhis, sweet son Bobby, her two grandchildren, and siblings Kristal Neumann, Jenna Doughton, and Bobbi Doughton. She will be greatly missed by all. Her love was infectious.

A celebration of her life will be held for family and friends on Saturday, April 3, 2021, with a public viewing from 12:45 to 1:45 p.m. and funeral service at 2:00 p.m. at Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main, Bountiful, Utah.