Jean Laws Obituary

Lola Jean Kartchner Laws

HUNTINGTON - On Dec. 6, 2009, Lola Jean Kartchner Laws departed this life into the waiting arms of Wayne, her sweetheart of more than 50 years on this Earth.

Jean was born on May 29, 1925, the fourth child of Nora Black and Henry Z. Kartchner, on the Carlyle Ranch, a few miles north of Monticello. At the age of 1.5 years, the family moved to Huntington, where Jean lived until she met Wayne. On Sept. 4, 1942, they were married in the Salt Lake Temple. Wayne and Jean lived in Blanding, for a couple of years after Wayne returned from WWII. In 1948 Wayne and Jean moved to Carbonville, Carbon County, where they built their home and raised their family. They lived there except for the three years they spent in England on a building mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Wayne passed away in Sept 1992. Jean continued to live in the home Wayne built for them until Aug. 2008, when she moved to The Seville Retirement Residence in Orem, where she made many friends.

As an active member of her church, Jean served in many positions including Relief Society President, Young Women's President, teacher, secretary, music director, librarian, stake missionary and Manti Temple ordinance worker. She was also active in the community as president of the College of Eastern Utah Women's Faculty Association, PTA President, and Captain of the Rim Rock Camp of Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.

Jean was talented in many ways. She was an excellent homemaker, a wonderful seamstress, did beautiful embroidery, and made lovely quilts for her family. But her talents extended far beyond her home. She wrote poetry, short stories, songs and lyrics for musicals and road show skits, and a lullaby for her granddaughter. She organized and sang with choirs, quartets, and double trios. One group was invited by U.S. Senator Jake Garn to accompany him on his state-wide campaign tour. Jean enjoyed giving readings and was a fine actress, at one time a protege of Elmo Geary, for whom CEU's Geary Theatre was named.

More than anything, Jean loved her husband, her children and grandchildren, the Lord and her church. She will be deeply missed.

Jean is survived by her children; Linden (Kathleen) Laws, Spring Glen, Utah, Kaye (Lynn) Manhart, Orem, and Grant (Janet) Laws, Carbonville, seven grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren and was looking forward to one more. Two sister-in-laws, Dottie Laws, Blanding; Darlene Kartchner, Price. She was preceded in death by her eternal companion Elwood Wayne Laws, her brother Lamont, her sisters Guila and Glenna, her parents and one great grandson. Her funeral service will be held on Saturday Dec. 12, 2009 at the Carbonville Ward church in Spring Glen at 10 a.m. A viewing will be held at Mitchell's Funeral home Friday, Dec. 11, 2009 from 5 to 7 p.m. and at the Spring Glen church an hour prior to the funeral. She will be interred at the Huntington City Cemetery. 

*From the Sun Advocate, December 8, 2009.