Bernice Rawlings

BERNICE BEECHER RAWLINGS

1948-2016

Our beloved wife, sister, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Bernice Beecher Rawlings passed from this earth to an easier existence on Thursday, October 6, 2016, in American Fork, Utah. She was born June 10, 1948 in Brigham City, Utah, the third of six children to Merl and Ruth Johnson Beecher.  She loved growing up as an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and being surrounded by family.  She graduated from Box Elder High School in 1966.

She married Robert Lee Ashley on August 7, 1970 and helped raise his children and two of his grandchildren, loving them and serving them in many ways.  Bob passed away in 2004.  She married Stephen William (Bill) Rawlings on June 5, 2009, in the Jordan River LDS Temple.  Though never blessed with her own birth children, she also loved Bill’s children and grandchildren as her own.

Bernice was a great example of faith and courage through a challenging life.  Her strong testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ never wavered.  Her family was extremely important to her and she made an effort to be at weddings, funerals, farewells, family parties, and any other activity she was able to attend.  She was well known for keeping track of family members, immediate and extended, and knew more about what was happening than anyone else in the family.

Preceded in death by her parents and brother-in-law, Paul.  Survived by her husband; siblings: Saundra McNeely, Reed (Karla) Beecher, Paul (KaeLynn) Beecher, Allen (Anne) Beecher, Clark (Kelley) Beecher; Bob’s children Lee, Amy, Victor, and Cheryl; and 2 grandchildren; Bill’s children:  Patricia (Howard) Steadman, Jane (Mark) Mecham, Stephen William Jr. (Robin) Rawlings; 13 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Special thanks to the staff at Stonehenge Care Center and American Fork Intensive Care Unit.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday October 14, 2016 at the West Jordan Bingham Creek Stake Center 8539 S. 2200 W., West Jordan, where friends may visit from 10:00 -10:45 a.m. prior to the service.  A viewing will be held Thursday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Jenkins Soffe Mortuary 1007 W. South Jordan Parkway, South Jordan, Utah.  Interment will follow at South Jordan Cemetery, 10630 S. 1055 W. South Jordan.  Arrangements under the care of Lindquist’s Bountiful Mortuary.