Betty John

Betty Mae Dunkley John

Betty Mae Dunkley John, 84 years old. Born December 14, 1933, Payson, Utah. Died of natural causes December 26, 2017, Layton, Utah.

Betty was raised in Utah County and graduated from American Fork High School, where she was a member of the color guard. She attended BYU.  She met her sweetheart, Lynn, through a friend who had set them up to attend a military ball.

As an Air Force wife, she often took the role of a single parent in raising their six children. She was very creative and independent. These qualities helped with the many times the Air Force moved the family while Lynn was away with Air Force duties.  She was a wonderful spiritual teacher, who was compassionate and kind to all she knew.  She was affectionately known as the “baby whisperer.” Babies and small children were attracted to her sweet spirit and gentle influence.

Betty was an avid reader and a good cook. Her many talents and interests included playing the violin, singing in many choirs, oil painting, various crafts, cake decorating, and sewing. However, she was most passionate about quilting.  She was president of the Utah Quilt Guild and at one time was a member of seven quilting groups.  She received the prestigious Silver Thimble Award, which is given for service to the Utah Quilt Guild.  She was actively involved in the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.

She married her “Honey,” Lynn Morris John of Woodruff, Idaho, on August 19, 1953, in the Salt Lake Temple.  They had six children, 25 grandchildren, and 41 great grandchildren (with two more on the way).

Betty is survived by her son, Keith (Coleen); and daughters, Camille Holt (Donald), Katherine Airmet (Wayne), Tamera Wilhelm (Steve), Rosemarie Carter (Brian); brothers, Melvin Dunkley (Sandra), James Dunkley (Joyce), Paul Dunkley (Bonnie); sister, Helen Christensen (Neil); and sisters-in-law, Myra Jean John (Dennis), VonaMae Dunn (Lowell), Darlene Porter (Lloyd).

Preceded in death by her husband, Lynn Morris John; her parents, Melvin Edson Dunkley and Mary Dorthella Wood; one step-sister, Karen Reed; daughter, Margo Marley (David); sons-in-law, David Marley and Michael Dippold; five brothers-in-law; and two sisters-in-law.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 30, 2017 at 11 a.m. at the Valley View Stake Center, 1589 East Gentile Street, Layton.  Friends may visit family Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Road and Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church.

Interment and graveside service, Portage, Utah Cemetery at Saturday at 3 p.m.