Donna Smith White Sedgwick

Our dear beloved mother, Donna Smith White Sedgwick, 98, passed away June 24, 2022, in her apartment in Clearfield.

She was born January 15, 1924, in the family home in Clearfield, the seventh of eight children of Thomas Lawrence and Ida Martha Smith White. Mom had a wonderful childhood, with many cherished memories, which she passed on to us and to her grandchildren.  She attended the Clearfield School, next door to her home, from first grade through the eighth, and then Davis High School until graduation.

It was in high school that she met our father, Kendall Harmon Sedgwick, from Bountiful.  Although she didn’t like him much at first, they fell in love before graduation.  During the height of WWII, with Dad leaving for active duty, they were married August 20, 1943, in the Salt Lake Temple.

Mom attended night classes at Weber College for eight years.  After her youngest children were in school, she attended college full-time and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a teaching certificate. She taught elementary school for many years and later wrote a music curriculum which she taught in classrooms throughout northern Davis County.

She was active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in many callings, including president of the Primary, twice, and president of the Y.W.M.I.A (Young Women).

In addition, Mom took daily care of her invalid father for nine years and helped give end-of-life care for her mother-in-law. 

Mom loved to entertain friends and family. She often invited friends to her home to play games. We fondly remember her organizing the first Clearfield 4^th Ward reunion/campout at Hawthorne Campground. Because we lived close to Mom's mother, we knew all of our cousins, aunts, and uncles well, as they visited often, which always turned into a family party.  

After retirement, Mom and Dad made their winter home in Yuma, Arizona, where Mom learned to oil paint and made many crafts. She led the branch choir for several years and later led the community choir at Chancellor Gardens Assisted Living, passing the baton at age 97 to someone else. She loved music. We sang as a family in our home, doing our chores, and on car trips. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; four sisters; two brothers; our father, Kendall; our oldest brother, Dennis White Sedgwick; and two great-grandchildren.

She is survived by three daughters, Marsha (Jim) Peterson, Syracuse; Ida Louise (Bruce) Blakemore, O’Fallon, Missouri; Kenna Alice (Rick) Andrus, Boise, Idaho; daughter-in-law Carol Sedgwick, Kaysville; one son, Craig Kendall (Connie) Sedgwick, Syracuse; 26 grandchildren; 81 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving is one sister, Irma Sabol, West Jordan.

During the last six years Mom enjoyed living at Chancellor Gardens and had many friends there.  As a family, we express our gratitude for the tender care given by Chancellor Gardens and Symbii Health Care staffs.

Funeral services will be held Friday, July 1, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. in the Syracuse 7^th Ward chapel, 1625 South 1100 West, Syracuse, Utah.  Friends and family may visit with the family at the church from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. Interment in the Kaysville City Cemetery. Services entrusted to Lindquist’s Syracuse Mortuary, 869 South 2000 West, Syracuse, Utah 84075.

Services will be live-streamed and may be viewing by scrolling to the bottom of Donna's obituary page.

ORDER VIDEOS