Ilene Smith

Ilene Saunders Cook Smith

1926 ~ 2021

Our beloved Mother, Grandmother, Great- Grandmother and Great- Great-Grandmother, Ilene Saunders Cook Smith, passed away January 28, 2021 at 94 years young at the home of her son Brian Cook and his wife Eileen.

Ilene was born to Edward Thomas and Marcia Slater Saunders in Ogden, Utah on October 14, 1926.  This couple eventually welcomed 12 children into their home.  They were well known in the Ogden area for their love for each other and the Lord.  Very musically gifted, they sang often for various events.  Theirs was an extremely close family and they genuinely loved being together.

Our mother brought great joy into our lives.  Her compassion, love and caring for others has been without fanfare, quietly giving of herself and her means to lift the hands that hang down.

A stalwart member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she served in many capacities, including missions in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Nauvoo, Illinois, and in the Sydney Australia Temple.  She loved to travel and visited many exciting places around the world including, Morocco, China, Australia, Mexico, Panama, Canada and much of Europe.  She has also lived many places including Utah, California, Ohio, Missouri, Alabama, and Arizona.

She was a gifted poet who could bestow upon sublime rhymes or witty jingles at the drop of a hat.  She was also an author, having published many of her poems and most notably a 342-page hardbound book, In My Father’s House, containing the history of her father and mother, siblings and a great deal of the Ogden area where she was raised.  She typed this book by hand, entirely by herself on her word processor.

She married her eternal sweetheart, Dean Amos Cook, on April 26, 1946 in the Salt Lake Temple.  They were blessed with three sons, Brian Dean, Robert Thomas, and Lynn Walter.

Her family eventually grew to include 10 grandchildren, Sherie, Sharla, Kristie, Lori, Jodi, Michelle, David, Lisalyn, Michael and Stephen.  Soon came 35 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren who all adored their Grandma.  She was the “youngest and funnest grandma you will ever know”!

Dean passed away much too early on January 29, 1984 at the age of 60 and mom spent many years alone.  However, with the love of music bringing them together, she met Lyneer C. Smith.  They soon fell in love and were married on February 18, 1989.  This union lasted 27 years until he passed away October 30, 2015.

Ilene was also preceded in death by her infant son, Robert, her father, Edward, her mother Marcia, nine of her 11 siblings, Edward, Lawrence, Marvin, Leland, Carl, Anna, Marva, Lou Jean, and Marcia.  She is survived by two younger brothers, Glen and Darrell, two sons, Brian and Lynn and all her many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

We look forward with great anticipation to our future reunion with our loved ones.  We are so grateful for Heavenly Father’s wonderful plan for eternal families.

Ilene’s funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, February 5, 2021. Due to COVID-19,  services are for immediate family members and guests.. Friends may visit with family, Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist's Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Rd, Layton, Utah., all are welcome.

To watch the live-stream broadcast of the funeral service, go to www.lindquistmortuary.com and scroll to the bottom of Ilene’s obituary page.

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