Lucetta Lyday

Our beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, Lucetta Jean Hollinger Lyday passed away Thursday, November 13, 2014 in her Layton, Utah home.

Lu Jean was born October 20, 1938 in Salt Lake City, Utah the daughter of Samuel Lorraine Hollinger and Lucetta Cornick. She was the second child and only daughter in the family. She grew up in the small ranching and mining communities of Eagle Valley and Pioche in south eastern Nevada with her brothers and lively Irish cousins. She graduated from Lincoln County High School in Panaca, Nevada and Utah State University in Cedar, City Utah, later Southern Utah State University. She attended classes with her mother as they both sought their bachelor degrees and she fondly remembered the beginnings of the Utah Shakespearean Festival.

LuJean graduated with a degree in Elementary Education and taught school first in Kanab, Utah and then in Salt Lake City. While teaching in Salt Lake City and living with her aunt, she met Joseph H. Lyday who had just returned home after being honorably discharged from the Navy following active duty in Iceland. Joe and LuJean met at church and were asked to teach the youth of the ward how to do the “Twist”, a popular 1960’s dance. The couple was married May 9, 1964 in the St. George L.D.S. temple and soon after bought their first home in Centerville, Utah. Joe began his career as a professional fire fighter with the Salt Lake Fire Department and Lu Jean began her career as a home maker.

While living in Centerville, Utah, they added six children to the family: Kerri, Carol, Cindy, Kevin, Kathy and, Christy. They had a beautiful home and yard with a large garden, and usually a cow or two grazing in the back orchard. After living 14 years in Centerville, Joe and LuJean built their own home in Layton, Utah and Kimberly joined the family. LuJean spent busy years picking cherries and peas, freezing corn, making jam and ketchup, but mostly laughing, loving and teaching her lively children. She rocked and sang with them, read to them, did homework with them, and best of all, she laughed with them and taught them how love their Savior and serve others. She took meals to neighbors and crocheted countless baby blankets. She loved to laugh and loved to help others laugh with her lively Irish humor.

LuJean was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She loved the scriptures, studying Church history, and the hymns. She spent many years in the Primary as a teacher and a chorister. In her later years, she led the music in Relief Society. LuJean loved sharing her testimony through music and her smile and enthusiasm encouraged everyone to sing. Her greatest love in life, along with her love of the gospel, was her family. Her husband, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren were always her greatest priority and source of joy and in turn, her family loved talking and laughing with Grandma Jean.

LuJean is survived by her husband of 50 years, Jospeh H. Lyday, Layton, Utah; her children: Kerri (Charles) Andersen , Rexburg, Idaho; Carol (Kelly, deceased) Wall, Clearfield, Utah; Cindy (Clay) Hintze, Clearfield, Utah; Kevin (Brenda), Strasburg, Virginia; Kathy (Tyler) Kunzler, Ogden, Utah; Christy (Ken) Ormsbee, Clearfield, Utah; Kimberly (Adam) Hyer, Clearfield, Utah; 23 grandchildren and five great grand children.

While her love for laughter and life are legendary, the love of her family and her testimony of the Savior are her enduring legacy.

Funeral sevices will be held Tuesday, November 18, 2014 at 11 a.m. at the Evergreen LDS Chapel, 2435 E. 1500 No., Layton. Friends may visit with family on Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist's Layton Mortuary, 1867 N. Fairfield Road and Tuesday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church.

Interment, Lindquist's Memorial Park at Layton, 1867 N. Fairfield Road.