Mary Lyon Miles Lindsay

MARY LYON MILES LINDSAY APRIL 7, 1932 – FEBRUARY 7, 2024 After 91 vigorous years of accomplishment, service, and love, Mary Lyon Miles Lindsay, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, peacefully passed away in her home on February 7, 2024, surrounded by family. Mary was a strong, independent woman with a love of learning. She had many interests including art, history, tennis, swimming, diving, skiing, politics, genealogy, sewing, cats, and people. She loved and accepted everyone. She spent many hours listening to new friends, helping them and often discussing one of her main interests, the cause of liberty, which went far beyond mere “politics.” She spoke out boldly for causes that were important to her, even in the face of opposition or apathy. Popularity was never her goal; she longed to make the world, her nation, and her community a better, safer place. She did this to benefit others, including her posterity. She was very tough with a gentle and tender soul. She had a strong focus on her family and made sure that each of her six children had lessons in music, tennis, swimming, other sports, dance, or whatever their individual interests required. She gave her children a strong foundation for navigating life. She supported and honored her beloved husband and best friend Dean with vibrant and enduring love. She respected her family roots and history. She was proud of her pioneer heritage and her faith as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mary was born on April 7, 1932 in Salt Lake City, the first child of Maurice Jarvis (M.J.) Miles and Mary Lyon Miles. Shortly after Mary’s birth, her family moved to St. George and lived with her grandfather, George Edmond Miles, in a home that is now a historical landmark, the Green Hedge Manor. When Mary was six years old, her father finished building their own home next door to her grandfather. Mary spoke with great fondness of her idyllic childhood growing up in the shadow of the beautiful red cliffs of St. George. The family lived on a large plot of land where they grew grapes, pomegranates, persimmons, figs, onions, almonds, and walnuts. Mary loved playing in the vineyards, climbing the almond trees, and caring for the family’s horses, chickens, pigs, rabbits, cats, and other animals. Mary eventually became the oldest sister to ten other siblings. She loved playing pranks on them. But in spite of her mischievous side, Mary was a great example to her brothers and sisters, and they continue to admire and respect her to this day for her good example. As the oldest child of eleven, Mary learned how to help her mother take care of young children and run a household without a washing machine or other modern amenities. But it wasn’t all hard work; Mary’s father often treated her to an airplane ride on his airplane. He ran a pilot school to train WWII pilots in addition his chemistry teaching position at Dixie Junior College. Mary cherished those fun flights with her dad. Mary spent a lot of time at the St. George municipal pool near the family home where she developed great abilities in swimming and diving. Mary often taught others how to swim, but she could not always convince others to ascend to the highest diving board from which she dived flawlessly and without hesitation. Mary also had artistic talents. She created art with soft pastels, watercolor, pencil, charcoal, and oil paint. She pursued art for many years, creating many portraits and landscapes. She also wrote beautiful poetry. Mary’s parents were both college graduates and her father had worked on a PhD, so she understood the value of education. She was a voracious reader and an excellent student and always earned top grades. But when a poor grade in a sewing class took her out of the running to be high school valedictorian, she set her mind to conquer that skill. She later became an avid seamstress and made many beautiful pieces of clothing for herself and her family. Mary earned diplomas from Dixie High School, Dixie Junior College, and Brigham Young University. Mary emphasized education in raising her children, teaching them to read at an early age. She continued learning and sharing knowledge for nearly all her life. She was always educating others as she played active roles in local political caucuses and frequently wrote and published letters to the editors of local newspapers. She also frequently contacted her elected representatives and shared abundant information in advocating for causes that were important to her. It was not uncommon for state and federal elected officials, including the President of the United States, to respond to her concerns on important political issues. After college, Mary taught history, art, type, and shorthand at the high school in Dugway, Utah. She then served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the California mission. She faithfully served in La Jolla and other areas between Los Angeles and San Diego. When she arrived in California, the first person to greet her as she got off the bus was a missionary named Elder Dean Lindsay. Dean later said that Mary was the hardest working and most successful sister missionary he ever saw in the mission. Mary carried that work ethic throughout her life. After her service in California, Mary moved to Provo, Utah, where she hoped to continue her teaching career. While in Provo, she became reacquainted with Dean, who was pursuing his bachelor’s degree. Mary dated numerous people at that time. Her diaries recount several romantic interests and multiple dates per week. But she quickly gravitated toward Dean and they fell in love. They were sealed in the St. George temple in July 1957. Mary and Dean welcomed six children during their early years of marriage and lived in California, Oregon, Idaho, and Utah. Mary and Dean shared a special bond and were truly best friends and devoted life partners throughout their 63 years of marriage. Their reunion in heaven was no doubt a joyful one. Mary was unconventional in many ways, a bold and independent woman who stood for so much that is wholesome. She was an avid genealogist who constantly taught her family about the lives of their ancestors and about their legacy of faith. She loved traveling the world with her husband Dean and taking family road trips with her six kids in the family station wagon. She was a consistent journal keeper. Her daily entries were often pithy one-liners that revealed the circumstances at the time, her heart, and her sense of humor. Mary loved all animals and treated them like royalty. In her later years, Mary invited a beautiful feral cat into her home and heart. That sweet cat became an important part of Mary’s life and would rush to Mary’s pillow near the end to comfort her when in distress. Mary’s love of athletics kept her body strong to the end. While tennis, swimming, and running were her staples, she especially loved to ski. According to certain rumors, she may or may not have sneaked her daughters out of school to hit the slopes on school days. Mary’s life was a life of selfless service, to her husband, family, community, and nation. She was constantly serving friends and neighbors, helping them without hesitation. She opened her heart and home to many people over the years. She served faithfully in many church callings. Above all, Mary had an unshakeable faith and testimony, and served faithfully and honorably to the end. Mary is survived by her six children: Jeffrey (Appleton, WI), Michael (Salt Lake City, UT), David (Sandy, UT), Carolyn (Aurora, IL), Rosalie (Cottonwood Heights, UT), and Joseph (Herriman, UT). She also leaves behind twelve grandchildren (one deceased), sixteen great-grandchildren, and numerous other family members and friends who were touched by her beautiful life. Funeral services will be held at 7035 South Nutree Drive in Cottonwood Heights, Utah, as follows: A viewing will be held on Friday, February 16, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Saturday, February 17, 2024 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. A funeral service to honor Mary will be held on February 17, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Interment will be at the Utah Veterans Cemetery & Memorial Park, 17111 South Camp Williams Road in Bluffdale, Utah, on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. The family is grateful for the assistance of Serenity Funeral Home and the hospice nurses, caregivers, family, and friends who offered loving service to Mary in her final years.

Mary Lyon Miles Lindsay

April 7, 1932 - February 7, 2024