Nery Maria Vegas Pepper

Nery María Vegas Pepper, beloved grandmother, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend passed away on January 6th, 2022 in Murray, Utah. Nery was born on October 26, 1969 in Caracas, Venezuela. As a child her family lived in Higuerote by the coast. Her early years were spent playing with her siblings and cousins, drawing, making paper crafts, swimming in the ocean, and dancing. Many times she would visit her uncle’s farm, helping to harvest watermelon and corn and then fishing in the ocean for something to eat later that day or making a lot of hallacas all at once with friends and family. She loved the beach and sometimes slept there. She loved to pick mangoes and Spanish limes off the trees in the street with her brother on the way home from school. Even as a child, she shared everything she had all the time with those around her. Later they moved to San Felipe where she took her boom box with her everywhere, keeping it close even while napping. She loved school, ran track, and would cook in the middle of the night provided her siblings would clean up after. It was there she met missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and was baptized in 1985 at the age of 16. She was the first person baptized in San Felipe. From that day forward she was a strong missionary for her faith, accompanying the elders to visits, handing out copies of The Book of Mormon on the bus, and constantly telling her bishop she was ready to serve a mission and didn’t want to wait to be of age. Nery was a young woman of strong faith in Jesus Christ, which was marked by her generosity, interest in others, and her service as a full time missionary for 18 months in Maracaibo, Venezuela at the age of 21. The mission split during her service, and she was reassigned to the Caracas West, Venezuela mission. At 24 she came to the United States. After moving to Utah, Nery began her family of two beautiful girls and a handsome boy. She worked hard to balance being a mom and helping provide for her children. Nery was a model worker who always pushed herself and inspired those around her to do their best, regardless of the job. She turned herself into an entrepreneur, blessing the lives of many while teaching them to have fun and exercise at the same time in her Zumba studio. Nery was an expert baker, fielding requests from fans long after she stopped baking professionally. She gave freely of her skills for countless weddings, birthdays, and other events that were made even more special through her service. Nery’s laugh was iconic and recognizable by all who knew her that were within earshot. She loved to laugh and loved to make others laugh with her. Out of everything she accomplished during her time with us, Nery was most proud of her children. She loved them deeply and was so proud of who they have become. Nery is survived by her parents Jesus Antonio Vegas and Maria Lourdes Pepper, older brother Jesus Alberto Vegas, younger sisters Nathalie del Valle Vegas, Belkis Volcanes and Nora Yadira King, oldest daughter Daniela Alejandra Gomez Vegas, younger daughter Diana Carolina Gomez Vegas, youngest son Diego Alexander Gomez Vegas, granddaughter Ivory Aliyah Bohman, and fiancé Chris Sparrow.

Nery Maria Vegas Pepper

October 26, 1969 - January 6, 2022