Elizabeth Ann Jeffrey Bagley

September 15, 1937 - April 21, 2021

Elizabeth Ann Jeffrey Bagley 1937–2021 Rexburg, Idaho Elizabeth “Betty” Bagley, 83, was welcomed into the heavenly choir on April 21, 2021, surrounded by loved ones after a life filled with music, family, and service. Betty was born in Brisbane, Australia, in 1937 to Grace Amelia Emma Rutherford and Douglas Dalrymple Jeffrey. She grew up enjoying the beauty of Australia with her brother, John, playing cricket in the street and frolicking in the surf near Rockhampton and later Townsville. Betty was an avid student of music, and excelled particularly with the piano. As a precocious five-year old, she was admitted to the Hall State Girls’ School. Over the next few years, as the Second World War raged on in Europe and in the Pacific, she learned to live with frequent air raid drills and the sound of sirens. In Townsville, she and her brother attended West End State school where she participated in many ballet recitals and concerts. She left home by train near the age of 14 to attend boarding school over 800 miles away at Moreton Bay Girls High School in Wynnum, Queensland. She enjoyed her friendships and teachers there, but did not care for the liver or tripe dinner that was served weekly. Upon finishing her schooling, she was asked to teach music at Rockhampton Grammar School. Around this time, Betty met missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was baptized a member, along with her mother and later her brother. She made the bold and courageous decision to leave Australia to attend college at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Within a few months, she met and fell in love with Terrence “Terry” Bagley, a cowboy from Wyoming and student of business and finance. They were married in 1958 in Logan, Utah. Betty did not travel back to her Australian home for almost 10 years. Betty and Terry raised seven children in San Diego, California; Bellevue, Washington; Edmond, Oklahoma; and finally Rexburg, Idaho. Throughout all the locations of her life, she taught piano lessons and influenced hundreds of students with her love and appreciation of the instrument, and there was never a day the piano or organ didn’t get played in her home. She instilled a love for the outdoors in her children with many family walks and hikes, sometimes beginning at an uncomfortable hour in the morning. Her commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ was unwavering and she shared her testimony through her example of love, kindness, selfless service, and humble prayers. Betty loved her family and particularly her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She regularly traveled to experience important events in their lives, and was happy to play with toys on the floor, board games and Yahtzee at the table, or Wiffle ball outside. She treasured each moment — story time with the toddlers, comforting a baby with a quiet lullaby, and the meaningful conversations with her growing and insightful teenagers. She shared the love of her homeland with her descendants with many family trips to Australia. Her accent was a daily reminder to all of her heritage, as well as her command of grammar rules, British Royal history, and her delight in eating buttered toast with vegemite. Her church service was extensive and included directing many choirs as well as piano and organ accompaniment in various organizations. She held a myriad of callings in the Relief Society, Primary, and Young Women organizations, but cherished her time in the nursery most. Betty and Terry served a mission together in the Rochester, New York area from 2001 to 2002. She is survived by her brother, John Jeffrey of Australia, her husband, Terry Bagley, and her seven children, Terry Jr., (Robyn), Jeffrey (Mary), Lisa Wheatley (Robert), Kelly Russell (Dave), David (Debbie), Julia Rummens (Mike), Melissa Buecher (Dave), 29 grandchildren and nearly 20 great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her mother and father, Grace and Doug, her sister Diane, and three grandchildren. We are so grateful to the many caretakers who helped Betty in her final year, particularly the staff at the Ashford Assisted Living and Memory Care in Draper, Utah. Services will be held on Friday, April 30 at 11 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, East Stake Center in Rexburg, Idaho, at 387 S 4th East and video streamed at the following link: https://youtu.be/zJJcr05FSvs Visitors may come to pay their respects prior to the funeral service from 9:00 to 10:30. Covid precautions will be followed with masks and social distancing required. Internment will be at Afton Cemetery in Wyoming. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the Alzheimer's Association of Greater Idaho at http://Alz.org/idaho in memory of Betty Bagley. Please share memories and condolences at www.serenityfhs.com