Shirlene Smith Petersen Obituary (1929

Doris Shirlene Smith Petersen, 90, passed away peacefully on December 25, 2019 in Farmington, Utah. She was born August 11, 1929 in Delta, Colorado to Lawrence LeRoy and Pearl Dean Trickle Smith. She was the sixth child of nine children. She was raised on a farm in Peagreen, Colorado and would often tell of how she would have to go by horse and buggy to the nearest schoolhouse for school. Her mother died in June of 1942 at an early age from diabetes leaving her dad with 8 kids at home. Her sister LuAnna passed away as a young child. Her dad packed up the kids and moved them all to Provo, Utah where he found work driving for Yellow Cab Company and working on the construction of Geneva Steel plant and a home to raise his family. He later married Arlene Upchurch and she became a beloved mother to the Smith children. Shirlene attended Provo High School and worked at the local soda and candy shop; Startups Sweet Candies in Provo during high school. She liked to meet and get to know people. Not surprising to anyone who received a handwritten note from Shirlene, she completed a course in handwriting and was awarded a Certificate from the Palmer Method Junior of Business Writing in 1943. In 1947, Shirlene met and started dating Willard Richard "Dick" Petersen. They fell in love and were married in April 2, 1948 just before Dick went off to Japan to fight in WWII. Soon after, their daughter, Nancy was born and Shirlene moved to an Army base in Texas to start a home and care for her daughter while Dick was overseas. When Dick returned, they moved back to Provo to be near family. Richard Brent "Dickie" Petersen was born on April 9, 1951 and Shirlene settled in to raise her children. Shirlene was always involved in her children's lives whether it be Boy Scouts, girl’s camp, softball or baseball. She was always the comforting voice and calming presence during any turbulent times in her children's lives. She loved her roses and Dick made sure that her roses were taken care of so that she always had roses in the house. Shirlene went to work in the deli at Warshaws from 1972-1974. She loved greeting customers and talking to the people she knew. Later she went to work for JCPenney's in the gift wrapping department. She worked at JCPenney's for several years. The best perk about working for JCPenney's was that she was able to take her grandkids school clothes shopping every year with her discount and have them dressed in all the latest fashions. The highlight from working for JCPenney's was that she won an all paid trip to Australia in 1989 and her and Dick extended that trip to visit New Zealand. She was so excited and shocked that she had won. Shirlene was the most exquisite dresser and knew how to put an outfit together perfectly for any occasion. She was a traditionalist in that she would not been seen in public without a perfectly put together outfit, earrings, necklace, smelling of her favorite perfume and her hair done. After retiring from JCPenney's she took a few years off only to start another chapter of her life in raising her great-grandchildren. Shirlene and Dick would travel from Provo to Salt Lake County every day to watch two of their great-grandchildren, Scott and Kiely. Shirlene dearly loved watching these kids grow and being part of what they were doing in school. She would prepare snacks for field trips, take them for after school snacks and knew all their favorite foods. After ten years of watching the kids grow, it was very hard for her and Dick to once again retire. Shirlene was the sweetest, five-foot person you would ever meet. She loved everyone and always had a hug for whomever she met. She was a comforting voice, a warm embrace and a loving presence that truly embodied the definition of Mom, Grandma and Great-Grandma. She left us on Christmas day and truly became a Christmas angel for all of us. Shirlene is survived by her daughter Nancy (Brent) Hutchings, grandchildren Candee (James) Allred, Clint (Kristie) Hutchings and Teriee Hutchings, and great-grandchildren Scott, Kiely, Dallin, Holland, Gracie and Ty. She was preceded in death by her husband of 71 years, Willard Richard "Dick" Petersen, by almost two months to the day, her parents, her brothers Todd and Merle, her sisters Faye, Betty, Bonnie, LuAnna, Barbara, Patricia, and her son Richard Brent (Dickie) Petersen. The family so appreciates the kindness a love shown to Shirlene by the Legacy House Assisted Living Community of Farmington and those from Hospice Care that attended to her needs. Shirlene had only lived there four months, however had come to love and connect with the aides that cared for her. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 3, 2020 at the Grandview 1st Ward Chapel, 1555 North 1350 West, Provo, Utah. A viewing for friends and family will be held from 9:45 a.m.to 10:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment will be in the Timpanogos Memorial Gardens 1000 N 400 E in Orem, Utah. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.bergmortuary.com. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local food bank in the Petersen's honor.