Marlene Wright Larkin

marlene(April 28, 1937 – December 9, 2014)

Marlene Wright Larkin passed away peacefully at home on December 9, 2014, after battling liver failure for the past few months. She was always pleasant and happy regardless of her condition. She was born April 28, 1937, in Newhall, California, to Owen B. and Blanch Crandall Wright.

Marlene met her future husband, Grey Larkin, at church on Christmas Day 1955, and they went together until their wedding on June 28, 1957, in the St. George Fifth Ward Chapel. The marriage was later solemnized in the St. George Temple on December 10, 1963. Marlene and Grey celebrated their 57th anniversary last June and were looking forward to number 58.

After marriage, Marlene worked for Hurst Variety, Althea Nelson and later with her mother at the Treasure Chest. When her husband started his business, she worked with him until she started having a family and from that time on she was a full time homemaker.

Marlene was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and taught the gospel to all she met in word and deed. After five years of marriage and no children, she served a three-year building mission from 1964 through 1966 with her husband where they served the summer in Tuba City, Arizona, the winter in Cass Lake, Minnesota, and the last two years in the British Isles. Marlene has served in all the church auxiliaries and her greatest joy was the 28 years she served as a leader at Girl’s Camp. She served many years as an advisor to Lambda Delta Sigma and, as always, had a profound positive effect on all the young women she served. She also served with her husband as mission mother while he served as President of the Texas Lubbock Mission from 2002 to 2005, as assistant to the matron while her husband served in the St. George Temple Presidency from 2007 to 2010 and with her husband as they served together as the Directors of the St. George Large Multi Stake Family History Center from 2011 to 2013.

Her greatest love was her family and the time she spent with them. She served as president of the PTA when her children were in elementary school and never missed an activity her children participated in. Even though she abhorred wrestling she went to every match her son wrestled in. She loved Kolob, an area her Wright family homesteaded in 1860. She spent many happy times there with family and friends. She was an excellent cook and her meals attracted people far and wide and you never knew who would be at the table when meal time came. She loved everything nature and learned from her father how to love and appreciate nature. She was a cowgirl at heart and learned to ride and manage cattle at an early age.

Marlene is known for her love of Christmas and the elaborate decorations she put up each year. For years she put up a snow village that took half the living room. Every room and every nook and cranny was filled with decorations. Months were spent getting ready for Christmas, and months were spent taking it all down.

She is survived by her loving husband and eternal companion of 57 years, J. Grey Larkin, three sons: Darrin W. (Dannielle), Dennis G. (Rachel), Brandon J. (Shellie), two daughters: Laurette Johnston and Terilyn Dickert. She is also survived by 16 grandchildren and a host of foster children. She was preceded in death by her parents: Owen B. and Blanch Crandall Wright, and a younger sister: Patricia, who died when she was two days old.

Special thanks go to Sally and Kathy of Intermountain Hospice for their loving care of Marlene. They were truly her angels.

Funeral Services

  • Funeral services will be Saturday, Dec. 13, at 11 a.m., at the Morningside LDS Stake Center, 879 South River Road, St. George, Utah.
  • Visitations will be held Friday, Dec. 12, from 6-8 p.m. at Metcalf Mortuary, 288 W. St. George Blvd, St. George, Utah and Saturday, Dec. 13, from 9:30-10:30 a.m., prior to services at the Stake Center.
  • Interment will be at the St. George City Cemetery.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary, telephone 435-673-4221. For condolences, full obituary, and funeral listings please visit the Metcalf Mortuary website.

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