Doris Martin Petersen

Doris completed her journey here on earth September 13, 2023 surrounded by loving family members after a brief illness. Doris Yvonne Martin was born December 12, 1931 to Virgil Woodford Martin and Dolly Cleda Parmley Martin amidst the beautiful Rocky Mountains in Colorado Springs, Colorado during the Great Depression. While her father worked at gold mining in Victor, Colorado, they lived in a log cabin. During this time her only brother, Woodford Lee Martin, joined the family. She attended a one room schoolhouse and remembers riding in the rumble seat of an old coupe car.

They moved once or twice a year, eventually joining Parmley family members in California while her father, Virgil, known as “Jack” from Jacksboro, Texas, looked for work. Frequent moves made education challenging for Doris, yet she was a quick study and made friends easily. Doris sought to find God through church worship wherever she lived. Despite a meager existence, her parents sought out piano lessons for Doris, who became an accomplished pianist while attending El Monte High School where she graduated in 1949. A boyfriend introduced her to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, their dates being church activities. She was baptized at 18 in a backyard swimming pool.

Many of the Parmley family followed healthcare careers. Her mother’s grandmother was a gifted healer and Doris felt drawn to nursing. As a result of her family attending a church picnic to hear a visiting Weber Jr. College professor, he miraculously offered to help her apply to the nursing program. She eventually earned her degree from the University of Utah and became a registered nurse. She worked at the Thomas D. Dee Memorial Hospital in Ogden, Utah and the LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City.

While a student at the University of Utah, she met Boyd F. Petersen at an institute dance the week before his graduation, and she was smitten! After graduation, Boyd returned home to Fillmore, Utah, to work for his father while awaiting Army deployment to the Korean War. Doris and Boyd continued to date, becoming engaged as he left for basic training. Three months later, on December 30, 1952 they were married, and 10 days later sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple. Boyd then deployed to Germany as a Russian interpreter while Doris finished her nursing studies. Ten months later they were reunited in Germany and have never parted. In December 2022 they celebrated 70 wonderful years together.

Doris cherished her role as a wife and mother. She left a legacy of love and service. Through her example she taught her children the importance of family, serving others, and relying on the Savior.

Doris was very active in genealogy and made numerous family connections as a result. She made the study of the gospel of Jesus Christ an essential part of her daily life. She served faithfully in numerous church callings, including leading the young women and Relief Society sisters. Her most challenging church service was as General Church Adult Correlation Committee Member from 1980 to 1989. Doris and Boyd served together as proselyting missionaries in Hawaii, opening doors and hearts with freshly baked bread and the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Doris enjoyed golfing, horseback riding, boating, skiing, and even playing tennis into her 80’s. They moved to their current home with a pool to entice family gatherings held every summer holiday. Doris was a skilled folk-art painter and enjoyed preserving family memories in scrapbooks. She loved tending her flower gardens and fruit trees and decorating her home for Christmas, her favorite holiday. She was particularly empathetic to the sick, making handmade lap quilts, chicken soup, kind notes and whatever else was needed. Her family will remember her warm and inviting hugs and kisses, her listening ear and plentiful encouragement.

She faced death with the utmost peace and happy anticipation, having lived a good life in service to God, to her precious family, and to her fellow brothers and sisters here on earth. She loved the life God allowed her to choose and was joyfully doing the work he sent her here to perform, to her last breath.

Doris and Boyd have five children, Stephen Franklin (Becky), Jeri Olsen (Rodney), Scott Boyd (deceased at birth), Martin Franklin (Tayva), Paul Franklin (Shelley). They have 16 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren with more on the way.

Funeral, Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at the Neff’s Canyon Ward, 4176 S. Adonis Drive (3950 E), Salt Lake City, UT 84124. Viewing 4:30 pm to 5:45 pm, Funeral 6:00 pm, Celebration Reception immediately following the funeral. ALL are invited. “Honor Doris and enjoy a cookie!”

Family graveside service will be held on Thursday, September 21, 2023 at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.