Helen Jean Covey Williams

She was born in Boston, as her parents lived there while her father attended graduate school. She was raised in Salt Lake City and attended Stuart School where she had the finest instruction in spelling, grammar and became a true wordsmith. One memorable learning was a special report on trees. For the rest of her life she could identify many varieties of trees as she would drive to-and-fro.

During the depression her family moved to the South part of the Valley where her father had a chicken ranch, before moving back to Salt Lake.

Helen Jean described herself as a tom boy. She loved being active. She spent her summers up at the family cabin in Mt. Aire Canyon hiking and exploring, swinging from the rope swing hung high between twin pines on the side of the mountain that would take your breath away. She and her cousin Emma Lou would barrel down the canyon on a homemade "bug" and fly off the road when they failed to make a hairpin turn.

She was lethal with a tennis racket and could hold her own with the best of the boys. She loved skiing at Alta and was an active swimmer much of her life.

She graduated from East High and was a natural musician. She enjoyed singing and had a beautiful alto voice that could harmonize with anyone. She excelled at the piano, a talent she continued to magnify the rest of her life. Even at 93 she could play Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata from memory without missing a note. She could also be found playing the harmonica, ukulele, recorder and even a coronet and make them all sing.

She attended the University of Utah where she was active in Chi Omega, she graduated in music and then attended Columbia in New York City, with her dear friend Margaret Cornwall Richards. She loved both.

She married Ned Williams, her Marine, after he returned from duty in Japan at the end of WWII. They purchased a home close to Cutler's Corn Field (now St. Marks Hospital) where they had 3 children. Years later they divorced, but remained friends throughout their lives.

Helen Jean had a keen wit and could often be found collaborating with other creative people on skits, roadshows and parties. She loved to play with words. She was a master. She was a member of the Junior League, a charitable organization of women.

Helen Jean worked for Sherman P. Lloyd, US Congressman from 1969 to 1971 in his Utah office, where she was a valuable addition to his staff. She also worked for 10 years for the University of Utah in their Career Library helping graduates, like her son Jeff, land great careers with companies like IBM.

Her most prized occupation was the caring and nurturing of her three children. No sacrifice was too great as she grew them all from “little weeds” to contributing adults. She also was a second mom to her beloved nieces and nephews. The faith of her beloved parents and grandparents became the solid foundation on which Mom built her life

Helen Jean traveled to many wonderful places, Hawaii, China, Japan, Europe and the Holy Land but her favorite was the cabin on Hebgen Lake Montana where she spent many weeks during the summers with her immediate and extended family. She loved to solve jigsaw puzzles and she was dominating on Trivial Pursuit. She loved playing vinyl records of My Fair Lady, Hans Christian Andersen with Danny Kaye, as well as the Kingston Trio.

After her retirement she lived in Bountiful for several years where she brought sunshine to her neighbors through her smile and warm conversation as well as through her music. She recently moved to Kaysville to an intimate assisted living residence called The Villas at Baer Creek. This place was a little spot of heaven for her. The staff there were wonderful. She had a piano in her room and the sweet strains of her music touched the hearts of everyone who passed by.

Mom was “A person of innocence, honest intent, and pure motives, whose life reflects the simple practice of conforming her daily actions to principles of integrity.” Joseph B. Wirthlin

She is survived by her brother John M.R. (Jane) Covey, and her sister-in-law Sandra Covey, and her 3 children, Jeff (Diane) Williams, Jeanne (Jim) Bosserman and David Williams whose wife Lisa preceded her in death in 2014. Her Grandchildren: Sara (Andy) Vernon, Jeffrey S. Williams, Christopher (Kristyna) Williams, Emily (Jeremy) Hansen, Rebekah (Brian) George, Jimmy (Danielle) Bosserman, Hannah (Chris) Freeze, Hyrum (Parker) Bosserman and 20 Great grandchildren who call her Grammy. She was preceded in death by her sisters, Irene (Cal) Gaddis and Marilyn Williams and her brother Stephen R. Covey.

Services will be held Saturday, July 28, 2018 at 2:00 P.M., with a viewing prior at 12:30 at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 So Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84106.

Our family wishes to thank the caring staff at the Villas and her nurses at Envision Home Health who made such a positive difference in her life.

In leu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to: Bridle Up Hope, 1141 East Watkins Lane, Alpine, UT 84004 or online at: bridleuphope.org