Mary Jane Utley

Mary Jane Utley, 85, was a 23 year resident of North Tustin She died in her home after a 9 year struggle with dementia. She was a loved member of the Tustin Senior Golf Club for many years. She was born with the rare gift of Perfect Pitch and became an accomplished pianist and organist. She played piano at the Tustin Senior Luncheon for two years.

She is survived by Bill Utley, her adoring husband for 66 years, and four children, daughter Carol Utley, and sons Mark Utley, Keith Utley and Dale Utley. There are nine grand children and two great grandchildren. She is also survived by a brother John Henry Duncan, Jr. and sister Stella Jean Bregent.

She was born on a pristine 150 acre farm, near Huntsville, Missouri in 1930. Sweet Spring Creek ran through their farm and served as their swimming home in the summer, and became their ice rink in the winter.

She came to California at age 12, in 1942. She played piano for the Fox Dancing School in Huntington Park for three years, beginning when she was in the ninth grade at South Gate Junior High. She also served as the South Gate High School pianist, whenever she was needed.

She graduated from South Gate High School in 1947. She was a Seal Bearer of the California Scholarship Federation, Historian of the Ladies Club. She was Secretary of the Letter Girls, and a member of Tri-y and GAA.

In 1947, towards the end of her senior year, she was the fastest typist in the entire Los Angeles School District. She typed faster than any of the fastest 200 seniors in that large School District. And, she was the fourth fastest of the 200 student contestants taking Short-Hand.

In 1960 she earned a PHT (Putting Hubby Through) from the USC School of Dentistry. She was a very special person with many talents and accomplishments. Her generous smile was her trademark, and she was always cheerful. She was loved and will be missed by everyone who knew her. She was indeed a rare, and wonderful wife, mother, mother-in-law grandmother, great grandmother and friend.

She lived in Downey for 40 years where she raised her family. While there, she became a member of the Downey Juniors and served as the Americanism Chairman. She moved from Downey to North Tustin in 1992.

Mary and I celebrated our 66 anniversary on December 18, 2015. Mary had dementia for about 9 years. She gradually lost the ability to do all the things she once did so very well, and she lost her memory too. About 4 months ago she began sleeping almost all the time. Her doctor said that was the final stage of dementia. One week ago, she collapsed as we were walking from the Tustin Senior Center where we lunched for the past two years. Five days later her doctor recommended I have Hospice come to our home. 29 hours later she quit breathing.

She was 85 years old. She was the sweetest lady I ever knew. It was a joy and a privilege to have her constant love for over 66 years. There are no words to describe my loss and the loss to all her friends. She was loved by everyone who knew her. Only recently, I realized that I had never heard her say an unkind word about anyone. She was such an inspirational little girl, I am indeed fortunate to have spent the majority of my life with her at my side.