Clare Ann DeYoung Love

Born January 24, 1940 to Frederick Louis DeYoung and Grethel Clare Smith in Salt Lake City. Her father passed away when she was just four years old. Several years later, her mother met and married Augustus James Powell who treated her as his own daughter from then on. She loved him and her mother very much and considered him to be her “Daddy.” She grew up in Lehi, Utah attending local schools and graduating from Lehi High School. After high school, she moved to Salt Lake City and began working for Mountain Bell. She loved living downtown. She would often tell us that she walked everywhere and on her pay days, she would go shopping for a new dress and pair of shoes.

In October of 1960, she met Robert J Love. They quickly fell in love and married on December 10, 1960 in Elko, Nevada. They were sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple on March 29, 1965. Their love story is one of the greatest of all time and an example for all who knew the two of them. They shared a truly deep and enduring love, holding hands always and supporting each other right up to Bob’s passing in 2015. Every day for many years, they went for “coffee and coke or tea break” as soon as dad got off work. Even after he retired, they continued this daily activity. They were inseparable and she has missed him so much these past ten years! Together, they raised five children. Just before their first child arrived in 1962, Clare Ann gave up her job and embraced full time homemaking and motherhood. She loved all children and especially her family. She was extremely talented at the Piano and Organ and had a musical ear. She could listen to any music, simply write down the notes that she heard, and then play. Bob loved to listen to her play and often requested “their song” which was Lara’s Theme from Dr. Zhivago.

She spent much of her life serving in music positions in her LDS ward. Whether she was teaching music in Primary or leading music in Sunday School, she always wanted the music to be sung with heart. Over the years, she played at dozens of funerals of all denominations and helped with the Sunday music at the Golden Living Center. She especially loved playing for the residents living there. She was a room mother for each of her children’s school classes and often provided delicious treats and helped with school events. One of her favorite things was volunteering at Monroe Elementary where she ran the school store. In addition, she was a lunchtime playground monitor there for several years. She was a natural advocate and protector of children and always showed concern for their safety. Before Monroe Elementary was built on 3100 South, Gary and Barbara attended Whittier Elementary and had to ride the bus each day so she volunteered to have our home be the official “bus stop” for years. As such, she would have all the kids waiting for the bus come inside to stand in her kitchen if it was cold, raining, or snowing until the bus arrived. It did not matter that all their coats and boots were dripping or muddy. Once they all left, she would just smile and mop the floor.

Clare Ann was a fantastic cook and often provided meals when friends or neighbors were sick or grieving. For many years she baked bread almost every week. (The bread was often gobbled up the same day she baked it!) Christmas time was a time of baking loads of goodies and sending them to everyone in the neighborhood, to Bob’s job, and to her kid’s jobs as they got older. Her cinnamon rolls were legendary!

Clare Ann was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bob, son Gary, grandson Taren Dennis, and great granddaughter Quinn Fuller. She will be greatly missed and is survived by her sister Jaydene (Jack) Baily, stepsisters Joyce (Bill) Sorenson and Margie (Boyd) Richardson, daughters Barbara (Phil) Pool, Liz, and Anissa Love, son Jay (Kathy) Love, grandsons Daniel Love and Aaron Love, granddaughters Michelle (Josh) Fuller, Kristin (Cody) Marchant, Shelby (Doug) Lisen, Great grandsons Carson Dennis, Wyatt, Austin & Tucker Fuller, Tyson Marchant, and Sage Lisen, great granddaughters Kenley Dennis, Brynlee, Madelyn & Emma Marchant, and Dakota & Ainsley Fuller.

A viewing for friends and family will be held at Valley View Funeral Home (4335 W 4100 S, West Valley City, Utah) on Thursday evening, August 21st , from 6 to 8 p.m. and then one hour prior to funeral services on Friday, August 22nd at Valley View Funeral Home. The memorial service will begin at 11:00 a.m. and interment will be at Valley View Memorial Park immediately following the service.

The family wishes to thank Clare Ann’s gentle caregivers from Community Nursing Services.