Janice Young Parker

Janice Young Parker died quietly and peacefully at her home in Springville, Utah on 2 Jan 2025 with her husband and a daughter at her side. Having been born in Richfield, Utah of goodly parents (Leland Archibald Young and his wife Grace Sophia Olson) on 2 Feb 1933 she was 91 and 11/12 years old. She grew up in a choice family, the fourth of six children. Life, however, was not without problems. She was born without a soft palate which gave difficulties in both breathing and speaking. There were years of struggle, of treatment, of lessons and finally came the ability to speak correctly and clearly though softly. We note here that after many years of marriage the ability to surgically get a soft palate was quickly and gratefully accepted. She was given piano lessons and proved to have considerable talent. She became an excellent pianist, a blessing to her, her husband, family and many others throughout the rest of her life. She had another remarkable and unusual gift which she did not even realize for several years of her youth: absolute sense of audible pitch, This amazing gift she retained throughout her life. Her father was a successful contractor, building roads and bridges. They lived comfortably but not extravagantly. The family had a horse, cows, rabbits, dog, cat and vegetable garden. She learned to work. 

After graduating from high school in Richfield she entered Brigham Young University in autumn 1951 and majored in Elementary Education (graduated June 1955) though being active in music and other activities as well. She was a member of the Nautilus Social Unit and also the Cougerette marching group. On 23 Oct 1954 near the beginning of her senior year she met Jack L. Parker on a blind date. Jack may have been slow but friendship increased, grew into affection and finally into true love and the sure conviction that they should marry. On 1 June 1956 they drove to Salt Lake City and in the bright sunlight on the south side of the Salt Lake Temple they formalized their desire and intention to be sealed in that sacred building. The less important event of the engagement day was that Jack received his Masters Degree in Physics in the graduation ceremonies that evening. He also had orders to report for active duty in the Air Force at the Air Development Center at Wright-Patterson Air For base near Dayton, Ohio on 1 July 1956. And so it came to pass that Jack got some leave and they were sealed in the Salt Lake temple on 23 August 1956.

Their first four years were the Air Force years in Ohio. Janice taught school the first year and gave birth just a few weeks later to their firstborn. Two more children followed in the three years more they were in Ohio.

They then moved to the University of Utah Stadium Village housing. At the university Jack pursued the necessary classes and research to receive the PhD degree in Nuclear Physics. Of even more importance as usual, however, were the three more children that joined their family.

They then took employment at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico where they lived for nearly 31 years. And again as usual, the five more children that came to them were more important than his career which did however provide income to thriftily support a now rather numerous family. During all these years both Janice and Jack tried to be faithful, useful members of the Church. Janice was again the Relief Society President as well as the Primary President. She was also active and faithful in many other callings. The greatest sorrow, but in some ways the greatest blessing, of those years was her tenth child, little Rachel. She was born with an undiagnosed malformity in her heart. After ten wonderful days with her she was suddenly in great distress and died a few hours later. Though there was grief at her loss, Rachel is the child about which there were never any worries, only the desire to be worthy of her. In the following years at Los Alamos children grew up, served missions, were educated, many were married and grand children started to come. All ten living children received at least one degree from Brigham Young University. Finally the time came to retire and leave Los Alamos which happened in September of 1997. Janice and Jack then returned to his home town of Springville, Utah where they built a new home which they shared with his parents until they both died in May of 1998. After all the business of his parents will was finished, and after all the children were married, they received a call to serve for two years in the Sidney North Mission in Australia.

Jack was called to be the Branch President of the Dubbo Branch which was about 350 miles northwest of Sidney (and just larger than the State of Utah). Janice did everything a woman could do in the Branch, and did it very well. They returned from the mission in August of 2001. We note that six grandchildren had been born in their absence. Since then they have lived in their Springville home, have tried to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ, and have, as expected, grown older together. Perhaps a summary of her married life is to declare that she had become the much loved and highly honored matriarch of a family consisting of 10 living children, 69 grandchildren and 60 great grand children (though this number is constantly increasing). Her last six months were difficult. There were difficulties in healing from injuries from falls and more difficulties associated with the usual infirmities of old age. 

Janice is survived by her husband, Jack (of 68 years and 4 months), and by ten living children. They are David Parker (Loni), Elizabeth Parker Garey (Mike), Catherine Grace Parker Manser (Richard), Rebecca Parker Bradshaw (David), Jack Leland Parker (Collette), Caroline Parker Jardine (Glade), Jean Marie Parker Larson (Tomm), Robert Young Parker (Marsha), Donald Alan Parker (Beverly) and Peter Alma Parker (Florence). Also survived by 69 grandchildren and currently by 60 great grandchildren. 

Her family and loved ones are all grateful that Janice is now beyond the trials, troubles and tribulations of this mortal probation. They only hope and pray to some day be with Janice in the Paradise of God.

Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 11, 2025 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chapel, 350 North 400 East, Springville, Utah. Viewings for family and friends will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, January 10, 2025 at Wheeler & Sundberg Funeral Home, 211 East 200 South, Springville, Utah and from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 11 before the services at the church. Burial will be held in the Springville Evergreen Cemetery. 

Condolences may be expressed to the family on this page.