Laurel Gwen Sheffield

1947 - 2011  (63 years)

• Name	Laurel Gwen Sheffield
  Born	7 Jul 1947	Provo, Utah, Utah
  Gender	Female
  Died	14 Jan 2011	Rigby, Jefferson, Idaho
  	After a valiant battle against breast cancer and its complications, Laurel "Laurie" Gwen Sheffield Brown slipped into the next world to join her husband, Dennis, on Friday, January 14, 2011. Her life was distinguished by a seemingly endless supply of kindness, gratitude and faith. Laurie was born in Springville, Utah, on July 7, 1947, to Erwin and Katherine Sheffield. As a young girl, she doted on her parents and was devastated when she lost her mother at the young age of 13. Refusing to be defined by tragedy, she dened to develop a positive, grateful attitude and worked throughout her life to find the good in even the most difficult of circumstances. She grew up loving her three sisters and two brothers, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Beach Boys and Brigham Young University sports. When she was 19 years old, she attended Ricks College and there met Dennis Brown, a tall, dashing farm boy who had just returned from a mission to Chile. Just a few months after they met, the two were married in the Salt Lake City Temple onmber 23, 1967. It was then that Laurie began her great work in life: being a wife and mother. Laurie and Dennis had four children, Jason, Mark, David and Daniel. Being a mother to four rambunctious, sometimes difficult boys was a challenge, but Laurie loved her sons steadily and without question. She encouraged them in their interesomforted them in their heartbreaks and always provided a listening ear. The happiness of her husband and sons was her highest priority. Membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provided Laurie with many opportunities to serve others. She served in presidencies for the Relief Society, Sunday school and the Young Women organization at both ward and stakes. She helped organize Girls Camps, Wyoming treks and humanitarian projects. Besides the more public aspects of her service, Laurie also made a regular habit of small, private kindnesses. She often sent notes or offered small thoughtful gifts to people who were suffering, or stopped by just to visit. She took every opportunity to brighten someone else's day, and rarely spent any time thinking of herself because she was too busy improving the lives and lifting the hearts of those around her. Laurie retired after a career working at Ricks College and then BYU-Idaho. She loved the friends she made as she worked as the secretary for the Theater and Dance department and, later, the secretary for the Division of Performing and Fine Despite being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in her late thirties, Laurie didn't let her physical impairments stop her from living a full life. She considered her full-time job to be being Grandma. Spending time with her grandchildren we of the greatest joys of her life and she loved talking and playing with each one. She made sure that they knew how special and loved they were and, in turn, she was loved deeply by each of them. When Laurie was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, she didn't think she had a lot of time left. She worked hard to stay active, engaged with her family and friends and to serve faithfully in her calling. She lasted far longer than anyonecipated and never lost her sense of dignity. Even in the last days of her life, she never failed to say "thank you" to those who helped her. Laurie set the highest standard of faith, kindness and perseverance. She was a woman of uncommon goodness and her family and friends will miss her. Laurie is survived by her four sons, Jason (Mindy), Mark (Suzanne), David (Melanie) and Daniel (Shalee). Her grandchildren are Dylan, Megan, Kate, Jonah, Maryn, Avery, Parker, Brianna, Kyle, Kameron, Naomi, Hadley and Blake. She is also sud by her siblings, Jim (Lynda) Sheffield, Fay (Bob) Pennock, Nan (Phil) Harrison, John (Alana) Sheffield and Julie (Tim) Thurman. Laurie was preceded in death by her husband, Dennis; her stepmother, Ella Naylor; and her parents, Erwin and Katherine. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 19, at the Rigby Stake Center, 258 W. First North. The family will visit with friends from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Rigby Stake Center and from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Wednest the Rigby Stake Center. Burial will be in Pleasant View Cemetery near Malad City, Idaho. Family Tribute - Published in the Post Register 16 Jan 2011 ____________________________________________________________
  Buried	Pleasant View Cemetery, Malad City, Idaho
  		Memorial for Laurel Gwen Sheffield with Headstone Find a Grave
  Person ID	I7476	Grow
  Last Modified	28 Feb 2013

  
  

  Father	Erwin Lowell Sheffield,   b. 22 Oct 1908, Kaysville, Davis, Utah ,   d. 13 May 1980, Springville, Utah, Utah  (Age 71 years)
  Mother	Katherine Jane Grow,   b. 26 Feb 1909, Charesholm, Alberta, Canada ,   d. 27 Jul 1960, Provo, Utah, Utah  (Age 51 years)
  Married	18 Jun 1936	Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah
  Family ID	F699	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Dennis Ruel Brown,   b. 15 Feb 1944, Malad, Idaho ,   d. 22 Sep 2010, Tonica, LaSalle, Illinois  (Age 66 years)
  Married	23 Nov 1966	Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah
  Children	1. Jason Michael Brown   2. Mark Sheffield Brown   3. David Leo Brown   4. Daniel Lowell Brown
  Last Modified	22 May 2012
  Family ID	F2400	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map		Born - 7 Jul 1947 - Provo, Utah, Utah Married - 23 Nov 1966 - Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah Died - 14 Jan 2011 - Rigby, Jefferson, Idaho  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos

  Laurel Gwen Sheffield