Annie Kitchen

Our dear mother and grandmother, Annie Elizabeth Shepherd Kitchen, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, December 4th, 2016.  What a happy reunion to be with her beloved husband again, whom she has greatly missed these past 15 years, as well as her parents and other family members. She had a great heart which finally gave out after almost 99 years of loving and giving.

Annie was born March 1, 1918, in Orem, Utah to loving parents, John and Florence Isabelle (Pace) Shepherd. She was the sixth of thirteen children.

She graduated from Lincoln High School in Orem, Utah with high honors. She loved music and was the lead soloist in two operettas during her high school years. She had a beautiful voice and loved to harmonize with others throughout her life.

She married John Levi Kitchen on April 26, 1937, in the Salt Lake Temple. They are the parents of nine children. She was a wonderful mother who taught her children by example to be honest, hard-working, loving and willing to serve others. Their home was filled with music, books, games, laughter, work, and great food.

Annie was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She gave of herself in various callings in Relief Society (including president), Young Women, Sunday School, Primary, and Music. She was actively engaged in family history and loved attending the temple. She had a strong testimony of her Savior Jesus Christ and tried to become like Him.

Annie loved gardening and flowers. She grew beautiful rose gardens. She loved to make quilts and crochet. She taught herself how to crochet at the age of six while watching her mother crochet. She left a legacy of humanitarian service in the hundreds of quilts she made and the thousands of baby booties and stuffed animals she crocheted. Her loving contributions were sent to many parts of the world.

Annie’s greatest joy and legacy was her family: nine children (she called them her angels), 43 grandchildren, 112 great grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren, those who have married her posterity, as well as many neighborhood children and adults who lovingly called her “Grandma”.

Any who met her immediately saw her quick wit and beautiful loving spirit and fell in love with her. She kept her wit and keen memory to the end. She was so kind, loving, and patient in spite of her pain and discomfort especially in the closing chapter of her life, always expressing thanks to everyone.

She was preceded in death by her parents and beloved husband, and by her many brothers and sisters: William or Bill (Merinda) Shepherd, Arthur (Vera) Shepherd, Mary (Golden/Sam/Oscar) Giles/Chipman, Charles, Winnie (Arthur) Turner, Thomas (Mary/Carol) Shepherd, Florence (Don) Draper, brother-in-law Leslie Carson, sister Alice and baby brother—two babies who died at birth, Josephine (Roy) Tidwell. She was also preceded in death by a son-in-law, Dallas Raty, by a grandson, Jared Killion, and three great-granddaughters who died at birth.

She is survived by her sister Charlotte Carson of American Fork, Utah, brother and sister-in-law George (Jean) Shepherd of Monroe, Utah, all nine children: John (Kay) Kitchen of Lander Wyoming, Fred (Mariam) Kitchen of Belleville, Illinois, Weston (Dorothy) Kitchen of Orem, Utah, Norma Ann (Jack) Otto of Pleasant Grove, Utah, Helen Kitchen of Orem, Utah, Carolyn (Ray) Killion of Gillette, Wyoming, Janae Raty of Sugar City, Idaho, Joan (Michael) Yocom of Provo, Utah, and Douglas (Olga) Kitchen of Saint George, Utah.

The family expresses great thanks to the amazing Trauma ICU medical team at the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center who were so loving and gentle with her. Also a special thanks to the kind and supportive neighbors and ward family who have all been so great.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 9, 2016 at 11 a.m. at the LDS Chapel at 155 West 1600 South, Orem, UT. A viewing will be held Friday morning at the church from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. prior to the services. Burial will be in the Orem City Cemetery.