Dorothy S Hall

Dorothy Stuart Hall passed away peacefully at her home in Provo, Utah on Sunday, December 10, 2023.  She was born August 21, 1928, in Drummond, Montana, the daughter of John Hendry Stuart and Mary Janetta McBride.  She was the second youngest of 9 children and the last of her siblings – Alvin Stuart, Ruby Bradshaw, Phyllis Wight, John Stuart, Rosalee Stuart, Nettie Kidman, Faye Howell, and LaRee Howland – to pass away.  As her mother died while Dorothy was young, she spent much time with her older siblings and their families and was close to her nieces and nephews, living in Montana and Cache Valley.

Dorothy was a good student and graduated from South Cache High School.  She went on to get a degree in history from Utah State University while working full time for the telephone company and caring for her ailing father.  She then obtained a master’s degree in library science from the University of Denver.  While working for the Denver Historical Society and attending the local ward, she met Reed Stanley Hall, who was serving in the Air Force.  They were married April 26, 1955, in the Logan Temple.

Shortly thereafter, they moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts when Stan started law school.  During this time John and Chris were born.  The family moved to Riverside, California where Gary was born, then to Santa Barbara, California where Suzanne and Elizabeth were born.  Andrew was born after the family moved to Whittier, California.  Dorothy and Stan then moved to Northbrook, Illinois and finally moved to Provo, Utah in 1990 after Stan retired.

Dorothy loved her family.  She supported her children in all of their activities.  Even when burdened with Alzheimer’s, she would always perk up when a great-grandchild came by.  Her home was a center of love and devotion and a gathering place for friends and family.  Grandchildren attending Brigham Young University and elsewhere came to visit, wash clothes and have a good meal.  Friends and family from out of town knew they had a welcome place to stay while in the area.

Dorothy was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with a firm testimony of Jesus Christ.  She served in various capacities in the Relief Society and the Primary.  Family history work was a passion for her, particularly gathering information about her New England and Scottish ancestors.  For many years she volunteered and ran local Family History Centers.  She and Stan served a mission at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.

Dorothy loved to read.  Even when she was not able to recognize family, she was able to read aloud.  She helped coordinate volunteer staffing for the Murphy Ranch Elementary School Library in Whittier for many years after funding cutbacks eliminated paid staff.  She was a part of book groups and study groups everywhere she lived, including serving as the Secretary of the Study Group in its various permutations over the years in Santa Barbara, Whittier and Utah.

Dorothy enjoyed taking daily walks with her friends.  She liked listening to classical music as she went through the day.  Cultural activities, concerts and plays at Brigham Young University, Utah State, the Utah Shakespeare Festival and elsewhere were a part of her life.

Dorothy is survived by her husband Stan, her children John (Kimberly) Hall of Kaysville, Utah, Christopher Hall of Provo, Utah, Gary (Elizabeth) Hall of St George, Utah, Suzanne (Dean) Lefler of Houston, Texas, Elizabeth (Burt) Merrill of South Jordan, Utah and Andrew (Jenifer) Hall of Fukuoka, Japan, 32 grandchildren and 42 great-grandchildren, with several on the way.

Services will be held Saturday, December 16^th at 2:00 PM at the Oak Hills Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1960 North, 1500 East, Provo, Utah.  There will be a viewing before the service at the Oak Hills Chapel from 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM.  Interment will be at the East Lawn Memorial Hills Cemetery in Provo following the service.

We would like to thank Dorothy’s many care givers and hospice providers who provided wonderful service in watching over Dorothy and blessing her life.

Condolences for the family may be expressed on this page.

For those unable to attend the services they will be streamed starting at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 16 via Facebook Live at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/sundbergolpinfuneralhome