Shirley Mae Yardley Edmonds

Shirley was born July 19, 1932, in Beaver UT. on the family's kitchen table. She is the youngest daughter of Daniel and Myrtle Stewart Yardley. She had six brothers and one sister. She spent the first part of her life on a cattle ranch until she was old enough to go to school at Belknap Elementary in Beaver. She then went to Beaver High School where she played the clarinet in the Beaver High School band. She graduated in 1950. The next part of her life journey took her to Denver school business, where she studied to be an Executive level secretary with a financial background. It was in Denver that she was set up on a blind date by her best friend where she met the love of her life Charles. He was an Airman in the United States Air Force, stationed at Lowry Air Force Base.

 Their courtship started after that blind date, they courted for a little over a year. When on her 19^th birthday they got engaged. They were married on November 23, 1951, on Thanksgiving weekend while Charles was on a three day pass. Charles drove 900 miles from El Paso, Texas to Beaver, Utah to get married. The power went out at the start of the ceremony. They were going to be married in the dark until her father-in-law pulled out his lighter.  Allowing the bishop to finish the ceremony at her parent's home. After marriage, they started the 900 mile journey to Fort Bliss military base. Charles had to be in the lineup early Monday morning. While in El Paso, Texas, the couple had their first child Charles Daniel “Danny” on December 28, 1952. Their daughter Linda Jean arrived on April 4, 1954. They remained in El Paso, Texas for another year.  The next part of her life journey took her across the country to her husband's hometown of Towson just outside of Baltimore, Maryland. It was quite a shock for a small town country girl from Beaver. They remained in Baltimore for 2 years while her husband completed his general science and pre-veterinary education. The next part of her life’s journey took her to the south in Athens, Georgia, where her husband studied at the University of Georgia, School of Veterinary Medicine. This is where her education came in handy, she worked as the Executive Secretary for the Dean of the University of Georgia. After her husband graduated from veterinary school they returned to Baltimore, Maryland for 2 more years. They then decided to return to Denver where they first met. While living in Denver they welcomed their 3 child Mark William on April 1, 1964.

In late 1964 her life’s journey took her back to Utah. They moved to Orem, Utah where she helped her husband establish his veterinary practice in 1964, as the Executive secretary for Dr Edmonds. They worked side by side until they both retired in 1981. They welcomed their last child on January 19, 1971, Paul Gibson. She resided in Orem until the death of her sweetheart, where she then moved to an assisted living center. She returned to her Heavenly Father on September 18, 2023. She will be greatly missed. 

Shirley loved reading, she always had a book or two with her. She loved to cook and always had a small garden where she grew many items used in her meals. She loved to sew and was regarded as a master seamstress. She was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Where her dream was to be sealed to her husband for time and all eternity. That happened on December 29, 2016, in the Mount Timpanogos Temple, where she got to be a bride again, she said it was the second-best day of her life.

She was preceded in death by her parents Daniel and Myrtle Yardley, and her siblings Rex, Howard, Jane, Ray, Heber, and Fred. A grandson Daniel Edmonds, great grandson Tyler Johnson, and Her dear husband Charles William Edmonds.

She is survived by her sister-in-law Ruth Elizabeth (Bettie) of Boerne, Texas, her brother Darrell (Geniel) Yardley of Beaver, Utah, her four children Danny (Vicky) Edmonds of Salem, Linda (Randy) Lee of Spanish Fork, Mark, (Shelly)Edmonds of Santaquin, and Paul (Susan) Edmonds of Pleasant Grove.  Fifteen grandchildren, thirty-six great grandchildren, and four great, great grandchildren.  

A tribute from a granddaughter:

My beautiful Granny passed away yesterday.

At first, I felt such joy that she was with her husband again. She got to see her mother and father after 45 years of them leaving this earth. So got to hug her sister and brothers.

As my mother struggled to write her obituary, I see her as so much more than my granny.

She was a professional woman, wife, mother, a secret keeper, she had style and flair, she loved bright lipstick (me too!) She was confident, cool, and had the wink that said your mother will never know.

I was ok until I got my daughter, being a daughter and having a daughter and then watching your daughter have a daughter. The strength that you have is the silent gift that is noticed by only a few. I have seen parts of your strength in my mother, myself and my daughter. Being a daughter is special. As I step into the role of granny (a very young granny!) The joy that comes from watching this strength that has been passed down.

Granny, thank you for my mother, thank you for the strength you gave her. I appreciate it the older I get and love seeing it in Addie.

Give grandpa a kiss and a hug! Tell him I miss him so much. Tell Aunt Jane I cannot wait for one of her hugs. I can’t wait to get to know your mother. I love you!

Dianna

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 22, 2023, at Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary, 495 South State Street, Orem, Utah. Viewings for family and friends will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, September 21, 2023, at Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary, 495 South State Street, and from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Friday, prior to the services at the mortuary. Burial will be in the Orem City Cemetery.

 Condolences for the family may be expressed on this page.

For those unable to attend the services they can be viewed by clicking HERE