Irlene Rose Utley

Irlene Utley, 79, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family and loved ones. A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 1:00 pm at Tonaquint Cemetery. She will be laid to rest next to her beloved son Joseph who preceded her in death.

Irlene was born in Portland, Oregon on June 29, 1943 to LeRoy Harrison Martin and Helen Elizabeth Martin (Crowley). Irlene spent her earliest years in Portland and she eventually attended Santa Rosa Junior College where she met Heidi Kennedy who would become her lifelong best friend. Irlene and her family would join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; she would remain a faithful and devout member throughout her entire life. Irlene would welcome seven children into her family; Sally, Barbara, Tracy, Nancy, Heidi, Erick, and Joseph. Her children were the world to her and she considered raising her beloved children her life’s greatest achievement. 

Life was not always easy for Irlene, she would find herself living in far flung places such as Alaska and Montana and Texas. She settled back in Utah where she lived out her final years. Another constant in her life was her beloved mother Helen who she shared many a house with over the years. Irlene always stressed the importance of gaining a formal education, and when she found herself a single parent raising her children alone, she went back to school to first earn a bachelors degree, and then completing a master’s degree; she loved her years teaching and had an amazing impact and influenced countless students over the years. 

She found herself in her later years desiring to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she was assigned to labor in New Zealand; she fell in love with the people and the culture and treasured her time there.

She was preceded in by death her parents; LeRoy and Helen Martin and her precious son Joseph Utley. 

Irlene loved her family and leaves behind the following legacy:

Her brothers and their spouses; Mike and Jennie Martin, and John and Kathy Martin.

Children and spouses; Sally and Kelly Jackson, Barbara and Jason Worman, Tracy Ann and Barry Wade, Heidi and Lynn Barlow, Erick and Jette Utley and Nancy Roberts. 

She is further survived by her wonderful grandchildren:

Sally’s; Sydney, Kelsey, Spencer, Kippy and Sambo, Barb’s, Gabriel and Tasha (Idler), Elsie and Matthew (Nelson), Tracy’s; Justin and Amanda (Rasmussen), Scott, Ty and Bailee (Linquist) and Elder Chewy Wade, Heidi’s; Lynn III, Shelby and Emmett (Snow), Caleb, and Zachary. Nancy’s; Bella, Delaney, and Sean, and Ericks’s; Ethan and Isabell. 

Irlene is further survived her precious great grandchildren; Evelyn, Landon, Liesel, Gracie, Lydia, Porter, and Elijah. She was survived by her treasured Nieces and Nephews; (John’s) Meghan and Evan, Kattie and Chapman, and Matthew and Carley. (Mike’s), Sachia and Brett, David, Mark, Brandi and Paul and finally Dale and Mirna May and Willie and Lisa May. 

Irlene requested that those wishing to make donations please make donations to a charity of one’s choice. And as she often liked to say, “God be with you till we meet again.” 

Condolences may be shared at mcmillanmortuary.com