Lynda Fisher

Lynda Brownrigg Fisher (82) passed away from heart failure on July 15, 2020 in her home lovingly surrounded by her husband, her nine children, and many grandchildren. The eldest daughter of Charles and Ruth Hill Brownrigg, she was born on June 20, 1938 in Lodi, California. She attended school there and in Salt Lake City, Utah where her father moved for his work. Here she met and married Stanley Ray Fisher on August 15, 1957. They enjoyed nearly 63 years together, raising nine children and one grandson.

Work took them to establish homes and create memories in many different places: Salt Lake City, Utah; El Paso, Texas; Lake Charles, Louisiana; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Wichita Falls, Texas; 10 years in Oxshott and Esher, Surrey, England; West Bend, Wisconsin; Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez, Buellton, and Lompoc, California; Tucson, Arizona; and St. George, Utah.

Each place holds a dear memory in her heart. In England, she spent hours crossing the countryside by train in search of churches to create beautiful brass rubbings; amassed a huge collection of English antiques; bought and drove a used, black, English taxi-cab; and even started a little frame shop down by the Oxshott train station. In Wisconsin, she helped to build a family farm. She relished her time feeding, milking, and loving her goats, and took every opportunity to add to her goat collection which may have topped 14 goats before Dad knew what was happening. In addition to the goats, the farm grew to include thousands of chickens which the family raised, butchered and sold to a restaurant in Chicago; many cats, most of which did not survive the Wisconsin cold; and a few calves raised for veal. After leaving Wisconsin, her heart yearned for more animals, so she snuck and bought a few horses in Lompoc, California keeping them for months from the knowledge of Dad, waiting to feed and ride them until after he had left for work. A few clues gave it away, especially the hay Dad kept finding in the trunk of her car, a sporty, red, t-top Camaro. Collecting junk cars in addition to horses created a never ending stream of fun. Her collection included a ‘67 Chevy pickup truck, a Datsun B210 wagon, and several rickety motorbikes. She never passed up a good deal!  In California, she tried her hand at running with Dad, joining him for three mile runs in colorful, 1980’s running tights after he returned from work. She wasn’t fast, but she tried her hand at one race, the “Sweetheart run”, which included being carried over the finish line, dead last place, by her sweetheart. While in Tucson, she went to truck driving school to become a long-haul team driver, helping dad fulfill a childhood dream. She made her last move to St. George, Utah to finally retire. At the time, it was an equal distance between her grown children. We joked that it was close enough to each of the kids to visit them regularly, but far enough away to not be asked to babysit each weekend. But love of family brought three children to follow them there, so there was never a shortage of grandchildren love and occasional mayhem.

Lynda had many talents, hobbies, and job adventures. She tried her hand at real estate, scared Dad driving the semi truck with him, lovingly cared for many as a CNA, and started not one, but two frame/craft shops. She loved researching family history, creating beautiful quilts for her grandchildren, and reading murder mystery novels whenever she sat down. She will be remembered for her excellent cooking and her elaborate and delicious dinner parties.

Lynda had a deep love for all she met, especially those who needed an extra dose of love or direction. Guidance was given without judgement, only unconditional love and concern, leaving those who received it with a desire to do better. When someone needed help, she was the first to help. There was the Grandpa we adopted after Mom found him lost and wandering the streets. After helping him find his care home, she invited him to dinner, the first of many. She had a special connection to the youth. The Seminary students she taught in many wards will long remember her lessons, her sloppy joes and her warm smile that only hinted at the love she felt for each of them. In her presence, they felt like they were the most important person in the world. In every ward, in every place she lived, she was loved by the youth.

She was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, joining shortly after she was married. When she was invited to be baptized, she was both overjoyed and astonished that the missionaries would want her to join. She developed a deep faith in Jesus Christ and in His love and atonement, a love of the Book of Mormon, and a dedication to service within the church, holding many callings- Primary teacher,  Primary president, Young Women’s camp leader, Young Women’s president, Seminary teacher, Relief Society instructor and counselor, temple worker, and her favorite, a scribe for 12 years for her husband in his calling as Stake Patriarch. She especially loved the opportunity to scribe as Dad gave blessings to his own grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband, Stan; her sister Sandra Clark and brother Chuck Brownrigg of Salt Lake City, Utah; her nine children and one grandson she raised: Thomas (Susan) Fisher of Sandy, Utah; Patricia (Benson) Fisher Ramone of Ephraim, Utah;  Suzanne (Greg) Gergetz of St. George, Utah;  Rebekah (Bill) Shaw of Saratoga Springs, Utah;  Rachel (Rich) Scholes of Tucson, Arizona;  Nathan (Melissa) Fisher of St. George, Utah;  Mark Caleb (Leana) Fisher of Severna Park, Maryland; Joshua (Sarah) Fisher of Argyle, Texas; Elizabeth (Thomas) Dansie of Hurricane, Utah; Jason (Kate) Nez of Tucson, Arizona.

She will be forever missed but remembered by her 47 grandchildren: Tristan Fisher, Sarah Fisher, Jolyon Fisher, Adam Fisher, Matthew Ramone, Cheyenne Ramone, Brady Ramone, Tashina Foki, Stefan Ramone, Seth Gergetz, Zachary Gergetz, Grace Gergetz, Emma Gergetz, Erin Gergetz, Eden Gergetz, William Shaw, Taylor Shaw, Sheldon Shaw, Conner Shaw, Raegan Shaw, Evan Shaw, Emily Scholes, Micah Scholes, Hannah Scholes, Noah Scholes, Lucy Scholes, Samuel Scholes, Elijah Scholes, Kristin Rierson, Samantha Maine, Camerin Fisher, Micaela Fisher, Elyas Fisher, Jethro Fisher, Emme-Claire Alvarado, Declan Fisher, Hannah Fisher, Haley Fisher, Isaac Fisher, Ethan Fisher, Porter Dansie, Eliza Dansie, James Dansie, Amelia Dansie; and 22 great grandchildren.

Viewing services will be held Sunday, July 19, 2020 from 5:00-7:00pm at McMillan Mortuary, 499 East Tabernacle Street, St. George, Utah.

Due to Covid restrictions, there will be a private, family only service Monday morning followed by a graveside service at Tonaquint Cemetery at approximately 1:30 pm to which everyone is invited.