Loma LaPriel Lovell Ashby

Born June 11, 1939 at Holy Cross Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah to Welby George Lovell and Alta Hermione Hill of Leamington Utah. Loma had one younger sister, Ethel, who was also her best friend.Mom grew up in Leamington, a small Utah community between Nephi and Delta. Blink and you will miss it. From ages 1 to 3 Mom was known as Loma. From 4 to 18 Mom's extended family called her LaPriel. When Mom went off to college she went by Loma again. Loma attended elementary school in Leamington. She attended Junior High and High School in Delta. From the 7th grade to the 12th grade Mom was assigned by her family to stay with her grandma and keep her company. Her grandma lived in Leamington but was all alone, so Mom became her constant companion when not at school. Mom even shared a bed with her grandma, so that grandma could sleep without worrying. After High School Loma attended Dixie College where she began her life-long passion of gaining knowledge so that she could teach others what she had learned. Mom was always reading books, attending seminars, and gaining knowledge as fast as she could. Many times Dad found Mom had fallen asleep with a book in her hands or even over her face! Mom would also read multiple books at a time on almost any subject. However, this drive to learn was not for herself. It was so that she could share and help others. At Dixie College Mom met Dad where they had speech and drama classes together. Mom and Dad were cast as the Grandparents in the play "The Importance of Earnest". Mom and Dad always joked about being Grandparents before they were even married. Dad was called to serve a mission in Germany, and while he was serving, Mom continued her education and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Utah State University. During this time their fondness for each other grew as they corresponded back and forth. Dad returned from his mission late in the evening on December 23, 1961. The two and a half years had been too long for him, so early the next morning Dad went to the bank, withdrew his money, walked next door to the jewelers and bought a ring. He then convinced his younger sister, Elsa, to go with him from St. George to Leamington. In Leamington he asked Grandpa Lovell if he could marry Mom. Grandpa Lovell consented, and then Dad convinced Mom to go with him and his younger sister back to St. George so she could participate in the German tradition of opening Christmas presents on Christmas Eve. That night, on Christmas Eve, Mom received the ring Dad had bought that morning. Mom, although very surprised, readily accepted. (Mom's patriarchal blessing mentioned that they had chosen each other in the pre-mortal world.) Dad, the ever impatient one, married Mom 26 days later on the 19th of January 1962 in the St. George Temple. The following Monday Dad started school at the University of Utah in Salt Lake, and Mom soon after began teaching elementary school. Mom only taught school for a couple of years and then Jeff came along on the last day of school and Mom became a full time mother. In the ensuing years Mom and Dad moved back to St. George and Randon, Anjanette and Durell joined the family. Then the Lord sent them back to Salt Lake, where James, Brian and Alayne joined the family. Mom held many church callings (she never turned down a calling) and she faithfully supported Dad in all of his callings which included many years as a counselor to the Bishop, almost 17 years in the Stake Presidency as a counselor and as the Stake President of the Granger North Stake, and 6 years as the Bishop of the Redwood Ward. Mom also served as the Relief Society President for the Halfway House in Salt Lake City. Mom and Dad served a mission together as well, in the Riverton Employment Center where they were able to make a big difference in many people's lives. Mom always said she never had enough time so she collected clocks as a way to have more time. However, as you know, she always had time to listen, time to teach and time to love each and every one of us. Her life was about ministering to the one. Mom and Dad's favorite calling is the one they shared most recently with Dad being a Sealer in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple and Mom being a shift coordinator. They were able to work with many of their dear friends and family in the House of the Lord. Mom and Dad look forward to continuing this calling together in the Millennium. Place of Birth:Salt Lake City, UtahPlace of Death:Salt Lake City, UtahOccupation:School Teacher