Marquita Goodrich Gerber

Marquita was born March 31, 1934, to Byron and Violet Goodrich, the last of 12 children. She was born at home in Naples, Utah. Marquita went back to Our Heavenly Father on April 7, 2026, at the age of 92 years old. She was married to Ronald George Gerber on December 4, 1952, by Mark E. Peterson, an Apostle of the Lord, in the Salt Lake Temple. They've been married for 73½ years.

Marquita is survived by her husband Ronald George Gerber, daughter Rhonda Mitchell (Tim - deceased), daughter Cathy Ashman (Jeff), son Cary Gerber (Jana), son Quinn Gerber (Grace - deceased), daughter Camille Van Wagoner (Alan), and son Brian Gerber (Nikie). She has 31 grandchildren, and 47 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, 10 brothers and sisters, and by her daughter Kolette Gerber Burrows.

This choice daughter of God grew up surrounded by love. She loved to help her father in the bee yard, helping to label the cans and pack the honey. Marquita was a cheerleader at the Uintah High School where she started writing songs and won an award in the State of Utah High School Category. She was a member of the DUP - Daughters of the Utah Pioneers - just as were her mother and grandmother (who was one of the last surviving original pioneers). Marquita loved her Savior and was a very active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She knew that because of Christ's Atonement and Resurrection she could someday be reunited with her family and loved ones.

She started playing piano by ear at the age of 4 and began playing the piano in Primary at the age of 7 then at the age of 11 started playing for Sacrament Meeting. She was a member of the Composers Guild at the Sound Column and received national recognition for the music she wrote there, including First Prize in the Children's category for her son Annie. Later she was writing numerous musicals and sometimes lyrics to many musical pieces. She was asked to write music to "I Believe in Christ" where she had a frightening experience similar to the Young Joseph Smith. Marquita wrote church and secular musicals, 23 Christmas programs, and a stake play, "I'll Follow You in Righteousness". She has played the Tabernacle Organ, also the organ in the Assembly Hall on Temple Square for many events. Marquita has played for various events such as weddings, funerals (hundreds), graduation, and award ceremonies. She played at the Copper Room for 11 years, the Governor's Mansion in Salt Lake, and at the Capital Building. She played for a double-quartet that went to the prison numerous times and the prisoners loved it. She had a knack for puzzling a singer as she could make key changes going from one key to another key, transposing flawlessly, several times randomly during the song.

She held several church callings, such as pianist and organist in her ward and the stake, most of the time without music, unless she was accompanying a choir. She participated in the bazaars, and wrote many roadshows, etc. She was a constant figure in many young lives at that time. Marquita loved doing things with the youth. She took them to Nauvoo one year and the next they went to the Hill Cumorah Pageant. One of Marquita's favorite church callings was working with the Young Women in her early married years and went to Girls' Camp, where she had a ball. She was known as a trickster by some of those youth.

When her children were young, she made most of their clothes, going without for herself for 16 years before she made a new dress for herself. She'd make cards to send to family, friends, ward members, about 50 a day. Sometimes people would receive two cares in one day because she had forgotten she had already sent one. Her cards were also sent to Cards for Kindness, an organization that sends cards to hospitals, first responders, military, basically anyone who needs to be cheered up. She would think of a person who may need a card and send one that very day. Her prayers grew longer and longer as she added names of those she loved -- both family and friends.

Marquita loves her family. What a legacy she has left. She had a hug and smile for everyone who walked into her life. With complete trust in the love of her Heavenly Father and her Redeemer, Jesus Christ, she leaves a lasting example of a pure and blessed daughter of God.

There will be a viewing Friday night, April 10, 2026. The viewing will be at the Heritage Park 10th Ward, 4950 South 1950 West, Taylorsville, Utah, from 6 - 8 PM. Saturday's Viewing and Funeral Service will be Saturday, April 11, 2026. The viewing will be from 9 - 10:30 AM at the same building, with the funeral to begin at 11 AM.