Juanita Stanley Pullan

1919 ~ 2019

Juanita (Nita) Stanley Pullan joined her husband, Paul, and their sons Gene and Daryl and great granddaughter Michealla on March 23, 2019. Hopefully they have a stockpile of yarn and thread waiting for mom. She's got about a year's worth of pent up crocheting, quilting and needlepoint to do.

Nita's 99 years of life and love began in Naples Utah on June 23, 1919. Her parents were Rufus (Gus) Augustus Stanley and Mary Ellen (Nellie) Dyson Stanley. She is the last of her siblings to cross to the other side (although not the oldest at her time of passing—that distinction was Roy's, at 102) She is, no doubt, now celebrating a reunion with Jennie, Liston, Charles (Roy), Ealenes, Christopher, Lucy and Carrie.

In 1939, Paul Pullan proposed to Nita on the Saltair roller coaster, refusing to let her off until she said "yes". They married the same year on August 16, in the living-room of the house they shared their entire 59-year marriage. Their union was solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple July 6, 1964. No roller coaster ride was required for the reaffirmation of their marriage vows.

Paul and Nita had six children. Gene passed in 1946, Daryl in 2016. Surviving are Linda Garner (Frank) of West Jordan, UT; Julie Child (Robert) of Tempe, AZ; Janice Carey (Chris Christensen) of Salt Lake City; Gordon (Paul Lanoix) of Northampton, MA and daughter-in-law, Mari-Jon Adams of Northampton, MA. To date there are 16 grandchildren (this is most likely a fixed number), 32 great-grandchildren and 20 great great-grandchildren, all to carry on the legacy of Paul and Juanita.

Nita is known for her handwork. She is, in the truest sense, a folk artist. Her crocheted baby blankets have snuggled and swaddled, her quilts have comforted, her sweaters have warmed, her embroidered dishtowels have dried (and when wet and rolled they have been known to be used as a weapon). She is, perhaps, best known for the hundreds of bibs she crocheted from cotton thread. She created over 50 different bib patterns including giraffes, squirrels, clowns and (her classic) ducks. She made hundreds, if not thousands, of these pieces of art, each destined to be smeared with Gerber carrots and applesauce. She passed on her love of handwork to her daughters Linda, Julie and Jan.

Family, home, friends, dancing, church, community, handwork, candy-making and bowling—these are the things that Nita loves. They give meaning to her life and she, in turn, has shared them with us, enriching our lives as well.

To all who made it possible these last years for Mom to live on her own, in the home she cherished, THANK YOU. She could not have asked for a greater gift. A special thank you to the staff of Carrington Court, as well as Mindi an Ashley from Active Hospice for their loving care these final weeks.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in honor of Juanita to the Primary Children's Hospital.

A Viewing will be held Friday March 29 from 6:00-8:00PM at Larkin Mortuary Downtown, 200 East South Temple, Salt Lake City.

A Celebration of Juanita's Life will be held Saturday March 30, 2019 at 11 AM at the 25th LDS Ward, 1145 West 500 South in Salt Lake City with a Viewing hour from 10:00 ‚ 10:40AM.