Irene L Southern, 90, passed away July 27, 2019 with her husband and son by her side. She was born March 20, 1929 to the late George E. and Lucy Rose Poole in Salt Lake City, the youngest of 3 children. Irene graduated from West High School in 1946 and went on to attend the McCune School of Music. She married the love of her life, William A. Southern, in the Salt Lake Temple March 28, 1949. Together they spent a wonderful 70 years together. Irene was the perfect wife to William and dedicated mother to her children, as they were the passion in her life.
As a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she served in many positions, including Relief Society and Sunday School. Her greatest calling was Ward Organist where she played to the delight of many congregations in the Grandview 2nd Ward for over 25 years. From a young age she fell in love with playing the piano and became an accomplished pianist and spent many hours teaching and playing at home. Irene loved to read anything in print, from novels to the daily newspaper. While raising her family, she loved to travel and take summer vacations with them, visiting World Fairs, Mount Rushmore, Washington D.C., Disneyland and many more places across the U.S. After her children had grown, she traveled with her sweetheart to various P.G.A. golf events, The Rose Parade, and toured through parts of Europe.
Irene is preceded in death by her parents; siblings, George A. Poole and Ruth L. Bott, and daughter Lorraine Dimmick (Bill). She is survived by her husband William, son Gary W. Southern (Deanie), 4 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held Friday, August 2, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at the Salt Lake City Cemetery, 4th Avenue and ‘N' Street.
