Linda Roberts Parry passed away at home and at peace on May 3, 2016, after an extended illness. Mom was born August 26, 1939, to Rex M and Josephine "Jo" Roberts in Santa Barbara, California. She attended Santa Barbara High, graduating as one of 10 Outstanding Scholars in 1957. She graduated Phi Kappa Phi from Brigham Young University in 1961 with a degree in elementary education, following which she enjoyed teaching school in Utah and Arizona before moving to Washington, D.C. where she met Douglas J. Parry.
Doug and Linda were married in the Salt Lake Temple on August 19, 1965, and enjoyed their 50th Anniversary last summer with their family. Together they raised six children, Craig (Becky), Sean (Karyn), Andrew (Heather), Andrea (Spencer) Lawson, Becky (Ryan) Kimball, and Sara (Matt) Ward.
Dad worked for the CIA after they were married, and when he was scheduled to be sent to do field work during the Vietnam War, Mom decided that the CIA was no longer for him, so she registered Dad for the law school entrance exam and applied to law school for him. Needless to say, Dad became a lawyer.
Mom loved to play the piano and served as the pianist and organist in her Santa Barbara Ward. She also loved the temple and attended regularly. She renewed her recommend for the final time when she was too ill to leave her home and kept her current recommend on her night stand, next to the scriptures she could no longer read.
Mom enjoyed a lifetime of service in many Ward and Stake callings -- Her favorite calling was Relief Society Compassionate Service Leader. She loved to serve others, particularly young adults. She lived in the same home for 40 years and developed many close and lasting relationships with neighbors and Ward and Stake members, whom she was always the first one to greet when new couples moved into the ward and loved to visit in times of need. She particularly loved her time as Ward Mother in University of Utah married student wards where Dad served on the high council and as a bishop. There she developed friendships with young married students that have continued for 35 years. Mom and Dad were called to serve in the Hong Kong Area Mission, where she grew to love the Philippine women with whom she worked. Each of their grandchildren of mission age has likewise served or is serving a mission.
However, of all the responsibilities and opportunities in life she enjoyed, the ones that meant the most to her were mother and wife.
Mom loved University of Utah and Utah Jazz basketball, and she and Dad had season tickets for many years.
It was a blessing and privilege to care for Mom during the final months of her life. Dad, in particular, cared for Mom continually, not wanting Mom to spend the final months and weeks of her life anywhere but in her home.
Linda is survived by her husband, children, and 19 grandchildren and was preceded in death by her parents, her sister (Joyce Roberts) and her brother (Richard Roberts) and a granddaughter (Rylee Kimball).
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 7, 1:00 pm, at the Butler Stake Center (7035 S. Nutree Drive, Cottonwood Heights). Viewings will be Friday from 6-8 pm at the Brighton Point Ward house (3455 East 7800 South) and Saturday from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm at the Stake Center.
