Sylvia Sue Fisher Bevan, teacher, singer, musician, and according to her husband Jim a "continuous spectator sport," died unexpectedly April 2 of cardiac arrest in Barcelona, Spain, doing what she loved, traveling with Jim. She was born August 20, 1943, in Santa Maria, California, the youngest of five children of Frank Truman Fisher and Nellie Rex Smith Fisher. She moved with her family from Santa Maria to Altadena where she spent her childhood and teenage years, interspersed with summer vacations in Randolph, Utah where she rode horses and fell in love with the rural West. She would have liked to live in Randolph except for its distance from theater, opera, symphony and chamber concerts in Salt Lake.
She was educated at Pasadena City College, Brigham Young University, and Los Angeles State University, where she majored in music. Her passion was teaching, especially music, which she did in California, New Mexico, Utah and Texas. In Texas she taught music to all elementary age students, instilling in them a love of classical as well as popular music. With Jim as her producer she presented media-rich lessons such as a slide show of Pavarotti at the time of his death, which her students wanted to hear over and over; they wanted to hear the entire Magic Flute after seeing Papageno on a video excerpt. They also wanted to see Pagliacci over and over after hearing Pavarotti sing "Vesti la Giubba.\" With Jim she directed her students in about 30 mini-musicals including Annie. Her 5th graders sang the theme from Polar Express three weeks after the movie was released.
She and James Bevan were married June 29, 2002, in the Bountiful Temple and lived in Mansfield, Texas until their respective retirements. In 2004 they built a home in Heber, Utah where they have lived since retirement in 2011. Together they traveled twice to the Caribbean, four times to Europe, and countless times to Southern California, where both of them originated.
Sylvia was spontaneous and outgoing, made friends quickly and easily; a stepson said of her, "Sylvia knew no strangers." Despite serious illnesses she always sprang back with energy and imagination, thrilled with life. "Keep the basement warm, Jim, and listen to beautiful music while I walk the dogs."
She was a dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and loved her association with her sisters in the temple. She is survived by her husband James, and her children, Jessica Gatewood (Scott), David Fisher (Caryn), Joshua Tso; four grandchildren; a brother, Franklin (Rosemary Beless); a brother-in-law, Von Haws; numerous nieces and nephews; stepchildren Marni Bevan Sanft (Doran), Joshua Andrew Bevan (Kate), Julie Larissa Bevan Warehime (John), and Cassandra Marie Bevan. She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Mary Lou Fisher and Carol Anne Haws, and a brother, Truman.
There will be a visitation from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 17, at Sunset Lawn, 2350 East and 1300 South, Salt Lake City. The funeral service will Saturday, April 18at 12:00 noon at the LDS meetinghouse at 1205 West 650 South, in Heber City, Utah. Flowers may be sent to Larkin Mortuary at Sunset Lawn. Burial will be at the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
