Events
Memorial Service
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 27th Ward, 185 P St, Salt Lake City, UTWednesday Mar 26, 2025 1:00 PM
Listen to Obituary
Louise Roos Plummer, artist, writer, professor, mother, grandmother, and wife, died at the age of 82 on March 20, 2025. Born in Utrecht, Netherlands, Loesje immigrated with her parents, Lodewijk and Geertje, and three younger siblings in 1948. They became Louis, Gay, and Louise. She grew up on 8th South in Salt Lake City and was the oldest of nine children.
On June 18, 1964, she married “the smartest boy in the neighborhood,” Tom Plummer. A year later, they moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts. She spent the next 20 years in Cambridge, Berlin, and the Twin Cities.
After starting college at BYU and the University of Utah, Louise finished her BA and MA in English with a creative writing emphasis from the University of Minnesota. Her master's thesis grew into the manuscript that won the Delacorte Press First Young Adult Novel Contest, launching her career.
In 1985, Tom and Louise bought their dream home on the Provo foothills, and they both started teaching at BYU. Louise taught freshman writing, advanced writing, creative writing, and later team-taught a memoir class through the Honors department with Tom. She published two stories, a children's book, five novels, and two books of essays. She spoke at wards around Utah, stakes around the US, and church and academic conferences worldwide. Her works were translated into several languages, and one story is anthologized in an English textbook in Finland. She also taught at several writers' workshops, often on a volunteer basis. She retired as an associate professor.
Louise was well-read and well-spoken. She reviewed the work of students and family members with Dutch straightforwardness mixed with enthusiasm and encouragement. She cheered their achievements and advanced the creativity and careers of many future authors, professors, and writers across disciplines and generations.
In her spare time, Louise made friends wherever she lived. She endeared people to her with an ability to make them feel loved and special. Her loud laugh and quick wit lit up classrooms, living rooms, and every other room she entered. Her signature big lips smacked L'Oreal 810 Sandstone lipstick onto cheeks in greeting, and she called "Kiss kiss" in farewell. At home, she often watched British and American crime shows and romantic comedies.
She found many more dream homes in SLC, NYC, PEI, Nova Scotia, Oahu, Vienna, and anywhere she had rooms to decorate and Tom to hang curtains and play Scrabble or Parcheesi. When she wasn't moving or decorating a new home, she shopped for them online. In retirement, Louise returned to her first love of visual arts. She and Tom attended watercolor classes and art shows.
She is survived by three brothers and four sisters, her sons and their wives: Jon and Julie, Ed and Dede, Charles and Erica, and Sam and Sarah, her thirteen grandchildren and one great granddaughter. She looks forward to reuniting with Tom, her parents and ancestors, her sister, Joyce, and her granddaughter, Lucy.
Months ago, she had a dream in which Tom asked if she'd like to see the plans for the porch. Now is her chance to edit them.
A memorial service will be held in Louise's honor at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 27th Ward, 185 P St, Salt Lake City, UT at 1:00 PM, Wednesday, March 26, 2025, with an after-party at 2:00 PM.
Connect to the service via Zoom, at https://zoom.us/j/99094081819
Guestbook/Condolences
I was in the first memoir class Tom and Louise taught. Just getting a taste of their “themness” was an unforgettable privilege and delight.
Dear Plummer family,
We are saddened to hear of Louise’s passing. And we’re sad to not be able to attend the funeral. We’re serving a mission in New York City and can’t get back. But we want you all to know of our love for your mom, and dad, and each of you. Like so many others, we are flooded with fond memories of your mother. What a constant source of sunshine and joy. What an influence for good in the world. We send our deepest condolences and our love to each of you and pray for the Lord’s comfort in your life at this time, and always.
Aunt Louise has been my role model for as long as I can remember. When I was a child in the 60s, I remember the rain on Tom and Louise’s wedding day and the mad dash from the backyard of the Plummer home to the Emigration Ward cultural hall. After their marriage, there were campouts, trips to Park City, and visits to their young married ward on 8th South. Her extraordinary parents and family were part of my childhood, too. As I grew, I came to appreciate even more Louise’s engaging personality, wide–ranging knowledge, and, of course, her talent as a writer and artist. One of my greatest accomplishments was a Trivial Pursuit victory in a game with Louise, after which I turned down her double-or-nothing offer, preferring to quit while I was ahead.
This world is a poorer place without Louise in it, but at least she is with Tom again, and that is the way it was always meant to be. Louise, I love you back!
Sam , lamento tu pérdida! Te mando un abrazo. Dios siempre con ustedes!!
Louis Plummer was always a brilliant woman! You could tell from the the moment you met her that she was strong and confident! An icon! She will be missed. Prayers to her family.
It's just not possible to say goodbye to Louise! What an amazing and truly gifted human being we were privileged to know and be personally touched and enriched by! You couldn't walk into a room where Louise was present and not come out feeling happier or lifted or changed for the better. For that reason she's still with us. We are grateful for the blessing of her friendship, which will aways remain in our hearts! So happy she and Tom are back together!
Louise was a force of nature. Even though we never lived in the same place after Cambridge, Dawn and I always considered Tom and Louise close friends. We loved and respected them and shared many interests and life's views. It is hard to believe two such vibrant souls have departed this life. Our condolences to their family.
Louise is one of the funnest individuals I’ve ever met. I remember her as a caring, bubbly, witty, and eccentric woman who once tried to convince teenage me to buy expensive decorative glass blown cherries. I remember commonly being red in the face from laughing with her, and sometimes red from embarrassment from being a topic in her jokes. Regardless my day was always brighter when she was in it. I’m lucky I knew her.
What a joy it was to live right across the street from Tom and Louise back in our Cambridge days on Shaler Lane! She was so creative with her art, with her music, with her love of writing. When I was on the BYU Women's Conference committee I invited her to present and she said, "It always seems so far away that I'm sure I can do it, and then it actually gets to the date and I wonder why I ever committed. I think I'll say 'No.'" Nevertheless, she did commit and was the star of the show (as she often was). We're very grateful they ended up at BYU for as long as they did. I even took her Creative Writing class which was excellent. It was always great to be with them. And I'll wager they are enjoying their reunion.
Condolences and strength to the family. 💛
I miss all of the Plummers who used to live in our ward in Provo. Louise was a delightful friend and a fabulous counselor when we served in the stake Relief Society presidency together. She was horrified to find out she was the Homemaking Counselor, not the Education counselor. I assured her she would never have to make Apricot Jam and Tom offered to lend her his recipes. I saved her from a man in our ward who asked me for her phone number to get the recipe for apricot jam. I begged him not to call her and got him a recipe for apricot jam from a tried and true jam maker.
When I went to college, I developed an image of everything I ever wanted to be one day and tucked her away in the back of my mind. 15 years later, I met Louise, who was somehow everything I had ever imagined I wanted to be. For the few years I knew her, I idolized her. I’m going to miss being neighbors with her.
I was so sorry to see this news today. Her memoir writing class had a huge impact on me as both a writer and a person. She shaped my voice and helped me understand that I could be both vulnerable and confident. Almost 35 years later, I still remember and draw on specific lessons. She created a supportive community in the classroom and inspired students with her wit and zest for life.
Bard and I are so sorry that Louise is no longer with you. I guess this is the other half of goodbye to your wonderful parents. We are lucky to have known them both. Please know of our love for your family.
Louise was a Springtime person, full of hope, growth, becoming and renewal. And she was funny, often hilarious! Jessie and I met Louise for the first time at an informal gathering of German speaking Harvard University students in the Plummer’s home on Shaler Lane in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Introductions began the evening. Some were quite formal (Law School) others more casual (Business, Humanities) but Louise stole the show when she introduced herself as “Frau Klempnermeister” endearing herself to everyone. From that day forward Louise has been what today might be called an “Influencer” for all who have had the privilege of her presence, encouraging goodness, positive looking forward and to hope springing eternal.
Following a rare talk of mine Louise sent a simple hand written note saying how much she enjoyed my thoughts. I kept the card because it made me feel good then and continues to do so after many years. Her acceptance of me and my family was never restrained but open and joyful. I feel blessed, fortunate, invigorated and honored to have been a friend of Louise Plummer. If they could, both my companions Jessie and Jacquie would share their love for their sister friend Louise Plummer.
i did so want to come. she and i spent time after mutua taking about boys and ife and laughing. condilences to you all. i live in ehi, utah at present. love nancy
I was so sorry to hear about Louise recently. She and Tom were such dear friends for many years. I used to meet for lunch with Tom and talk about art. I was so delighted to see him explore and express himself following his retirement. Louise and I served in the RS Presidency years and years ago. Those are such fond memories.. always filled with laughter. More recently, Louise and I reconnected and would go to the theater, the movies and out for a meal. I always loved discussing life and love with her. What a joy they both were to be around. I know they both are writing and dancing in the kitchen in a cozy corner of heaven.
Louise and Tom were in my Oak Hills ward when I was there from 1990 - 1995.
I loved Louise! She was so funny, talented, and accomplished. I thoroughly enjoyed her books.
I loved her honesty and her energy.
She probably wouldn't have remembered me, but I always admired her.
My heart goes out to each of her sons and their wives. She was larger than life.
Marcy Swan
Pleasant Grove, UT
Condolences from a Spanish reader ♥️ I read The Unlikely Romance of Kate Bjorkman a hundred of times when I was a teen. I am now 33 years old and I still remember her. She seems like a great person and I am sure she will continue to be.