Marilyn Mower

Palm Desert, California – Marilyn Mower, age 89, passed away peacefully on April 15, 2026, due to complications associated with a broken hip. She was born on February 10, 1937, in Provo, Utah, to Lee and Mildred Johnston. Marilyn was the second of four daughters.

Note from Marilyn’s boys: To this day, we do not know how Grandpa J survived raising four daughters along with being married to Grandma J. Maybe that is why he spent so much time in his shop polishing rocks.

Marilyn attended Timpanogos Elementary, Dixon Junior High School, and the old Provo High School. It was at Provo High that Marilyn met the love of her life, Dick Mower. They dated for two years and were married in 1955 after Dick had attended his freshman year at Brigham Young University. They were later sealed for all time and eternity in the Jordan River Temple. Marilyn and Dick were married for 63 years before his passing on October 10, 2018.

In addition to Dick, her parents, and her older sister Shirley Luke, she was preceded in death by her third son, Scott John Mower, who passed away from cancer in 2013 at the young age of 53. Surviving are her younger sisters: Catherine Sutton of Layton Utah, Laura McDermott of West Point, Utah, and her sons Brent Richard Mower of Palm Desert, California, Kevin Lee Mower and his wife Bobbett of West Des Moines, Iowa, Robert L. Mower and his wife Moanna of Long Grove, Illinois and daughter-in-law Kori Mower, wife of Scott John Mower (deceased) of Atlanta, Georgia. Marilyn and Dick were blessed with 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

In addition to being the primary caretaker of her four boys, Marilyn spent 17 years working at Butler Elementary as the school secretary. She retired in 1998. She and Dick then built a home in St. George, Utah, and moved there full-time. Marilyn remained in St. George until she decided to move to Palm Desert, California, in December 2023 to be close to her oldest son, Brent. She was invited to move near Kevin and Rob, but in her words, “it was too damn cold!” Marilyn was always involved in some extracurricular activity, such as the PTA president, going door to door and taking the census, involved in her boys’ sports associations, and many more.

Marilyn was 110% committed to making the lives of Dick and her boys the happiest they could be. She never hesitated to get involved in any activity, such as shoveling snow, mowing the lawn, attending all her boys’ sports activities, and more. She never once left Dick’s side for the last three years of his life while battling Alzheimer’s.

Note from Marilyn’s boys: Just like Grandpa J, we are amazed that Mom (Marilyn) survived raising four boys and being married to Dick. She was definitely patient and long-suffering.

Marilyn also loved the outdoors. Her favorite thing to do was to go boating with her family. They enjoyed several memorable vacations to Lake Powell, Flaming Gorge, and Bear Lake. She loved spending time with her “boys” and, along with Dick, was their biggest supporter. She leaves a wonderful legacy of love and support for her family and will be sorely missed.

A visitation will be held in Sandy, Utah, on Wednesday, April 29, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1050 East Dimple Dell Road (10600 South).

Funeral Services will also be held on April 29, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Larkin Sunset Gardens Chapel. Interment will follow in the Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery, where Marilyn will be buried next to her sweetheart Dick.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Marilyn loved animals! Arrangements entrusted to the care of Fitzhenry-Wiefels, Palm Desert, California, and Larkin Sunset Gardens in Sandy, Utah.