Marna Lou Fryer

1928 ~ 2021

Viewing:

June 14, 2021
10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
Olympus First Ward 4100 S. Camille Street Holladay, UT 84124
  • Directions to Viewing
  • Service:

    June 14, 2021
    11:30 AM
    Olympus First Ward 4100 S. Camille Street Holladay, UT 84124
  • Directions to Service
  • Marna Lou Fryer (92) comfortably and peacefully made the short journey home on June 9, 2021. She did not have far to travel, because she created a little bit of heaven wherever she went. Her life serves as a testament that angels walk among us. She embodied a unique combination of gentleness, warmth, kindness, tenderness, and sincerity.

    Marna was born on Halloween, 1928 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Paul Quayle Callister and Mary Adeline Bramwell. She married the love of her life, Lathael Holladay (“Holley”) Fryer on June 14, 1950, in the Salt Lake Temple. Holley preceded her in death, and they celebrated their last 6 anniversaries separated by only a single step. Reunited at last, they celebrate their 71st wedding anniversary together on Monday as she has taken that final step into eternity. This gentle woman’s life is celebrated by, and reflected in, her seven children, Mary (Charles) Westfall, Flori (Richard) Sorensen, Steve (Kathy) Fryer, Paula (Scot) Drury, Ruth (Mike) Smith, Sara (Roger) McConkie, Rick (Becca) Fryer, 31 grandchildren, 52 great grandchildren, and hundreds of missionaries from the South Carolina, Columbia mission whom she warmly and eagerly adopted as their mission mother. All who had the pleasure of knowing Marna had their souls lifted and blessed by her.

    She had no ambition to pursue earthly callings, but she served both willingly and faithfully in many positions in the Church of Jesus Christ, all-the-while blessing the lives of others around her. The callings that gave her the greatest satisfaction were wife, mother, sweetheart, homemaker, grandmother, great grandmother, neighbor, and friend. She always prioritized others’ needs over her own and never sought attention, recognition, or compensation. She was happiest wearing out her life bringing joy and hope to others. Despite the arthritis that made it difficult for her to move about in recent years there are scores of short videos showing her dancing little jigs surrounded by giggling and cheering, great grandchildren. “Be happy.” she would say, “Just be happy!”

    Marna left an indelible mark on the Wasatch Front ecosystem; she created beauty wherever she went. Her gardens became a showcase of God’s splendor with flowers of every color springing forth out of the ground. Some might think it pretentious to imply any inferiority in God’s artistry, but Marna was granted special dispensation to freely transplant wildflowers and pine trees around her beloved cabin in Brighton because God often looked down from his throne above and saw that it was good. Her overflowing bird feeders were at least once to blame for an otherwise inexplicable change in migratory bird patterns and generations upon generations of hummingbirds owe their existence to the nectar lovingly prepared by this caring woman. She loved to gather rocks wherever she travelled to adorn her gardens. She could look past the cracks and edges, the dirt and grime, and see the potential beauty in even common rocks and immediately recognize where it belonged in her garden and what needed to be done to uncover its beauty. She had the unique ability to see people the same way she saw rocks. She looked past peoples’ broken edges, dirt, and filth, to see their divine beauty hidden somewhere deep inside. With love and tenderness Marna polished people and helped them feel like they occupied an important place in her life.

    As years wore on Marna was not able to garden as much or spend as much time making candies or crafts with her grand- and great grandchildren. She had worn out her body and mind serving others. She was often seen sitting in her favorite chair watching sports, and any casual observer may have assumed that she was cheering for her favorite sports team, but this would have been wrong. Marna had no favorite team and no sport she enjoyed watching more than another. It was just her human nature to cheer people on and encourage them to do their best. For the last several years watching sports was the most common outlet that allowed her to do this. She could be heard saying in a loving, encouraging tone, “C’mon, you can do it!” Surprisingly, moments later she would likewise root for the opposing team. When she watched sports, she did not have a favorite; she wanted both teams to do their best. She has always been, and will continue to be, our family’s most consistent cheerleader.

    Marna’s family would like to thank the young men of the Olympus 1st Ward for dutifully and compassionately bringing the sacrament into her home. We hope you recognize how your lives have been blessed by this sacred service you gave our mother. We also want to thank the loving staff of Spring Garden (too many to mention) but especially Bethany for her loving overwatch and Brooke for sharing peace and comfort in her final moments. In lieu of flowers Marna would want you to plant some flowers in your front yard to share their beauty with all who pass by.

    Funeral services will be held at 11:30 am, Monday, June 14th, 2021, in the Olympus 1st Ward chapel, 4100 S Camille Drive, Holladay, UT, with a viewing immediately prior from 10:30 to 11:15. Interment will be at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, Salt Lake City, UT.