Marylynn Haymore Pace

Marylynn Haymore Pace, born March 3, 1931, passed away peacefully on April 15, 2024, at the age of 93.

Marylynn was born in Douglas, Arizona. She was the seventh of nine children born to David Franklin Haymore and Emma Geneva Huish Haymore. Her father lovingly called her “Princess.” The Haymores migrated to Douglas in 1913 from Old Mexico because of the unrestrained lawless activity of the military-bandit Pancho Villa. They had previously lived in the LDS religious colony of Morelos in northern Mexico.

Marylynn grew up in Douglas where she attended Clawson Elementary school. Mary skipped 1st grade because she could already read. When she was 8 years old, her father, David Franklin Haymore was called to preside over the Spanish American Mission with headquarters in El Paso, Texas. There, Marylynn continued her elementary education at Rusk Grammar school (skipping 4th grade). Marylynn played volleyball in junior high and loved theater. She acted in “Peter Pan” and “Death Takes a Holiday” in high school. She shared her love of plays later throughout her life directing many youth roadshows and a stage play of “Little Women” which she loved.

After her father was released from his calling as mission president, he sought to give his college age children better educational opportunities and purchased a home in Tucson, Arizona, located approximately one block from the University of Arizona. Marylynn finished high school in Tucson at age 15, then returned to Douglas to do bookkeeping for her father’s business at the Haymore Mercantile because he felt she was too young to go to college. Marylynn later attended the University of Arizona and the University of Utah.

In Spring of 1949, Marylynn moved to Salt Lake City to help her sister Mabel who was expecting a baby. This decision changed the course of her life. There she met Lorin N. Pace. They fell in love and were married in the Salt Lake Temple on July 26, 1950.

In the Spring of 1951, Grant Franklin Pace was born. He was followed by Lee Wendell Pace, and Stanley Lorin Pace. Marylynn then followed her husband through his career, practicing law in Midvale and Richfield, Utah, the foreign service in Washington D.C. and San Pedro Sula, Honduras and as mission president in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Chile. She stood by his side in wisdom, strength, confidence and love.

In Buenos Aires Mark Leonard Pace, Lorraine Pace, and Maurine Pace, were born.

Marylynn and her family returned to Utah and purchased a home in Holladay on Olympus Drive, in the Holladay 5th ward of the Olympus stake, where their last four children were born, Lynn Haymore Pace, Deanna Pace, Bradley Wilson Pace, and Teresa Pace. She always said that she didn't plan to have 10 children, she just always wanted one more. Her OB doctor then said to her, “Mary”, you can have 10 children with a mother or you can have 11 children with no mother.” She opted for 10 children with a mother. She loved family and rejoiced with every new baby!

Marylynn was full of energy and fun and made home life exciting for her family. She loved to play all games and kept playing until she won! She was famous for her cooking. Everything she made was delicious including Argentine Milanesa, tomatillo enchiladas and every kind of pie. She continued to serve her family and neighbors by making delicious pies for them right up to her old age. Mary was a gifted seamstress and sewed matching dresses and shirts so that she and Lorin could coordinate whether going to a ward party or a family vacation in Mexico. She was an amazing hostess and made everyone feel loved and welcomed in her home. She was a loving and welcoming mother to all her children's friends who often chose to spend long hours at the Pace home. Their home was filled with delicious aromas, games, singing around the piano, laughter, and the warmth of the Holy Ghost. It was truly a heaven on earth.

Marylynn acquired employment at Kirton McConkie law firm where she was the personal secretary to Wilford Kirton. She was so attentive to detail they absolutely depended on her. She was also called in her ward to be the Relief Society President, a position which she held for 4 years. She was compassionate, creative and found great joy in her service. She attended many meetings with an infant on her knee. She never did anything halfway. She will be remembered for her unbelievable parties, luau’s, square dances, chickerees, cultural refinement activities, customized cookbooks, delicious dinners and beautiful quilts.

At age 65, she retired and she and Lorin served a 2-year mission to Paraguay in South America, followed by another 2-year public affairs mission to the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean. Upon their release, they purchased a home on Ashford Drive in the Winderbrook Ward of the Winder Stake.

Marylynn and Lorin were then called to a central city mission. 6 months later they were released from that mission and were called to the Hispanic Initiative where they served for 4 years.

In her Winderbrook ward, Marylynn was called to teach Gospel Doctrine class. She cherished these years in which she studied the Gospel of Jesus Christ in depth and drafted her own textbooks in support of her study and teaching. Her lessons were legendary and many came from other wards to learn from her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, David Franklin Haymore and Emma Geneva Huish Haymore; her siblings, Lant Haymore, Leonard Haymore, Mabel Haymore Todd, Laverna Haymore Clawson, Elaine Haymore Watkins, Donna Haymore Taylor and Larry Haymore; and a grandson, David Worsham Jr.

At the time of Marylynn’s death, Lorin and Marylynn had been married for 73-1/2 years. Marylynn was 93 years of age and Lorin was 98.

She is survived by her brother, Lavell Haymore; her husband, Lorin Pace; by her 10 children, Grant Pace (Susan Wells), Lee Pace (Carol Hoffman), Stan Pace (Bonnie Butcher), Mark Pace (Anne Marie Langeland), Lorraine Pace Brown (Ed Brown), Maurine Pace Worsham (David Worsham), Lynn Pace (Lisa Oldroyd), Deanna Pace Lambson (Don Lambson), Brad Pace (Barbara Miner) and Teresa Pace Segura (Ezra Segura); 76 grandchildren; 161 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-granddaughter. Her posterity is still growing and is her greatest treasure. She continues to love them with all her heart. And all of her family love her in return.

Marylynn was a faithful and devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints her entire life. She loved the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all her heart and her faith was unshakable. That faith sustained her and her family through the trials of life. She bore a special personal witness of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. She cherished the temple and honored her covenants. She lived her faith cheerfully every day right to the end and taught her children “the best she knew” as her father had counseled her. She was a true disciple of Jesus Christ.

A viewing will be held on Sunday, April 21, 2024 from 6-8 pm at the Winderbrook ward chapel located at 4366 South 1500 East in Millcreek, Utah. A funeral service will be held at the same location on Monday, April 22, 2024, at 11 am, with a viewing held from 9:30-10:30 prior to the service. Interment will be at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 South Highland Drive.

To view the recorded service, please click the Watch Service button above.