Patricia Shumway Boyden

Patricia Shumway Boyden

Patricia Shumway Boyden was born March 3, 1942, in Tremonton, Utah, the second child of Jack Shumway and Mildred Lund Shumway. She passed away August 27, 2026. Pat grew up alongside her siblings, Mary Anne, John, Vera Gene, and David, surrounded by the family relationships that would remain so important to her throughout her life.

Pat attended McKinley Elementary, Bear River Junior High, and Bear River High School, where her natural ability to connect with and lead others was already evident. She was elected a couple of times as a student body officer and formed many friendships that she treasured throughout her life.

She later attended and graduated from the University of Utah, where she was affiliated with Kappa Kappa Gamma. Following graduation, Pat taught history and English at Granger High School and West High School. Her commitment to children, education, and her community continued throughout her life. She served as PTA president and participated in many community projects, following the example of service set for her by her mother.

In 1964, Pat married her eternal love, Stephen G. Boyden, in the Salt Lake Temple. Together, Pat and Steve built a life centered on faith, family, service, and an enduring devotion to one another. They were true partners and, throughout their marriage, faced life’s adventures side by side.

Of all the roles Pat filled during her remarkable life, none meant more to her than being a wife and mother. She and Steve were blessed with six sons, and Pat poured her heart into raising them. She guided each of her boys to become Eagle Scouts, serve as full-time missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and become college graduates with advanced degrees.

Pat was a strong and devoted mother who kept a busy household of six boys firmly in hand, but everything she did was rooted in love. She could be strict and was most certainly in control, but her discipline came with pure love – and she was loved immeasurably in return. Her sons knew they had a mother who believed in them, stood behind them, and wanted the very best for each of them.

Pat was blessed with extraordinary God-given talents in dance and music. She played several instruments but, through excellent teachers and her own diligent work, became a remarkable pianist. Her musical gifts became another way she served others. She served as a ward organist, accompanied countless choirs and soloists, and possessed the unusual ability to sit down and sight-read music she was seeing for the first time. Over the years, she patiently taught countless Church members and missionaries how to sing and how to lead music.

Known as Patti to many of her school and college friends, she had a way of drawing people to her. Her beautiful smile, kindness, quick wit, and hilarious sense of humor made her a joy to be around. She was small in stature but athletic, energetic, strong, and determined.

Perhaps one of Pat’s greatest gifts was the way she made people feel about themselves. Her life was filled with service to those around her, but her influence often came through something much simpler: she noticed the good in people. She had a special ability to recognized someone’s best qualities, tell them what she saw, and offer the kind of positive encouragement that made them leave her presence feeling a little better about themselves. She spread that kindness generously throughout her life.

Pat loved the Lord and continually received opportunities to serve Him. She and Steve made a wonderful team, and together they spent ten years living outside the United States in service to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They served ad mission leaders in Mexico, MTC leaders in Spain, executive secretaries and mission leaders in Chile, and finally as temple president and Matron of the Asuncion Paraguay Temple.

These assignments took Pat far from home and required much from her, but she embraced them with faith and courage. She learned to speak in Spanish to large congregations every week and, wherever she and Steve were called to serve, Pat did what she had always done – she made friends, lifted people, shared her faith, and brought joy into the lives of those around her.

Through all the places she lived, all the callings she accepted, all the music she played, and all the people she served, Pat’s greatest legacy remains the family she loved so completely.

She was a devoted wife to Steve, a loving mother to six sons, and the proud grandmother and great-grandmother of a large and growing family. Her influence will continue through the generations that follow her and through the countless people who were fortunate enough to experience her kindness, encouragement, faith, humor, music, and love.

Pat is preceded in death by her parents and her son, Stephen John Boyden (Jennifer). She is survived by her husband, Steve; her sons Marc (Patti), David (Angela), James (Andrea) Matthew (Alicia), and Thomas (Sarah); twenty-nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, September 3, at 11:00 am at the Yale Ward, 1431 East Gilmer Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah. A viewing will be held Wednesday evening from 6:00-8:00 pm at Larkin Sunset Lawn Mortuary, 2350 East 1300 South, Salt Lake City. A viewing will also be held at the Yale Ward from 9:30-10:30 am prior to the funeral service. Burial will take place later Thursday afternoon at the Coalville, Utah City Cemetery. Those wishing to view the service via Zoom may do so by clicking the "Watch Services" tab above.