Thelma Smuin Pierce
Our beloved mother, Thelma Augusta Beynon Smuin Pierce, age 94, of Vernal, Utah, passed away at home on November 12, 2017, in the company of her family. She was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on September 26, 1923, to Charles Henry Beynon and Effie May Peck. She was the seventh child in a family of 16 children, and part of an extended family with rich, pioneer heritage. Her loving presence in our lives will be greatly missed.
Thelma spent the first years of her life in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she met Kenneth Gordon Smuin. They were married on March 15, 1940. Ken and Thelma were great parents who taught us how to work, provided us with a good life, and took care of our families.
In 1946, Ken and Thelma moved from Salt Lake City to a farm east of Vernal, Utah, with a two-room log cabin that had no running water, electricity or indoor plumbing. Although Thelma had never lived without those “luxuries,” she always made the best of whatever she had. In 1963, Ken and Thelma moved from the farm and built a new house in Vernal.
Ken died in 1983. Thelma later married Albert Levi Pierce from Altamont, Utah. Al and Thelma raised race horses and liked to travel. They served in the Vernal Utah Temple from the time it opened in 1997 until Al passed away in 2005.
Her homes were always neat, clean and cozy. Everyone was welcome and fed a hot meal at any time of the day or night. She was a fantastic cook. Her secret ingredient was sugar and she added it to everything. Thelma was classy, gracious, generous and kind. She was always beautifully dressed in coordinated outfits, shoes and accessories.
Thelma was an avid painter, league bowler (regularly in the 200 Club), golfer and softball player. She collected dolls (her collection included more than 750), antiques and depression glass.
Thelma is survived by three of her children Leon K. Smuin (Nelda), Lynn C. Smuin (Pauline), Joan S. Collett (Floyd), and her nephew whom she raised as her own child, Charles F. (Chick) Beynon (Jean). She has one living sibling, Keith Beynon, who resides in Salt Lake City. Her posterity includes 32 grandchildren, 106 great-grandchildren and 62 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her first husband Kenneth Gordon Smuin, daughter Charlotte Ann Smuin, son Stephen Owen Smuin, and her second husband Albert Levi Pierce. She was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Funeral services will be held Friday, November 17, 2017 at 1PM at the Vernal First Ward LDS Chapel (475 West 100 South). A viewing for family and friends will be held Thursday evening at the Ashley Valley Funeral Home from 6-8PM and Friday 11:45-12:45PM at the Chapel. Interment will be in the Vernal Memorial Park under the direction of the Phillips Ashley Valley Funeral Home.
