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Alice Jean Bailey Sperry
1956 ~ 2021
Alice Jean Bailey Sperry left this world on December 10, 2021 after her second hard fought battle with breast cancer. She was born on July 7, 1956 to her loving earthly parents Paul and Jewel Bailey. As a young girl growing up in Moroni, Utah she spent her days with her 2 loving sisters and her 3 protective brothers. Some of her best memories were going to ball games, spending time with neighbors, cousins and family including family gatherings up Maple Canyon, riding her bike, dragging main (she was also known to take the car while her parents were at bowling night) and of course taking dance lessons.
Alice graduated from North Sanpete High School in 1974 where she was a proud Spiriteer. She married Kevin Wilkey after high school, later divorced. They had 3 beautiful children and made a wonderful life with them in Moroni, Utah. She created a home of service and love where many experimental meals were created with love and laughter, as the kids spun on the official spinning lid. Once her kids were older, she went back to school and received her bachelors’ degree in nursing, a career she loved. She was the school nurse for North and South Sanpete school districts for 26 years as she also worked with the Central Utah Public Health Department. Before that she spent many years teaching many of us in the community the love of dance. She found her “knight in shining armor,” as she liked to call Dan, in 2005. She later married Dan Sperry on November 18, 2006. Alice once said “He’s an awesome caregiver and chauffeur. I wouldn’t have survived these last months without him. I’m so blessed he’s my eternal companion.” Alice had a deep love for her Savior and had many callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One of her favorite callings was being the Young Woman’s president in her ward.
One might argue that Alice’s greatest joy in life are her grandkids. They had many adventures, not only birthday adventures for each of them, but also cousin trips, sleepovers, and attending their many events which included soccer, baseball, basketball, volleyball, cheer competitions, plays, recitals and even just spending time with each of them individually so that they knew her love for them personally. Alice had an ability to build and uplift and make everyone her friend. She found the good and brought joy to all of those who were lucky enough to know her. She is known to be very kind, compassionate, selfless, inclusive and genuinely concerned about others and sought ways to help. She brought laughter and love to any event and was the heartbeat of the party.
Alice is survived by her husband Dan and their children: Jessica, Joshua (Syndi), Samuel (Kelly), Kaylen (Tara), Mandi (Patrick), Shayla (Daren), Casey (Laura), Nikki (Shawn); her mother Jewel Bailey; her siblings: Paula (Mark), David (Eddi), Brent (Anita), Gay (Scott), Bruce (Sheila). She has 26 grandkids and 2 great-grandchildren and many cousins, nieces and nephews who each know how loved they are. Alice is preceded in death by her father Paul Bailey and her son Wesdan Sperry.
The family would love to thank those who have demonstrated their love and acts of compassionate service during this time.
The viewing will be held on Wednesday, December 15th, 2021 from 6:00pm-8:00pm at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stake center in Moroni (82 North Center Street, Moroni, Utah). Funeral services will be held at the same building the following day Thursday, December 16, 2021 at 11:00am with a viewing from 9:00am-10:30am prior to services. Graveside services will be at the Moroni City Cemetery. Online condolences and Zoom link at rasmussenmortuary.com
Nyla Parsons Miller
1952 ~ 2021
Nyla Parsons Miller, age 69, passed away on December 9, 2021 in Payson, Utah. She was born on May 29, 1952 in Afton, Wyoming to Karol W. and Nelda May Peterson Parsons.
Nyla felt blessed to grow up in the beautiful Star Valley, the fourth of seven children. As the middle child, she was a born peacemaker. She and her surviving siblings, three brothers and two sisters, were raised on a small farm that had a little bit of everything–horses, cows, pigs, chickens, and rabbits. She participated in 4-H and also showed dairy cows at the Lincoln County Fair. The children were taught to work hard, to keep their word, and to enjoy the beauty of God’s creations. Family vacations were mostly camping trips to nearby locations, with the area surrounding the Greys River being a favorite destination.
Nyla was a diligent student and in high school focused her attention on business classes. Her first “official job” was a secretarial position. One “unofficial job” was second mother to her two youngest siblings after her mother returned to work full time. She had a pleasing alto voice and loved to sing. There were years of piano lessons with some additional training on the organ. Nyla also learned to play the guitar. The flower beds around the family home looked their best when Nyla was tending to them. As an adult, one of her favorite times of the year was going to the nursery for bedding plants in late spring. She was skilled at crochet and put lovely edging on hundreds of baby blankets and burp cloths. Her cinnamon rolls were top notch.
Nyla was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and faithfully fulfilled a variety of callings without reservation. She relished her high level of involvement with the LDS Seminary while in high school and especially enjoyed her callings in the Primary and Relief Society in later years. Her faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ never faltered.
After graduating from Star Valley High School in 1970, she moved to Rexburg, Idaho to attend Ricks College, earning an associate degree in 1972. She then found employment at the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City, Utah working for the Department of Seminaries and Institutes. In April 1973, she transferred to the Computer Services Department at Brigham Young University in Provo, starting as an administrative assistant to the director. Over the course of the following 40 plus years before her retirement in mid 2013, her positions changed multiple times as her skills developed and her responsibilities grew. Her official job title upon retirement was Director of Engineering Services, Office of Information Technology. During those early years with BYU, Nyla finished her bachelor’s degree while working full time, mostly through evening classes.
One of the most eventful years of Nyla’s life was 2002. That year she graduated with her master of Public Administration in April, turned 50 years old in May, and married Randy John Miller on June 15th in the Idaho Falls Temple. In addition to having similar careers in IT, they were both farm kids who loved the outdoors. They shared Nyla’s home in Springville, Utah until 2014 when they moved to Nephi, Utah to be closer to her sister’s family. Randy brought seven children to the marriage, and Nyla’s life was greatly enriched by her involvement with them.
Nyla struggled with complicated health problems for a large portion of her life, living for years and years with chronic pain. Randy had been her primary caregiver prior to his death in August of 2020, despite facing health challenges of his own. Her health steadily improved with the good care she received while residing at Laurel Groves Assisted Living Center in Nephi, and by the spring of 2021 she was driving again and anxious to broaden her horizons. She was determined to live her life as independently as possible and moved to Orchard View Assisted Living in Payson, Utah. A friendship soon developed between Nyla and another resident, Clint Frank Hawkins, III, and they were married on October 16, 2021. His family welcomed her with open arms and she quickly learned to love them. Clint passed away unexpectedly on October 28th.
Nyla is survived by her sister, Maxine McPherson of Nephi, Utah and brother Lyndon Parsons of Brady, Texas; numerous supportive brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, dear nieces and nephews, step-children and step-grandchildren; and many loyal friends with decades of association. She was preceded in death by her husbands Randy Miller and Clint Hawkins; parents Karol and Nelda Parsons; brothers Merlin, Walter, and Teryl Parsons; and sister Karon Poore.
A viewing will be held on Wednesday, December 15, 2021 from 11:00 to 11:45 a.m. at Anderson Funeral Home, 94 West 300 North, Nephi, Utah, followed by dedication of the grave at noon at Vine Bluff Cemetery, Nephi, Utah.
Sherry Sperry
1958 ~ 2021
Sherry Lynn Barton Sperry passed away December 5, 2021 at her home in Nephi, UT. She was born November 22, 1958 in Nephi, UT. to Thomas Neil Sperry and Patricia Jensen.
Sherry graduated from Juab High School and seminary in 1977. She worked at Mt. Nebo Market grocery store in Nephi, was a maid at SLC Airport and worked at motels. She also worked at Mervyns and JC Penney. She had an eye for colors and was called many times to help people put colors together for their homes. She was an avid reader and read everything. She taught herself to crochet and made many beautiful afghans, doilies, tablecloths and made alter clothes for Manti and Payson Utah Temples. She loved going for rides, shopping and family vacations. Sherry was always so thoughtful and so helpful to her mom and dad.
She is survived by her mother, Patricia Sperry of Nephi, brother, Guy Neil Sperry of West Jordan, UT., nieces, Melissa, Aaron and Lauren. She is preceded in death by her father, Thomas Neil Sperry and a nephew, Christopher Neil Sperry.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, December 16, 2021 at 11:00 am at Anderson Funeral Home (94 West 300 North Nephi) with a viewing one hour prior. Interment will be at Vine Bluff Cemetery (1200 North 400 East) following the funeral. Luncheon afterwards at Nephi 4th Ward building (345 East 500 North, Nephi).
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