Obituary for Genevieve A "Ella" Smith
Our loving mother and grandmother Ella Genevieve Asay Smith passed away peacefully at the age of 98 on February 26th, 2021 at the home of her daughter Lorri Smith Bradshaw in Parowan, Utah.
Ella Genevieve Asay was born on March 25th, 1922. Delivered by her grandfather, Christian Kjarulf Jensen in Clawson, Emery, Utah to Jerome Asay Jr. and Mary Louise Jensen.
Genevieve will be remembered for being a loving, talented, extraordinary, involved mother to 8 children who taught through example. Putting her family and the gospel first in life, and showing us the importance of serving others in church, education and civic duties.
Genevieve grew up fishing at Asay Creek, having ‘hootenannies”, corn roasts, and watermelon busts and trips to Zion Canyon. She loved to attend “Old Timey'' dances in Hurricane and Washington. She played hooky a few times, but said in her own words, “I was quite an apple polisher.” She was a good student who loved art, english and spelling, and eventually learned to love history. Education was very important to her. She attended 1 yr. at Dixie College in St. George, UT, and 1 yr. of night classes at Excelsior Junior College in Artesia, California.
Genevieve fell in love with her sweetheart while she was bedridden with tuberculosis. Her future mother-in-law nursed her for months, while telling Genevieve all about her wonderful son Raymond Larkin “Lark” Smith. On June 28th, 1941, Raymond Larkin Smith and Genevieve Asay were sealed together for all eternity in the St. George Utah Temple.
She had no problem rolling up her sleeves for hard work. As newlyweds, Larkin and Genevieve built their first of several homes together in Artesia, CA 1941, and another in St. George, UT., but lived most of their life together in Hendersen, NV (25 yrs. on Atlantic St. and later many years too, on Galena Dr.). She spackled, taped, painted, wall papered, and laid yards of ceramic tile and pieced carpets into their homes. Their homes were beautiful, accented with Larkin’s rock work and Genevieve’s artwork and sewing.
Genevieve became a talented artist, starting at the age of 5. She was well known and loved by everyone for her paintings in watercolor and oil, which she presented in many art shows. Her paintings have hung in the Henderson City Court House. She also has a painting of her famed roses currently still hanging in the Las Vegas Temple bride’s room. She served many years as a fine arts instructor in the Henderson Recreation Dept. and at senior citizen groups in Boulder City and Las Vegas.
As a busy mother, Genevieve was a talented and accomplished seamstress, sewing matching dresses for her girls every Christmas and Easter. She served as co-chair for the Henderson Industrial Celebrations Days, organized and participated in art shows, roadshows, parades and many church fairs. Genevieve was also an avid genealogist, and served in many church callings with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints over the course of her lifetime.
Larkin and Genevieve served an 18-month mission at the Mormon Battalion Visitors Center in San Diego, California.
Genevieve was honored and chosen as the “Nevada Mother of the Year'' in 1978 (chosen for her contributions in community service, civic duty, education and religious service). She also served as PTA president several times at local Henderson elementary schools.
She had a strong sense of civic duty and worked hard to put good men and women in political offices in Nevada. Genevieve was not afraid to stand up for what was right. She had an incredible network of family and friends to help campaign. As chairman, she organized and gathered 120 speakers for a Senate hearing and spoke out against pornography. She spoke up and campaigned against abortion, and helped organize a 4-mile candle light march for “Right to Life.”
Grandma taught her children and grandchildren all love and care for one another, and leaves behind a beautiful legacy of like minded descendants with large loving families of their own.
Genevieve is survived by her children, Vae Don (Maureen), Annalee Bunch (Eddy), Dianna “Danne” Lynne Morris, Penny Taylor, Chris (Julie), Lorri Bradshaw (Mike), 59 grandchildren, and several hundred great and 2nd great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Raymond Larkin Smith, son Gene Smith (Linda), and daughter Teddy Sue Ludlow (Raymond), great-grandchildren Titan Bradshaw, Rigden James Bradshaw, William Wainwright, Zachary Smith Madison and Ariana Lane.
A graveside service will be held Saturday, March 6th, at 11:00 a.m. located at the St. George City Cemetery, 650 E. Tabernacle St. in St. George, Utah. There will be no viewing.
Ella Genevieve Asay was born on March 25th, 1922. Delivered by her grandfather, Christian Kjarulf Jensen in Clawson, Emery, Utah to Jerome Asay Jr. and Mary Louise Jensen.
Genevieve will be remembered for being a loving, talented, extraordinary, involved mother to 8 children who taught through example. Putting her family and the gospel first in life, and showing us the importance of serving others in church, education and civic duties.
Genevieve grew up fishing at Asay Creek, having ‘hootenannies”, corn roasts, and watermelon busts and trips to Zion Canyon. She loved to attend “Old Timey'' dances in Hurricane and Washington. She played hooky a few times, but said in her own words, “I was quite an apple polisher.” She was a good student who loved art, english and spelling, and eventually learned to love history. Education was very important to her. She attended 1 yr. at Dixie College in St. George, UT, and 1 yr. of night classes at Excelsior Junior College in Artesia, California.
Genevieve fell in love with her sweetheart while she was bedridden with tuberculosis. Her future mother-in-law nursed her for months, while telling Genevieve all about her wonderful son Raymond Larkin “Lark” Smith. On June 28th, 1941, Raymond Larkin Smith and Genevieve Asay were sealed together for all eternity in the St. George Utah Temple.
She had no problem rolling up her sleeves for hard work. As newlyweds, Larkin and Genevieve built their first of several homes together in Artesia, CA 1941, and another in St. George, UT., but lived most of their life together in Hendersen, NV (25 yrs. on Atlantic St. and later many years too, on Galena Dr.). She spackled, taped, painted, wall papered, and laid yards of ceramic tile and pieced carpets into their homes. Their homes were beautiful, accented with Larkin’s rock work and Genevieve’s artwork and sewing.
Genevieve became a talented artist, starting at the age of 5. She was well known and loved by everyone for her paintings in watercolor and oil, which she presented in many art shows. Her paintings have hung in the Henderson City Court House. She also has a painting of her famed roses currently still hanging in the Las Vegas Temple bride’s room. She served many years as a fine arts instructor in the Henderson Recreation Dept. and at senior citizen groups in Boulder City and Las Vegas.
As a busy mother, Genevieve was a talented and accomplished seamstress, sewing matching dresses for her girls every Christmas and Easter. She served as co-chair for the Henderson Industrial Celebrations Days, organized and participated in art shows, roadshows, parades and many church fairs. Genevieve was also an avid genealogist, and served in many church callings with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints over the course of her lifetime.
Larkin and Genevieve served an 18-month mission at the Mormon Battalion Visitors Center in San Diego, California.
Genevieve was honored and chosen as the “Nevada Mother of the Year'' in 1978 (chosen for her contributions in community service, civic duty, education and religious service). She also served as PTA president several times at local Henderson elementary schools.
She had a strong sense of civic duty and worked hard to put good men and women in political offices in Nevada. Genevieve was not afraid to stand up for what was right. She had an incredible network of family and friends to help campaign. As chairman, she organized and gathered 120 speakers for a Senate hearing and spoke out against pornography. She spoke up and campaigned against abortion, and helped organize a 4-mile candle light march for “Right to Life.”
Grandma taught her children and grandchildren all love and care for one another, and leaves behind a beautiful legacy of like minded descendants with large loving families of their own.
Genevieve is survived by her children, Vae Don (Maureen), Annalee Bunch (Eddy), Dianna “Danne” Lynne Morris, Penny Taylor, Chris (Julie), Lorri Bradshaw (Mike), 59 grandchildren, and several hundred great and 2nd great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Raymond Larkin Smith, son Gene Smith (Linda), and daughter Teddy Sue Ludlow (Raymond), great-grandchildren Titan Bradshaw, Rigden James Bradshaw, William Wainwright, Zachary Smith Madison and Ariana Lane.
A graveside service will be held Saturday, March 6th, at 11:00 a.m. located at the St. George City Cemetery, 650 E. Tabernacle St. in St. George, Utah. There will be no viewing.