Jeanne White Matheson

JEANNE WHITE MATHESON died on May 3, 2025 incidental to a stroke. She was born September 13, 1949 In Cedar City, Utah to Herbert Dalley White and LaRue Orton. She joined her brother, Dee White who was nearly eighteen years older. When she was 7, Dee married Shirley Robinson changing the dynamic of their family. She grew up in Summit, Utah and usually enjoyed the small town life.

Jeanne married Vernile Matheson in 1983 after practice marriages to Glen Pryor and John G. Pensis. They were later sealed in the Ogden Utah Temple. With her marriage to Vernile she acquired a bonus family of 5 children who ultimately blessed them with 23 grandchildren, 37 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.

Jeanne was a proud Cedar Redman, a CSU (now SUU) Thunderbird and a University of Utah Ute having graduated from each school triumphantly.

Jeanne was an educator in many capacities. Her first job after graduating college was as an English and psychology teacher as well as the Speech and Debate Coach at Cedar High School. From there she taught at Randolph High School as a counselor, special education teacher and taught Honors English. T H Bell Junior High School in Washington Terrace was her next educational stop where she had many challenges and success as a counselor. She ultimately went to the Weber County School District in the counseling office. She also taught classes at University of Phoenix, Salt Lake Campus.

She was an involved member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She loved the mission she and Vernile served in their home Stake. Primary children enriched her life and she theirs. She loved serving in the Bountiful Utah and Layton Utah temples and was devastated after her stroke to take a leave of absence from serving in Layton.

Jeanne was a lover of family: both the family into which she was born, the families she acquired by marriages and the friends she “adopted” into her family along the way. She was a collector of friends, lunch dates, figurines, Nativities, Keds, Teddy Bears, Snoopy, felt tip pens, sand Holiday Decorations, especially Christmas and Halloween. She loved Chocolate, Coca Cola, shopping (especially sales), Noxzema, University of Utah football, Utah Jazz, Gentry, The Chosen, the colors Orange and Red, road trips, hot bread, comfort food, live theatre, and concerts from Ozzy Osborne to the Utah Symphony.

She is survived by her Sister-in-law, Shirley R. White of Summit, Utah, 6 nieces and nephews, 21 great nieces and nephews and 58 great-great nieces and nephews.

Jeanne was preceded in death by her husband Vernile, her brother, Dee, and her parents.

We acknowledge the Joey and Kim De Los Reyes family of Layton who was her informally adopted son. Their help both before and after Vernile’s passing has been invaluable. They along with other close neighbors have been loving hands and watchcare especially in the 8 months since Jeanne’s stroke. We are also so very grateful to the loving care of Suzy, her “nanny” from December 2024 through her recent hospitalization.

A viewing will be held May 12, 2025 at Walker Mortuary (45 W 200 N, Morgan UT 84050) from 6-8 pm. Funeral services will be held May 13, 2025 at a Layton Church house (3250 N 1050 E, Layton UT 84040) at 11 am with a viewing prior to the services from 9:30-10:30 am.