Mary Hall (Mickelsen)

Obituary for
Mary Hall (Mickelsen)

Our beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, Mary Mickelsen Hall, passed away peacefully at home in Provo, Utah, early on the morning of Tuesday, December 4, 2018 after experiencing the difficult journey of Lewy Body Dementia, which affected her mind and movement in her last years, but never her legendary kindness or preoccupation with the comfort and care of everyone around her. She was 71.

Mary was born June 13, 1947 in Pioche, Nevada to Alva McKay Mickelsen and Hazel Chapin Mickelsen. She spent her youth in Salina and Panguitch, Utah and graduated from high school in Holtville, California.

She received her nursing degree from Holy Cross School of Nursing in Salt Lake City. She had a wonderful experience living with the other nursing students and the nuns who she always remembered being so kind to her. After graduation, she enrolled at BYU and worked in the recovery room at Utah Valley Hospital. She met her future husband, Brent Hall, on a blind date. He picked her up from her shift at the hospital and was immediately smitten. To make the feeling mutual, he sent her a rose each day until she agreed to marry him. They were married March 31, 1969 in the Salt Lake Temple and made their home in Provo for the next 50 years, including 47 years in the home where they raised their five children.

Mary’s legacy might be described best in the words of one of her uncles who remembered that all she ever wanted to be was a mother — and her love and care for each of her five wonderful children and 19 cherished grandchildren reflects the fulfillment of that wish. They all agree that she was the best. Her life was one of continual service. She served her husband, her family, her neighbors, her Latter-day Saint ward and stake, and many strangers who who came to her door and were accepted as friends. Her beautiful piano-playing talent brought great joy to her family and engendered a love and appreciation for music in all of her children and grandchildren. She had a special gift of helping children and young people learn and feel good about themselves. If you came to visit and didn’t find her with children, you could safely bet she could be found with her flowers. Mary and flowers were kindred spirits.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Ann Mickelsen (Frank Kay) Richards. She is survived by her brothers, Chris (Jan) and Mark (Robin) Mickelsen, and by her sisters, Marlene (Phil) Goodrich and Joyce (Ron) Tolley. Her children, who she loved so much, are Traci (Jim) Blair, Preston (Janette) Hall, Allison (Aaron) Eastley, Lori (Lyndon) Porter, and Spencer Hall. She also leaves 19 beloved grandchildren.

Her most common words — even when she was suffering from the disease that would take her life — were “Thank you” and “It’s nobody’s fault.”

Her light was bright and she made us all better from that light and love.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 8, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. at the Grandview 4th Ward chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 1081 West 1060 North in Provo, Utah. A viewing will be held Friday, December 7 from 6-8 p.m. at the Nelson Family Mortuary, 4780 North University Avenue in Provo. A viewing will also be held at the church before the service Saturday from 8:30-9:15 a.m. Burial and a graveside service will be held later on Saturday at the Maeser Fairview Cemetery, 400 South 8500 West in Vernal, Utah.