Virginia Watson

In the late afternoon of Wednesday, April 15, 2026, Virginia Watson, daughter of Leonard David and Laura Byrde McLean Watson, stepped peacefully through the veil after completing a truly remarkable life.
When Ginny, was born, on October 27, 1955 in Raymond Alberta Canada, her parents were advised by the doctors to take her home and love her because she likely wouldn’t live to be a teenager.
Ginny was born with Kartegener’s syndrome, which included having her organs reversed (situs inversis), and required her to take consistent and increasingly rigorous measures throughout her life just to breathe.
Persistent health challenges notwithstanding, Virginia did not let her physical constraints hold her back. She completed two masters degrees from Brigham Young University, one in music performance. The other in library science. Ginny subsequently worked at Brigham Young university’s Harold B Lee library for twenty-five years.
Throughout the course of her career, she became an accomplished researcher —in the computer-assisted research section—and seemed to have a knack for being able to find and solve problems that eluded others.
Virginia was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ and her testimony of His restored gospel gave meaning to her life and propelled her through the
variety of life’s vicissitudes with which she had to contend.
Ginny served willingly and constantly in the Church. As an accomplished musician, she served as the Ward organist, the stake organist, and the primary pianist – at times, all at the same time – wherever she lived—from Raymond, Alberta to Calgary, Alberta to Springville Utah.
Because Ginny felt so deeply about the hymns, and because she practiced so much, her organ music— from prelude through postlude— invited the spirit in a profound way. She was always pleased when a stake president, Bishop or members of a congregation would comment on how her music during a meeting moved them.
Her goal was never to receive a compliment for herself – she was far too humble for that. She only wanted to play in such a way that would help the speakers have the Spirit with them when they spoke, and for the congregation to have the Spirit with them as they listened.
Virginia, herself, exuded a spirit of friendliness that encouraged and uplifted all who were fortunate enough to come within the sphere of her influence. Throughout her life, she reached out to coworkers, neighbors, friends, and family members sharing all that she had—including an abundance of love. Even in the last few years as her health began to deteriorate, this continued to be her practice. Her cheerful countenance brightened any gathering. Her delightful laugh/giggle lifted hearts wherever she went.
Ginny was born with an innate curiosity. She loved to learn new things. Commencing as a child she learned to love to solve problems—like how to use a screwdriver successfully to put the wheels back on the family dishwasher. Her father also taught her how to plant a successful garden, how to play backgammon and Scrabble. Her mother taught her how to sing harmony. She taught Ginny to love music, nature, birds and the moon.
Both of her parents and her 2 sisters, cheered her on through her many successes as a teenager at the annual Lethbridge Kiwanis music festivals and with other musical adventures including as a piano teacher and as a pianist for a ballet studio.
Ginny loved to travel to experience new things. As a child on family summer vacations, she was fascinated with the Oregon coast, Washington State, and Mount Rushmore; as a teenager she fell in love with Hawaii— where her maternal grandparents Oliver and Hazel McLean had served their senior mission; as a young adult with her sister Wendy and friends, she was thrilled to see the sights of Europe including Prague, Czechoslovakia and Milan, Italy. Her goal was to see as many opera houses as possible.
Virginia was small in stature, but she had a giant heart, keen mind, and always possessed a wisdom beyond her years. Part of that wisdom included reading from the scriptures every day— including on her very last day in her home before she was taken to ICU at Utah Valley Hospital in Provo Utah. On her baby grand piano were her scriptures opened to third Nephi. She loved feasting on the words of Christ.
In her later years, it took hours of intense pulmonary therapy —provided by herself—every day, to clear her lungs so she could breathe. However, she never complained, never felt sorry for herself, never succumbed to a “woe is me” attitude. Instead she was the first to inquire about the wellbeing of others, and to offer words of encouragement.
During the last several years, she seamlessly incorporated her need for ever-increasing-life-saving procedures into her daily activities. Almost to her very last day, she went shopping— with her constant companion in tow, her oxygen tank.
Virginia used her time in her home-made pulmonary rehabilitation unit— to keep learning. She would listen to general conference messages; come follow me lessons and podcasts; and audiobooks by the hundreds while moving through her procedures.
President Russell M. Nelson once said in a media interview:
“I want to be like my sister-in-law Virginia. She is always learning!” Ginny was a great example of a true disciple of Jesus Christ.
Along with her many accomplishments and admirable qualities she developed during her almost 70.5 years, the most important was that Virginia Watson made covenants with God, and kept them. She was a covenant-keeper!

We extend our deepest gratitude to two remarkable pulmonologists: Dr. Nathan C. Dean who provided excellent medical care through the years and helped to extend her life; and to Dr. Michael J. Pearce who brilliantly cared for Virginia during her last days on earth.

We thank all of those in the ICU at Utah Valley Hospital who helped Virginia. She received magnificent loving care by highly skilled and compassionate nurses and other medical staff.

Virginia is predeceased by her parents and two baby brothers, Oliver Shand Watson and David McLean Watson. She is survived by her two sisters, Kathryn Watson Card (Bryce) and Wendy Watson Nelson (President Russell M. Nelson, deceased); one nephew (Bradley Watson Card ​(Cindy); four nieces (Karyn Butler (Chad); Cyndi Smith (Ron); Amanda Croft (Troy); Rebecca Closson (Dan); seventeen great-nieces and -nephews; and one great-great niece and one great-great nephew. Virginia is also survived by her many friends, neighbors, and coworkers.

She was an inspiration to all of us.

Virginia’s body will be laid to rest next to the graves of her parents and baby brother David in the Temple Hill Cemetery in Raymond, Alberta Canada.

Ginny’s last words were: “Tell everyone that I love them.”