Leola Herzog

Our beloved mother, grandmother, and wife Leola Bagley Herzog passed away peacefully on April 21, 2023, surrounded by her loving family.

Leola Bagley was the youngest of eight children and was born on March 29, 1932, to George Alma Bagley and Mary Elizabeth Winget in the living room of their home in Greenwich, Utah.

Leola’s favorite memories of growing up were watching her “daddy whistle for the cows, and watch the cattle come running. He always made sure all the animals had eaten before he would sit down and eat himself.” Her mother, “was the best cook in the world,” and this is where Leola learned “a pinch of this, and a dab of that, with lots of love stirred in.”

After graduating from Provo High school in 1950, Lee went to live with her sister while attending BYU University. During her second year in college Lee went to work in Salt Lake City as a secretary for the summer and was set up on a blind date to meet a sailor that was home on leave for a few weeks; his name was Don Herzog.

Their courtship was electric from the moment the two met. They went to an Abbott and Costello movie and “it was the craziest movie I had ever seen. He laughed so hard and deep; I was quite embarrassed.” After seven months from their first date, which were followed by many stops at various drinking fountains to “put the fire out,” Don and Lee were married by her brother Lynn in a little red schoolhouse in Greenwich, Utah on December 12th,  1953, and were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on January 10, 1954. Their 70^th wedding anniversary would have been this December.

Don was still serving in the U.S Navy and the newlyweds moved to San Diego. The two met up with a couple by the names of “Sid” and “Gertrude” that rented the young couple an old chicken coop that had been renovated into an apartment. The two so were tickled by their names, that they adopted their “pet” names for each other.

The two welcomed their first child in January 1955 and later welcomed seven children total. (One which was miscarried), with four beaming boys and two angelic girls.  Lee was constantly in the kitchen preparing meals and working tirelessly into the night sewing clothes for the children.

The young family never stood stagnant and spent their time camping, boating, and touring National Parks in a 1962 Volkswagen Beetle.

When Lee’s children were welcoming children of their own, grass did not grow under her feet. Lee’s days were full by working her delicate hands and making porcelain dolls. Each doll was poured, sanded, and meticulously painted. Her hands worked thoughtfully as she carefully selected the fabric that was cut and sewn to create an outfit that reflected the character of each child.

It was not unusual to find a quilting frame in the front living room. Through the years Lee would gift her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren a handmade quilt symbolizing that Lee’s arms would always be wrapped around them when she was not physically there to embrace them.

In August of 1989 Don and Lee were called on a 12-month mission in the Nauvoo Restoration, in Nauvoo, Illinois. In Lee’s farewell speech she jokingly asked the congregation to “show a raise of hands if they were retired;” at which point she turned to the bishop and pointed out there were several other “good candidates,” for the mission.  Although “Gertrude” was somber to leave her family, she commented “her companion was the best that anyone could have, and I will be by his side.”

Growing up and learning the scriptures were a big part of her life, and like her daddy, Lee was a firm believer in missionary work.

“Gertrude” would recite, “waste not, want not,” and learned the importance of having a year supply of food storage from her mother. She would make freezer jam from the raspberries in the garden, homemade spaghetti sauce from “Sid’s” garden tomatoes, canned apricots, bottled peaches, and dozens of apple pies coated in cinnamon and sugar that would be frozen and eaten throughout the year.

Christmas was magic in the Herzog home. “Christmas always was, and I’m sure always will be my favorite time of the year.” The family tree displayed handcrafted ornaments, a white porcelain manger scene, and an elegant dinner table that was pressed and perfectly set. Christmas Eve dinner consisted of wedding china and Lee’s famous meatballs, funeral potatoes, rolls, and of course multi-layered Jell-O. Lee dedicated herself 364 days a year to finding the perfect gift for every member of the family; and wrapped each gift with excitement and joy to show her love.

With twenty-two grandchildren, there was never a moment of boredom, and “Gertrude” insisted that grandchildren filled their home with giggles and sleepovers. The most cherished memories came out of those weekends and included homemade playdough, camping trips to the KOA, and hair wrapped in pink sponge curlers.

Leola Bagley Herzog, “Gertrude,” lived her life in the service of others. Our hearts are grieving, mourn the loss of an extraordinary woman who loved, nurtured, and cared for all that crossed her path.

 Remember as the days turn to weeks, and the weeks turn to years, to look up into the night sky and “Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket, never let it fade away. Catch a Falling star and put it in your pocket, save it for a rainy day.”

Know that she is the Starlight to hold in your heart on starless nights, and when you feel love embrace your shoulders, know that her love is wrapping around you so tightly.

Preceded in death by her parents, George and Mary Bagley and son Randy Herzog.

Lee is survived by her 5 Children, Ross Herzog, Glenn (Misty) Herzog, Judy Palmer, Theresa Herzog, and Tim (Candice) Herzog, daughter-in-law, Laurie, 22 grandchildren, 47 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at 1 pm at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 2925 East Bengal Blvd., Cottonwood Heights.  A visitation will be held at the Cannon Mortuary, 2460 East Bengal Blvd. (7600 South) on Friday, April 28, 2023, from 6pm to 8pm and there will be a second visitation on Saturday, April 29 for one hour prior to the service at the church.  The funeral will be live streamed through the Cannon Mortuary at https://www.facebook.com/CannonMortuary/.

For all those who would like to attend the Interment, we will meet on Monday, May 1, 2023, at the graveside for the blessing of the grave at 11 am, at the Memorial Mountain View Cemetery located at 3115 Bengal Blvd.

The Family would like to give a special thanks Kitty and Dale Kmetzsch and Becky and Scott Peddler for all the years of love and support that they gave to our parents.  We also would like to give special thanks to Tui and Amanaki Tuitupou and all the special people that work for Royal T Homecare.  We would like to thank Jazmine and all the other nurses and therapists that came to help our Mom from Active Hospice.   We are sure that there are lots more people that we did not know who came and helped our Mom and Dad.  We want to extend a HUGE thanks to all of you who came and helped support our parents.