Marlene Larsen

Funeral Recording

Our dear, sweet mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, and sister returned home to her Father in Heaven on April 16, 2022, after a valiant battle with dementia, at the age of 85.

Marlene was born August 12, 1936, in Salt Lake City Utah, to Harold William and Althera “Sue” Shaw Naylor.  She was blessed to live in a loving home where she was taught the gospel of Jesus Christ and the value of hard work.  She loved and honored her parents everyday of her life.  From an early age she always strived to live life to the fullest, never wasting a moment to learn something new.  She graduated from East High School in 1954. She married the love of her life, Glade Richard Larsen, on February 18, 1955 in the Salt Lake Temple. Together they had three daughters: Debbie, Cindy (George) Swan, and Julie (Shaun) Wright.

Our mother was an instinctive and gifted teacher, with a passion for sharing her love of music. After starting her family, she began her career by teaching piano in her home to neighborhood children, family and friends. She taught piano for almost 60 years, up to her 79th birthday.  Her influence touched the lives of thousands of students.  Marlene was a devoted and faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and willingly served in every calling she was ever asked to do.  She worked diligently on her family genealogy, participating in and completing all ordinances and blessing of the temple for hundreds of ancestors.  There will be many waiting to meet her, thanking her for all the work she did for them.  Marlene devoted much of her time and energy as both a student and a teacher in the gospel. She loved the religion classes she and Glade attended every week, and would teach her family what she learned every Sunday when they gathered at her home for her special desserts. She continued taking piano and organ lessons through out her life and believed there was always something more to learn.  She was an award-winning artist. She was intent on learning all she could about art, and traveled the world painting in beautiful places.  Her favorite place to paint was France, and was always accompanied by her loving and devoted husband Glade. Her legacy will be remembered for years to come as she left many beautiful oil paintings and water colors to her family and friends. She was a gifted seamstress and also loved making porcelain dolls.  After Glade retired from the military, they took ballroom dance classes and enjoyed going dancing with friends every Saturday night.

Marlene had an eye for beauty. This was evident in the way she dressed, planned family dinners or Sunday desserts, decorated her home, and designed her beautiful rose gardens. Everything she did was practically perfect.

At her passing, Marlene was greeted by her loving husband Glade, granddaughter Alisa Ann Berger, great grandson Colton Alexander Swan, as well as her loving parents and brother George W. (Carolee) Naylor.  Mom will be deeply missed by her 3 children and their spouses, 9 Grandchildren; Tony, Danielle (Chase), Jocelyn (Cole), Cole (Timbrel), Brecke, Josh (Lindsey), Jared (Ashley), Jordan (Chloe), Savanna (Andy).  18 Great Grandchildren; Isaac, Carson, Clara, Scarlet, Gwenyth, Heath, Suzy, Sophie, Jack, Emma, Stockton, Sienna, Lola, James, Lincoln, Leo, Lucy and Elizabeth, her loving and supportive sister Carol Ann (Robbie) Palmer, and the many nieces and nephews that adored her.

The family will be gathering for a celebration of her life. Interment Mountain View Memorial Estates.