Julia B. Sorenson

Axtell, Utah - Julia Brian Chappell Sorenson, our dear and beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, passed from this life and was welcomed into the next on Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019, at Centerfield, Utah, from conditions related to aging. Born June 25, 1935, in Bicknell, Utah, Julia was the oldest of 11 children born to Reed Bastian and Marjorie White Brian. Julia grew up in Loa, Utah. As the oldest in a large family, Julia worked hard and shouldered many responsibilities. The Brian family worked hard and played hard. They know how to laugh and have a good time. Julia attended Wayne County High School, in Bicknell. She later earned her high school diploma by correspondence course. Julia was a cheerleader and enjoyed participating in school and community activities. She especially loved dancing. Julia married her high school sweetheart, Leslie Joe Chappell, August 21, 1952, in the Salt Lake Temple. They had four daughters, Dorothy (Carl) James, Centerville, Utah; Christine (Milton) Johnson, Hyde Park, Utah; Tamra (Vic) Petersen, Payson, Utah; and JoLyn Chappell (Noni Dalton), Centerfield, Utah. They later divorced in 1978. Julia married H. Elwood Sorenson, March 31, 1979, in Manti, Utah. When she married Elwood, she gained four more children, Marshall (Ruth) Sorenson, Gunnison, Utah; Kathy (Ted) Christensen)Richfield, Utah; Denise (Donald) Hill, Axtell, Utah; and Paul (Tyran) Sorenson, Hurricane, Utah. Elwood and Julia worked hard to meld their families. And through the years, our families have grown together in love and respect. They were married for 35 years, living most of that time in Axtell, Utah, before Elwood preceded Julia in death in August 2014. Gunnison Valley was home to Julia for over 60 years. She loved living in Gunnison. Julia was a teller at Gunnison Valley Bank for 30 years, from 1978 to 2008. The joy of that job for Julia was she got to meet and talk to people around the valley. Julia centered her life around her family – a devoted mother and grandmother, daughter and family member. In her dealings with her family, Julia exemplified unconditional love. Julia was aware of the needs of her family and the events in their lives and strived to be there for all of them - births, baptisms, weddings, birthdays, Christmas and countless activities. It was no small feat for her considering she had 52 grandchildren, 108 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren. Julia received great strength and joy from her faith in Jesus Christ and her covenants and activity in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She loved the scriptures, especially The Book of Mormon. As she declined and was in great pain, she found peace and rest as family members read to her from The Book of Mormon. She demonstrated her faith through a life spent giving hours of selfless service in Primary, Sunday School, Mutual and Relief Society of the Church serving in Presidencies as a teacher, pianist and dance instructor. Julia considered her years working in the Manti Temple as one of the highlights of her life. It wasn’t uncommon for Julia to bring a meal, stop and visit people, or remember a birthday. She reached out to help and lift her friends and neighbors in many ways. She served in PTA’s, the Jaycettes, American Legion Auxiliary, singing time at the Mission in Community Living Care Center, the Gunnison Valley Hospital and volunteered in many community service projects, fundraisers and cultural events. Julia loved life. She was genuinely interested in and loved socializing with people. She was a master of the art of small talk. She loved to dance and sing, and play cards and games. She enjoyed reading and watching old movies. She shared her talents making fudge, blonde brownies, and other treats, sewing many dresses, and costumes for plays and Halloween, making quilts and crocheting afghans and dish cloths and in other numberless ways. Julia made a quilt or afghans for each of her 50 grandchildren who lived to adulthood. Survived by her children; 52 grandchildren,108 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren; brothers, Robert (Edra) Brian, Loa, Utah; Harry (Dawna) Brian, Loa, Utah; sisters, Emily Lee, Boulder City, Nevada; Pamela (Russell) Peterson, Fremont, Utah; Sheila (Sherrill) Torgerson, Lyman, Utah; Michele (Dale) Coates, Aurora, Utah; Debbie (Bob) Edwards, Loa, Utah; sisters-in-law, Beverly Brian, Loa, Utah; and Lois Brian, Loa, Utah; brother-in-law, Leland (Donna Vee) Sorenson. Preceded in death by her parents, Reed and Marjorie Brian; brothers, Reed Brian, Jr.; Dudley Brian, Stanley Brian; brother-in-law, David Lee; son, Marshall Sorenson; grandchildren, Jared James, Ted Christensen, Jr. and Summer Sorenson Gordon-Smith; 3 great-grandchildren: Andrew Leavitt and twins Kennedy and Riley Sorenson. The family would like to thank the Mission at Community Living Care Center and Gunnison Hospice and their employees, Dr. Adam Jensen and Dr. Benjamin Crouch for their loving and compassionate care of our mother. Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 4, 2019 at 11:00 AM in the Axtell LDS Ward Chapel where friends may call for viewing Friday, May 3, 2019 from 6 to 8 PM or Saturday from 9:00-10:30 prior to the services. Burial will be in the Mayfield Cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina, Ut