Mary Lou Harward

Richfield, Utah - Mary Lou Payne Harward, age 69, returned to her Heavenly Father on January 6, 2011 at her home in Richfield, after a valiant battle with cancer. She was born October 28, 1941 in Elsinore, Utah, the second child of Reed J. and Lula Bagley Payne. She grew up in Glenwood, Utah. She graduated from Richfield High School Class of 1959 and attended the College of Southern Utah in Cedar City. Mary Lou married her sweetheart, Warren Thomas Harward of Richfield, on November 5, 1960 in the Manti LDS Temple. She was a faithful member of the LDS Church and served as a teacher in many auxiliaries and also served as both Ward and Stake Relief Society President. Mary Lou and Warren raised their family in Richfield and after many years, moved to Las Vegas, Nevada and spent 15 years living and serving in various capacities there. She and her dear companion then served in the Phoenix Arizona LDS Mission, and returned to Richfield following their mission and have spent the past few years serving as Manti Temple Workers. Her constant desire was to serve her Father in Heaven and her family and to reflect and teach her love of the gospel to her posterity and all those who knew her. She most loved spending time with her family, was an amazing seamstress, and a talented gardener. In addition to being a wonderful mother to her eight children, she was a foster mother to several teenagers, many through the Indian Placement Program and countless others. Mary Lou is survived by her eternal companion, Warren of Richfield; her children: Natalie and Andy Unsicker, Jennette and Dusty Torgerson, Morgan and Melissa Harward, all of Richfield; Connie and Patrick Perrett of Highland; Millie and Cory Anderson of Loa; Preston and Nicole Harward of Glenwood; Cameo and Jason Slack of Payson; Racquel and Cade Dunn of Pleasant Grove; 26 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; sister and brothers: Irene Steck and John Payne, both of Richfield; Terry and Barbara Payne of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She is preceded in death by her parents; Reed and Lula Payne; her parents-in-law: Kendrick and Edith Harward; her sister and brother-in-law: Patsy and Wendell Heaton; her brother, Robert Payne; and a granddaughter, Madison Abigail Perrett. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the LDS Church Perpetual Education Fund in memory of Mary Lou. Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at 12 Noon in the Richfield 9th LDS Ward Chapel, 159 North 400 West in Richfield. Friends may call for viewing at the Springer Turner Funeral Home in Richfield, Monday evening from 6 to 8 P.M. or at the Ward Chapel Tuesday morning from 10:00 to 11:30 prior to the services. Burial will be in the Richfield City Cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina, Utah.