Charlotte Van Leeuwen Hayes

Charlotte Ann Van Leeuwen Hayes, 86, of Bountiful, Utah, passed away peacefully on February 18, 2025. She was born in Salt Lake City on March 24, 1938 to Henry Van Leeuwen and Virginia Mary Pulley, both deceased. She was married to Raymond Yates Hayes, who preceeded her in death on November 7, 2014. They were married November 21, 1956, in the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple.

Charlotte is survived by her four children: Debra (Roger) Roundy, Rosharon, Texas; Alan R. (Penny) Hayes, Vero Beach, Florida; Kathi Hayes (Dave) Rawlins, Bountiful, Utah; and LaRae (Paul) Galloway, Cheney, Kansas. Charlotte has 19 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and three great, great grandchildren. Also survived by her brother, Keith Van Leeuwen, Bountiful, Utah; brother Kent (Holly)Van Leeuwen of Henderson, Nevada, and sister Jackie Pierce of Bountiful, Utah.

Charlotte was a hard worker, had numerous friends, and served in many capacities for the community, schools and church. The family would like to thank those who contributed and all the caregivers for their help through this difficult time.

Services will be on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at 11:30 am at the Kimball Mill Ward, 650 South 200 East, Bountiful. Friends and family may gather from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at the church. Charlotte will be laid to rest following the service at Memorial Lakeview Mortuary & Cemetery, 1640 East Lakeview Drive, Bountiful.

For those who are unable to attend, visit https://zoom.us/j/94364498647?pwd=ZGI0V1VZRk1vYjBlemdyeWVnWklXZz09

Please share your memories with her family.

Eulogy for a Loving Mother read by LaRae Galloway March 20, 2025

We are gathered here today to celebrate the life of my sweet mother—a woman of deep faith, boundless love, and a generous heart. She was a daughter, a wife, a mother, a sister an aunt, a grandmother, a friend, and a pillar of strength to so many.

I think I got the best version of my mom because Debra, Alan and Kathi broke her in and so she was more relaxed with me.

A few of us kids and grandkids got together last week on zoom to put together thoughts for this eulogy.

She once shared a memory from her childhood—visiting a friend’s home and noticing that the spirit there was different than in the home she grew up in. That experience shaped her; she wanted her own home to be a place filled with that same light and warmth.

Mom’s faith was strong. She never wavered in her testimony of God, and even in her final days, she would still be caught praying over her food even though she couldn't get the correct words out.

She was close to the Spirit and often felt inspired to act in ways that blessed others. The last time she visited me before she forgot who I was, she told me of a time when she felt strongly that changes in her life needed to happen and happen quickly but she didn't quite know how or when to go about it and after praying Heavenly Father told her very clearly the how and when of it and she was able to make the needed changes.

Her faith wasn't just something she believed—it was something she lived. She served in many church callings, lifting others up, offering kindness, and being a true disciple of Christ.

Devotion to Family

If there was one thing Mom loved fiercely, it was her family. She was our biggest cheerleader, always bragging about us, always celebrating our milestones. She was there for every grandchild’s birth—and most of those were home births where she played a active part in helping every way possible.

She sang silly songs to her grandkids, attended many sports events, plays, recitals or anything her children or grandchildren were involved in. She even sewed outfits for plays and dances, making sure we felt special.

A Life of Service

Mom had a heart for service, not just within our family but in the community. She worked tirelessly to make her home beautiful and welcoming, but her care extended beyond our walls.

She had many friends she served, and she formed a special bond with a group in high school called "The Upper 10," a close circle of friends whom she talked about all the time. I thought the name sounded a little conceited but then I learned upper ten was the name of a soft drink back then and they named their group after it.

She saw needs and quietly met them. When she learned that some children at school didn’t have proper clothing, she raided our closets and made sure those children were dressed. She even bathed children who needed care, never hesitating to help those in need. She was such a great example to us of charity. I remember her picking up a hitchhiker once and I was nervous but she said she felt prompted to do it and knew it would be ok.

She was a leader in our community, always stepping up where help was needed. Whether it was church, PTA, or her neighborhood, she gave her time and talents freely.

Mom had a way of making everyone feel welcome. If you were a guest in our home she always offered food! She loved food! Our fridge at home was always stuffed and when she visited my home for weeks at a time she would fill ours so much we couldn't find anything! We bought another fridge to put in the garage just for her. She said she liked a different taste at every meal .

She also had other quirks that made us smile. She was a notorious backseat driver—something we all teased her about. She loved her soap operas, make up and jewelry and loved getting her hair done! None of us remember any other hair doo but it being up high on her head. We tried many times to talk her into doing something different with no luck!

She loved playing cards, especially Canasta, and she was competitive and hard to beat in canasta! Rook, and Hearts were some other card games she played with us .

She had a fierce passion for home decorating. I will miss her helping me decorate my home as she was much better at it than me! She loved the color gold and spray painted the garbage cans and closet doors in our house gold! She always placed fake flowers or some decoration in front of outlets that weren't hidden by furniture.

She was a hard worker and had a beautiful home and yard. If she came to my house I knew my windows would get washed. She hated dirty windows and I remember when growing up she would be on the roof outside my bedroom window cleaning it!

My boys laugh about all the times she visited us and put them to work cleaning the blinds, vacuuming, and mopping "correctly"! She taught them how to clean and clean good! They laugh about it now, at how particular she was.

She had an adventurous spirit, achieving her goal of stepping foot in all 50 states. She loved road trips to visit family!

Laughter and Love

Mom had a wonderful sense of humor. She and Alan once followed Debra to a school dance just to spy on her. She and Kathi would peek through the window when Debra came home from dates—just to see if the boy kissed her! She even went to dances for her grandchildren.

One of the things that always made us laugh was how she would kiss Dad in front of us just to see him fuss about it. She loved his reaction, and we all got a kick out of it.

She had her fears too— like passing big trucks on the highway and snakes! Of course, we couldn’t resist teasing her with fake snakes. Especially her grandsons!

A Legacy of Love

Mom leaves behind a legacy of love, faith, and kindness. She taught us what it means to serve, to believe, and to cherish family. She was our home, our safe place, our heart. And though she is no longer physically with us, she will always be a part of us.

Her love lingers in the traditions she created, the lessons she taught, and the memories we hold dear. Today, we don’t just mourn her passing—we celebrate the extraordinary life she lived.

Mom, we love you. We miss you. And we will carry your light forward.