Sally Paulson Featherstone

Our dear mom and grandma, Sally LaDon Paulson Featherstone, 89, died May 6, 2026, from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. She lost so many of her memories, but she never lost her generous spirit or her sense of humor. Even in her final days, she was busy taking care of those around her, whether they needed it or not.

She was born on August 30, 1936, in Salt Lake City to LaVon Norton and Don Franklin Paulson. She was the oldest of five children in a very happy and loving family. When she was nine years old, her family settled into a comfortable bungalow in Salt Lake and Sally spent the rest of her growing up years in that home. She made many lifelong friends in those years and graduated from South High School in 1954. She then went to work for the telephone company in downtown Salt Lake, “dressed to the nines every day”, as she put it. She married James Dee Featherstone on March 7, 1957, and they spent 64 happy years together. Shortly after her marriage, she began a new career as a wife, mom, and unofficial bookkeeper/accountant for the family tile business. She cherished the years her children were young and growing and she always loved having a baby around. She was also busy with golfing, bowling, Primary and Relief Society callings, her pinochle club, gardening, and so many days spent in the sun, whether camping at the lake and waterskiing, or at the pool. She lived for summertime.

In 1982 she went to work as a teacher’s aide at Kearns Junior High, mostly because she could still have summers off. But she learned she had a knack for getting along with teenagers, and her students all came to love Mrs. Featherstone. She had a way of making you feel seen and listened to, and she attracted friends wherever she went.

Her starring role in life, however, was as Grandma Sally. She was simply the best grandma anyone could ask for. Sleepovers at Grandma and Grandpa’s were a regular occurrence and always included pancakes and Sunny D for breakfast. She was always up for a swim, a sledding party, a school event, a water fight, a long chat, a cross-country drive, a movie night, or anything else her grandkids needed.

She hated being the center of attention, public speaking, being dressed up and cooking dinner, even though she did it faithfully every night- you never went hungry at Grandma Sally’s. She loved the simple things: sitting on her deck with a good cup of coffee, birthdays, watching the stars come out, the smell of lilacs in the spring, a cinnamon sugar donut. Her family was her heart, and she was the heart of our family. We will miss her every day.

She is survived by her children: Mark and Lisa Featherstone, of Mt. Prospect, IL; Lynne and Dan Metcalf, of Syracuse Utah; 13 grandchildren, Tyler, Brian (Jade), James (Michelle), Caitlin, Carla, Rachel (Maria), Rebecca, Mitchell, Alisa (Erwann), Duncan, William (Kylie), Audrey (Summer), and Olivia; 6 great grandchildren; Joshua, Léon, Louise, Esme, Allirea and Blake; two sisters, Carole Williams and June Cassidy, one brother, Brad (Cindy) Paulson; and many nieces and nephews that she loved very much. She was preceded in death by her husband James Dee, her son Blake, her parents, and a brother, Reed Paulson.

Services will be held Friday, May 15, 2026 at Redwood Memorial Estates Mortuary, 6500 S. Redwood Road, Taylorsville, UT. Viewing from 1-3 pm, followed by graveside services at 3 pm.