Voniel Ivory Demill

With a mixture of joy and sadness we gathered around our mother as she peacefully passed away January 1, 2016 at the age of 83 after a short illness.  We will miss her so much, but we are so glad to imagine her homecoming in heaven.

Voniel was born in Grandma Mercie Ivory's house in Fountain Green, Utah on January 28, 1932 to Stanley St. Clair and Faye Blain Ivory.  She grew up surrounded by the love of many friends and relatives. Brothers Jim and Don, along with Cousin George, were three of her best pals as they played during what Voniel called happy and carefree days.   Her family moved to Salt Lake City when last siblings, Winn and Carol, were small and Voniel was starting school at Granite High.  Voniel missed the country like crazy!

While visiting Grandma Dorcas and Grandpa James Blain in Spring City, Voniel met a handsome man from Manti at a dance in Moroni.  She and Don DeMill soon married and began their 66-year love affair. Ten years later they were sealed together with their children in the Salt Lake Temple. Lucky to be witness to their love and be loved by them are their children:  Sherry (Brent) Waddingham, Terrie (Milan) Buhler, Ted (Susan) DeMill, Jack (Rosann) DeMill, Troy (Susannah) DeMill, their 14 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren.

Voniel dearly loved each one of these family members!  She had a remarkable talent for finding the best in all of us—the easy ones, the challenging ones—as she did in everyone.   Each new spouse or new baby added to the family was thrilling for her!  She never spoke unkindly about anyone.  She wanted to find the best possible gift for all of our birthdays and for Christmas.  Her gifts are legendary!

Don and Voniel were excited to share their love of the mountains in and around Sanpete County with their children and grandchildren.  Many happy times were spent at Ferron Reservoir or walking the country roads as Grandma talked about things and pointed out special sights.  Voniel loved collecting antique dolls, British royal commemoratives, and pretty dishes.  She was an adventurous and fun grandma who attended a class on Kings and Queens of England with her oldest granddaughter at the University of Utah and they were known to cut class for a breakfast date at least once.  She also purchased an antique organ and period furniture that filled the DeMill family home built in Manti in the 1870s that she and Don restored.

Voniel adored her friends!  Fountain Green girls were dear to her always.  She loved friends from the neighborhood, ward and work.  She loved the State of Utah and worked for the Utah State Division of Finance from 1974 to 1994 where she discovered her close friend Lonny, who happens to be a distant cousin from Spring City.  She highly prized all of her cousins and kept in close contact with them over the years.   She especially loved family history projects with former childhood playmate George Ivory.

Voniel was a life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and proud of her pioneer heritage beginning with Great Grandfather Matthew Ivory who crossed the plains in the first company of pioneers with Brigham Young in 1847.   She did a great deal of genealogy and many histories of her and Dad's ancestors.  She loved being a member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and treasured her friends at the Rosenborg Villa Camp.   She held many church positions including teacher in many organizations, counselor several times in Relief Society, and president of the Primary and Young Women organizations.

Voniel was preceded in death by her parents and brothers James S. and his wife Joan Ivory, Don B. Ivory, and Winston M. Ivory.   She is survived by the love of her life, husband Don; their five children and their spouses; her sister Carol and brother-in-law Jim Archuleta; and sisters-in-law Denise Ivory and Karen Ivory.

The family wishes to thank Dr. King Udall for his great kindness and care of Voniel for many years and also thanks the staff of Garden Terrace for their care of our sweet mother.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, January 5, 2016 at 11:00 am at the Forestview Ward, 1111 East Charlton (2818 S).  Friends and family are invited to visit Monday evening 6:00-8:00 pm at the Holbrook Mortuary, 3251 South 2300 East, and at the church Tuesday morning 9:30-10:30 am prior to the service.  Interment will be at the Murray City Cemetery. Guestbook to post messages and tributes for the family is available at: www.HolbrookMortuary.com

Click below to listen to the funeral service. Available until April 4, 2016.