Deanna Sommer

Our beloved Deanna Stirling Sommer left us on July 8, 2024, passing in her sleep after a long life of health problems, which she endured for many decades, defying all her doctors’ dire predictions.

She worked for over twenty years in the Murray District Court system as clerk for Judge Michael K. Burton, along with her friend Linda Vance, who lived just next door.

Deanna had a heart of both steel and gold: steel, because if you contradicted her, she would chew you out like a viper; gold, because there was nothing she held back when she offered up her love. She was the centerpiece of the Stirling family, and, throughout the years, had the ability and fortitude to keep us all well-connected. She was adored by her brothers Dennis and Val and sister Merdene. She was cherished by her nieces and nephews, who appreciated all the wonderful things she did for them during the holidays. Every day was a holiday for Deanna, and she always unleashed her full spiritual and practical forces behind it.

Deanna was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on December 24, 1941, the daughter of Malcolm William and Lorna Louise Steadman Stirling. She attended and graduated from South High School. By all accounts, she was a charming rascal, but she somehow managed to snag the greatest love of her life, a troublemaker named Franklin Delano Sommer, also a South High student and a notable menace to his teachers. It took the charms and iron hands of Deanna to tame that man. They were married on June 15, 1960, in the company of their good friends Sherron and Myrle Pace, Joe Kinder and Colleen Nevin. Her brother Val said, “It was as perfect a union as could be, they stuck to each other like glue.” The bond between Deanna and Franklin lasted over 64 glorious years. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Deanna and Franklin had their marriage sealed in the Salt Lake Temple in March of 1997.

Deanna had a passion for genealogy. She spent years searching, learning and sharing all her historical discoveries. She also loved her hobby of scrapbooking, taking photos and cropping them into albums for all of her family and friends to enjoy and appreciate, as well as texting out fancy emoticons all the time to emphasize her thoughts. She and Franklin were world travelers, too, always geared up and ready for the joys and challenges of adventure. They were both deeply devoted to the LDS Church, and in these later years together they have fulfilled thousands of Baptisms, Confirmations, Initiatories, Endowments and Sealings.

She is preceded in death by her father and mother, Malcolm and Lorna Stirling, sister Merdene Louise (Vaun) Morrow and sister-in-law Cari Stirling. She is survived by her sweetheart-of-all-time Franklin; son Daniel (Christine) Sommer; brothers Dennis (Lorae) Stirling and Val Stirling; grandchildren Brock (Kira) Sommer, Blake (Suzy) Sommer, Bryan Sommer, and many nieces and nephews. As the old saying goes, “How she will delight the angels!”

Scheduled ceremonies: July 19th, evening viewing, 6:00-8:00 p.m, Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, 4760 S. State St., Murray, UT; July 20th viewing, 10:00-11:00 a.m., with funeral ceremony to follow, LDS ward house, 1380 W. 6785 S., West Jordan, UT: Interment at Murray City Cemetery, 5490 S. Vine St., Murray, UT

The family wishes express deep gratitude to Dr. Kevin L. Jansen, Deanna’s nephrologist pro, and Haylee from Alpine Hospice. No flowers necessary, but at Deanna’s suggestion, any donations to the National Kidney Foundation of Utah would be appreciated.