Colleen Peart Edwards

Emily Colleen Edwards passed away peacefully on October 7, 2021 at the age of 85 of causes incident to age.

Emily Colleen was born July 3, 1936 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Leo Clair Mortensen and Elizabeth Crabtree. Her father fondly called her his little firecracker as her birthday was so close to Independence Day. Colleen was named after her grandmother, Emily Fowler, but her family and friends knew her as Colleen all of her life.

Colleen had a happy childhood growing up with her brother, Bob, and sister, Carol, who is just 13 months older. They were the best of friends. She graduated from South High School and enjoyed working for the newspaper and in other jobs before being sealed to John M. Peart, Jr. May 1, 1968 in the Salt Lake Temple. They lived in various locations across the Northwest before settling in Utah to raise their daughter, Christine. They were married nearly 20 years when John passed away October 22, 1987.

Colleen was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and had a firm testimony of our Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ. She loved the Lord and served in many callings throughout her life, including compassionate service leader and Relief Society President. Above all, she loved attending the temple. She often stated that the temple was where she found peace during the storms of life. This is also where she became reacquainted with Maeser G. Edwards, who had previously lost his wife, Artis. They were married September 16, 1992 and lived a full, happy life together for 18 years. They traveled, served a mission in Nauvoo, Illinois and served together as ordinance workers in the Salt Lake and Bountiful Temples. Maeser passed away on November 26, 2010. Colleen subsequently served as an ordinance worker in the Jordan River Temple. She loved their mission and her many years of service in the temple.

Colleen’s life was filled with service to her family, friends and neighbors. It was not uncommon to come home and find her in the kitchen making a meal, cinnamon rolls, or pumpkin cookies to share with someone. In later years, she’d often purposely buy a larger bag of candy, bigger bunch of grapes or a couple of extra apple turnovers just so she’d have something to share with her neighbors.

Colleen was a loving, dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who was actively involved in the lives of her family attending games, recitals, concerts, races, graduations, birthdays, mission farewells and homecomings, weddings, baby blessings, baptisms, funerals and holiday celebrations. She loved all of her family fiercely and would often grab your arm in a death grip as she expressed her love or excitedly anticipated the next happy event.

Colleen was a hard worker and lived independently until the last week of her life. She amazed her friends, family and neighbors as she became an expert in taking TRAX, Front Runner and the bus to get where she wanted to go. She was often seen walking the streets of South Jordan going to the grocery store, temple or library.

Colleen is survived by her daughter, Christine (Dave) Young; sister, Carol Darlington; granddaughters Laura (Michael) Bluth, Rachel Young, Bekah (Tyler) Richter, Allison Young – currently serving in the Indianapolis, Indiana mission. Colleen is also survived by Maeser’s family, whom she loved: Ronda Edwards; Steven (Pattie) Edwards; grandchildren: Brett (Kerrie) Latham, Tyson (Cierra) Edwards, Riley (KaDee) Edwards, Brayden (Tiffany) Edwards, Taylor Edwards, Alysha (Brandon) Jeppson; great-grandchildren: Ruby, Elsie, Daxton, Cambree, Eli, Briggs, Raelyn and Tate. Colleen was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, John and Maeser; brother, Bob; brother-in-law, Don Darlington; Maeser’s son, Dean Edwards and grandson, Patrick Wilburn.

We’d like to express our thanks to the wonderful nurses and hospice staff who treated Colleen with such kindness during the last few days of her life.

Funeral services will be held Friday, October 22, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at the chapel located at 1409 W. Shields Lane, South Jordan. A viewing will be held Thursday evening, October 21 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at Jenkins Soffe Funeral Home located at 1007 South Jordan Parkway, South Jordan, Utah. A brief viewing will be held at the chapel prior to the funeral Friday morning from 9:45 - 10:45 a.m. Colleen will be laid to rest at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.

Colleen loved to help those in need. In lieu of flowers and gifts, she would love you to donate to the Humanitarian Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints or the charity of your choice.