Gloria Higham

Gloria Lees Higham
November 3, 1937- July 2, 2025

Gloria passed away peacefully at her home in East Mill Creek on July 2, 2025, surrounded with love. She was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Lester John Lees and Florence Ellen Backman as the 3rd of 4 daughters. Her family instilled in her a love of music, a love of sports, and a love of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Gloria’s love of music started early, and she was singing in sacrament meeting as early as 5 years old. She sang in many choirs, including the Sacre Dulce choir and countless ward and stake choirs. One of her favorite callings was ward chorister. She would spend many hours trying to prayerfully select the appropriate music and lead it with gusto. She also passed the love of music on to her children.

Gloria was her father’s best sports companion. He took her to many sporting events, including the BYU/Utah game on Thanksgiving Day, and told her you always root for the “Lord’s team”. This began her love for BYU sports. She loved going to any games: football, basketball, baseball, and especially ward softball games. One of her proudest moments was when she cheered louder than anyone else, and an umpire threatened to throw her out of a ward softball game for being too loud. She has been a fan of the Dodgers since they were known as the “Brooklyn Bums,” and she cherished any opportunity to watch them play. One of her dreams came true when she watched them in person, seated behind the dugout with her Dr. Pepper and Dodger Dog.

Her father taught her the importance of attending church meetings. She was stalwart in her attendance right up until the very end. She held many callings and was known lovingly as the gum lady to her primary classes. While she didn’t bear her testimony often, she always bore it through her music.

Gloria married her childhood sweetheart, Hyrum Bess Higham, on September 2, 1954, later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple, and had 8 children. She loved her family dearly and especially loved holidays. She loved taking the children to any parade and fireworks. But her favorite time of year was Christmas, when they would all gather at her house. She was so proud to say she had over 50 people at one time in her home for Christmas Eve. She loved being surrounded by all of them.

While Gloria worked many jobs in her life, her favorite job was working at the deli. She always said she didn’t have customers, she had friends. Even after she had retired, she loved returning to the store to see all her friends and catch up with them.

Gloria is survived by her children, Ronald (Heidi), Terry (Tamara), Martin (Elisa), David (Janet), Stuart (Michelle), Sharilee Owen (Randall), Deborah Degen, and Diana O’Brien (Sean); 17 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren and many wonderful nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, 3 sisters, a daughter-in-law, and 2 grandsons.

Special Thank You to Tina and Diane and the supporting staff of Intermountain Hospice, who provided care and compassion in the last few weeks of Gloria’s life.

A viewing will be held at the East Mill Creek 15th Ward (3750 South Hillside Lane (2600 East) Salt Lake City, Utah 84109-4064) from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, July 17, 2025, and 10-10:45 a.m. on Friday, July 18th, 2025. The funeral will follow at the East Mill Creek 15th Ward on Friday, July 18, 2025, at 11 a.m.. Interment at Larkin Sunset Gardens.

Mom’s lasting message to everyone would be to “Have a Happy Day”.