Mary Shaw

Mary Ann Peterson Shaw, age 88, passed away peacefully the morning of Wednesday, March 20, 2024. Saying goodbye to our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend was not easy, but we are grateful for the love, lessons, and legacy she left with us.

Mary Ann was born on February 19, 1936 in Preston, ID to Edward Hilmer Peterson and Mary Cutler. Her family lived in a one bedroom apartment above the train depot on 6th West and Center Street in Logan, UT while her father was employed by the Union Pacific Railroad as a telegrapher and station master. Although her family didn’t have a lot of money, Mary’s determination led her to become involved in numerous extracurricular activities, including swim team, choir, and learning multiple musical instruments. These included the violin, bass, piano, and organ. She would later go on to serve as a beautiful pianist and organist in both educational and church capacities.

While living in Logan, Mary Ann met Kenneth Doyle Shaw and they were married in the Logan Temple on November 5, 1954. Right after getting married, Mary and Doyle moved to Roy, UT where they had their first child, Richard. After giving birth to their second child, Dee, the family moved into a home in Rose Park. They lived there for several years and had two other boys, Steven and Alan. In 1964, they built a house in Granger, UT and would welcome their youngest son, Gregory.

Granger is where Mary and Doyle would raise their family for 30 years before moving to South Jordan in 1993. Many friendships and wonderful memories were made in the Granger 17th Ward and neighborhood. Mary’s grit and determination to take care of her family led her to self-employment as a babysitter, cake decorator, and piano teacher to earn extra money as a stay-at-home mom. She also wasn’t afraid to do hard things, like roofing on her home! Although she would never serve as a full-time missionary, Mary sacrificed to support all five of her children on full-time missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This included sending money for her children’s mission companions who needed clothes, food/rent, and scriptures.

Mary believed in the power of education. When her family was almost grown, Mary attended the University of Utah to earn a teaching degree. She worked hard and finished within 3 years. At the age of 60, Mary received a Master’s Degree from the University of Utah alongside her daughter, Dee. She taught English at Bennion Junior High for 27 years and retired at the age of 73. She valued education so greatly that in lieu of getting Christmas presents for her adult children, she created the Shaw Perpetual Education Fund to gift each of her 16 grandchildren money for the sole purpose of continuing education. Each of Mary’s five children and many of her grandchildren have earned college degrees, including an MBA and two Nurse Practitioner degrees. Her efforts helped pave the way for her posterity and will carry down to future generations.

Mary had a strong testimony of Jesus Christ and loved to share that testimony through music. She would play the piano and organ consistently throughout her life in church callings, school musicals, and during family gatherings. Neighbors have fond memories of listening to her music when she would open up the windows and sit down at the piano for hours. Her musical talent has blessed many lives.

Mary loved to be creative. She produced many paintings that hung in her home and was a talented seamstress. Her favorite places to travel were St. George, UT, Island Park, ID, Branson, MO, and Maine. She also loved spring flowers and had a beautiful garden with the best rhubarb and raspberries. Mary was famous for her shredded apple and mincemeat pies and was known for always having ice cream in the freezer for anyone who came to visit. More than anything, Mary loved her family. She enjoyed spending time with her sisters and brother and talked to them weekly. She loved when her children and grandchildren came to visit and her great-grandchildren always brought out her biggest smile- even days before her passing.

Mary leaves behind a beautiful legacy. She is survived by her children Richard (Shauna), Dee Sundell, Steven (Cori), Alan (Amy), and Greg (Katie), 16 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren with one on the way, and siblings Donald (Gloris) Peterson and Janet (Mike) Huiatt. She is preceded in death by her husband Doyle, son-in-law Carl Sundell, her parents, her sisters May and Helen, and her brothers Joel, Jack, and Richard. We know it was a wonderful reunion to see these beloved family members again!

Viewings will be held on Thursday, March 28, 2024 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Jenkins-Soffe Funeral Home, 1007 W. South Jordan Parkway, South Jordan, UT and on Friday, March 29, 2024 from 9:30-10:30 am with funeral service to follow at 11:00 am at the River Ridge 10th Ward, 1409 West Shields Lane, South Jordan, UT. Interment at South Jordan Memorial Park.