Annette Peay Bowthorpe

Annette Peay Bowthorpe has been reunited with Dennis Reed Bowthorpe after a courageous eight-year battle with breast cancer on Saturday, July 29, 2023. Born to Stanley and Virginia Peay on March 31, 1944, in Provo, Utah. Annette was the middle child with brother Eugene Peay and sister Colleen Bohn. She attended Maeser Elementary and Farrer Jr High, and she loved spending time with her dear mother and sister. Annette graduated from Provo High School with the best group of friends in 1962, who spent a lifetime getting together for dinners, card games, golf, and tennis in St. George and girls' trips. She received her degree in early childhood development in May 1967 from Brigham Young University and loved all things BYU blue. She met Dennis at BYU, and they were engaged at the Homestead Resort and married in the Salt Lake Temple on August 31, 1965. In their fifty-five years of marriage, they lived in Spanish Fork, Bellevue, Issaquah, and Olympia, Washington, where mom drove dad’s 1970 Ford Truck with the camper down I-5 in the middle of Seattle traffic. Missing extended family, they moved back to Sandy, Utah. Finally, they built their family home in 1979 in Heber City, where they raised their children to work hard, play sports, spend time in the mountains, seek knowledge in education, and be honest and truthful throughout their lives. Annette created deep friendships with compassion and genuine sincerity. She made everyone feel that whatever was going on in their lives was important, and she truly is the very best listener. Annette enjoyed playing tennis and had fantastic associations with many women in the tennis community. Annette loved to serve her community and enjoyed volunteering at the Heber Valley Western Music & Cowboy Poetry Gathering. She loved serving her neighbors, made homemade bread for ward members, served as Primary President, Relief Society teacher, Young Women’s leader, and a faithful ministry sister. She was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and had a testimony of our Savior and his gospel.

Annette loved children and spent thirty-nine years teaching, including preschool in her home, Head Start, and Kindergarten at the North School and Heber Valley Elementary. She patiently taught children to read. Her favorite books included Boxcar Children and the beautifully illustrated books by Jan Brett. Annette retired from teaching in 2006. Little did she know she would spend her golden years caring for Dennis for fifteen years after he suffered a massive stroke. Dennis passed away in 2020 with Annette by his side.

Nettie loves her six children and their spouses; Dan Bowthorpe, Sharie and George Giles, Rachel and Chad Kahler, Robyn and Redgie Probst, Marc and Chantelle Bowthorpe, Holly and James Mair. Her favorite people on this earth are her twenty grandchildren, Jeff (Sierra) Giles and great-grandbaby Millie, Karson Bowthorpe, Alex (Brandon) Daynes and great-grandbaby Daylan, Ryan (Amy) Giles, Jakob (Emmy) Kahler, Abbi Bowthorpe, Brodie Kahler, Quincy Probst, Jack Giles, Owen Mair, Zander Bowthorpe, Quealy Probst, Charley Kahler, Ian Mair, Paisley Probst, Emmy Mair, Oakley Bowthorpe, Bronson Bowthorpe, Emitt Mair, and Parley Probst, who will remember her dearly for her family gatherings during the holidays and family dinners, leprechauns tricks, Easter Egg Hunts, clever costumes at Halloween parties and I Believe in Santa Christmas parties. She made the most amazing birthday cakes and didn’t miss an event; ball games, dances, music recitals, rodeos, or school performances. She was always cheering us on, ironing shirts for the next rodeo, mending clothes, making adjustments to uniforms, and sewing on scout badges.

Our hearts are broken, as we will miss her in our daily lives terribly. We know that she is made whole through Our Savior and is rejoicing in heaven with her sweetheart Dennis.

In lieu of flowers, read a book with your children and grandchildren with Mrs. (B) Bowthorpe in mind. A graveside service will be held at the Heber City Cemetery Wednesday, August 2 at 10 am.