Paulette Ann Morgan

Paulette Ann Morgan passed away November 29th, 2022. Born in Salt Lake City on August 17th, 1946, to Paul and Geraldine Spencer, she was raised on her family’s cherry orchards in Farmington, Utah.

Paulette studied elementary education at BYU, and later said earning a teaching degree was one of her greatest accomplishments. Through her college years she wrote to her sweetheart Don, who was serving in the Vietnam War. Don and Paulette grew up together and started dating after high school. Though they were very different, the saying “opposites attract” held true, and on September 16th, 1971, the city girl and country boy were married. They spent their early married years moving around Utah while Don worked for Utah State Parks. The remote post of Goblin Valley was a little too isolated for Paulette’s liking, so she was thrilled when he eventually got a job at Wasatch State Park, where they raised their three daughters. Walking the quiet mountain roads was a regular practice for Paulette, and she spoke often about how fortunate she was to live and raise her daughters in such a beautiful area. She also loved living here because of the beautiful friendships she formed, especially in the Midway 3rd Ward.

While she loved Midway Valley, she was often drawn back to the city to spend time with her mom. On any given weekend, you could find Paulette, her mother Gerry and her three girls shopping at Crossroads Mall, eating at the Tiffin room, and seeing the latest movies at Tinseltown. Just like her mom, Paulette enjoyed the finer things in life-- presentation was everything, a little gold and sparkle was a must when it came to attire and décor.

Paulette loved to spoil her girls and made sure they were dressed impeccably with their hair curled. She supported her girls in pursuing whatever it was they wanted to do. She loved watching them dance, play sports, and finish ultra-marathons. She was often bewildered how her daughters could be so different from her, but those differences ultimately made her love them even more. She even found herself enjoying the outdoors and spent time camping in Lake Powell, Red Fish Lake and weekends in the trailer with Don.

Paulette will be known to most in the valley as Mrs. Morgan. She spent 26 years teaching second grade and truly loved her job. Her students brought her so much joy, and the children in her classroom knew they were loved. She not only loved her second graders but loved her coworkers-- they were her second family. Her friendships from school meant the world to Paulette. She and her co-workers not only spent the days teaching together, but it was here that Paulette found support in the hardships of life. They shared many joyful times filled with laughter.

After retirement, her favorite title was Grandma. Paulette was all about having fun and playing with her grandkids. She loved the joy and laughter they brought to her home, and she was up for any adventure-- as long as it involved the grandkids. Her grandkids loved her too, and it was a gift to see them spend time visiting and caring for her when she was ill.
She is survived by her brothers, Kenny Spencer and Steve (Annette) Spencer. Her devoted and loving husband, Don L. Morgan, her daughters and grandkids, Jennifer Peirce (Scott), Annika, Aleah, Palmer; Shalise Morgan, Abbi Bowthorpe; Melissa Whitaker (Scott), Morgan, Miles, and Briggs.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Geraldine Spencer.

Paulette’s family would like to thank the amazing people who cared for her during her years of illness. It was common for the nurses and staff members to exchange hugs and “I love you’s” with Paulette during their routine checkups. It was such a comfort for Paulette’s family to know that when they could not be with her, she was in loving hands.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, from 10-11 AM with Funeral Services following at 11 AM at Probst Family Funeral Home, 79 East Main Street, Midway, Utah 84049. Interment will take place following the services at Midway City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association: www.alz.org .