Patricia Haws

Patricia June Story Haws passed away on December 23rd, 2014 at her home in Vernal, Utah. She peacefully departed this life with her husband near her side.

Patricia was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on June 2nd, 1937 to Faun Jones and Herman William Story. She was the third of seven children born to the Story family to include herself, her brothers Rex, Terry, and Alan and her sisters Faun Mae, Chiyo and Michelle. As a child she and her family moved often. By 1943 the family lived in Great Falls, Montana where she grew up and completed her schooling.

Patricia was a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, baptized at the age of 12. A couple of years after her baptism she traveled with a group of young people from the small Great Falls branch to Cardston, Alberta, Canada to Patriarch Snow for their patriarchal blessings. She developed a strong testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ at a young age and a testimony that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true and living church on the earth. She demonstrated that conviction in word and deed throughout her life.

While living in Great Falls, she met her future husband, Irvin A Haws, who was stationed there, serving in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. The couple was married on September 9th, 1954 in the Salt Lake City, Utah temple. The following year the first of three girls, Becky, was born in Great Falls. By 1958 Irvin and Patty had three daughters including Becky, Terryl and Laurie. Because of a work transfer in 1962 the Haws family moved to Couer'd Alene, Idaho where their son, Randall, was born. In 1968 the couple moved again as Irvin was once more transferred by the J.C. Penney Company back to his home town of Vernal, Utah. It was in Vernal that their last child, Charmian, was born.

After a few years of living on Main Street, the couple moved a final time to a house they purchased in 1971 on Robinwood Lane where they have resided for the last 43 years. At about that same time, Patricia began working as a legal secretary. She continued in the legal profession as a clerk and later a title researcher as well as doing clerical work for an insurance agency. Later she found employment working at the Basin Nickel Ads.

Patricia loved books, learning, and education. She greatly appreciated music and for many years sang in the Singing Mother's Relief Society choir, The Honeytones women's choir, and with many other choirs. As a child and young woman she loved figure skating, water skiing, and cycling. She was always grateful for anything that was cultured and refined, and sought to always increase and expand her understanding of life.

As a member of her church, she served regularly in positions in the Relief Society, Mutual, and Primary. During some of these callings she had the opportunity to meet with and talk to several prominent leaders of the Church. In 1991, she and her husband served a full time mission in the French speaking Geneva, Switzerland Mission for their church. Their first assignment was to assist a branch. Patricia helped with the music and taught English classes to French children every Thursday night. They were transferred to a ward in Switzerland for a month. They served the remaining time in a small branch in France where she played the piano and Irvin was branch president. On preparation day they rode bikes through the countryside. After the Vernal Temple opened, she served as an ordinance worker for several years. She had a strong testimony and she passed this love of the gospel to each of her children.

Irvin and Patty enjoyed spending time in Jackson, Wyoming. While there the spring following their mission she had a bicycle accident. This was the beginning of many health problems and surgeries.

She was a loving mother and wife, and greatly cherished each of her children. She also deeply loved each of her grandchildren and great grandchildren, calling and talking with them regularly. Devoted to all of her family, she found great solace in conversation with her brothers and sisters who she also loved sincerely. Despite the fact they were always separated by distance, she remained in regular contact with them throughout her life.

Patricia is preceded in death by her father and mother, her siblings Rex Story, Alan Dennis Story, and Michelle Story, two stillborn sons, her great granddaughter, Quinn Jackson. She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Irvin, their four daughters and spouses, Becky and Kevin Jackson of Clinton, Utah and their 22 children and grandchildren; Terryl and Kerry Speers, of Spring, Texas and their 23 children and grandchildren; Laurie and Stephen Sandau, of Vernal, Utah and their five children; Charmian and Lance Siddoway, of Vernal, Utah and their five children and grandchild; and their son, Randall and Jana Haws, of Fort Knox, Kentucky and their three children. She is also survived by three siblings, Faun Mosher of St. George, Utah; Terry and Lynn Story of Palmdale, California; and Chiyo Mauldin, of Hurricane, Utah.

Funeral Services were held in the Vernal 8th Ward Chapel on U.S. Highway 40 on Monday, December 29th, 2014. She was laid to rest the same day in the Vernal Memorial Park. Services were under the direction of the Ashley Valley Funeral Home.