Juanita Sharp Durfee

Juanita Sharp Durfee was born April 12, 1943, in Fairview, Franklin, Idaho, the daughter of Lyman Joseph and Sabina Bodily Sharp. She passed away on Sunday, February 19, 2023, at Stonehenge of Ogden.

She wrote: “I met my ‘knight in shining armor,’ Kenneth Dwayne Durfee, on a blind date that neither of us knew we were going on, arranged by his roommate and my Relief Society President. We were married November 16, 1962, on my dad’s birthday and my mom and dad’s wedding anniversary. Dwayne, “Durf” to me, has always been my best friend.

“I always had a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and loved all of my service in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My greatest love was Cub Scouts and missionary work. I loved working with children.

“I graduated from Hollywood Beauty College in October of 1962. I worked for a short time as a cosmetologist, then was a full-time mother. My husband and I felt that was the greatest calling a woman has. My work consisted of babysitting, housecleaning, maid at a motel, custodial work in the Ogden Temple, daycare, substitute teaching and caregiver for elderly and disabled people.

“I was happiest when I could be of service to others. Some of my happiest times were when my grandchildren spent one on one time with us in our home.”

Juanita left a legacy of faith in Jesus Christ and compassionate service. She had a deep sense of love for those around her. Her children, their spouses, the grandchildren and great-grandchildren always felt accepted and loved in her presence. Juanita was an outstanding cook, treating the family with many fond memories in the kitchen as she made spudnuts, lemon drizzle cake, lemon merengue pie, Christmas candy, and canned all sorts of produce from the fruit trees and garden every summer. She was a talented seamstress and hand-quilted many beautiful quilts. She enjoyed crocheting and handiwork. She loved to camp, especially at Monte Cristo. She learned the piano as an adult and enrolled in Institute classes after all the kids had moved out. She was an avid member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. Dwayne and Juanita served many years in Scouts, influencing many young men for good. Later, they faithfully served in the Jefferson Ward as service missionaries in the Ogden Inner-City Mission.

Juanita is survived by her husband, Kenneth Dwayne Durfee; her 4 children, Annette (Dave) Ahlstrom, Lynn (Dawn) Durfee, Curtis (Annette) Durfee, Kayleen (Richard) Hall; 25 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren (with 3 on the way); 7 siblings, Dean (Velda) Sharp, Alden Sharp, Harold (Susan) Sharp, Esther VonNiederhausern, Randy (Stella) Sharp, Val (Jeralyn) Sharp, and Neal Sharp.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Lyman Joseph Sharp and Sabina Bodily Sharp.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the wonderful caregivers from Stonehenge and Canyon Home Care and Hospice.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at 11 a.m. at the Riverdale 4^th Ward, 5500 South 1175 West. Friends may visit with family on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. and Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church.  Interment, Lindquist’s Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, 1718 Combe Rd., South Ogden.

Services will be live-streamed and available the day of the services by scrolling to the bottom of Juanita’s obituary page at: www.lindquistmortuary.com, where condolences may also be shared.

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