LoRee Shurtz

BOUNTIFUL – LoRee Munson Shurtz, 89, passed away on Saturday, March 24, 2012 in Mesa, Arizona. LoRee was born on July 27, 1922 to Lewis Leo Munson and Hortense Cope Munson in Tropic, Utah. When she was four years old the family moved to Escalante, Utah where she attended school. As a young woman she was student body president, played piano and trumpet with “The Rhythm Swingsters,” and worked in her father’s general store. On September 3, 1943 LoRee married Doyle Park Shurtz in the Salt Lake Temple and they spent the war years together while Doyle served as an officer in the Air Training Command. Following the war and the completion of Doyle’s schooling, they returned to their hometown of Escalante where LoRee helped operate the family-owned meat locker plant and had five of their seven children. In 1957 the family moved to Bountiful where LoRee had two more children, helped build their own home, and served in numerous church callings. She served four full-time missions with her sweetheart after his retirement. LoRee will always be remembered for her love of music–she was always humming a song while she worked. She was also known for her bread making and crocheting skills. LoRee is survived by seven children: Melvin (Barbara) of Anderson, SC who is currently serving a mission in England; Janell Todd (Robert) of Provo, UT; Donald (Renae) of East Wenatchee, WA; Gary (Dana) of Mesa, AZ; Steven (Jane) of Fruit Heights, UT; Carol Beck (Curtis); and Michael (Lisa) of Centerville, UT; 50 grandchildren; 68 great-grandchildren; two brothers Lloyd (Faye) and Howard (LaNia) Munson; and one sister Orpha Spencer. She is preceded in death by: husband Doyle; brothers Voyle and LoRell Munson; sisters Evelyn Lay, Lasca Woolsey, Vaunda Willis; and daughter-in-law Melonye Shurtz. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 4 at 11:00 a.m. at the Mesa Kimball East Stake Center, 4640 East Holmes, Mesa, AZ, with a viewing from 10-10:45 a.m. Funeral services will also be held Saturday, April 7 at 11:00 am at the Bountiful 36th Ward Building, 102 E. 1400 S, with interment following at Bountiful City Cemetery. There will be a viewing from 9:45-10:30 a.m. prior to the funeral service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the LDS Church Humanitarian Fund at www.ldsphilanthropies.org.