Lynda Jean Kendrick Tooley

Married to John Tooley June 16, 1967. Sealed October 2001.

Lynda Jean Tooley was born August 15, 1949, to Thomas Glen Kendrick and Lois Marie Child in Salt Lake City, Utah, the second oldest of nine children. Raised in the Liberty Park area, she attended Hawthorne Elementary and later South High. She met and then married John Tooley in 1967, and started a small family and raised them in the Bountiful Utah area. She was a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, a small business owner and a driven insurance agent. She was a dedicated friend and neighbor to all.

Lynda passed away peacefully on June 21, 2026, a beautiful Sabbath morning, surrounded by four generations of loving family. That day there was a long-awaited and joyous reunion in heaven with her eternal companion, now 45 years in the making.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM MDT, on Thursday, July 2, 2026, at the Bountiful Canyon Park Ward, 1190 East Bountiful Hills Drive, Bountiful, Utah, where a visitation will be held Thursday morning from 9:30–10:30 AM, prior to services. Interment – Lakeview Cemetery, to be scheduled later.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary and Crematory YouTube Channel and on this obituary page below.

As a young girl, Lynda met her life-long friend, Shauna Miller, in Second Grade. They bonded over private lunches of saltines, cheese and mayonnaise, separated from other classmates to avoid embarrassment over their meager beginnings. From an early age, Lynda was resourceful, hard-working and attentive, particularly to her siblings and especially during recurring periods of adversity, uncertainty and stress. She ironed, sewed and for a time laundered her neighbor’s diapers. At 10-years old she earned enough money to buy needed coats for herself and her older sister Pat. Through perseverance and sheer will, Lynda rose above it all, and with enough in reserve to rescue and lift those around her. In Lynda’s mind “no one else was coming,” so she was unafraid to get to work and make for herself the beauty that surrounded her.

As a teenager Lynda went to work with her mother at Dee’s Family Restaurant on 21st South and 7th East. As the hostess Lynda was bright, welcoming and impressive. Her quiet and dedicated demeanor led to other job offers from her regular patrons. When the Lord opened a door, she bravely walked through it. Wherever she was, Lynda made the most of every opportunity and was grateful for it regardless of the final outcome.

One year, during the annual “Dee’s Shareholder Breakfast” that brought all area location employees together, Lynda met a young dishwasher from the downtown location. While this young man was fired several days later for causing too much mischief in the kitchen, John Tooley from neighboring Granite High set his sights on the young hostess from South. On June 16, 1967, right after their graduation, Lynda and John were married. John’s pursuit continued long after the marriage. Lynda later recalled how bothered she was by her new husband because wherever he was he carried enough dimes to call her multiple times a day. But despite this irritation Lynda later acknowledged that “when John came into my life it was the first time I ever felt loved.” And love her he did. With a beauty to be captured, John brought Lynda’s history to life as we now see in the photos he took of her and were taken of them together.

Over the course of the next decade, they would build a life and family together, ultimately buying their first home on the bench hills of Bountiful and moving there with their three children: Sharle, Jason and Shawn. It was there that they crossed paths with some of their most enduring friends and “chosen family,” including Ken and Loretta Hill, who symbolically represent the many guiding influences that lifted Lynda throughout her life. It was during this time when Lynda also enlisted in the Air Force, where after basic training she received the fortunate assignment of weather forecaster at Hill AFB. It was there where John and Lynda took their love of the outdoors, and the water in particular, to new levels: Pineview, Bear Lake, Flaming Gorge, Willard Bay and of course three or four trips a year to Lake Powell, where by 1980 the lake had officially reached full pool.

In early 1981 tragedy struck after John had taken a job on an oil rig in Wyoming and there lost his life in a work accident at 31 years of age. With three children, and over the coming months and years, Lynda gathered her strength, pulled her circle close and did what she knew she had to do: Carry on! Lynda’s perseverance and strength were highlighted by continuing the same rugged traditions she began with John, but now on her own.

Over the next decades Lynda embraced life to the fullest: She raised her children, had 13 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren (with one on the way). She remarried for a time, started several thriving businesses, employed numerous people and traveled the world with family and friends. While two strokes and a near-fatal heart attack slowed her down in the last 10 years, Lynda continued “pedal to the metal” whether it was hustling to sell insurance policies or planning the perfect gift for a grandchild. Her grandchildren will remember her most for trips to Subway, outings to Mueller Park and 101 crazy ideas either to make money or to spend it, preferably the latter as she was often heard saying, “if there’s money in the bank, it’s meant to be spent.”

As a mother Lynda was an excellent teacher. She continuously taught important lessons about life, persistence and how the world works. She also emphasized how she thought the world should work to the benefit of everyone. While her children were taught the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ by others, they are grateful for the many practical lessons she taught and that now seem lost to another time. Really an exceptional teacher!

As a mother she was also a balanced disciplinarian. When a 17-year-old son wrecked her Corvette, the response was measured and loving, expressing her gratitude to know that everyone was safe. But inscribe offensive descriptions of a 7th grade English teacher on one of the teacher’s desks, wooden spoons were surely going to break and fly that night. Get caught in a lie, she softly reminded you that “you can’t afford to lose my trust.” But disrespect yourself or someone else, an impromptu meeting with your father’s belt was quickly arranged. (How we wish that he had been buried with that belt!) She exactly knew how to bring clarity to any situation.

Lynda was the original Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Uncancelable. Inclusive before inclusivity was cool. It was her gift, and of course it came naturally. Truly “inclusivity” was not a bumper sticker, but a way of life. As a self-perceived outsider herself, Lynda related to those who felt on the outside themselves. But Lynda’s tent was endlessly expansive. And just when you thought there was no more “room for them at the inn,” another person would show up and was treated like royalty or long-time family. Really a true samaritan!

As a disciple of Jesus Christ, there was no incongruence in Lynda’s mind between, on one hand, her collections of chakra healing crystals, shaman herbal remedies or soothing essential oils, and, on the other hand, the God of Israel, including countless priesthood blessings, faithful prayers and numerous requests to “add my name to the temple rolls.” Her syncretic faith was more the result of a naturally believing heart, where more options were better, but never a rejection of anyone or anything. Most importantly, we often heard her recollect the events and situations that testified to her that her Heavenly Father knew her and was constantly aware of her. Lynda long ago dedicated her life to Him, and because of the adversity she overcame in mortality, Lynda knew that she was a beloved daughter of a healing Heavenly Father. Lynda natively reflected His love and her optimism in His work, plan and purposes. Really a true believer.

Even in death, Lynda is still showering her assisted-living friends with QVC cheesecakes, anti-aging miracle creams and crystal chakras. Almost just like it was planned, two more packages arrived this morning!

Her children express their gratitude for the important people and places of her life: The Bountiful 41st, 50th and 4th Wards. Carriage Crossing. The Air Force. Numerous bowling teams. The Rotary Club. Care teams at Country Care, the VA and Lakeview Hospitals. We love you.

Lynda is preceded in death by her husband John Tooley, father Tommy Kendrick, mother Lois Marie Kendrick, sister Pat Kendrick, brothers Howard and Steven Kendrick, and son-in-law Patrick McLarney.

Lynda is survived by siblings: brothers Dave and Brian Kendrick, and sisters Nancy Stalliviere (Bob), and Susan Dunn and Colleen Metcalf. Children: Sharle McLarney (Patrick), Jason John Tooley (Jennifer) and Shawn Christian Tooley (Jennifer). Grand Children: John Andrew Day McLarney (Rachelle), Samantha Rose Pawlowski (Kyle), Jason John Tooley (Whitney), Maxwell Lowell Tooley (Jessica), Isabelle Christian Matthews (Spencer), Nicolas Grayson Tooley, Patrick Cole McLarney, James Wyatt McLarney, William Tate Tooley, Morgan Marie McLarney, Oliver Christian Tooley and Virginia Christian Tooley. Great-Grand Children: Hank Pawlowski, Rose Pawlowski, Dean Tooley, Harry Tooley and Lucy Pawlowski.