Mary Lou Warden

Mary Louise “Mary Lou” (McNabb) Warden passed away peacefully on October 22, 2025, at the George E. Wahlen Veterans Home in Ogden, Utah. She died with family nearby, including her beloved husband, who is also a resident of the care facility. She was 86 years old.

Born on March 5, 1939, in Bluefield, West Virginia, Mary Lou was the daughter of Jesse Lester McNabb and Virginia Martha (Oliver) McNabb. She grew up with a deep love for learning, nature, and adventure—qualities that would define her entire life.

Crowned Miss Bluefield in 1956, Mary Lou’s beauty was matched by her grace, confidence, and strength of character.

Mary Lou married her high school sweetheart on March 26, 1960, in Charlottesville, Virginia. Together they shared many adventures as a military family. In the space of four years, she lived in Tacoma, Washington; Berkeley, California; Fort Benning, Georgia; Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Ewa Beach, Hawaii; and Fort Huachuca, Arizona.

Mary Lou attended Longwood College in Virginia before earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Virginia. While her husband attended medical school at the University of Pennsylvania, Mary Lou taught in the university’s nursing school and welcomed the first two of their eight children (although she went home to Bluefield for the birth of her first child).

In 1964, Mary Lou joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and faithfully served in many callings, including Primary, Young Women, Cub Scouts, and Relief Society. She showed a deep love for the Savior, Jesus Christ.

She loved living in Hawaii with her first four children while her husband was in Vietnam for a year. During that time, she learned to play the ukulele and to hula dance.

After her husband left active duty with the Army, they moved to Fruit Heights—with five children—so her husband could begin his family medical practice in Kaysville, Utah. She later had three more children, for a total of seven boys and one daughter. Mary Lou loved this community and called it home for the rest of her life.

A devoted mother and enthusiastic supporter, Mary Lou was a familiar face on the sidelines at her seven sons’ sporting events—from Little League football, baseball, basketball, soccer, and wrestling to college football games. She never wanted her only daughter to feel slighted by all the time spent at sporting events, so she intentionally set aside time for “girly things” and encouraged her daughter to reach her full potential.

Throughout her long and devoted career, Mary Lou served as a postpartum nurse and psychiatric nurse at Lakeview Hospital, an industrial nurse, and an Army nurse—caring for people from all walks of life with compassion, skill, and grace. She was also a passionate advocate for breastfeeding, serving as a La Leche League Leader and helping countless new mothers overcome challenges to successfully nurse their babies. Mary Lou was a member of the Davis County Medical Wives Auxiliary and volunteered on the Davis County Council on Aging, inspired in part by the loving care she gave her mother during her battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She also served with the American Legion Post 27 in Farmington, Utah.

At age 52, she joined the U.S. Army Nurse Corps and was deployed to Landstuhl, Germany, during Operation Desert Storm. Upon returning home, she continued her service to others as an industrial nurse at Abbott Laboratories in Salt Lake City, Utah.

She loved skiing and made it a goal to ski every year on her birthday. She also loved painting, reading, playing the ukulele, flowers, swimming, and traveling—visiting Hawaii, Florida, and many countries across Europe, Asia, and Central America.

A lifelong people person, Mary Lou was known for her open heart and open home—where friendship, laughter, and kindness were always found. She cherished her 30 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren, as well as her four nieces and four nephews. She shared a particularly close bond with her sister-in-law, Aunt Monty (Marion Loesch), who lived with her for many years.

Mary Lou faced many challenges in her life, including a serious injury during her military service and a disabling automobile accident later in life. Yet she never complained or blamed anyone, meeting every trial with hope, optimism, and faith.

Mary Lou will be remembered for her creativity, warmth, strength, and unwavering love of family. She often said she loved her life—every minute of it. Her life was a testament to compassion, faith, and resilience—qualities that will continue to inspire all who knew her.

She is survived by her husband, David Royal Warden Jr.; her children: David (Deidre), Jon (Deanna), Marion (Matt White), James (Lori), Rob (Kristen), Paul (Smadi), Joe (Sundi), and Ben (Megan); along with her 30 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family, and many friends who cherish her memory.

The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Caregiver Support Network in Kaysville, the George E. Wahlen Veterans Home, and Bristol Hospice for the loving care given to our mom and our entire family.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 77 S. Orchard Drive, Fruit Heights, Utah.

Friends and family may visit Tuesday, October 28, 2025, between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 1941 N. Main Street, Farmington, Utah, or Wednesday from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. at the church.

She will be buried at the Utah Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park, 17111 S. 1700 W., Bluffdale, Utah, near Camp Williams, on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.

Online guestbook at www.russonmortuary.com.

The Fruit Heights 2nd ward will provide a stream of the recording via Zoom.

https://zoom.us/j/93894604980?pwd=apTd42WbNfIl2Suo3OdcfmqmpfZaOo.1

Meeting ID: 938 9460 4980
Passcode: 513214