Shawn H Olsen

Shawn H Olsen of Layton, Utah passed away on June 28, 2025 from pancreatic cancer. He was born on April 2, 1953 in Payson, Utah to Snell and Lorraine Olsen. He graduated from Spanish Fork High School in 1971. He married Mary Carol Roach in 1978 in the Provo Temple. She was always a great support and companion. They had three children: Mary Lorraine, Angela Katrina, and Kari Joseph. Shawn found great joy in being a grandpa to his 11 grandchildren—playing Rook with them and attending their dance concerts, music concerts, cheerleading events, and sporting events.

Shawn studied Agronomy and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and a Master’s degree from Iowa State University. He worked for Utah State University for 37 years as an Extension Agent. A prolific writer, Shawn authored three gardening books, 17 journal articles, and over 155 fact sheets on agriculture and horticulture. He served as the Davis County Extension director for 29 years—an extension record. He achieved the academic rank of Full Professor in 2000, an honor that he cherished. In 2015, he received the E.G. Peterson Award for outstanding work in extension.

Shawn believed in learning by doing and conducted numerous on-farm demonstrations with Davis County farmers related to the production of alfalfa, corn silage, onions, pastures, sweet cherries, sweet corn, and watermelon. At the Utah Botanical Center (UBC) in Kaysville, he played a key role in developing the Utah House building, Wetland Discovery Point classroom, and the large UBC sign along I-15. He managed the UBC Farmers’ Market for ten years and enjoyed hosting numerous food tastings and produce samplings. He also mentored over 100 Eagle Scouts as they completed service projects at the botanical center.

A lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ, Shawn served as a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Helsinki, Finland from 1972 to1974. Throughout his life, he also held callings as a High Priest group leader, Sunday School president, ward executive secretary, and Bountiful Temple worker. Shawn and Mary Carol served a senior mission to the Portland Temple Visitors center. A special thanks to all of the sister missionaries they worked with in Portland for their examples of faith and devotion. Shawn loved Temple Square and volunteered as a service missionary as a garden tour guide, Conference Center tour guide, and Church History Museum docent. His favorite scripture was Moroni 10:20: “Wherefore, there must be faith; and if there must be faith there must also be hope; and if there must be hope there must also be charity.”

Shawn loved hats—fedora, panama, baseball, western--any kind of hat. He enjoyed designing and planting different garden beds for his yard. He also loved researching, planning, and going on new adventures with his family. He enjoyed being outdoors in the sunshine of summer or snowshoeing in the winter. In retirement, he and Mary Carol bought a camper van and visited many state and national parks.

A heartfelt thank you to Mary Carol, Mary, Angela, and Kari for their care and compassion while Shawn was ill, as well as to friends and neighbors for meals and words of encouragement. We have a deep appreciation to Doctor Ott and the other healthcare providers who gave us extra time with Shawn.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Mary Carol Olsen; their children: Matthew & Mary Ford, Jim & Angela Hirst, Kari & Lexi Olsen; 11 grandchildren; and siblings: Michele Boyack, Scott Olsen, Janean Thomas, Jedd Olsen, and Jennifer Olsen.

He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Kirk Olsen.

A viewing will be held on Saturday, July 5th, from 9:00 am until 10:30 am. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. Both events will be held at the Park Ward Church, 275 Park Street, Layton, UT. Interment will follow at 2:30 p.m. at the Spanish Fork City Cemetery.