Shirley Loder Davis Larsen

Shirley Loder Davis Larsen passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by loved ones on June 14, 2025, just one day prior to her 96th birthday.

Shirley was born in Bountiful, Utah on June 15, 1929, to SeVerne Duncan Loder and Lettie Lucille Clark Loder. She had four siblings, Robert, “Bob” (d) (Ginger) Loder, Ronald Loder(d), Colleen (d) (Shirl) Hales, and Bruce (Beverly) Loder. The family grew up in the post-depression era in a close LDS family in the Bountiful First Ward.

Shirley graduated from Davis High School in 1947. After high school she temporarily moved to Twin Falls, Idaho with her parents where she met a young construction engineering graduate from the University of Idaho- Moscow, John Delmar Davis. After moving back to Bountiful, they were married on July 8, 1950, at St. Olaf’s Catholic Church. On November 26, 1951, they were blessed with a son, John Patrick. On May 10, 1953, their daughter Deborah was born. They soon moved to Southern California to work on the construction of the LDS temple in Los Angeles. In 1955, the family moved to the Oakland Bay Area to work on the construction of the Oakland LDS Temple. They settled in Hayward, California and purchased a new home and a construction company. On June 3, 1961, they welcomed daughter Karilynn. The family enjoyed the 1960’s era of California sun-filled activities including boating, camping, fishing, and gardening.

Shirley’s husband John passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on January 2, 1969. In 1972, at the 25th reunion of the Davis High School Class of ‘47, Shirley became re-acquainted with former classmate Ralph Larsen. After a whirlwind summer romance, they fell in love and were married on September 12, 1972. Shirley and daughter Kari moved to Bountiful, while Patrick and Deborah remained in California to finish college.

Back home in Bountiful, Shirley was once again able to live just a few miles from her parents and was able to care for them on a daily basis throughout their lives. Shirley enjoyed gardening, canning fruit, making porcelain dolls, sewing, and world travel with Ralph. Together, the family had many treasured trips to their cabin in Alpine, Wyoming.

Shirley and Ralph were married for 53 years and were grateful to be surrounded by many nearby family members and dear friends. Along with their children John (Pat) (Andrea) Davis, Deborah (Jeff) Benitez, and Kari (Jack Wilbur) Cutler, they were blessed with seven grandchildren, Christina, Ian, Ashlie, Ryan, Katie, Lindsey, Cyndi, along with their spouses, and seven great-grandchildren.

Shirley will be fondly remembered for her bright, sunny personality and the love she brought to the lives of her family, friends, and everyone she met. In recent years, both of their daughters and families came to live nearby to tend to the daily needs of Shirley and Ralph in order to facilitate their living in their beloved home until they each passed away.

Mom, You will forever be in the hearts and minds of your children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Friends and family may attend a gathering from 5-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 19th, 2025, at Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main Street, Bountiful, Utah. A brief graveside service and interment dedication will be held at the Bountiful Cemetery, 2224 South 200 West, Bountiful, Utah, at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 20th, 2025.

Graveside services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary Live Facebook page and on this obituary page. The live stream will begin about 10-15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below.