Phern May Wardell

March 30, 1923 – Oct. 29, 2014

Phern May Wardell was born on March 30, 1923, in Lovell to Oliver Cromwell May and Loretta Grace Porter.  She and her identical twin were the fourth born of 10 children. Her siblings are Porter May, Venus Anderson, Virga May, Phyllis Partridge, Andrew May, Rosemary Brinkerhoff, Jay May, Jerry May and Priscilla Caturia.

They had a very close family and lived in Kane during her childhood. She was raised with the Gospel and had a very strong testimony of the Savior.  She talked a lot about spending time together as a family, playing games and working hard. She had many responsibilities in her young life, including taking care of the farm animals, harvesting the fields, and carrying water with her twin sister Phyllis from the train depot to their home. She always talked lovingly of her childhood and her family, especially the inseparable bond that she had with her sister Phyllis. She continued her ability to work hard throughout her entire life.

Phern married Albert Jay Wardell on Dec. 19, 1946, in the Idaho Falls Temple. They made their home in Lovell, but traveled in the summer for masonry jobs before starting their family.  In 1948, they welcomed the first of five children, Cheryl, followed by Debora, Brenda, Brent and Todd.

Her children loved and adored her; she was a wonderful mother.  In raising her family, she always provided three home cooked amazing meals, a clean loving home and lots of love. Her home was a safe haven for all who entered. She was always there when her children came home from school, and she loved family gatherings with her kids and extended family.

As a grandmother, she always welcomed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren in her home night or day.  She was blessed to have 17 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren.  Her legacy will continue for generations to come.

She was known for her amazing ability to cook. She had extraordinary talent that very few people will ever master in a lifetime. Her flowerbeds were always beautiful. She loved hollyhocks, geraniums, roses, petunias and irises.  Many cannot look at a flower without thinking of her. She also had a passion for music and often would be found humming a tune.

When she lost her sweetheart of 62 years in May of 2008, her health quickly declined. It was a sad time for the family to watch dementia take her memories from her. In 2010, she was unable to live alone after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and moved into the New Horizons Care Center until her death on Oct. 29, 2014, at 91 years old. It is comforting to know that she is reunited with her many loved ones, especially her husband and twin sister, Phyllis. The reunion was most certainly glorious.

Phern May Wardell was preceded in death by her parents, Oliver Cromwell May and Loretta Grace Porter; husband Albert Jay Wardell; son Todd Wardell; six siblings, Porter May, Venus Anderson, Virga May, Phyllis Partridge, Andrew May and Jerry May; two grandchildren, Holly Dee Good and Robert Jay Acton and one great-grandchild, Kayson Acton.

She is survived by three siblings, Rosemary (Floyd) Brinkerhoff , Jay (Evon) May and Priscilla (Scott) Caturia; four children, Cheryl Wardell, Debora (Robert)  Good, Brenda (David)Walton and Brent (RaNae) Wardell; 15 grandchildren,  Krystal (Mike) Vandenboom, Kurt (Kim) Acton, Amee (Corey) Vandenboom, Braden Acton, Dustin (Marie) Acton, Bobbie Jo (Greg) Turley, Tia Cherie (Tony) Dammen, Jade (Brandi) Good, Jeremy Walton, Brook Brauer, Daniel Wardell, Mica Redlin, Bran Wardell, Scott Partridge and Ty Humphries and 31 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, Nov. 5, at the LDS Stake Center.

She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints her entire life with an amazing testimony of the Gospel and a love for the scriptures. Her example of Christ-like love was one of her strongest attributes.  She served in many capacities such as genealogy, compassionate service, multiple acts of service and visiting teaching. She was a true daughter of God.