LaRae Nowers passed away peacefully on November 26, 2024 at her son Chad’s home in Beaver, Utah.
She was born on April 29, 1932, at Grandma and Grandpa Puffer’s home up North Creek, to Rhoda Arvilla Puffer Shotwell, and Joseph Earl Shotwell. She was the oldest of 7 children. Shortly after mom was born, Grandpa, with the help of his good friend Abe Murdock, who was a State Senator at the time, was able to acquire one of the last homestead grants issued in the state of Utah which was 40 acres up North Creek. The little family got busy spending every summer on their property living in a tent, fencing the section of land, and built the little log cabin they would eventually call home. Mom spent her school years in San Bernadine California, where she attended and graduated from public school. Where grandpa had his landscape business during the winter, she had very fond memories of both places, but her heart was in Beaver.
After graduating High School, mom worked for a while for ATT as a telephone operator, before being talked into going to Ely Nevada by her younger sister Joyce and her boyfriend Frank, to be a witness as they wanted to elope and be married that October night. They needed one more witness, so they ask Franks older brother Dick who had just returned from a 2 year LDS mission to come along with them. Mom and Dad had dated for a few years in High School, before Dad left on his mission. They all agreed and so they set out that evening from deer camp for Ely, and over the long drive they talked Dick and LaRae into getting married as well. This was the beginning of many years of the four of them doing so much together.
Mom and Dad moved to Salt Lake City for a short while where Dad worked at a meat packing plant. But soon after found themselves back in Beaver where he helped Grandpa Nowers run Emil’s Cafe. This was when Calvin was born. Shortly after, a cousin had suggested that there were good paying jobs to be had on Catalina Island California so Frank, Joyce, and little Rhonda, Dad, Mom, and little Calvin headed west. Dad and Uncle Frank took jobs working for the city and stayed there until Beverly was born. But homesickness got the best of Dad so they moved back to Beaver. A few short years later Kim and Chad were born and in 1963 they bought the blue and white home on 200 North and they lived the rest of their lives there. Never to move away from Beaver again.
Mom became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when Dad baptized her after they were married. Later they were sealed in the temple. Mom loved every calling she held in the church and worked diligently to make each calling her very best, be it teaching the Sunbeam class or Boy Scouts of America. Mom dearly loved her visiting teacher companions and the many sisters they would visit.
Mom was lucky to be a stay at home mom which allowed her to work alongside Dad in all his endeavors. They ran Emil’s Cafe for a while with mom helping with the book work. Then Dad got a job working for Meadow Gold Dairy as a distributor for Beaver and Iron County. Mom continued organizing the local home delivery part of the business, which was all us kids first jobs growing up delivering milk door to door, 3 days a week rain or shine.
Mom loved Beaver and the many friends she had there. She was a big fan of high school sports, many of which her children took part in. The community theater and friends she made while practicing and performing the plays. She sang in the local choir for years and had a beautiful soprano voice. She loved singing and could be heard as she went about her daily chores.
Most of all she loved her family, and especially the little ones. She could spend hours holding, kissing and playing with the babies, and all the grand and great grand kids would light up whenever Grandma LaRae was around.
As the children grew older and didn’t require so much of her attention, she had time to pursue things that interested her. She loved crafts of all kinds, making fun holiday decorations. Then she found crocheting, and there she found her nitch. She made everything from slippers and mittens to queen size afghans, entering many items in the County Fair over the years and bring home high praise with each item.
She would happily share her talent by giving them away for birthdays, weddings, baby showers and any other occasion you could think of. You knew you were dearly loved and appreciated if you received a handmade item from Mom.
Mom was preceded in death by her parents Earl and Rhoda Shotwell, a younger sister Myrtle, and her youngest brother Harold. The love of her life and eternal husband Dick Emil Nowers. and oldest son Dick Calvin Nowers.
She is survived by her three remaining children, daughters Beverly Patterson, Kim (Rusty) Aiken, and son Chad (Cherie) Nowers. 14 Grandchildren, 30 Great Grandchildren. A very special nephew/son Weldow (Susan) George, and many other dearly loved relatives.
Funeral Services will be held Saturday, December 7, 2024 at noon in the Beaver 4* Ward Church at 220 North and Main. The viewing will take place from 10:30 am to 11:30 am at the church as well. The burial will be at the Mountain View Cemetery under the direction of Southern Utah Mortuary. To view the livestream of the service and leave condolences online, please visit www.mortuary.org.
