- Date Of Birth: June 9, 1934
- Date Of Death: August 13, 2022
- State: Utah
Jean Williams Shaum, 88, has always been an angel, but on Saturday, August 13, 2022, it became official. She was born June 9, 1934, to Denzle and Ruth Goddard Williams. Oh how she adored her parents. She was the third of six children: Navine, Denny, Jean, Rama, Marcene and Thell. She loved her siblings, and they remained close all of her life. She spoke often of her happy childhood.
While in school at Ogden High, she met a cute boy by the name of Jack Shaum. After their first date she told him that she was going to marry him, and he responded by jumping off the porch and didn’t come back for three months. But he couldn’t stay away. She was irresistible! After a 2-year courtship they were married June 4, 1954, in the Salt Lake Temple.
Jean’s greatest desire was to be a wife and mother! She took these roles seriously and was exceptional at both. Jack and Jean were blessed with four children, Teena, Devin, Hugh and Kara. She was certainly the very heart of the home. Her love of motherhood and family was unmatched! She was the “wind beneath Jack’s wings”!
She was never happier than when she was in the kitchen baking something to give away. Her chocolate cake is legendary. She taught cooking lessons to many of her grandchildren and great grandchildren on how to make it, but they could never duplicate it unless they put in the magic ingredient…LOVE.
She embodied Christ-like selflessness. She always gave. She always made you feel loved. No Matter What. She loved and followed Jesus Christ! Her service in the church and to others was merely an extension of that love. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints she served joyfully in the Primary (she especially loved her Primary children), Relief Society, and Young Women’s. She loved being a visiting teacher/minister for over 65 years.
She loved all things stylish, girls reunions, shopping, friends, the temple, singing, dinner parties, baking, laughing, The Price is Right, children, scriptures, housework, lipstick, a good dessert, Magnolia, her home, Come Follow Me, Christmas, family get-togethers, a burnt hot dog around the fire, her family, her husband Jack, and most of all her Savior.
She spent the last two years battling cancer. The cancer didn’t define her, it refined her! She continued to show such great bravery, courage, and faith through this time in her life. We cherish her example. In fact, she was “practically perfect in every way”!
Jean is survived by her loving children: Teena (Darcel) Stucki, Hugh (Teresa) Shaum, Kara (Lee) Fisher, and daughter-in-law, Kim Shaum. She is adoringly called “Grandma Angel” by her 21 grandchildren and 50 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by sister, Marcene (Brent) Wiggins, brother, Thell (Amy) Williams, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Carol (Joe Brewer), brother-in-law Joe Bunn. She was preceded in death by her husband Jack, her son Devin, and numerous friends and relatives.
