Barbara Maurine Green

Barbara was the eldest of three daughters born to Blair and Maurine Smith. Barbara graduated from Highland High and attended the University of Utah where she completed a Bachelor’s of Science. Barbara pledged Delta Gamma and continued on as a DG Alumni rush advisor for many years. Barbara married Michael Thayne in the Salt Lake City Temple in 1965. They had two children, Michael Thayne and Alisyn Wallace.

Barbara was an elementary educator, primarily at Howard R. Driggs, she taught first grade and later a class she created for Gifted and Talented 5th/6th grade students. These students were involved in Future Problem Solving. Barbara’s teams and individual students were always selected to compete on an International level and consistently won. These trips were very fun because it was a great way to see the sites and explore the states in which the students were competing. Barbara had a love for music and involved her students in a chorus that performed throughout the year, especially during December. The chorus meant so much to Barbara and her students. Teaching was her passion but she also had a role at the family vacuum business started by her parents in 1947. Once school was done for the day, she headed to Smith-Crown to work.

Inspired by her Uncle Bob, she started a business called Fashion Packaging that was located inside the vacuum store. It was the best quality gift wrap and ribbons in town. Barbara served others as she breathed air. Barbara was involved in the Community Council and Sugar House Merchant Association. Barbara did all things with such a natural enthusiasm that while you were working alongside her, it hardly felt like work. Barbara had an innate desire to help others and always saw the best in people. Barbara’s generosity extended beyond her family to everyone she met. After 30 years of teaching, she was nominated to attend BYU and complete a Master’s of Administration. Later she became the Principal of Magna Elementary and then Uintah Elementary. In 1996 she married her second husband Jerrold Green. He was a light in her life and they were happily married for 19 years before he passed away in 2014.

Barbara is preceded in death by her parents; sister, Kathie (Jim) Packer; first husband, Mike Thayne and second husband, Jerrold Green. She is survived by her sister, Robyn (Michael) Still of Ft. Collins, CO; Son, Michael (Darleen) Thayne and their son, Morgan; daughter, Alisyn (John) Wallace, and their children, Andrew, Cadence, Chelsea, and Jack; and step-daughter, Erin (Jeremy) Elliott and their sons, Brenen and Dillon. Special thanks to the entire staff at Sunrise at Holladay, and Dede Redford for the love and care you devote to all the residents. Also, Comfort Works Hospice and Carol Ferguson for being a devoted and excellent nurse to Barbara at this last stage in her life. In lieu of flowers please make a memorial donation to Alzheimer’s Association www.alz.org.

Services will be held at Wasatch Lawn on Saturday, September 16th at 2 pm with a viewing Friday night 6-8 pm and a viewing prior to service Saturday at 1:00 pm. To share a favorite memory, photo, or video of Barbara with the family, please visit: http://www.mem.com/07552902.