Julie Ann Payette

Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, sister-in-law, and mother-in-law Julie Ann (Wade) Payette left this mortal existence on November 16, 2015, to move beyond the veil into the welcoming arms of Her Beloved Savior and Redeemer and onto a joyous reunion with her father, brother, grandparents and other long since departed family and friends.

Julie’s life was a legacy of love and service as evidenced by the many, many tributes that have been shared following her death by those whose lives she touched and blessed through the years. Her life’s mission has been to follow her Savior and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which she exemplified through the love and kindness she gave to all she knew. She was an active and faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout her life. She bore testimony frequently of her love for her family, her Savior and Heavenly Father, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Restoration of His Church here upon the earth.

Julie was a gentle and dedicated mother and grandmother, loving with a heavenly love that is eternal and will be everlasting. Following the example of her wonderful mother, she maintained her home as a place of beauty and order, a home where a spirit of joy and peace was always felt, whether it was a tiny single-wide trailer in Najmah, Saudi Arabia or the others where the family has lived.

Although it was a significant effort to keep an orderly home with five children to care for, cobwebs and dust were quickly abandoned when someone needed her. Her children always knew that their mother was ready to be there for them whenever there was a need regardless of what trials or troubles occupied her day. She always had time to listen when the kids came home from school or to soothe sick babies or comfort little ones who were having nightmares.

When her babies were grown and having babies of their own, she was there with her daughters and daughters-in-law when they gave birth offering love and care to the mothers and her new grand babies during their first days of life. Her daughters recently shared that their mother was the perfect example of what a wife and mother should be and how they look to that example.

Julie was never happier than when she was with her grandchildren. They gravitated towards her. Even when dealing with severe pain, she would always have a hug and a smile for them. One of Julie’s passions was watersports---swimming, snorkeling and water skiing. Her passion extended to others as she taught all seven of her grandchildren when infants how to swim.

She gave her whole heart to her sweetheart, Steve, and literally followed him around the world. Julie filled her husband’s life with love and happiness beyond measure.

However, that love was not confined to just family members but extended to those in need whose paths in life crossed hers. In the women’s organizations in her church Julie served her fellow Sisters in the Gospel and others as a counselor in a Ward Relief Society Presidency and later on in Kingwood, Texas as a Stake Relief Society President. She loved children and fulfilled a calling twice as a Ward Primary President, the children’s organization in her local congregation. But perhaps the assignment from the Lord that she loved the most was being the children’s Music Leader in the Ras Tanura Ward Primary in Saudi Arabia. In these and other church callings, like everything that she pursued in life, she always did far more than what was expected of her.

Julie was blessed early in life with an immense talent in music. She leaves that legacy with us today through the recordings that she made and the piano music that she arranged and even composed herself.

Julie had some years of formal piano training but was blessed with an almost unbelievable talent to be able to sight-read music. With a previously unseen sheet of music placed before her, Julie could play beautifully the first time through almost any musical piece except perhaps those most demanding works of the classical composers. Those works for even the most talented require practice and patience. She is remembered by many of us as she shared her musical talent at recitals on July Fourths and at Christmas Seasons. Often these recitals were orchestrated with another friend in a two piano performance. Many a vocalist sought her out as an accompanist, knowing her great talents and willingness to help.

Julie shared her musical talent in another way teaching piano lessons to many young people. She dearly loved them.

Julie’s love for family and others extended to her love and zest for life. She made us laugh with her humor. She brought us much joy through her music. She lifted our spirits in times of distress. As a family we always felt her deep love and concern for each of us. We took many vacations as a family. Julie/Mom loved it when we were all together snorkeling, boating, snow skiing, at the beach, hiking, and many other things. We journeyed with her to art museums, famous sculptures, works of architecture, and historical sites as she filled her life and ours with a love for the arts and history. Our travels took us to far flung places, to Disneyworld, and to visit grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Oh, how we love her!

Julie was born at Dee Hospital in Ogden, Utah on October 1, 1952. She was the second child of Robert V. and Shirley Knight Wade. Her older brother Dennis was born about three years earlier. The home was eventually blessed with another brother, Blake followed by sister Teri.

During her early years Robert and Shirley lived in Ogden, Roy, and then Plain City, Utah.

She attended the Plain City Elementary School and Wahlquist Junior High where she was selected to be one of the cheer leaders. She was a graduate of Weber High School in 1970. In her senior year, as a result of her academic and other achievements she was honored to be her High School’s Sterling Scholar in business studies.

Living in the rural setting of Plain City her family had some additional acerage and used part of the farm land to raise asparagus. She and her older brother earned money by getting up early every morning and cutting the sprouts and then binding them together for her grandfather who transported the asparagus to market. Julie’s savings from this summer provided the means to buy her first car. Julie always worked some type of job during High School and College, including Pinkies as a car hop, a television studio, the corporate headquarters of a fabric store chain, and for the Union Pacific Railroad. She paid for much of her college education expenses by working there as a clerk and then was later promoted to the position of stenographer because of her proficiency in shorthand. For years she made her Christmas lists in shorthand because none of us in the family could read them.

She graduated in June of our nation’s bicentennial year, Magna Cum Laude, from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education.

In 1975 Julie married Steven William Payette at a ceremony in her parent’s backyard in Bountiful, Utah. In 1982, Julie and Steve were sealed for all time and eternity to each other in the Ogden Utah Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Julie passed away at her home on November 16, 2015 after a long illness. Her life was a legacy of service. She is the loving mother of five children; Angie Harvie, Greg Payette, Emily Payette, Robert Payette and Dennis Payette. She is survived by her husband Steve, mother Shirley Knight Wade, sister Teri Hall, brother Blake Wade and grandchildren; Nathan, William, Devon, McKenna, James, Wade, and Andrew. She also leaves behind son-in-law Kevin Harvie, and daughters-in-law Cami Hough Payette and Kristen Wells Payette.

It was commented that Julie’s life and passing “was literally felt around the world”.