Jean Rachel Davies Herzog, a hard-working and fun-loving woman, rejoined her departed loved ones on March 26, 2021. The fourteenth of fourteen children, Mom was born in Lake Point, Utah, on August 25, 1924, to Joseph and Rachel Davies. Her own mother died when she was three years old, leaving her to be raised by a single father and her older sisters. She spent a tomboy childhood playing on the shores of the Great Salt Lake and in the hills of the Oquirrh Mountains, graduated from Cyprus High School, and lived all her adult life in Salt Lake City.
Jean Davies and Howard Herzog were wed on September 17, 1948. They had 46 grand years together, bound by their shared sense of humor, love of friends and dancing, and their four daughters. Married in the Salt Lake Temple, Mom waited 26 years after Dad’s passing to be with him again; her wish is now granted.
Our mom was the fiercest of advocates for her daughters, especially for her two with disabilities. She fought for their right to be educated in public schools, to be accorded full respect, and to follow their dreams. Her oldest, Michael-Ann, lived at home all her life, until 2013, and she and Mom were inseparable friends. We hope their reunion included running in greeting to each other.
Mom didn’t let any grass grow under her feet, although she was an excellent gardener! She worked, often two jobs at a time (including managing a wedding reception center for 11 years, which she hated), until retiring at age 76. On top of work, she was known for her huge extended-family gatherings, the wonderful parties she threw, her Sunday dinners, her many books – poetry, family histories, memoirs, cookbooks – and song compositions, and her crafts from sewing to woodworking. Most of all, she practiced utter devotion to every member of her family and was adored in return.
During her final eight years, Mom lived with her youngest daughter, Julie, and they became a regular comedy duo who took equal and excellent care of each other.
To know Jean – Mom, Grandma – was to never forget her. She is survived by three daughters, Mary (Drew), Chris, and Julie; four grandchildren, Tiffany, Melissa (Jeff), Rachel (Sean), and John; and her great granddaughter, Madison. She was preceded in death by her parents and all her brothers and sisters, her husband, her first daughter, and her sons-in-law, Paul, Mike, and Dave.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, April 1, 2021, at 11:00 a.m., with a prior viewing at 10:00 a.m. Both the viewing and funeral will be at the Rose Park Stake Center, 760 North 1200 West, Salt Lake City, Utah. Remote viewing of the funeral will be accessible at [https://zoom.us/j/99880726526?pwd=bGYwb2ZJUTBlaGpoVndLajBqWkE5QT09]. Meeting ID: 998 8072 6526
Passcode: 080430.
Interment will be at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah, following the funeral. Further details can be accessed at www.wasatchlawn.com.
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