A BEAUTIFUL DAY - Read by Michael Bodell Written by Chuck Gates

Our mother, Maydene Brown Bodell returned to her Heavenly Father on March 19, 2012 after 86 years of joy and happiness as a writer, poet, dancer, singer, and seeker of knowledge.  She left this earthly state while holding the hand of her loving husband of 68 years, James Huggard Bodell.

She was born to Martha Whiting and Francis Wiley Brown in Mesa, Arizona on June 9, 1925. As a child, her family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, which she would always claim as her hometown. 

While attending Granite High School, she developed a passion for the performing arts as a member of the drama and dance clubs.  At 15, she was cast in her school’s production of Pride and Prejudice, where she met a member of the stage crew, who became the love of her life. She helped Jim Bodell develop patience through two years of dating before she finally kissed him, ensuring a lifelong friendship and love. 

They married in the Salt Lake Temple on January 26, 1944 while Jim 

was on a short leave from serving as a Corporal in the Army Air Corps during World War II. 

Mom was an amazing wife who adored her husband. As a mother, she taught her children to find joy in everyday life.  Her ability to listen intently and empathize made her the perfect wife, mother, and friend. Her ability to put herself in another’s shoes demonstrated her compassion for others, but it also taught her children to be accountable and look inward instead of judging others.

Mom and Dad’s  life together sent them to live in various states throughout the west. Maydene’s support enabled Jim to start Bodell Construction, for which they moved over 20  times to oversee the construction of about 75 LDS church buildings.  Whether it was in Utah, California, Arizona, or Hawaii, Maydene prided herself on maintaining a home that was open to others.  Her children knew that friends were welcome for playing, visiting, or attending big parties. Her nieces and nephews could rely on their adopted home to stay when visiting Salt Lake. 

We always knew mom was nearby because she was always singing or humming a happy tune. 

It was common to find her tap dancing her way through her chores. She always had a song going in her mind and heart and the uncanny ability to recall the lyrics to almost any song, especially those from musicals, movies, or church. She knew almost every hymn and primary song.   Her grandchildren loved to come sing and dance with Grandma. 

She absolutely loved family reunions, especially going to see her cousins at the Brown and Whiting reunions. She especially enjoyed seeing her nieces and making each feel like they were her favorite. 
At the age of 70, she and Jim developed Clear Creek Family Ranch, where they welcomed hundreds of family reunions, youth conferences, scout groups, and church groups into their ranch homes near Zion’s National Park.

An avid reader and writer, Mom continually pursued greater knowledge. Words were magic to her and she was always reading about ways to improve herself, whether to cook better meals, keep a better budget, be more spiritual, be the perfect wife, or strengthen relationships.  
She knew how to spell any word and developed expertise in grammar and editing. She was an accomplished songwriter, poet, playwright and children’s author, but she was most proud of the biographical volumes she authored about her family.

She strived to live her life remembering her heritage as a daughter of God by exemplifying the gospel of Jesus Christ. Her ardent testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was evident in her support of her husband twice being called as bishop. As retirees, Jim and Maydene served as missionaries in Liberia, Africa for 18 months.

In addition to her husband, Mom  is survived by her eight children – Jimae, Kristine, Michael, Mark, Pamela, Timothy, Daniel, and Dixie. 

Her posterity includes 34 grandchildren and 53 great grandchildren.

She found great joy as a grandmother. “Grandma” had the cutest little smile and laugh. When she realized her young grandsons thought it hilarious to jump from a hidden corner to scare her, she embraced the role of the frightened old lady. She perfected a loving look where she pretended to be mad, but you knew she wanted to just give you a big hug and kiss.

Though her memory faded in recent years, Maydene Brown Bodell always clung to her two dearest pieces of knowledge – her testimony of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and her love for Jim.