Deona Joy Douglas

Deona, a true and faithful daughter of God, passed away June 8, 2023 in Salt Lake City. Born in
1935 in Woodland, UT she grew up on a dairy farm and learned the value of hard work. She was
pragmatic and fond of saying “If it makes common sense, do it.” She grew up next door to her
beloved maternal grandparents and great grandmother. She was the first child of three and had
two younger brothers. Each Sunday She would walk ½ mile with her brother Verl down the river
bottom road to attend church. Her father was an avid fly fisherman and she loved fresh trout
caught in the Provo River which was walking distance from her family home. She graduated
from South Summit High School and spoke often of how much she loved attending seminary.
She took a secretarial job in Salt Lake and lived with other young women in the Beehive house.
Deona married her high school sweetheart, John O. Lambert. He joined the Air Force and they
lived for four years in Great Falls Montana. After the serving they moved back to Utah and lived
in Salt Lake City where he attended the University of Utah in the early 60’s. John graduated and
got accepted to dental school in Kansas City MO where they lived frugally with four children
(Kathy, Vickie, John and later Jane) for four years while John completed school. Deona worked
as a secretary in a doctor’s office and she was fond of saying “I put your father through dental
school.” John graduated in 1966 and they returned to Utah and settled in Summit Park near Park
City and raised a large family.
Four more children Gary, Jeff, Debbie and Meridee were born during the Summit Park years.
She instilled traditions into everything. At Christmas she made Santa Clause cookies and
prepared huge brunches and dinners. Themed Christmas ornaments and nutcrackers festooned
the tree and every surface of her home. She always had two Christmas trees one 25 foot
evergreen and one flocked with gold lights and shiny brass ornaments. Memorial days were
spent at cemeteries in her native Woodland complete with a grand picnic highlighted with her
delicious potato salad. Fond of parades, each Fourth of July she took her family to the Park City
festivities and prepared grand barbeques. She instilled patriotism in her posterity. Labor days
were often spent at Lake Powell. Pioneer day was a big deal and she faithfully attended the 24 th
of July parade followed by a fried chicken picnic at Sugar House Park. She called it “chicken in
the park” and her posterity keeps this tradition alive to this day. During this time three foster
children joined the family from the church’s Indian placement program of which she was a
stalwart supporter. Phyllis Dixon, Lucille Herrera and Myron Tommy lived in her home and she
loved them as her own. Grandchildren began to join the family and she was fond of saying her
“happiest days” were when the grandchildren came over. Year after year she dedicated one day a
week to family history and genealogical research. She loved having and breeding St. Bernards in
the snowy winters and had four dogs over the years Nana, Rufus, Comfort and Tasha.
Throughout the Wintery Summit Park years she prepared and served legendary meals like clam
chowder and lasagna. Deona always strove to make her home a place of peace and comfort, where her children and grandchildren could come and enjoy themselves. She was fond of having
the two fireplaces going at once and would say “Go get wood and keep the fires stoked.”
Deona moved to Salt Lake in 1988 where she supported herself as an image consultant for
Beauty for All Seasons where for over 30 years she influenced hundreds of friends and
colleagues. She married Mason Walker and settled on a small farm in Tooele, UT where she felt
at home around cattle and horses. Sunday dinners were legendary. An extra-large dining table
and extended sectional couch assured seating for all. She enjoyed travelling around Utah
attending horseshoe competitions. Afternoons in Tooele were spent playing with grandchildren
and watching them pick fresh vegetables and dig potatoes from the garden.
Deona married Don Douglas in 2003 and moved to Kaysville UT. Here she loved gardening and
bottled fresh fruit from her small orchard. Thanksgivings in Kaysville sometimes had two
cooked turkeys along with her shrimp drink, stuffed mushrooms, homemade cranberry sauce and
braised brussel sprouts. She and Don travelled around Utah and Idaho competing in chicken
shows and won many awards. Don Douglas died in 2018.
After Don’s death, Deona moved to St. George. Her daughter Vickie lived with her to assist with
her worsening health. Deona’s backyard was full of flower boxes and humming bird feeders. Her
home was always open to family travelling through southern Utah. Having family visit her here
was important and each family member felt her never ending hospitality. Even with her health
declining she would always send birthday cards to each of her children and grandchildren.
In 2022 Deona fell and broke her ankle and she walked with great difficulty. Her deteriorating
health necessitated her living at St Joseph Villa skilled nursing center in Salt Lake. While there
her daughter, Vickie passed away. She worked hard at physical therapy in order to attend
Vickie’s celebration of life and was able to do so. She set a goal to walk with her walker so she
could visit family and worked exceptionally hard. She progressed and could walk 60 feet. On
June 8 th after her daily physical therapy she passed away in bed at the age of 87.
Deona’s posterity is her legacy: 8 children, 3 foster children, 28 grandchildren 18 great
grandchildren and 8 great-great grandchildren. She is survived by her children: Kathy Hansen
(Michael), John Lambert (Juline), Jane Leng (Mith), Gary Lambert (Dawn), Jeffery Lambert,
Debbie Anderson (Paul), Meridee Anderson and 3 foster children Phyllis Dixon, Lucille Herrera
(Tony) and Myron Tommy and brother Verl Bushell. She is preceded in death by husbands: John
Lambert, Mason Walker of Tooele and Donald Douglas of Kaysville, Daughter Vickie Martinez
and grandchildren Nicholas Martinez, Michael Hansen and Alyssa McClellan.
Funeral services will be at the Woodland UT L.D.S chapel on Saturday, June 24, 2023 at noon.
(4219 South 2800 East, Woodland UT) A Viewing will be held at the same chapel that morning
from 9:30 to 11:30 A.M.