Our beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Margaret Shirleen Braithwaite Peterson, passed away in the early hours of Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022 in Ephraim, Utah.
Shirleen was born on May 7, 1935, to Miles R. and Ellen Shoemaker Braithwaite in Manti, Utah. As she grew up in Manti, she attended schools there, as well as Snow College. She married her high school sweetheart, Byard Lamont Peterson, on Sept. 16, 1954 in the Manti Temple, and, working hand in hand, celebrated 65 years of marriage before he passed away on June 26, 2020.
She was a devoted wife and homemaker each and every day of their life together. She was a great support and companion as they raised turkeys, cattle and worked the farmland. She always had wonderful food waiting for Dad to come home to.
She was a great cook and specialized in homemade candy, especially at Christmas time, sharing with all the neighbors. She enjoyed spending time with friends traveling, square dancing, enjoying good food and loving life. One of her favorite destinations was the beautiful Hawaiian Islands, as well as Fish Lake, where they spent time each summer.
Her greatest joy was her family. She loved each one dearly and left an incredible legacy of strength and fight for life for each to learn from. She had such wit and charm in her personality; it was a joy to have conversations with her.
She was a strong woman with pioneer-like fortitude, as she battled several health issues that created the need to sacrifice many of the things she enjoyed doing, just to manage each day. She did this with so much strength and determination that her grit and grace for enduring will leave a lasting effect on her family and those who knew her. She will be greatly missed as she leaves a great example of hard work, honesty and integrity to be carried on for generations.
Shirleen was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held various callings throughout her life.
She is survived by her children, Kathie (Paul) Warner, Brent (Nadine) Peterson, and Karma (David) Peterson; five grandchildren, Kimberly, Kellie, Kyle, Lacie and Braden, along with 8 great-grandchildren; and sister, Barbara Bradley.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Byard Lamont Peterson; parents, Miles R. and Ellen Shoemaker Braithwaite; brothers, Harold, Everett and Dean; and sisters, Ardith and Lois.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022 at 1 p.m. in the Ephraim Stake Center, where friends may call for a viewing from 11:30-12:30 p.m. Burial will be in the Ephraim Park Cemetery. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti.
Online guestbook and live streaming of the services at www.maglebymortuary.com under Shirleen’s obituary.
A special thanks to all who helped in any way in the search for her on that cold morning and for the outpouring of love at this difficult time. We are blessed to live in this small town she called home and appreciate the hard work of all involved.
