Marilyn Halliday Christensen, 87, passed away at Bennion’s Veteran’s Home in Payson, Utah, on Feb. 24, 2022, at 7:28 am, like a whisper into the sunrise.
Marilyn was born and raised in Provo, Utah, where she attended school and met her eternal companion, Ray Edward Christensen, also from Provo. They married and immediately began a life of service in the United States Air Force, with Ray as an officer. Marilyn loved to travel the country with her family and cherished each new place, experience and lifelong friends made along the way.
She was a strong, lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Marilyn and Ray were sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple, and they always said the greatest blessings and love they had received in this life were their seven children.
Marilyn was like a present-day Mary Poppins: she could pack up a house, move and be settled in another state before one could paint their living room. She had an incredible talent of making a comfortable, safe and loving home for her family wherever the Air Force transferred them, whether it was to California, Alabama, Texas, Tripoli (Libya), Nebraska, Washington D.C., Arizona, Alaska, Nevada or, finally, Spring City.
She and Ray planted some deep and inviting roots for their kids to come and enjoy. Her greatest joy was to have her family around for the 4th and the 24th of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and any other time they could get together for a party. She was very proud of all the fun and exciting things she and the family could cram into one or two days.
We will mourn our loss of this wonderful woman, through the knowledge and strength of the gospel and our loving family. We will cherish all our memories together through tears and appreciation of a life “well, happily and lovingly lived”. We love you, Mom.
Marilyn is survived by her seven children: Clarke Ray Christensen of Spring City, Utah; Raelynn Christensen Ferguson of Spring City, Utah; Colette Christensen Thompson of Spring City, Utah; Craig Roy Christensen of Provo, Utah; Camille Christensen of Spring City, Utah; Cory Rand Christensen of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Chad Ryan Christensen of Park City, Utah; her 30 grandchildren and 40 great-grandchildren (who affectionately called her “Gram”); and her sister, Margie Halliday McMichael of St. George, Utah.
Preceded in death by her parents, Marion Wilson Halliday and Marjorie Sparks Halliday; her loving husband of 68 years, Ray Edward Christensen; and grandson, SSGT Sean Ray Ferguson.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 5, 2022, at 11 a.m. in the Cedar Creek Ward in Spring City, Utah. Viewings will be held Friday from 6-8 p.m. and Saturday 9:30–10:30 a.m. prior to services, both at the church. Interment in the Spring City Cemetery. Online condolences at rasmussenmortuary.com.
