On Wednesday, July 29, 2020, AnnaRae VanNosdol Jolley, 78, of Spanish Fork, Utah, passed away and returned to her Heavenly Father. She was being cared for at Mountain View Hospital in Payson, Utah where considerable health conditions ultimately led to her death.

AnnaRae was born February 5, 1942, in Mammoth, Utah, to hard-working parents Myrtle Leonteen Bronson & William Lewis (Bill) VanNosdol. She spent the first years of her life in Mammoth, where her father was a miner, before her family moved to Payson, Utah. She attended school in Payson and was a bright student who excelled in writing and literature. Being the youngest, and the only daughter in her family, naturally lead her brothers to dote on her, which in turn, created a bossy and demanding little sister – skills she would later put to good use.

AnnaRae started developing her household management skills as a young woman living in her parent’s home – these skills would eventually develop into an expertise that she shared with many people including her three daughters. At a fairly young age, she managed most of the cleaning, laundry, ironing, meal preparation, packing lunches, and she even helped manage the household finances. She was a valued family member who continued to serve her parents throughout their lives. After graduating from Payson High School in 1960, she attended Hollywood Beauty School and earned a cosmetology license, referred to at that time as a beautician’s license, and she found work in a local beauty shop doing manicures and styling hair.

She married Harvey Henry Jolley on December 8, 1962 in Payson, Utah and in 1972 they were sealed in the LDS Logan Temple. Interestingly, their wedding ceremony was presided over, and conducted by, Henry Chynoweth, her new grandfather-in-law. The Payson Chronicle published a nostalgic article about their wedding that describes, with specificity, her dress, décor, and the wedding cake.

AnnaRae’s marriage had an adventurous beginning. During the first 13 years of marriage they were asked to manage various ranches in remote locations such as Skull Valley, Utah, and Arimo, Idaho. In addition to managing their household, AnnaRae cared for their children, sewed clothing, kept her home immaculately clean, planted and cared for the yards and garden, harvested & canned fruit and vegetables, prepared meals and laundered clothing for ranch hands, and helped with bookkeeping and finances for the ranches. She often told stories about not having a clothes dryer when they lived in Skull Valley and how, during the winter months, bed linens would literally turn into sheets of ice hanging on the clothesline. Others may perceive these experiences as struggles or trials, but she described this period as the happiest time in her life.

In 1973, a ranching opportunity brought them back to Payson, Utah and AnnaRae soon started working at Payson Hospital located on Utah Avenue. She took a short break from work when she delivered her third child, but ultimately spent almost 20 years working at Payson Hospital and Mountain View Hospital. AnnaRae was an intelligent and dependable employee who thoroughly enjoyed her job and developed long-lasting friendships with many of her coworkers.

AnnaRae held countless church callings in the primary, young women, and Sunday school and she served as relief society president or in a presidency position for more than 12 cumulative years. These callings allowed her to teach and influence many people. Her daughters often teased her about having a “church face,” but it is evident that the joy she felt while serving in these callings was apparent to those around her who soon came to love her.

AnnaRae had many talents and hobbies including quilting, sewing, cooking, crocheting, gardening, reading, and writing short stories and poems. Her pieced quilts and afghans were coveted gifts. Her daughters wore custom home-sewn clothing and elaborate one-of-a-kind dresses. She is likely one of the last women who ironed bed sheets and jeans. She always prepared three meals a day and the family sat down together at the dining table for every meal. She planted and maintained large gardens that would be a full-time job for most people, and she spent countless hours canning fruit and vegetables and then gave most of it away to family, friends, and neighbors. She was the “go to” person if anyone had a question about a recipe or how to properly cook something and she made some of the finest confections – specifically her world class caramel.

In later years, she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, and she was very close with each of them. To the detriment of their parents, she successfully spoiled her grandchildren and showered them with gifts, cake, cookies, candy, and ice cream. Visiting “Grandma Harv,” guaranteed a treat – there was never a time when she didn’t have plenty of treats for the grandkids. She will be particularly missed by her grandchildren.

AnnaRae is survived by her husband; three daughters and three sons-in-law, SueAnne Pace & Gregory S. Pace of Payson, Utah, Shari L. Anderson & Brent R. Anderson of Payson, Utah, and Marcie R. Swenson, Esq. & Michael S. Swenson of Salt Lake City; nine grandchildren Clayton H. Pace, Nathen R. Pace, Katie A. Pace Stapley, Paige L. Anderson Davies, Alexis Anderson, Drew J. Anderson, Drake S. Swenson, Warner W. Swenson, and Avonlea Swenson; four great-grandchildren Mackley S. Pace, Jack L. Stapley, Berkley P. Davies, and Eleanor S. Stapley; and, many in-laws, nephews, and nieces. She is preceded in death by her parents; her brothers Laurence C. “Larry” Nielsen, George B. VanNosdol, Glade L. “Bud” VanNosdol, & Donald E. “Ted” VanNosdol; and, her grandson Henry M. Swenson.

A public viewing will be held Monday, August 3, 2020 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Walker Funeral Home in Payson, Utah. A graveside memorial service will be held for family and close friends on Tuesday, August 4, 2020 at 10:00 am at the Payson Cemetery.