Our Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, and Friend, Lorraine Julianita Maestas Wride, passed away in the early hours of Friday, August 30, 2024, eight days before her 84th birthday.

Lorraine was born on September 8, 1940, to Jose Melisendro Maestas and Simodocea Jaramillo Maestas in Vallecitos, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. Lorraine was born at her home, weighing only two and a half pounds. The midwife and her family kept her alive by placing her in a shoe box on the oven door. Her sisters always talked about how small her body was, but how big her feet were. They spoke of how miraculous it was to have Lorraine join their family.

Lorraine and her family converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and she felt very blessed that her family was given the opportunity to become members of the church and often spoke of how it bettered their lives

Despite her tiny stature, Lorraine had a big personality. She was a firecracker- full of spirit, strength, opinions, and love. Her body may not have grown into her feet, she was always small, but her talents did. She was an excellent dancer, dancing throughout her childhood and high school years as a cheerleader for Espanola High School, in Ranchitos, New Mexico. There, she was involved in many clubs and teams.  One club she joined taught her how to sew and she became an excellent seamstress. With that talent, she went on to make her own clothes, costumes, and formal gowns for her children and grandchildren, as well as fabric elements for home designs.  After high school, Lorraine was accepted to and attended Brigham Young University, where she loved every moment and became a giant BYU fan, enough so that she religiously watched every football game and yelled at the refs through the television for calls she didn’t quite agree with.

Lorraine experienced nothing short of a love story with Lynn Wride, straight out of a romantic comedy, one that her grandchildren enjoyed hearing stories of again and again. Lynn Thomas Wride, of Provo, Utah, and Lorraine were married on November 26, 1960 in the Los Angeles Temple for time and all eternity. They shared a wonderful life together, working through many hardships and celebrating many joys. Before Lynn passed in 2020, they had celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. During their early married life, they lived in Provo and moved to  West Mountain, where they resided for 50 years. Together, they raised six children and became proud grandparents to twenty-six grandchildren and twenty-three great-grandchildren, and cared for many foster children throughout the years.

Lorraine and Lynn worked side by side for many decades, owning and operating Wride’s Glass in Payson. She became very skilled at glass work and making glass jewelry. They made great friends within the community where they lived, and she was always willing to sew for school clubs, make floral corsages for dances, and build floats for parades.

Lorraine loved the teachings of Jesus Christ and she was a devout member serving in many callings. Some of her happiest years were spent serving a mission with her husband Lynn in Spain-Las Palmas Mission-The Canary Islands. She thrived in that element, being able to speak in her native Spanish tongue, teaching Lynn the Spanish Language.  Lorraine loved serving and building relationships with the Spanish people of the Islands and converting many families to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Lorraine had a feisty and fun personality, with high standards. She crossed all the t’s and dotted all the i’s, taking great care in her appearance, home and children. She valued traditions and put together treasured family events.

She was very close with her sisters, and sisters-in-law,  becoming great friends with them. She enjoyed traveling with her family and friends. She loved her kids and grandkids deeply. She was an excellent, committed, loving mother and grandmother.  She supported them in their various activities by attending dance recitals, band and choir concerts and sporting events.

She had a gift for serving others who were ill or otherwise in need. She swaddled and sang songs in Spanish to every baby she could get her hands on and truly showed up for all the people in her life.  Lorraine loved to dance; she and Lynn were talented dance partners who participated in various dance clubs. She loved music, plays, and musicals, and she excelled in making gowns and dolls and home decorating. Her favorite part of any meal was dessert. Lorraine strongly encouraged and supported everyone around her to reach their unique potential.  Her grandness will be forever felt by those who knew her.

Lorraine battled health issues in the twilight of her life and needed the care of her family and medical professionals, the same kind of care that she had extended so readily when she was well. Our family would like to express our gratitude to all of the people involved during those years who helped our mother and grandmother.  We would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Legacy Assisted Living in Spanish Fork, UT for the care they gave Lorraine in the last two years.  Also a special thanks to Aspen Ridge Hospice for the tender care rendered the last two weeks of her life.

Lorraine is survived by her children, Sherilynn (Peter) Wisnom, Lance (Tewa) Wride, Trent (Amber) Wride, Shelley (Rodney) Heaton, Shawn (Alesha) Wride, and Troy (Sheryl) Wride, her 27 grandchildren and spouses, and 23 great-grandchildren, as well as her sister-in-law and dear friend Margene Wride Snow.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lynn T. Wride, her parents, siblings, and her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, whom she loved greatly.

A family visitation will be held on Friday, September 6, 2024, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. for family and friends, followed by her Memorial Service at 11:00 a.m., both held in the West Mountain Church, 5237 West 10400 South, Payson, UT (3 miles west on Utah Avenue). Interment will be at the Payson City Cemetery, 400 North 800 East, Payson.

The live stream link for those who are unable to attend services for Lorraine in person but wish to join us at this celebration of her life is shown below.

The service will be streamed live. Please return to this memorial page shortly before 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 6, 2024, and click on the link below.

Lorraine Wride Service