Gwen Kay Bennett Young Obituary (1948 - 2016)

Our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and sister, Gwen Kay Bennett Young, passed away April 20, 2016 in Provo, Utah after a 20 year battle with leukemia, diabetes, and related health problems. Gwen was born on July 3, 1948 in Ely, Nevada to Joseph Earnest and LaNola (Nola) Cooper Bennett. She spent her childhood in McGill, Nevada with her brother Dennis. When Gwen was 10 years old her father, Earnest, had a heart attack while breaking a horse and passed away. Nearly two years later her mother, Nola, was injured in a car accident and was told she would never walk or talk again. Their good friends, Reid and Eva Trimble, stepped in to look after Dennis and Gwen while their mother had a lengthy stay in a hospital in Salt Lake City where she regained her ability to speak. Gwen loved Reid and Eva and their children and was so grateful for their influence in her life. When Nola returned home, Dennis and Gwen encouraged her to learn how to walk again. In 1961, Nola, Dennis, Gwen, and their Grandma Cooper moved to Murray, Utah to be closer to family. In 1966 Gwen graduated from Granite High School. She was working as a Directory Assistance Operator at Mountain Bell when a co-worker, Elaine, introduced Gwen to her brother-in-law, Joseph Richard Young, and they became best friends. Gwen and Richard were married on June 25, 1971 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple and were inseparable for the next 45 years. They made their home in Pleasant Grove, Utah. Gwen and Richard welcomed four children into their family: JoAnna, Christopher, Shelly, and Kimberly. Gwen loved writing, reading, painting, sewing, and doing crafts. She always had a project she was working on. She loved working with children and she worked at Manila and Grovecrest Elementary Schools as a lunchroom supervisor, playground supervisor, and lunch lady. Gwen naturally loved everyone and had such a positive attitude through the many trials she faced in her life. She looked after her mother and mother-in-law with love and compassion. Gwen was a loving wife and mother and her family was her greatest masterpiece. She is survived by her spouse Joseph Richard Young, brother Dennis (Vicki) Bennett, and 4 children: JoAnna (JB) Gill, Joseph Christopher (Dawn) Young, Shelly (Tyler) Craghead, and Kimberly (Troy) Adams and 14 grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents Joseph Earnest and LaNola Cooper Bennett, brother Keith Earnest Bennett, and grandson Nathan Daniel Adams. Funeral services will be held Monday, April 25, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. in the Northfield Stake Center, 105 W 1800 N, Pleasant Grove. Family and friends may attend a viewing Sunday evening from 6 - 8 p.m. at Olpin Family Mortuary, 494 South 300 East, Pleasant Grove and at the church on Monday from 9:30 - 10:45 a.m. prior to the services. Interment will be in the Pleasant Grove City Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.olpinmortuary.com.