Our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend, Avanelle Woolley Learned, passed away Friday, November 12, 1999 after a long, courageous battle with a debilitating illness. She was dearly loved and will be missed.
Born in Salt Lake City on April 6, 1919 to Jedediah F. Woolley, Jr. and Ada Ferguson Wolley, Avanelle graduated from East High School. She received her B.A. and M.A. from the University of Utah where she was affiliated with Phi Mu Sorority. She studied for her doctorate at the University of Wisconsin.She married Edgar M. Vance on September 3, 1942; later divorced. Married Leland O. Learned on October 17, 1947 who preceded her in death on March 23, 1983. Avanelle taught at Westminster College and at Rowland Hall-St. Mark's and tutored students through the Literacy Volunteers of America. She loved and supported the arts and was active in community and civic groups. Avanelle was a board member of the Symphony and Pioneer Theater Guilds and past president of the Neighborhood Garden Club. She served as director of Pioneer Craft House from 1984-88 and was a member of the Ladies Literary club and the Daughters of the Nile.
Avanelle is survived by her daughter, Barbara (Alan) Engen; sons, Leland "Mac" (Laura), and James (Judi) Learned; brothers, Jed F. Woolley, III and William H. (Gene) Woolley. She is also survived by seven grandchildren and four grandchildren by marriage, one great-granddaughter, nieces and nephew.
The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to her friends and caregivers, especially Gayle Nikolaisen, Brian Fisher, Dell Jaramillo, and Doreen Maxfield.
Memorial services will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 16 at the Garner Funeral Home, 1001 E. Eleventh Avenue. Inurnment will follow at the Salt Lake Mausoleum. Avanelle requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the performing arts or the Leland O. Learned M.D. and Avanelle W. Learned Medical Memorial Scholarship Fund, University of Utah Health Sciences Department, in care of Art Swindle, Director.