Olive Osmond, matriarch of a Utah family of famous entertainers, was being remembered on Mother's Day for her devotion to her nine children and her millions of "children" throughout the world.
Mrs. Osmond, who had been suffering the effects of numerous strokes over the past 5 1/2 years, died about 4:40 a.m. Sunday at her Provo home, surrounded by family. She had turned 79 on Tuesday.
A spokesman said her family felt relief that she had been released from suffering. "They've been anticipating this, but nothing prepares you for the time, or (for) it to come on Mother's Day," family spokesman Ron Clark said.
Mrs. Osmond's health had declined in recent weeks and all of her children were able to say their goodbyes. Some were not at her bedside when she passed because of contractual obligations, but were en route to Utah Sunday.
Messages from fans throughout the world were posted to Mrs. Osmond's Web site, www.oliveosmond.com.
A woman identified as "Cindy" wrote she was sorry for the loss. "I grew up with your family on TV and radio. I felt that I knew you through this media."
Mrs. Osmond was born in Samaria, Idaho, in 1925 to Thomas and Vera Ann Davis. Her father was a school principal, which Clark believes explained why she loved reading all her life.
She moved to Ogden and worked as a secretary at the Adjutant General Depot where she met a young soldier, George V. Osmond, and wrote in her diary, "Today I met someone who's going to mean a lot to me."
They married in 1944. Early in their marriage, she played saxophone in a band that performed at local dances. She later played the sax on television for family Christmas specials, albeit reluctantly. "Her kids (would) say, 'Look, we're producing the shows, you're going on,' " said Clark, who was the executive director of corporate communications for the family for 14 years.
Mrs. Osmond complied because she believed the specials promoted a "positive aspect of family, in this case, a large family," he said.
The Osmonds' first two sons, Virl and Tom, developed degenerative hearing losses that also affected their speech, Clark said. Their subsequent seven children — Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay, Donny, Marie and Jimmy — did not develop the same hearing problem and went on to musical fame and fortune.
"She knew the kids wanted to sing. They loved to sing together," Clark said. "It became something they enjoyed so much, she and George put their lives on hold."
The family traveled to Southern California in the early 1960s hoping to break into showbiz on "The Lawrence Welk Show." They couldn't get an audition and the children started to get discouraged.
"Olive said, 'We're not going to sit here and be miserable. Let's go someplace to play and have fun,' " Clark said.
The family went Disneyland, and began alternating songs with a barber shop quartet they ran into on Main Street. Soon, Walt Disney hired them promote Disney attractions and the family moved from Ogden to Southern California.
They returned to Ogden when the Disney contract was up, but moved back after landing a contract on an Andy Williams television show. They got a contract with MGM Records in 1971.
"And as they say, the rest is history," Clark said.
The Osmond Brothers garnered dozens of platinum and gold albums. "The Donny and Marie Show" ran for four seasons on television in the 1970s.
The family moved back to Utah at the end of 1972 and built a recording studio in Provo, commuting to Los Angeles when necessary. Mrs. Osmond prioritized the events of the day. She never let herself get down and the word, "cannot," was not in her vocabulary, Clark said. "She handled it very well. She was highly organized. She was so positive."
Mrs. Osmond knew music made her children happy. But she also defined success as having strong faith and character.
"She has succeeded. This is a very unified family. And in show business, that does not very often prevail," Clark said.
She wanted other children to be positive, too.
Osmond fan club members received one of two teen magazines: "Osmond Spotlight," for residents in the United States, or "Spotlight World," for residents in Europe that included Mrs. Osmond's words of positive reinforcement. She wanted to help build young people's self-esteem.
"She wanted to touch their lives. She didn't want to convert them to Mormonism. She just wanted them to be secure with what they were," Clark said.
Today, Virl and Tom are working and taking care of their families. Alan is on a speaking tour promoting values with the World Family Organization. Jimmy owns two theaters in Branson, Mo. Donny is still performing and recording. Marie has a syndicated radio program. Wayne, Merrill and Jay are on tour together.
Mrs. Osmond also is survived by her husband, George, 55 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. Funeral arrangements are pending.
E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com