Obituary: Marianne Colt Conlee

Marianne Colt Conlee 1944 ~ 2006 Marianne Colt Conlee, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and sister, died at home 15 December 2006 after a valiant battle with Lou Gehrig's disease (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ALS). She was the eldest of four children of Donald Clifford Colt and Beulah Wood Colt. Marianne was born 28 August 1944 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. At the age of four, while living in Salt Lake City, she contracted the polio virus and was hospitalized for several months but made a nearly complete recovery. As a result of that experience Marianne developed a resilient spirit that served her well throughout her life. She was strong in the face of adversity and worked hard to accomplish physical goals in spite of her physical limitations resulting from her polio. She loved to dance and was a song leader in high school. As an adult she worked hard every day, either in the yard or around the house, or tending to the constant needs of her family. She was an accomplished pianist and sang in the a cappella choir in high school. Marianne graduated from Mark Keppel High School in Monterrey Park, California, and enrolled at Brigham Young University in 1962. She interrupted her schooling when she married her husband, Robert K. Conlee, December 26, 1963 while he was serving in the United States Army. Their marriage was solemnized in the Los Angeles Temple in May 1965. After supporting her husband while he pursued his military, educational, and professional goals, she finally was able to finish her own education earning a History Bachelor of Science degree from BYU in 1994. She was an avid family historian and taught numerous classes on family history research to various groups including the Elder Hostel program, the BYU Genealogy Library Educational series and many stake family history conferences for the LDS church. She also accompanied groups of Elder Hostel participants to Ireland and Northern Ireland where she assisted them in their family research. Marianne was an expert in United States, British Isles, and German genealogy research and was responsible for helping numerous individuals search for their ancestors. Marianne was also privileged to work for eight years as an ordinance worker in the Mount Timpanogos Temple where she was loved by her fellow workers. One of her greatest heartaches was when her disease symptoms precluded her from continuing that sacred work. A longtime active member of the LDS Church Marianne served faithfully in ward and stake Relief Society presidencies, the ward Primary presidency, as an advisor in the Young Women's program and as chorister and pianist for various auxiliaries. She longed to eventually serve a mission, but that dream was unfulfilled because of her declining health. Marianne's legacy will be found in the way she supported her husband in his church and professional responsibilities, in the way she raised her six children, and in the countless lives she touched for good through her genuine love for people and for the Lord. Everyone who knew Marianne recognized the dignity, grace, and pure love of this divine soul. Heaven is a better place now that Marianne has arrived. The world has lost one of its pure spirits. Marianne is survived by her husband; and their six children, Robert (Stephanie) of Alpine, Utah, Steven (Gisele) of Pleasant Grove, Utah, James of Lehi, Utah, Julie (Todd) Anderson of Clinton, Oklahoma, John (Alanna) of Indianapolis, Indiana, and David (Melissa) of Salt Lake City, Utah. She is also survived by two sisters, Janice Skousen of Logan, Utah, and Carol Voght of Chicago, Illinois. The family wishes to acknowledge the following individuals for their generous assistance to Marianne and Bob during the final months of her life, Kayra Dobbin, Cindy Chilcoat, the health professionals of Vista Care Hospice and Doctor David Peterson for his longtime devoted and tender care of Marianne. A viewing will be held from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, December 19, 2006 at the Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary, 495 South State Street in Orem, Utah. Funeral services will begin 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Cherry Hill Stake Center, 1700 South on 400 East in Orem, Utah. The funeral will be preceded by a viewing from 9:45-10:45 a.m. in the stake center Relief Society room. Interment will be in the Orem City Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.sundbergolpinmortuary.com In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family asks that donations be made to the Marianne Colt Conlee Scholarship Fund to be established in the Department of Exercise Sciences at Brigham Young University.