Obituary: CHAFFINGWENNETH

Gwenneth Agnes Compton Chaffin1924 ~ 2013The clouds of confusion and past years of forgetfulness have finally blown away. Gwen was released from her mental and physical trials of this world on September 13, 2013 to return to the waiting arms of loved ones. For nearly nine years, she felt the ever-increasing limits of the dementia that wrapped itself around her, gradually denying her of the things she loved to do, sewing, knitting, painting wonderful floral scenes on china, and most of all being with friends and grandchildren she loved so dearly.Gwen was born in Perth, West Australia, May 26, 1924 the daughter of Charles Harry and Eunice Cowlishaw Compton. As she turned eight years of age, she was baptized a member of the LDS Church in the Swan River. In her schooling she learned to play the organ for the local LDS branch and while playing there one Sunday, met her American Navy sailor from Idaho who had just been stationed at the U.S. Navy submarine base in nearby Fremantle, Lavor Kendall Chaffin. They married November 17, 1944. After World War II concluded, she and her infant son Frank sailed from Perth to San Francisco where they met up with Lavor and settled in McCall, Idaho. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. After two years in Idaho, and the young family now joined by a daughter, Gwen, they moved to Bountiful, Utah where Lavor became a writer for the Deseret News.Gwen was a talented seamstress. Many young ladies of Bountiful benefitted from the dresses she put together for them. She sewed countless numbers of clothing apparel for the LDS Church's Humanitarian Services. She was gifted in knitting sweaters. Many babies' tender toes were covered by booties she would knit and give away. She also became skilled in the art of painting on china. Her artwork won ribbons and gave her great joy and satisfaction.In the mid-1950's, Gwen went through the steps necessary to become a citizen of the United States. Although she was now a U.S. citizen, in her heart "home" was over the ocean. Even unto her final hours, she would tell anyone who would listen "I was born in Perth, Australia." She kept much of her "Aussie" accent for many years and you never had to look far to see or hear something about her beloved Australia.She and Lavor lived in Bountiful for well over fifty years, nearly all of it on Brentwood Circle among trusted and dear friends. After Lavor died in 2000, and with dementia creeping in, she later went to live in the Legacy House Assisted Living Center of Taylorsville, Utah where she was at the time of her passing. Even though the dementia was taking away her memory, all one had to do to brighten her day was to tell her "I love you."Gwen and Lavor are the parents of Lavar Francis "Frank" (Charlotte) Chaffin; Gwen Chaffin Meredith; Scott Compton Chaffin; Brian Lee (April) Chaffin; and Lynn Compton (Norma) Chaffin. At the time of her passing, she was "Grandma" to 13 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, September 21, 2013 at Lindquist Bountiful Mortuary, 727 N. 400 E., where friends and family may visit from 9:30-10:30 am prior to services. Interment Lakeview Memorial Cemetery, Bountiful. A special thank you to the staff of Taylorsville Legacy House for their care of Gwen for the past eight years.Condolences may be shared at www.lindquistmortuary.com