Fern Wheeler Fillmore died September 13, 2016 at home in Taylorsville, UT with three generations of family members by her side, including the love of her life, Wayne.

Born Nov. 11, 1928 in Poplar, Idaho, she was one of eleven children of John Etsel Wheeler and Myra Fay Morgan Wheeler. At age 21 she married Garrick Wayne Fillmore and the two spent the next 66 years together. She and Wayne and later their children, lived in Idaho, Arizona, California, Montana, Alaska, and Utah.

Her family was of supreme importance to her and she was supremely important to her family. She is preceded in death by a grandson Scott Christensen, daughter Marcia Leishman (Aaron), and survived by her husband Wayne, daughters, Paula, Toni (Kal) and Tasha (Earl) and a son, David (Collete.) She had 26 grandchildren, and, at last count, 48 great-grandchildren.

Even with so many to look after there was always room for one more in Fern’s home and heart. She was generous with any resource she had, including inviting dozens to live in the family home at different times. Everyone who was welcomed in knew immediately they were part of the family. She made sure that those around were taken care of and most of all that they knew they were loved.

Having grown up on a farm, Fern was never a stranger to hard work. She worked as a school teacher, in the hotel industry, and as a manager of Beehive clothing, and mostly as a mother to her own children and numerous others.

A lifelong member of the LDS church, she served in many roles, but seemed to most often find herself among the young women of the church. She excelled in those callings and provided nurturing leadership and guidance to countless young women. She and Wayne also served as full-time missionaries twice, in South Carolina and in Northern Ireland. They quickly embraced those new people and places and made home and family wherever they were.

Fern enjoyed carrot cake and chicken. She disliked cheese, unless someone was able to sneak it by her in a dish. She liked to play Rook, but abhorred cheating. She loved family history and family reunions. She loved to see her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

As a sister, aunt, wife, mom, grandma, great-grandma - as a person - she was as good as it gets. She will be greatly missed.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, September 17, 2016 at the Kearns East Stake Center, 4300 W. 4715 S. Kearns, UT. Friends may visit on Friday evening from 6-8 pm at the church and from 9:30-10:30 am prior to the services. Interment to follow at Ririe Shelton Cemetery in Idaho. Arrangements under the direction of Lindquist’s Bountiful Mortuary.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the LDS Church Missionary fund. Condolences may be shared at www.lindquistmortuary.com