Reta Meacham

Reta Meacham
Joseph, Utah

Today angels in heaven weep tears of joy as they receive one of their own.  Reta Owens Meacham was born on October 3, 1929, in Joseph, and passed on September 24, 2021, in Monroe, just days short of her 92nd birthday.  She was born the eldest daughter of Waldo Morgan and Grace Joos Owens.

Reta spent the first 75 years of her life in Joseph, Utah and will forever be a Joseph girl.  She attended and graduated from SSHS.  Around the time of her graduation, she began to date “the most handsome man I’d ever seen”, LaVor Meacham, the love of her life and her companion for the next nearly 41 years.  Our hearts soar at the thought of their reunion and we see them in our minds-eye dancing in heaven.

Reta and LaVor began their married life living just outside of Joseph in the farmhouse that they dearly cherished, and there enjoyed wonderful years with their young family.  However, with 4 children already in tow, they lost everything they owned, including their home, to fire.  With only the shirts on their backs they moved forward.  She and LaVor moved into Joseph city and re-built their lives and added a 5th child.  They loved their Joseph home and spent many blessed years there, but never totally lost the wish that they could have remained on their lovely farm.
Reta was a good and faithful worker.  She worked as a mother, on the farm, as a seamstress, at Montgomery Ward, and finally, in the County assessor’s office for the last 20 years of her working career.  Reta was above all else, a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Upon her retirement, she fulfilled a lifelong desire to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and did this in Arkansas.  This service punctuated, but didn’t end, a lifetime of service in the Church and community and always to her family and friends.

Reta’s love for her Savior and of her fellow man was readily and freely shared with others, but her grandchildren perhaps got a double portion.  She has 18 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren.  To them and her children, Reta will forever be remembered and revered in the most respectful, grateful, and tender fashion.  She has been and will continue to be our example of how good a person can be and our window for seeing and beginning to perceive the nature of God.  We hope to in some measure provide a worthy legacy for her.

She is preceded in death by her husband, LaVor Talbot Meacham; eldest son, Gayle Owens Meacham; and son-in-law Richard Anderson.  Also, by her parents, Waldo and Grace Owens; by her brothers: Robert, George, and Hal Owens; and her sister, Joyce (Lloyd) Knaphus.

She is survived by 4 of her children: Kathy Anderson, Samuel Meacham, Lynne (Alan) Booke, and Monte (Char) Meacham; and a daughter in-law: Karen (Tom) Hoffman.  Also, by her brothers, Mack (Karen), Edward, James (Carol), and Ray (Twila) Owens.

Our sincere thanks to the incredible people at Monroe Canyon Assisted Living and Zions Way Hospice who wonderfully served Reta through the end stage of her life.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, September 30, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. in the Monroe 3rd Ward Chapel. Friends may call Wednesday evening at the Magleby Mortuary in Richfield, from 6-7 p.m. or Thursday at the ward chapel in Monroe from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in the Joseph City Cemetery. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti. Online guestbook at www.maglebymortuary.com

Zoom link to watch the services:  http://zoom.us/j/99375538668   --- copy this link and paste into the address line of URL to join the meeting --- the meeting will open 15 minutes prior to the services