Mavanee Loftus

Mavanee Loftus

Monroe, Utah

Our beloved mother, grandmother, sister and friend, Mavanee Gleave Loftus, 64, left this earthly existence on June 7, 2018 in Provo, Utah. She was born on November 17, 1953 in Richfield to Otto Wellington and Varis Louise Sorensen Gleave, 10 years to the day of her oldest sister, Montez. She was raised in Monroe and attended public schools, graduating from LDS Seminary and South Sevier High in 1972. She attended LDS Institute and Snow College, Ephraim, and Brigham Young University with a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in communications, majoring in journalism with an emphasis in investigative reporting.

Mavanee grew up on the family farm with her two older sisters. Together with their parents they raised and marketed potatoes, alfalfa hay, wheat and cattle. Mavanee enjoyed gardening in the summers with her parents who knew how to make work fun. She enjoyed weeding potatoes with a "push hoe" walking up and down the rows of acres of potatoes with her sisters. She also enjoyed sports and she caught her first fish in Clear Creek. She remembers a special fish fry with her parents, sisters, and her Sorensen grandparents in Antimony Canyon. She liked hiking to a fishing hole with her father in the summer she was 19, east past Monrovian Park where there was a beaver dam and fish that were easily caught. She loved riding her bicycle when she was young to piano lessons and MIA in the summers. Like many other children of her generation, she felt she had the best parents in the world. She felt loved and safe with them for which she was always grateful. She enjoyed several summer vacations with them in other states.

In high school she worked for Pacific Trail in Richfield, sewing zippers in coats during the summer, and later at Jolene’s in Provo sewing nine rows of lace on diaper sets. After college graduation, Mavanee was employed at the Richfield Reaper three years as a writer, photographer, and social page editor. She met and married Anthony LeRoy Loftus, Jr. in Monroe in 1979. Together they had one son, Corey Gleave Loftus. They later divorced.

Mavanee worked for the Sevier School District starting in 1980 as a secretary. She worked 37 years taking a medical retirement this year. She was a business secretary and later the transportation secretary. She coordinated the Sterling Scholar program in the area which was initiated in her name and held for the past 25 years. Over the years she worked tirelessly on this program securing judges, writing programs, training personnel, ordering awards, working with MC’s, and standing backstage to ensure the program ran smoothly. Then writing the final report for publication. She was the public information specialist for the district and attended school board meetings and wrote a news story about each one. She also was a correspondent for The Richfield Reaper and The Daily Spectrum for a time.

As a member of the LDS Church, Mavanee had a strong testimony of the love of Jesus Christ and of His gospel. She had received her endowments in the St. George Temple. She held various church callings throughout her life. In her youth she was a chorister and organist. She served as a teacher in the Sunday School, as a secretary and teacher in Relief Society, a Den Cub Scout Leader and was a ward historian for 10 yeas. She was a constant for visiting teaching. Mavanee had a deep faith in her Father in Heaven. She was impressed with people who were kind to others.

She enjoyed all aspects of nature. She like to read, write, take photos, embroider, sew, watch science programs on tv, take vacations with family and long walks.

She was dedicated to her son and his family as a support to help him overcome cancer. She is survived by her son, Corey; his wife, Emily; and granddaughter, Tallia Loftus, all Elsinore; sisters: Montez (Roger) Millett, Kingston; Tereece DeGraff, Monroe; aunts: Irva Sudweeks, Kingston; Wanda (Russell) Sevy, Cedar City; uncle, LaMaun (Patti) Sorensen, St. George; nieces, nephews, and many cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents; grandparents: Rob and Maud Gleave; Ezra and Iris Sorensen.

Funeral services will be held Friday, June 15, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. in the Monroe 3rd Ward Chapel, 140 South Main. Friends may call Thursday evening from 6-8 p.m. at the Magleby Mortuary in Richfield or Friday at the ward chapel in Monroe from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in the Richfield City Cemetery. Funeral Directors Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti. Online guestbook at www.maglebymortuary.com