Nellie Rae Mecham

Nellie Rae Mecham

Tropic, Utah

Nellie Rae Whatcott Mecham passed away on December 12, 2019, in Cedar City, Utah, with her sweet husband, Stan, by her side. Nellie Rae was born January 30, 1942, to Alfred Elihu and Leila Larson Whatcott in Cedar City, Utah. She was the third child of four and the third daughter.

Nellie Rae grew up on 300 West in Cedar City and had a wonderful childhood. She was a very busy little girl. She could be seen running, jumping and bouncing in her dresses with her long blond ringlets. When she was a teen, she loved working at her dad’s business—The Candy Kitchen. Nellie Rae was outgoing, popular, and involved in high school. She was very proud to be a Cedar Redmen cheerleader. She was a good dancer and loved participating in assemblies and festivals. She graduated high school in 1960, and then attended CSU which is now SUU. Later she attended USU in Logan, Utah.

She met and married N. Lyle Fullmer from Idaho on January 11, 1963. They later divorced in June 1974. They were blessed with three children: Francine, Jan, and Barbie. While married to Lyle, she lived in Utah, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Germany. Even though she didn’t speak German, she came to love the people there and the kindness they showed to our family.

In 1974, Nellie Rae started working at State Bank of Southern Utah in Cedar City as a teller and then moved to running the proof machine. The employees and supervisors loved Nellie Rae and always commented about how fast she did everything! She is well known for being quick, efficient, prompt, and organized.

In January 1978, she began dating Stan Mecham from Tropic, Utah. When Nellie Rae was a little girl she dreamed of marrying a cowboy. When she married Stan on October 14, 1978 that dream came true. They have shared 41 wonderful years together and have a great love for each other. They worked really hard at putting two families together and making our house a home. Nellie Rae became the step-mother to Stan’s four children: Debi, Clint, Harvey, and Mclain Mecham. Nellie Rae and Stan were also blessed with two more children, Bode and Zane. Zane passed away before birth. She loved being a wife and mother, having a clean home, and making meals for family, friends, and strangers. Everyone was always welcome in their home. Not long after marrying Stan, she began working at Ruby’s Inn near the entrance of Bryce Canyon. She worked in many positions there over the years—front desk clerk, restaurant hostess, and the floor manager in the General Store. She helped Stan run his trail ride business at Ruby’s Inn, and she also served as the Tropic Town Clerk. When State Bank of Southern Utah opened a branch in Tropic in 1997, they asked Nellie Rae to be the Operations Manager over that branch. She worked there for 9½ years and then retired in 2007.

Nellie Rae was involved in the Bryce Valley Quilt Guild for many years and made many beautiful quilts for people. Her hobbies not only included quilting, but also reading, crocheting, cross-stitching, braiding, cooking, and learning to play the violin. She loved doing family history and learning about her ancestors. She is known for her kindness and thoughtfulness – great talents.

Nellie Rae was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served as Junior Sunday School Coordinator, Young Women’s teacher, nursery leader, Relief Society president at the ward and stake level, Relief Society and Sunday School teacher, and temple worker. She loved serving the Lord in whatever capacity she was given and she gave it 100%. She has a very strong testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Nellie Rae was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother, and is dearly loved by her posterity. As of her death, she had 31 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband, Stan Mecham, children—Debi (Jim) Miller, Henderson, NV; Francine (Stonnie) Pollock, Midland, TX; Mclain (Merrilee) Mecham, Tropic; Jan (Angie) Fullmer, Henderson, NV; Barbie (Tracy) Feltner, Cedar City; and Bode (Taryn) Mecham, Cedar City; siblings: Ferry (Ben) Baldwin, Cedar City; Mazie Burris, Centerville; Don (Linda) Whatcott, Argyle, TX. Nellie Rae is preceded in death by her parents; Stan’s parents, Malen and Angelyn Mecham; son, Zane; step-sons: Clint Mecham and Harvey Mecham; daughter-in-law, Tad Mecham; and sister-in-law, Margaret Mecham.

The family wishes to extend a special thanks to the CNA’s and nurses at The Beehive Home, Cedar City Health & Rehab, and the Zion’s Way Hospice team who took such kind and tender care of Nellie Rae during her last few months, especially the loving attention that was given by Ellen and Colleen in her final days.

Funeral services will be held Friday, December 20, 2019, at 12:00 Noon in the Tropic Ward Chapel. Friends may call at the ward chapel from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Burial will be in the Tropic Cemetery. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti. Online guestbook at www.maglebymortuary.com