Genevieve "Gen" Geary

Surrounded by her five sons and daughters-in-law, mom ended her earthly adventure on Friday, March 25, 2022 when she took the 7:40 pm flight home to meet dad and her extended family. What a reunion that must have been! She hadn’t seen Grant for over 16 years and her mother Eva for 88 years. We who remained here, gave her one last kiss as she quietly, peacefully left that 98-year old body behind.

Gen was born in Hoytsville, Utah to Jesse Brooks and Eva Crittenden on September 3, 1923. Her arrival was greeted by two older brothers (Emmett and Wayne) and three older sisters (Erma, Virginia and Dorothy). Two additional sisters (Lucile and Margorie) would be added to the family making eight in all. Mom was just 10 when her mother died in 1934. Adding to that loss was the death of her Grandfather, William Elliot Crittenden just one day later. A father-daughter double funeral was held for the grieving family. Jess was now the widowed father of six children at home, the youngest being just 2 years old. He married Mary Clayson Garfield the next year on mom’s 12th birthday and the blended family continued to make Hoytsville their home. Mom attended North Summit High School and it was there she met the dashingly handsome young man from Coalville that she would eventually spend 64 years in marriage with. Grant and Gen were married on November 25, 1942 and dad would soon spend over three years away from his new bride and oldest son while serving in the US Navy in the Pacific.

Upon Grant’s return, he and mom raised their five sons in their small home in Coalville. LIfe was not easy raising five boys, especially these five: Bryan, Phil, Ron, Brent and Doug. Dad worked at the Summit Merc and mom worked various jobs including Dean’s Coffee Shop, summers cleaning the buildings at North Summit High School, and cleaning at the Summit County Courthouse. She and dad were busy every winter helping pelt mink at Dean Vernon mink ranch.

Mom remained in their Coalville home until just over a year ago when she moved to the Family Tree assisted living center in Morgan, Utah. There she joined friends she knew and made new ones as she made her daily rounds to see how everyone was doing. Mom is survived by her five sons: Bryan (Julie) Morgan, Phil (Trudy) Coalville, Ron (Vicki) Hoytsville, Brent (Leaettea) Wanship, Doug (Louette) LIndon. Her posterity includes 29 grandchildren, 78 great-grandchildren, and 23 great-great grandchildren. She was the last living member of the Brooks children and her sister-in-law, LaVaun Geary Vernon, is the last survivor of dad’s family.

Gen was well known for her puffed rice balls at Halloween and her oatmeal chocolate cake with caramel, coconut, pecan icing. She managed to stretch a meager food budget to feed five hungry boys along with many of their friends. Mom made sure that no one left her home without taking something with them, be it food, an encouraging smile or a bit of wisdom she had gained in her 98 years. We will miss her greatly, but know that she is now happily enjoying that long-awaited family reunion.

Our family extends our thanks to all those that have made Mom’s life a little easier and more cheerful. A special thanks to the staff and residents at Family Tree.

A viewing will be held on Friday, April 1st from 10 am to 11:30 am in the Coalville Utah Stake Center. A graveside service will follow at noon at the Coalville City Cemetery where Mom will be laid to rest next to her sweetheart.