Dawna Mae Gerrard Davies Obituary (1932 - 2021)

Dawna Davies passed away on Sunday morning, February 7, 2021. She was most proud of being a devoted and loving family woman - a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, but she was also an artist, a friend to all, and a woman of faith. Born On Valentine’s Day 1932 to Phyllis and Raymond Gerrard, she lived in old, central Murray, Utah. She liked to say that she grew up in the Great Depression. At the age of 10, she was joined in the family by her only sibling, loving sister and lifelong friend, Liana. Dawna graduated from Murray High School and was a Smelterite. While she was still in high school, Sherman set his determined and unrelenting eyes on her, wooed and won her. They married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1950. Immediately thereafter, Sherm departed on a two-year LDS mission. As soon as he returned, he was drafted to serve in the Army, as an MP in Berlin. Dawna was able to join him there, leading to a year of adventures and fun memories in Europe. They raised seven children in Murray, and then became a grandmother extraordinaire. Dawna served her children, youth, neighbors, grandchildren and great-grandchildren throughout her life, warming countless bleachers, acting as room mother and den mother, holding craft parties for grandchildren, and teaching. On a milkman’s salary, Dawna raised and fed seven children, with such efficiency that Sherm often pronounced her the best cook in the world. She cooked and canned for a “zillion people.” Dawna lived a creative life. She painted beautifully in multiple media, but especially loved oils. Her paintings don the walls of the homes of many family members, friends and offices. She taught art and was on the board of ISA. Dawna loved to sing, breaking into an old favorite song during many a conversation. As a dedicated member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, she filled countless positions over the years and established life-long friendships in her wards. She especially loved writing hilarious roadshows, directing hundreds of teens and many adults in those productions. Dawna and Sherm had a blast serving a family history mission together in Baltimore, Maryland. For nearly all of her life, Dawna lived in Murray, then for a few years in Draper, and finally, in Daybreak. She was genial to all and social, establishing six degrees of separation (usually less) within moments of meeting any new person. Everyone loved her. Dawna showed fierce and unremitting loyalty to her family, attending more and more musical recitals, sporting events and other activities of her offspring, which she seldom missed despite the imposing number. She always enjoyed directing others, confident that she knew best about every detail. Dawna is preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Phyllis Gerrard, her husband, Sherman, and her son, Phillip. She is survived by her sister, Liana, her children, Lynn (Kristine), Ronald (Jan), Brett (Michelle), Bryce (Jodie), Michelle, Craig (Jennifer), daughter-in-law, Wendy; and her many, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Special thanks to wonderful nurse and friend, Melanie Fuller, and the staff of Sagewood at Daybreak. A viewing will be held at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary (South Jordan), 1007 W. South Jordan Parkway, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 5:30-7:30 pm. Dawna’s funeral will be conducted at Crescent Ridge Stake Center, 1296 E 11000 S, Sandy, Utah, Thurs., Feb. 11, at 10:30 am, with a supplemental viewing immediately before the funeral at 9:30 am. Services will be streamed on-line at http://mywebcast.churchofjesuschrist.org/sandyutahcrescentridgestake. Interment at Murray City Cemetery.