Marlene Garlick

Marlene Staley Garlick, 81, passed away Monday, September 15, 2014, while being visited and served by family in American Fork, Utah, after her third and final courageous battle with cancer. Marlene was born on October 7, 1932, in Coalville, Utah, to Conrad and Grautell Meadows Staley.  She grew up in Price, Utah, and made many fast friends there who stayed in touch with her throughout her life. Eventually she moved to Florida where she worked for the Honeywell Corporation and formed many more friendships. Florida became her second home, and she visited there often after her return to Utah. Marlene spent the last 20 years of her life in Utah where she worked for the Central Utah Water District before retiring and marrying her husband, Jay. Wherever she went, Marlene always liked to look her best, including wise use of hats. Marlene enjoyed the time she spent with her ‘hobby’ of working for the Vivian Woodard Cosmetic industry. She was always very caring to animals as well and made herself an expert at caring for her Shih-Tzu dogs. She was a very active and interesting person, who enjoyed traveling and making friends—truly she was a blessing to those she met.

In October 2001 she married G. Jay Garlick, and together they experienced many wonderful times with family and friends. During their 13 years of marriage they traveled to California and Florida many times as well as other places in the United States. They visited Europe together several times, and Marlene especially enjoyed the times they went to Holland on ‘mini missions,’ where she helped flood the earth with the Book of Mormon. Other memorable trips include visits to Estonia, Poland, and Germany; a trip to Finland for the temple dedication; and a visit to Jerusalem, where Marlene was able to bear her testimony of the Savior to their travel group at the Garden Tomb. She and Jay came from different backgrounds of experience. Thus they were able to help each other grow in areas of their lives that were beneficial to both of them.

Marlene is survived by her husband, Jay, and enjoyed a special relationship with his five children, 34 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren (who knew right where to go in her purse to get a treat). She is also survived by her three brothers and two sisters (Barbara Christian, Wayne Staley, Larry (Donna) Staley, Connie (Brent) Benson, and Richard (Karen) Staley) along with many adoring nieces and nephews. Marlene will also be remembered by her many ‘best’ friends.

The funeral for Marlene will be held on Saturday, September, 20, 2014, in the American Fork 12th Ward building at 673 E 300 N, American Fork, Utah, at 11:00 a.m. A viewing will be held on Friday, September 19, at the same LDS church from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.  Additionally, a viewing will be held prior to the funeral services on Saturday from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Her interment will be in the American Fork Cemetery following the funeral.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Book of Mormon fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to help flood the earth with the Book of Mormon.