Evelyn Pay Henriksen

Our kind mother who so frequently calmed our hearts, soothed our hurts, counseled us, laughed with us, and called each of us on our birthdays has finally reunited with her loving husband. She cheerfully greeted each day, grew “older and better” and more loving as time passed. Mom spent her last days at home surrounded by family and friends when Dad came for her on October 20, 2021.

Evelyn Pay Henriksen was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on March 15, 1924, to Philip LeRoy Pay and Georgetta Paxman Pay. She was the fifth of seven children: Marjorie Hinckley (deceased), Harold (deceased), Douglas (deceased), Helen Call (deceased), Dorene Lloyd, and Joanne Baird. They were raised in a home rich with love, laughter, and faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Evelyn grew up during the “great depression”, enjoying tennis, riding bikes, and camping under the stars. She met Richard (Dick), the love of her life, in high school. They were engaged during World War II just before he left for the South Pacific with the Marine Corps. While he served, Evelyn worked cleaning airplane parts and attended the University of Utah. Shortly after the war ended, they married and later graduated together from the University of Utah.

She was active in the community, volunteering at school and served as the national president of the Auxiliary for the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. She spent her life raising her children in a home of love and the light of the gospel. She loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and was a committed member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints teaching in the Primary, Relief Society, Sunday School, Young Women and serving as the Ward Relief Society President at age 80. She and Richard also served as missionaries in the Fiji Suva Mission. The people of Fiji always remained dear to her.

Richard and Evelyn’s life together was a fun adventure traveling around the world and loved their home in Kauai. She was known for her love of nature, sense of adventure, a love of life and her family, and giving service to others. She loved being a wife and mother of nine: Tricia (Steve) Stoker; Deanne (Bob) Wilde; Janett (Wright) Thurston; Richard Jr. (Elaine); Roger (Becky); Peggy (Steve) Brown; April (deceased); Todd (Alison); and Amy (Paul, deceased) Ellis; a grandmother to 44, a great-grandmother to 132, great-great-grandmother to 2 and as adopted grandmother to others in Fiji and Kauai.

None who knew Evelyn will ever doubt her deep love of our Savior and her family or her desire to help all who were in need. She was always optimistic, hopeful, and kind to everyone.

Join us on Wednesday Oct 27, 6-8 p.m. for a viewing at Holbrook Mortuary, 3251 S 2300 E, Millcreek, UT. Funeral, Thursday Oct 28, 11 am at Olympus 2nd Ward Chapel, 3070 East Nila Way (4140 South). A short viewing will be held 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. prior to services at 11:00 a.m.

The funeral service will also be available to watch online at www.HolbrookMortuary.com; to watch the funeral scroll to the bottom of Evelyn’s obituary page on the mortuary website. The funeral will be broadcast live and remain available to watch for 90 days.