Juanita Rae Wyatt Naef quietly passed away at age 88 in her Kennewick, Washington home Monday evening on March 6, 2023. Many loved ones, including all seven of her living children, were able to share memories and say their goodbyes in the days before she passed.
Juanita was born in her family home in Hyrum, Utah on September 27, 1934, to Rollan Allred and Edith Israelson Allred. She had eleven siblings, Weston, Darrell, Quay, Ruth (DiPoma), Leslie, LeRoy, Clark, Lloyd, Evan, Carla Mae, and Louise (Wakefield). Juanita is survived by her sister Louise, and sister-in-law Sonja Pace.
Juanita married John Lindley Wyatt on September 8, 1950. They were sealed for Time and all Eternity in the Logan Utah Temple on July 29, 1953.
Juanita and John loved Cache Valley where they made their home in both Wellsville and Smithfield. The family worked hard in their business, Wyatt Custom Meats, in both Wellsville and Logan. Because they wanted their children to learn the value of work, they had a small family farm where they raised corn, potatoes, rabbits, and planted an apple orchard. John always said he wasn’t raising just a garden, crops, or animals; he was raising hard working children.
But, through the years, and no matter where they lived, their most plentiful and important harvest was the love and respect from a very large and very grateful posterity. The lives and successes of their children and grandchildren were their most cherished legacy and they could not have been more proud of each of their family members. Juanita loved to hear about the successes of each individual family member, but the most important thing to her was not what members of her family accomplished, but the type of people they became.
In 1976 most of the family moved to Eastern Washington where they made their home. John and Juanita established businesses in Othello and Basin City. John passed away September 22, 1988.
Several years after John’s death, Juanita married Paul Naef on October 25, 1997. Her heart expanded not only to love another but to have love for many more children and grandchildren as well. Juanita and Paul served a mission for the church in the London England Temple. She was always grateful for the love and acceptance she felt from the Naef family. Paul passed away on June 27, 2004.
The motivating factor that guided her throughout her life was her love for Jesus Christ and the principles taught in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She also served in many capacities in the church including Temple Worker, counselor in the Relief Society Presidency, Sunday School, Young Women’s including girls camp, and the Primary. Missionary work was always important to her. She housed missionaries and supported many who served.
Juanita is survived by seven children: Darrell (Stephanie), Kathy Wyatt Brown, Diane McCombs (Max), Paul (Brenda), Kevin (Tally), Teresa Foos, and Necia Hale (Lorin). Julie preceded Juanita in death at age five. She has 35 grandchildren, 103 great grandchildren, and five great-great grandchildren.
A viewing will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Union Building, 515 South Union St., Kennewick, WA on Friday, March 10 from 6:00-8:00 pm., as well as from 9:00-9:45 am on Saturday, March 11. The services will begin 10:00 am on March 11.
In Utah, a viewing will be held on March 16th from 11:00-12:00 p.m. at Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 E Center St, Logan, Utah. Graveside Services and interment will be at 12:30 p.m. at the Wellsville City Cemetery in Wellsville, Utah. Condolences and thoughts may be expressed to the family online at
www.allenmortuaries.com
.