Maurine Brady Allred

Maurine Brady Allred, 84, passed away March 25, 2009 at 1:55 a.m. in Ogden, Utah due to breathing problems which resulted in her unexpected death. She was treated at Logan Hospital early on the morning of March 24th and was transferred to the McKay Dee Hospital in Ogden where she quietly passed away with family gathered around her.
Maurine was born in Fairview, Utah January 7, 1925, the first daughter and second child of six children born to Niels Stanley Brady and Coquella Jones. She attended the Elementary and Junior High Schools in Fairview, located just one block south of the Brady home. She excelled in her studies and took leading parts in school musicals.
Music was one of the loves of her life. She had a beautiful Soprano singing voice which she shared throughout her life by participating in school, church and community programs. Her father was very musical and was Director of the Ward Choir for several years as Maurine grew up. In addition to singing with the choir she often sang duets with her Dad on special occasions. Another performing group that was an important part of her life during her Junior High years was singing with her classmates, Alice Brady and Beulah Peterson. They performed as the Fairview Girls Trio and were well known throughout Sanpete Valley as they participated in community and church programs. It was at these special programs that she first met Keith Allred who was participating as a member of the Spring City Trumpet Trio.
Throughout her two years at North Sanpete High School she continued actively in sharing her musical talents by participating in school and community programs. World War II was going full force at the time Maurine graduated from North Sanpete High in May 1943. She moved to Salt Lake City where she joined the war effort by working at the Remington Rand Machinery Factory. She later worked in the office of the Genealogical Society of the Church where she enjoyed the work atmosphere and made many lasting friends. One of the especially enjoyable activities of her life was singing as a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Because of her musical training and beautiful Soprano voice the Choir Director, Spencer W. Cornwall appointed her a member of the Choir where she faithfully served during the war years. From the standpoint of her participation in music this was one of the most enjoyable periods of her life.Following High School Keith enrolled as a Cadet in the United States Air Force. After 18 months he graduated and was commissioned an Air Force Officer and Pilot. He was assigned as an Advanced Flight Instructor at Enid Air Field. While on military leave in August 1945 Keith came home and dated Maurine. One morning he rented a small airplane and took Maurine for a ride over Sanpete Valley. After a few stalls and spins he leveled off, idled back, turned around and asked Maurine to marry him. She accepted so they became engaged. What else could she do? There was no parachute.
The War ended and Keith was honorably released. They were married November 14, 1945 in the Manti Temple. Her desires were to be an honorable wife and mother in Zion. She wanted to be a stay at home mother so she would be available to her husband and children as they returned home from work and school. Her life has been devoted to her family and to the church.
As a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Maurine has served in many teaching and leadership positions. She has faithfully participated in and directed Ward Choirs, Singing Mother groups and has been heavily involved in the Primary and Relief Society Organizations.
In 1967 she went with Keith and the children to Bolivia on a 4 year agricultural assignment through USU/USAID and the Bolivian Government. A few months after returning home President Harold B. Lee, of the LDS church, contacted Keith about returning as mission president of the Bolivia La Paz Mission. The family returned and Maurine assumed her responsibilities as mission mother and during a three-year period served 256 Elders and Sister missionaries. She prepared special Thanksgiving and Christmas packages of goodies for each missionary. Also she presented meaningful spiritual thoughts in Zone and Regional meetings. A special treat at Member District Conferences was not necessarily the talks given by the Mission President but it was the singing of “Where Love Is” by Maurine and her daughters Janice, Helen, and Beth Ann in Spanish and English. The Bolivian Saints loved them.
Following Keith’s retirement from Utah State University in September 1990 they were considering serving a full time mission but other opportunities presented themselves. An experience that Maurine cherished was her calling as an ordinance worker in the Logan Temple while Keith was Associate Director of the Logan Family History Center. In February 1997 they traveled East together to fulfill a mission in the beautiful Washington D.C. temple. This was a wonderful experience to be in the Lord’s House together to serve the living and do work for those beyond the veil. On days off while in this area they had opportunities to visit many early American Historic sites as well as Church history sites.
Upon returning home Keith and Maurine were called to serve as ordinance workers in the Historic Logan Temple where she served faithfully for several years until a new and major life threatening challenge came along. In July 2002 Maurine was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. She faced the challenge of fighting that dreaded disease with faith, and quietly and courageously won the battle. She was declared free of cancer after five years.
Although Maurine grew up in a small farming community in central Utah she had a desire to travel and see many of the wonders of the Lord’s creations. Together Maurine and Keith have traveled to many countries of the world including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, Canada, England, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, and Russia. Following the Gulf War they spent nearly a month in Israel. Maurine read scriptures and sang Hymns as they walked in the footsteps of Jesus in Galilee, Jerusalem, the Mount of Beatitudes, Gethsemane and then visited the Garden Tomb. She related very well to the mission of Christ and bore testimony of His Divinity.
Maurine was a devoted and faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout life. She loved the Savior and spent many hours reading about His mission to the earth as Savior of the world.
She lived a rich and fruitful life and raised a family of six children, a son and five daughters. Work and service to her family and the LDS Church has been her life’s focus. Her unwavering service influenced many people's lives for good.
Maurine is survived by her husband Keith Reid Allred following 63 wonderful years of marriage and her children (spouses): Howard Keith (Debbi) Allred of Centerville, Utah, Karen (Reid) Herd of Thayne, Wyoming, Elaine (Carl) Blackham of Naperville, Illinois, Janice (Bill) Harten of Woodscross, Utah, Helen (Loren) Ashcraft of Centerville, Utah and Beth Ann (Berkeley) Geddes of Gilbert, Arizona. She has 28 Grandchildren and 26 Great-Grandchildren. Other living family members include her brothers and sister: Stanley Jay Brady, Bryant Lamar Brady, Milton Ross Brady, Carolyn Brady Olson and Lindsay Paul Brady.
Funeral Services are scheduled for Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. in the LDS North Logan 2nd Ward Chapel, 1105 East 2100 North, Logan. Viewing by relatives, friends and neighbors will be Friday, March 27 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Allen – Hall Mortuary, 420 East 1800 North, Logan and Saturday at the Ward Chapel from 9:00- 10:00 a.m. Interment will be at the Spring City, Utah Cemetery.
Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.allenmortuaries.net


The family is requesting that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the LDS Church Perpetual Education Fund.