Subject: Virginia Geddes Eyestone (1926 – 2014) Obituary Author: AMHhenley Date: 19 October 2014 Classification: Obituary Surnames: Eyestone, Geddes, Reid

Deseret News, 10/19/14

Virginia Geddes Eyestone, 88, died peacefully at her home in Farmington, Utah, on Wednesday, October 15, 2014. Although experiencing the lingering after-effects of strokes and the attendant complications of the aging process, to the end, Virginia exhibited the convictions of her faith and the innate cheerful courage of the “skinny brunette.”
Virginia was born February 18, 1926 in Malad, Idaho, the fifth of eight children born to Moses Peterson and Mary (Mae) Leaver Reid Geddes. She spent her early childhood years in Banida and Preston, Idaho, graduating from Preston High School in 1943. During her youth she demonstrated remarkable talent in clothing and fashion design winning, at age 11, national 4-H honors for a dress she designed and created. Awarded 4-H scholarship money upon completion of high school, Virginia attended the University of Idaho earning, in 1947, a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics Education and receiving the Chris Hagen trophy as Outstanding Home Economics graduate. Always a firm believer in life-long learning, Virginia later completed a Master’s of Science in Clothing and Textiles at Utah State University in 1965, and a Doctor of Education at Pennsylvania State University in 1982.
It was while attending the University of Idaho that Virginia met Robert (Bob) Dale Eyestone, the “handsome paratrooper” that became her husband on graduation day, June 2, 1947. Over the course of the next 40 years, sandwiched between the births of her five children, Virginia taught home economics courses for various Idaho and Utah schools, including Madison High School, Ricks College, and, for the bulk of her teaching career, Ogden City School District.
In 1958 Virginia accompanied her husband and family on a three year work mission in the Samoan and Tongan Islands for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While in Samoa she served on the Mission Relief Society Board and was an active force in encouraging women to develop skills in their traditional homemaking arts while simultaneously providing instruction in modern sewing, cooking and sanitation practices.
Following her 1987 retirement from Ogden City Schools, Virginia and Bob built a home in Farmington, where she continued to use her homemaking and instructional expertise to bless the lives of her children and grandchildren through the creation of wedding dresses, prom gowns, “runner’s rolls”, and numerous denim quilts. Through her witty use of acronyms and humor Virginia’s posterity are inspired to: K.Y.B.B. (Keep Your Brain Busy); E.Y.Y. (Enjoy Your Youth!); and T.I.D.E. (Try a lot of things, Identify your talents, Develop and Evaluate those talents.)
Virginia is survived by her children Suzanne (Adolf) Tarasevich, NJ; Janet (Dean) Buck, CO; Mary Jo (Jerry) Naylor, Farmington, UT; Edward D. (Lynn) Eyestone, Orem, UT; 20 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings Dee Geddes, Ogden, UT; Lola Mae Phipps, Ogden, UT; Moselle Neumann, Farmington, UT. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; son, Robert Dewey Eyestone; granddaughter, Vandy Baldwin; and siblings Dorothy Nelson and Arch Geddes. With profound gratitude for her unending and unconditional love, support, and guidance we, the extended family of Virginia Geddes Eyestone, say goodbye, looking forward in faith to the time we are reunited. Funeral services will be held Monday, October 20, 2014, 11:00 a.m. at the Davis Creek Chapel, 825 S. 50 E., Farmington, Utah, where friends may call from 9:45 – 10:45 a.m. Interment is at the Farmington City Cemetery immediately following the services. Online guest book at www.russonmortuary.com Published in Deseret News on Oct. 19, 2014