August 26, 1932 – November 9, 2022
Lettie Marie Harper was born on August 26, 1932 in Pikeville, North Carolina. She was the youngest of five girls (her younger brother Billie, died as a child). Growing up she was surrounded by a large family of aunts, uncles, and cousins.
She graduated from East Carolina College in Greenville, North Carolina in 1954 majoring in English and Social Studies and went on to teach high school English in Virginia. It was in Virginia where she met her future husband, Donald Willmore. They were married in the Idaho Falls, LDS Temple on February 16, 1955. Shortly after, Don was offered a job working for his uncle in his pet hospital, so they packed up and moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where they lived for most of their married life.
They first lived in San Rafael and then moved to Corte Madera where they raised their family. Lettie raised 5 boys (Ronald, Reed, Ryan, Rhett, and Regan) and 2 girls (Rachel and Ruth). She was a devoted wife and mother. When Don retired, they moved to Orem, Utah and bought their retirement home which became the hub for all their adult children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
Lettie and Don were married for 62 years when her beloved husband passed away due to complications of diabetes.
Lettie had many church callings-too many to enumerate. She loved working in the Relief Society and was a regular at the weekly quilting bees the Relief Society held. She and Don were principal volunteers at the annual ward fund raiser at the yearly county fair for many, many years.
In spite of suffering from life-long chronic and severe migraines, Lettie carried on with life to the best of her abilities.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, four sisters, one brother, two grandsons, one great grandson and one great granddaughter. She is survived by her seven children, 28 of her 30 grandchildren, and 49 of her 51 great grandchildren.
A special thanks to her daughters, Rachel and Ruth for their devoted love and care for our mother in her final years.
To offer condolences, visit www.springcreekmortuary.com