JoAnne Elizabeth Crowley VanWagoner

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Our beloved JoAnne Elizabeth Crowley VanWagoner passed away peacefully in her sleep Sunday May 17, 2015. She was born in Somerville, Mass. to Ina Elizabeth Johnson Crowley (later Cobb) and William Henry Crowley on June 26, 1936. She was a proud affiliate of the Salvation Army, growing up with it from her childhood, and she considered it her religion. JoAnne met David VanWagoner while he was serving in the US Navy. They were married in Cambridge, Mass. on Nov. 3, 1952. They spent the first years of marriage in Somerville before flying back to Elmo, Utah. JoAnne lived there ever since, dedicating her time to making a warm, loving home, and raising a family of eight children. Their marriage was solemnized in the Provo, Utah LDS temple on June 26, 1982.
There is so much to say about this beautiful woman: she was a wonderful cook, making the best spudnuts, so numerous as to cover the counter and kitchen table. Seven loaves of delicious bread were baked every three days and the cookie jar was always filled with chocolate chip or peanut butter cookies.
People may not know that JoAnne was an avid fisherman, often besting any fellow fishermen, including her children and husband. She was a lover of reading historical and biographical books. JoAnne crocheted, created beautiful quilts and enjoyed fresh flowers. She loved sharing each morning with David and her little dog Cookie.
Many a time the VanWagoner family gathered around the piano or kitchen table to play guitar and sing songs in eight part harmony. JoAnne’s voice was so remarkably beautiful and she inspired all of her children to follow. Anyone that ever heard her sing Patsy Cline’s “Crazy” heard the most beautiful voice in Utah. A fine guitarist, pianist, with the Bossa Nova swing in the left hand, “The Girl from Ipanema” was one of her favorites to play.
Survived by her beloved husband, Adelbert David VanWagoner, and her eight children: daughter Linda and husband Tom, son David and wife Debbie, son William and wife LuAnn, son James, daughter Carolyn and husband Clark, daughter Marilyn and husband Edward, son John and wife Marianne, and daughter Shirley, her brother William Crowley and sister Barbara Urbanik. She is predeceased by her parents and sister Patricia Cobb. If Mom were alive, she’d be able to tell you how many grand and great-grand children she has. She loved them all. We miss you Mom.
A viewing will be held Thursday, May 21, 2015 at the Heritage Funeral Home, 620 North Main, Huntington, Utah from 7 – 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held Friday, May 22, 2015 at the Elmo Ward Building, 170 East Main Street, Elmo, Utah at 11 a.m. with a viewing one hour prior. Burial will be in the Cleveland Cemetery. Services are entrusted to the Heritage Funeral Home and friends and family may sign the online guestbook and share memories of JoAnne at www.heritagefuneralhomeutah.com.