Helen J. Peacock

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SPRINGVILLE / CASTLE DALE – After a life so full and rich that she seemed to outrun time, Helen J. Peacock, age 86, passed away Dec. 14, 2010 in Provo, Utah from causes incident to age. Born April 12, 1924 to Ernest Eugene and Neva Beata Ralphs Jensen in Castle Dale, Utah,
Helen filled her early years with work and play, learning and devotion, drawing inspiration from the courageous lives surrounding her in that stark and singular landscape. Pioneer traditions and practices still held sway, and she came to embody the virtues of hard work and thrift, tolerance and community, family, service and faith, and love, an abundance of love drawn from that almost frontier environment.
From Castle Dale, she gladly was sent to the Southern States Mission to preach and serve the people of the Southeastern United States. What she learned there served to build her commitment to her God and her willingness to serve, qualities that endured throughout her life to the last day. She subsequently served in virtually all organizations in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with particular affinity for the young people of the church.
Following her mission, she was married and sealed to her lifelong companion, Charles Herschel Peacock on March 24, 1950 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.
Helen and Herschel’s life together revolved around family, faith, tradition and fun. They served for 10 years as stake missionaries to the Laotian and Cambodian refugee community and in a reactivation mission, both in Denver, Colo.
Helen was a devoted member and leader in the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. She loved to collect vintage clothing and costumes from bygone eras. Barbershop music was a lifelong passion, both as a follower and as a participant. Helen was social almost to a fault, befriending all and sundry and quick to organize dances, dinners and parties. From her years in a hardscrabble environment during depression years and beyond, she learned thrift and practiced frugality with all things in her life, even in times of relative prosperity. She was utterly and unstintingly devoted to her husband, children and grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband, Herschel; children: Greg (Martha) Peacock of Orem, C. Alan (Rena) Peacock of Spanish Fork, Mark (Carol) Peacock of Richardson, Texas, Lorri (Shannon) Cummings of Pleasant Grove, Brent (Nola) Peacock of Jackson, Wyo., Steven (Katrina) Peacock of Springville, and Julie (Jeff) Platt of Colorado Springs, Colo.; 31 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; brother, Don Jensen of Aberdeen, S.D.; sister-in-law, Velda Jensen of Castle Dale; and brother-in-law, James Jensen of Castle Dale.
Preceded in death by her parents; one grandson, Mason Peacock; two sisters, Dora and Elaine; and one brother, Ralph.
Funeral services will be held Monday, Dec. 20, 2010 at 10 a.m. at the Springville LDS Ninth Ward Chapel (55 N. Main St.). A viewing will be held on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2010 from 6-8 p.m., and 9-9:30 a.m., prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in the Castle Dale Cemetery, graveside memorial at 3 p.m. Services are in the care of Fausett Mortuary. Family and friends may sign the guestbook and share memories of Helen at www.fausettmortuary.com.