April 7, 1933 – Nov. 6, 2021
Margene Bayles, 88, passed away peacefully in St. George, Utah, following a month-long decline in her health.
Margene was able to visit with many of her loved ones, both in-person and via video call, before her passing. She enjoyed the rare blessing of spending her last two weeks in the same residential care center as her husband of 68 years, Nils Bayles.
Margene was the second of six children born to Orvil and Beatrice (Carter) Lamoreaux. She learned to read at the age of 3 and was an avid reader and pupil throughout her life. She grew up in St. George and Paragonah, Utah, and graduated from Dixie High School in 1951. Margene and Nils Bayles met when Margene was in her final years of high school (held at Dixie College) and Nils was attending Dixie College. While Nils served a mission in Missouri, Margene worked as a secretary to the president of the St. George Temple. Margene and Nils were married on Dec. 19, 1952, in the LDS Temple in St. George, Utah, five days after Nils returned from his mission and just days before he was drafted.
Margene and Nils were thrilled to have three children come into their family: Debbie (Gail) Hampton, Gregory (Yvonne) Bayles, and Nathan (Jilene) Bayles. Margene and Nils spent many years in Las Vegas, Nevada, where they reared their family. As a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Margene served in many leadership capacities in Young Women’s, Primary and Relief Society.
While juggling family and church service and teaching early morning seminary, Margene earned a bachelor of science in elementary education at UNLV. Margene loved teaching and worked as an elementary teacher in Las Vegas, Nevada, and later, in Fredonia, Arizona, when the family relocated to Kanab, Utah. Margene loved painting and other art projects and was a prolific poet, publishing several poems in the literary journal, Utah Sings.
Upon retirement, Margene and Nils served an education mission in Kentucky from 1998-2000. They later settled in Parowan, Utah, before finally moving to St. George, Utah, where they served as workers in the St. George Temple. Margene and Nils were blessed with three children, 18 grandchildren and a wonderful legacy of great-grandchildren as well as 1 great-great-grandchild.
Margene is survived by her husband Nils, her brother Ralph (Janice), her sister Carole (Boyd), and sister-in-law, ArJean Lamoreaux.
There will be a viewing for family on Friday, Nov.12, 2021, at 10 a.m. A funeral service at 11 a.m. will follow, at the LDS Church, located east of the Temple at 449 S. 300 E., St. George, Utah, 84770. To protect the health of Nils, the family asks attendees to please wear masks. Interment will take place in the Parowan Cemetery later that day, at 3 p.m.
Condolences, cards, are welcome. ATTN: Nils Bayles, Southern Utah Veterans Home, Room 310, 160 N 200 E, Ivins, Utah, 84738.
Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff St., St. George, Utah, 435-673-2454. Friends and family are invited to sign Margene’s online guest book at www.spilsburymortuary.com