Grace DeVone Hoggan

Our beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great grandmother, great great grandmother and friend, Grace DeVone Andreasen Hoggan, 96, passed away at Logan Nursing and Rehab Thursday May 14, 2015. She was born on January 4, 1919 in Cleveland, Idaho to Roy Casper and Lula Sophie Andreasen.

DeVone was raised on a farm in Cleveland, Idaho and the sixth of eight children. Her first 8 grades of schooling took place in a one room school house in Cleveland, Idaho and she graduated Valedictorian at Thatcher High School near Grace Idaho. After graduating from high school she worked for a summer in Pocatello Idaho and then moved to Salt Lake and worked for Blair Motor company for a little over a year before her mission and then again after she returned.  While working, DeVone enrolled in Henager Business College and later at LDS Business School, and was in school when she was called to serve an LDS Mission to the California Mission (1939).  She loved her mission and talked about it the rest of her life.  Even before she passed away she could remember names and places on her mission.  The day after returning from her mission (Salt Lake City) she met James Reid Hoggan, known as J. Reid. For J. Reid it was love at first sight and with in a short time they were engaged to be married.  Reid was already going steady with another girl in Salt Lake but when he saw DeVone he quickly changed his mind as he knew this beautiful blonde gal from Idaho was the gal for him.

Reid and DeVone were married in the Salt Lake Temple on January 13, 1942, six months after DeVone returned home from her mission.  Mom and dad were always a team.  Dad counted on mom for everything, from driving truck to milking cows and feeding chickens and raising the children.  Mom had many talents, she could be the best and hardest working farm hand and then in the evening put her best dress on and be the beauty at the ball.  She was hard working and usually at Dad’s side.  Her brothers said she was the best and fastest milker in the family.  She even taught dad, a city kid how to milk. When there wasn’t enough money she would find odd jobs to help bring in additional funds to help. (Like painting and picking beans with all the kids)  She and Reid traveled the world and enjoyed sharing the gospel where ever they went, giving away hundreds of Book of Mormon's. She loved her family, always planning family get togethers.  A few years ago she took all of her children and spouses to Branson where she loved to go.   

  DeVone was a great teacher and speaker.  She was President of Relief Society for 7 years and served under two Bishops. During that time she organized and took care of 57 funerals.  She served in the Young Women’s program for many years not only speaking in Preston Idaho but many towns all over southern Idaho and Northern Utah. She served as a Missionary and Host  for almost 8 years on Temple Square in Salt Lake.  DeVone worked at the Logan Temple for 14 years.  One of her later callings was teaching Gospel Doctrine at age of 84.  She magnified every call as she faithfully served in all the auxiliary organizations of the Church stating: "Whatever assignment she had at the time was her favorite."

Mom loved hard work. She was never idol and was always at dads side when ever a task was to be done.  Her greatest qualities were her ability to always turn the worst situation into something better with a positive attitude and always doing it with a big smile, she was one of the most positive persons God ever put on this earth. She had a quest for learning, loved the scriptures and read them to the last day. She was loyal, non-judgmental, quick witted, and had a great sense of humor (mom always had a joke for the occasion).  She made the room come alive when she entered, with her smile and positive nature.  Her Testimony, Faith, laughter, smile and positive attitude was her cornerstone . She always looked for the best in every situation. An elect lady, always cleaving to her covenants, she delighted in doing the will of the Lord. She will be missed deeply.  

She is survived by six children Patrick (Sandra), Jamie Ann Checketts (Dean), Kent (Diane), Marsha Bell (Dennis), Bradley (Cathy), Jefrey (Shari) and her brother Dee Andreasen. She had a daughter Judy Rae who passed away in 1954, at the age of seven.  DeVone has 26 grand children and 66 great grand children and 7 great great grand children.  She will look forward to seeing Reid after 21 years since his death.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Roy Casper Andreasen, Lula Sophia Larsen Andreasen.  Husband, James Reid Hoggan.  Daughter Judy Rae.  Brothers, Owen, Maynard, Theo and Max Andreasen and sisters Ruby Jenkins and Voloy Sonntag.

Thanks to the many friends that visited her since dad passed away and especially the last five years.  We wish to show appreciation to Logan Nursing and Rehab. She loved the staff and they loved her. a place she called home the last 5 years.   We also want to thank Dr. Brian Carlson for his love, devotion and good keeping.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 23, 2015 at 12:00 noon in the Smithfield 17th Ward, 340 East 300 South in Smithfield, Utah. A viewing will be held on Saturday from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. at the church in Smithfield. Interment will be in the Preston Cemetery. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.webbmortuary.com