With her having been diagnosed 11 years ago with a life-robbing disease, you would think I might know what to say about the greatest person I have ever known. Though the last six years have been silent in our verbal communication, when I laid her head on my lap and stroked her forehead each evening, I felt her love and prayed that she may feel mine.
This little small-town girl, born in Delta, Utah on August 6, 1957 and raised in Kanosh was the homecoming queen of her high school, something I knew nothing of until years later when I saw a picture of her with a crown on her head in a family photo album and asked her mother, Roena, why she was wearing it. On another occasion when we were engaged, I stopped at the local mercantile store in Kanosh. An old boy in faded ragged blue bib overalls and a sweat-stained wide-brimmed hat, recognized me as her fiancé and said, “She’s one of the finest girls that ever came from these parts,” and farmers don’t lie.
MaryAnn Shields blessed our family with one daughter and six sons. Upon the birth of our oldest son and second child, Quinn, the nurse at the hospital in Bellevue, Washington entered the recovery room and asked, “Would you like an intrauterine device?” and without missing a beat MaryAnn shot back, “Heck no! We’re just getting started.”
Her compassion for others was endless. It was early on a sunny June morning in 1998 when all our kids were still at home. I had been in front by the road watering flowers when a 17-year-old boy, Joey, a run-a-way who had been walking all night, asked me how far it was to the freeway. I pointed west and said about three miles. Coming in for breakfast a few minutes later, I mentioned this to MaryAnn. Withthout saying anything she got in the old black Aerostar van and came back shortly with Joey. She put an extra plate on the table, washed his clothes and gave him some of the boy’s underwear and made him a bed downstairs.
The animals were wild over her. She nursed a bird back to health in a shoebox who had lost a leg caught in a fence. Though nimble with scissors in sewing, she could cut out the nastiest burs in the cat’s hair. When Annie, our silver German Shepherd, crossed the line in the dangerous game of nipping at the hocks of the horses, Sheeza got lucky with a kick from her hind leg and broke Annie’s shoulder. MaryAnn and Patrick made a stretcher out of plywood and hauled Annie off to the vet.
Music was a passion and pleasure for MaryAnn. This was passed down by Grandma Norma who played the piano, organ, and violin. I was moved by the duets MaryAnn and Derek played on the piano, particularly when they galloped through the Stars and Stripes Forever at breakneck speed. Some of my most cherished moments were sitting in a vacant choir seat in church by the organ waiting for MaryAnn to join me after she played the sacrament hymn; a quietness, peace, a spiritual non-verbal dialog that made me glad I was married to her as I held her hand.
The heroes in her life were her family, her children and grandchildren, and even a great granddaughter, Kadence. But the real hero was Shanda who drove from Alpine to Salem at least two days a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and sometimes a week at a time for the past eight years to care for MaryAnn while I worked or shopped. I often said to Shan, “Go get a fun job, buy fun clothes, and go to lunch with fun people and eat fun food, and do fun things.” And she always said, “No Dad. I want to be with Mom.” A few days ago I again said to Shanda, “What you have done in caring for Mom is incredible.” Her reply was, “I would have done it forever.”
For this teenage bride who married me 49 years ago, I shall forever thank my Heavenly Father. The house is quiet. I miss bathing her, changing her, feeding her, and miss so very greatly brushing her hair and putting it in a ponytail with one of those elastic things. I miss turning her over in the night and wedging myself between the chrome metal rails of the narrow hospice bed and feeling her warm body next to mine and hearing her rhythmic breathing. In all the years of this illness which often changes the personality of the individual, the harshest thing MaryAnn every said was, “Oh Golly.”
MaryAnn Shields Steadman passed away on Thursday, November 6, 2025. There will be a viewing in her honor on Wednesday, November 12, 2025 at Walker Funeral Home located at 187 South Main Street in Spanish Fork, UT from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. An additional viewing will be held the following morning, Thursday, November 13, 2025 from 9:45 – 10:45 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located at 695 South 300 West in Salem, UT. The funeral service will immediately follow at 11:00 a.m. at the same location. Interment will be in the Salem City Cemetery.
6 Condolences for MaryAnn Shields Steadman
Condolences(6)
Laura Taylor says
November 11, 2025 at 5:27 amI loved MaryAnn, I had the privilege of serving with her at church, singing in choirs with her, carpooling to work every day for quite a few years and our sons were very good friends.
There was only one MaryAnn. She was thoughtful, kind, talented in so many ways. She would talk about her children with so much pride and love . She talked about her” Kev” that she adored and who made her laugh!
Her testimony never wavered, she loved her Savior, and bore a very strong testimony of him . I have missed and will continue to my miss my sweet friend. But I know she is well again and with her parents and her sweet son, whom she missed so much. And she is with the her Savior, who makes everything better . Because of him I know we will get to see MaryAnn again, hear her cute giggle and give her a hug again!.
Thank you Kevin for taking such good care of my friend all these years!
Kari Dutson says
November 11, 2025 at 2:59 pmI don’t think I’ve ever known a kinder person than MaryAnn and always so pleasant. She was so thoughtful of others, always thinking of others. She loved her family deeply and yes, she spoke so fondly of her “Kev.” She loved our Savior and showed it daily.
It was so fun being neighbors with them! And Tyler looked forward each Christmas to her marshmallow roll! He still talks about that!
It’s been so touching to know of Kevin taking such good, tender care of her all these years. We love you guys.
Rick and Lisa Adams says
November 13, 2025 at 5:27 amHi Kevin, it’s little Lisa. I’m so sorry to know that my sweet Mary Ann passed away. She was truly the best person I ever knew. I have always loved her and always will. She taught me so many important lessons that I continue to use in my life. I come through Utah every so often and would love to talk. Send me your contact information. My prayers for you always, Lisa
Valerie Jeffries says
November 13, 2025 at 3:04 pmMary Ann was my very first friend when we moved to Salem in 2003. She happened to be the teacher of the first Relief Society I attended in our neighborhood ward. With reverence & through quiet tears she shared a personal insight regarding the painting of Christ carrying a black sheep. I must admit I cannot view that same painting whenever I pass by in a church building or the Temple without having Mary Ann’s word echo through my mind.
We shared a friendship that is rare these days and I will treasure the golden thread she gently wove into my life’s tapestry. I am better for having crossed her path.
Valerie Jeffries says
November 13, 2025 at 3:06 pmMary Ann was my very first friend when we moved to Salem in 2003. She happened to be the teacher of the first Relief Society I attended in our neighborhood ward. With reverence & through quiet tears she shared a personal insight regarding the painting of Christ carrying a black sheep. I must admit I cannot view that same painting whenever I pass by in a church building or the Temple without having Mary Ann’s words echo through my mind.
We shared a friendship that is rare these days and I will treasure the golden thread she gently wove into my life’s tapestry. I am better for having crossed her path.
Paul & Patricia Sargent says
November 13, 2025 at 7:34 pmMaryAnn, I have been a friend of Kevin’s for many years. We talk almost every day about the Journey of Life. I ask God to watch over you and the Steadman family every day. I know in my Heart that you are in Heaven, I believe you’re an Agel and will watch over your family. Patricia and I send our prayers.
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