Phyllis Porter Scott March 12, 1928 - April 29, 2020

Phyllis Jane Tanner Porter Scott passed away April 29, 2020, in Spanish Fork, Utah, at the age of 92, although if you asked her, she was 16, and we believed it. She was young at heart and ready for a new adventure. Nothing slowed her down. She lived life to the fullest and was fun and full of energy.

She was born March 12, 1928, at her grandmother’s home in Salem, Utah, to Leland Scott Tanner and Emily Lucile Duke Tanner. She was the baby in a family of two girls and three boys. Her childhood was spent thinning beets and tromping hay. She was a tiny little thing but could work circles around the other farm hands. Working hard was not foreign to her, as through the years she worked at Forsey’s Variety Store, Jack’s Café, Utah State Hospital, and the Oak Crest Inn. She was the Salem City Treasurer for two years and the City Recorder for nine years. She was proud to be the second recorder in the state of Utah to become a Certified Municipal Clerk. She had to travel out of state to get her certification, but when she became secretary of the Utah Association of Municipal Clerks, she helped to bring the certification program to Utah. Holding the title of Notary Public for 25 years showed her honesty and integrity. She then went on to work at BYU for 15 years as the secretary for the Industrial Education Department, where the faculty of men grew to love her bubbly personality and competent working style.

She attended school in Salem and Spanish Fork but said most of her education came from the school of hard knocks.

Clell Andrew Porter was introduced to her on a blind date and soon they were married, August 12, 1944, she being 16 years old and he, 17. They were told it would never last, but they celebrated 53 years of marriage and five children together, before his passing in 1998. They were sealed in the Manti Temple, September 15, 1950.

Salem was her hometown and she loved it. Her phenomenal memory for people, places, and things allowed her to be an unofficial historian and she was often asked questions about the city, which she delighted in answering with stories and amusing events. It was a great honor when Phyllis and Clell were asked to be Grand Marshalls for the Salem Days Parade; and, coincidentally, on their 51st wedding anniversary.

Self-sufficiency was something she practiced. Milking the cow, slopping the hogs, and gathering the eggs, were everyday tasks. Butchering 100 chickens each summer kept the family fed. Twenty bushels of peaches or 100 dozen ears of corn, and more, often made it to her kitchen to be bottled, along with jellies, jams and delicious homemade bread.

Being a caretaker came naturally to her and she was stalwart in seeing to the needs of anyone who required help, including her father, mother, sister, sons-in-law, and husband, whom she tended for 22 years as his debilitating disease progressed.

She loved doing genealogy and writing family histories. She liked to knit and crochet a little and take out the stitches a lot. A poem would be written for many special occasions or just because she saw a pretty rainbow. Her public speaking ability was amazing and she was able to talk about her friends and loved ones in at least 25 funerals.

Always faithful to her callings as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whether it was leading the music, teaching a lesson, or preparing for a banquet. She served valiantly, even when her workload at home was tough. She was Relief Society President, Stake Young Women’s President; and, on three separate occasions, the Young Women’s President in her ward. She loved the youth and was just as young as they were. She enjoyed the opportunity to help people through her service.

After Clell’s death, she was called on a mission in Morristown, New Jersey, as secretary to the mission president. Later, she served a mission at the Family History Center in Salt Lake City.

She married Donal Scott, June 28, 2003. They served a third mission in the Family History Library. They loved to travel and visited the Holy Land, which was especially meaningful for her. He passed on June 7, 2009.

Her greatest legacy is that she loved people. Any people. She made friends everywhere she went. She especially reached out to the downtrodden and lifted them. A tribute to her is, they loved her right back.

“Well done, thou good and faithful servant…enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” ~Matthew 25:21

Phyllis is survived by her children: Clella Gustin, Spanish Fork; Jackie (Dale) Nelson, Enterprise; Janet Hansen, Spanish Fork; Phillip (Denise) Porter, Salem; Donna (Wes) Keele, Ramah, NM. Her posterity includes 20 grandchildren, 65 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Margaret Tanner, Spanish Fork. She was preceded in death by both husbands, her siblings: Joseph Vernon Tanner, Donna Sparks, Ray Tanner, and Glen D. Tanner; and three sons-in-law: David Bush, Mont Gustin and Gary Hansen.

The services will be private. Because current conditions don’t allow us the pleasure of seeing you in person, the family would love to hear any memories or stories you have about Phyllis. They can be mailed to 1651 S 1960 E Spanish Fork, Utah 84660 or emailed to pondtown38@gmail.com.