Ada Jean (Thorpe) Vance

Ada Jean Thorpe Vance, 92, passed away on September 11, 2025, in Tremonton, Utah. She was born March 24, 1933, in Garland, Utah, to Lyman Theurer Thorpe and Ada Alice Hinman. After Mom lost her mother at the tender age of 6, a special woman by the name of Ida May Astle, joined the family and became her step-mother.

Mom grew up on the 20 acre family farm in Garland that she loved. She and her sister, Tyra, worked hard to help their dad harvest the crops each year. Mom loved their farm animals, especially their work horses, Molly and Babe. It was while the sisters worked alongside their dad that they learned how to sing and harmonize. From then on, Mom sang in ward choirs, the high school Acappella Choir, the Singing Mothers and for years she sang 2nd soprano in a ladies trio. Music brought Mom much joy throughout her life.

Mom attended Garland Elementary and graduated from Bear River High in 1951. She married Lowell Clifford Vance, her high school sweetheart, on September 14, 1951, in the Logan Temple.

Mom loved being a homemaker and learning new skills. She made sure our home was neat and clean and just as beautiful on the inside as it was outside in her yard. She kept the grass cut perfectly and loved adding beautiful rock gardens, flowers, shrubs and trees.

Mom did beautiful embroidery work and hand quilted an unknown number of quilts and baby quilts for family and friends. It seemed she always had a quilt on the frames in her living room. She was also a wonderful cook and loved getting the family together to visit, play games and enjoy a delicious meal.

Mom became Dad’s main truck driver during harvest time on their farm. She didn’t hesitate to drive the heavily loaded sugar beet truck all the way up to the Garland factory to unload. When the work was done, Mom loved spending time with our Dad fishing and they enjoyed numerous adventures snowmobiling and 4-wheeling with family and friends in the great outdoors.

Mom was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She loved the scriptures and spent hours studying them and attending “Know Your Religion” classes. She served in many callings in the Relief Society, including a counselor in two Ward presidencies; a counselor in two Stake Relief Society presidencies, President of the Ward Young Women, a Junior Sunday School teacher and the Young Women softball coach. Mom loved playing softball too, and she was an excellent pitcher.

Mom and Dad served on missions to the Sioux Indian Reservation at Fort Yates, North Dakota and the Bishop’s Storehouse in Brigham City. They also served as Ordinance workers in the Logan Temple for 8 years.

Mom is survived by her five children: Bonnie Barfuss (Sheldon); Carol Merrell (Rodney); Valerie Doggett; Lyle Vance (Kaylene) and Bart Vance (Michelle); 23 grandchildren; 55 great grandchildren and 5 great, great grandchildren. Her posterity includes 4 sets of twins! She is also survived by her sister, Tyra Thompson and her brother, L. H. Thorpe.

Mom was preceded in death by her husband; father, mother and step-mother; an infant brother, Allan, and a young sister, Dona Rae; a son-in-law, Murray Doggett; a brother-in-law, McAldon Thompson and a sister-in-law, Sheila Thorpe.

We will celebrate Mom’s life on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at Noon in the Tremonton 3rd Ward meeting house at 9590 North 6800 West. A viewing will be held prior to the funeral, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Interment will be in the Elwood Cemetery. The service will be livestreamed and can be accessed below.

We wish to extend a special thanks to the staff at “Our House Assisted Living” for their love and care for our mother during her stay there.

DISCLAIMER: WE DO NOT PAN THE CROWD AND THE CAMERA IS FIXED UPON THE PULPIT. WE WILL TRY AND LIVESTREAM THE FUNERAL SERVICE. IF WE ARE UNABLE TO DO SO, DUE TO THE INTERNET SERVICE AT THE CHURCH, A RECORDING WILL BE UPLOADED WITHIN 24-48 HOURS AFTER THE SERVICE.