DeAnn Marie Tucker Collard, 81, of Huntington; wonderful loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 14, 2022.
DeAnn was born in Hiawatha, Utah on Valentine’s day; February 14, 1941 to Lola Marie Timothy and Henry Moses Tucker. She loved getting flowers and valentines for her birthday.
DeAnn married Duane Lynn Collard after graduating from North Emery High School in 1959. They have been married for over 63 years. After their marriage they lived in Salt Lake City for 15 years and had four children. In 1972, they were able to move back home to Huntington to raise their family. They were sealed together in the Manti Utah Temple in 1989.
Their children are Clinton (Treesa) Collard of Hurricane, Utah, Tori (David) Spencer of Queen Creek, Arizona, Curtis (Natalie) Collard of Huntington, Utah, and Christina (Devin) Arnold of Nampa, Idaho.
DeAnn’s first thought was always to serve others; especially those she loved the most. She was the best mother to her children; devoting her life to their care. Like most moms, she may not have realized what an impact she made on her family; but as her children, we would like to say how much we loved her spotlessly clean house, perfect homemade bread, delicious dinners on the table night after night, welcoming all our friends who needed a soft place to land, caring for our bodies and souls, and making us feel safe and loved when we walked through the door.
As they got older, she began working as an Emergency Medical Technician for Emery County Ambulance Service, as an assistant in an orthopedic surgeon’s office, and in the emergency room at Castleview hospital. She also worked full time as an EMT for Carbon County Ambulance Service for 19 years. DeAnn loved working as an EMT and was an angel of mercy to the many people she treated. In her own words, “I tried to treat not only people’s physical needs but help them feel safe and loved during very difficult times. There were moments when all I could do was be there with them and keep them from feeling all alone. I wanted to give them the best possible medical care and even though there was a lot of hard work involved, it was work I always loved.” Those she cared for and worked with felt her love and kindness and became her lifelong friends. She was always very involved in the lives of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; who all called her ‘Nanny,’ and she served them in every way she could.
DeAnn and Duane were privileged to work for 12 years in the Manti Temple and held many leadership positions. They made many wonderful and eternal friends while working at the temple. They have also been blessed to give Patriarchal blessings in their home and DeAnn loved being able to visit with people and get to know them better. She was a kind and loving hostess, always keeping an immaculate home and helping those who came for their Patriarchal blessing to feel a special spirit.
She is survived by her husband, Duane Collard; children, Clinton (Treesa) Collard, Tori (David) Spencer, Curtis (Natalie) Collard, and Christina (Devin) Arnold; 13 grandchildren; 13 great- grandchildren; and her sisters, LuRene (Robert) Swinburne of Huntington, Utah and Kelly (Gary) Lavering of Sunnyvale, California.
Funeral service, Saturday, September 17, 2022, 2:00 p.m., Huntington 3rd Ward Chapel (Huntington Stake Center). The family will receive friends at the church from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. prior to the service. Burial will follow in the Huntington City Cemetery, Huntington, Utah right down the street from her home. Speaking of living next door to the cemetery; DeAnn often said, “They’re the quietest neighbors I’ve ever had!” Livestreaming of the funeral service can be found on Mitchell Funeral Home’s website (www.mitchellfuneralhome.net) underneath DeAnn’s obituary page 15 minutes prior to the service. Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home of Price and Huntington where friends are always welcome daily and may share memories of DeAnn online at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net