Effie LaRene Winters Ockey was called home on June 20, 2025, just a few weeks shy of her 90th birthday, to no doubt a joyous reunion with her husband and parents.
She was born to Evelyn Gunn Winters and William Ford Winters on July 2, 1935, in Helper, Utah. Even though she briefly lived other places, Helper was always in her heart, and she loved seeing Balance Rock.
Mom had three loves – her husband, her family, and the gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
She married the love of her life, Keith L. Ockey, in the Manti Temple on June 17, 1954. They shared a love of music, which filled our home. A beautiful singer, she and Dad blessed many marriages and funerals singing together. They loved to travel, and it was common to see them driving around delivering soup, cookies, and other goodies to people in the community. Later in life, they were called on several missions, first to the Family History Center in Tacoma, Washington and then to the Manti Temple.
Mom and Dad had six children, and they built a home in Helper. Mom was a talented cook, seamstress, hairdresser and gardener who worked hard to raise and love her children. She also had a whistle that one grandchild described as “the only thing louder than a train whistle”. That whistle could be heard all the way from the park to the ball fields, and when we heard it, we knew we better get headed home!
Mom received her beautician license from the Paracelsus College in Salt Lake City. There was always someone in our home receiving a perm or a haircut, and she also assisted the beauticians in Helper.
Her generous and loving spirit served the church and community all her life. She had many callings in the LDS church including Primary President and Relief Society President.
She was active in the community, as a school cook, where she made some wonderful lifelong friends; and a Pink Lady at Castle View Hospital, where again, she made many friends. Most recently, she was particularly proud to be honored with a certificate showing 50 years in the Daughters of Utah Pioneers (DUP).
Mom was preceded in death by her husband, Keith; parents, Evelyn and Ford Winters; brothers, Lester (Katherine) Winters, Dean (Jean) Winters, Kenneth (Cecilia) Winters; grandchildren, Jacqueline Bogdin, Eric Bogdin, Chris Holderness and Louis Schaeffer; sisters-in-law, Murleen Bean and Kathy Ockey.
She is survived by her children, Sue (Jack) Bogdin, Carol (Dan) Wells, Calvin (Lisa) Ockey, MariAnne (Shawn) Lawrence, Sandra (Wayne) Stewart, Mark (Linnea) Ockey; grandchildren, Brian, Jeff, Alison, Shane, Greg, Nick, Kylie, Phillip, Michael, Brittany, Ashley, Andrew, Theodore, and Claire; and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Royal Ockey; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral Service Wednesday, June 25, 2025, 11:00 a.m., at the Helper North Stake Center where the family will receive friends from 9:00-10:30 a.m. prior to the service. Internment will follow in the Mt. View Cemetery in Helper, Utah.
The family would like to thank Dr. Glenn Etzel, Mitchell Funeral Home, and The Helper LDS Ward, including the Relief Society sisters for the compassionate luncheon.
A very big “Thank you!” to Shauna and Dave O’Brien and the staff at The Heirloom Inn for their love and care and a special thanks to her bingo buddy, Jeff Ciochetto.
Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home of Price and Huntington where friends and family are always welcome daily and may share memories of LaRene online at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net.
A Livestream of LaRene’s funeral service will be available on her obituary page fifteen minutes prior to the service on Wednesday.