Arlynn High's Obituary
Arlynn Thaxton High passed away peacefully in her home on July 3, 2020. She was born in 1934 to Maureen Sorenson Thaxton and Leland Thaxton in Burley, ID and spent all of her growing years in Heyburn. She married her beloved Kenneth High in 1960 in the Idaho Falls Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and accompanied him wherever his Air Force career took them, packing and “clearing quarters” from base housing over and over without complaining. She loved deeply and powerfully the six children that she and Ken raised. Likewise, Arlynn’s love extended to the partners her children chose and the grandchildren who joined the family by way of those relationships. Arlynn is survived by her husband Kenneth High, sister Ranelle (John) O’Dell, and six children: Cynthia (Scott) Schroeder, Laurel (Dave) George, Thayne (Jennifer) High, Kiersten (Jefferey C.), Mitchel High, and Allison Chambers along with many beloved grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and grandson Peyton Chambers.
Arlynn had many talents which she used to bless the lives of others: She was a marvelous cook, seamstress, homemaker, and gardener. She welcomed service members and missionaries wherever she lived into her home for dinner with no advance notice because she understood how it felt to be far from home. Arlynn loved ballroom dancing and developed her singing talent, and sang solos in church and at funerals as well as singing in and directing church choirs and women’s choruses. She took up new learning throughout her life, further expanding on her talents by learning professional cake decorating, chocolate dipping, and painting. Her paintings have beautified her home and those of family members for almost 50 years.
Arlynn taught her children to work hard, love strong, and to deeply value family relationships. Arlynn was a woman whose faith in Jesus Christ led her to serve in His church with great energy and devotion, including a mission with her companion of choice, Ken, to Foley, AL in the FL Tallahassee Mission from 2003-2004. She took her mixer across the country and used her baked goods to open doors so she could open hearts with her love. She found such joy in serving there and maintained cherished relationships by phone with members there for all the years since. Her hope that shone through cloud and sunshine was grounded in her gratitude for her many blessings, especially her husband, children, and grandchildren, and in her faith that families can be forever and that God will watch over and bless them. She is greatly missed and yet so much of this remarkable woman is still with us through the love and gifts she gave.
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