Janet Marion Sparks Gwilliam's Obituary
Janet Marion Sparks Gwilliam passed away August 8,2025 at the age of 90. She was born on August 1,1935 in Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa to Lilian Faithful Rhoades and Wesley Sidney Kelbrick. She was the second of three children. Janet loved being outdoors, swimming in the ocean, and playing racquet sports when she was young.
Janet's life was a journey of faith, family, and creative expression. After her parents' divorce, her mother married Jeffrey Charles James Sparks. While the family lived in Bulawayo, they met missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and decided to join the church. Their conversion prompted a move in search of a larger community of members, taking them across the world to Canada, New Zealand, and eventually to California.
Janet enrolled at Brigham Young University to pursue her passion for art. It was during a summer visit home to California that she attended an M-Men and Gleaner fireside where she met the love of her life, Dee Holt Gwilliam. After a year of correspondence, they were married for time and all eternity on August 23, 1960, in the Los Angeles Temple. They decided to move to Sugarhouse, Utah where Dee finished his schooling. They later moved to Fairview, Utah in 1973. There they farmed 15 acres where they raised chickens, sheep and a few calves.
Janet was always active in the many callings she received in the church, from Primary to Young Women’s, to Relief Society, as well as activities committee. She was also talented at playing the piano and organ and her musical talents were used many times, both within the church and at family gatherings. Both Janet and Dee were also great artists. They spent many hours creating wonderful art, both together and individually.
Dee and Janet also enjoyed being involved with the stage. They wrote scripts, made scenery and acted in many productions. Because of Dee’s sign painting abilities, they were called on a mission for the church to Nauvoo, Illinois from 2001 to 2003 to take part in the temple restoration where Dee hand painted many of the signs. While on the mission, their theatrical talents were also put to great use performing for other missionaries and visitors. Janet will be remembered for her unwavering devotion to her family and faith, her artistic spirit, her gardening skills, and amazing work ethic.
Janet is survived by her children; Sherri Dee (Cleve) Bohne, Janet LeeAnn (James) Moffett and Scott Gwilliam, nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, as well as her two sisters Lorna Murfitt and Hazel Howle. Janet was preceded in death by her loving husband Dee and her parents.
Funeral services will be held at the Premier Funeral Home, 67 East 8000 South, Midvale, Utah on September 12 at 10:00 am, with a viewing at 9:00 am. For those unable to attend the services in person, a Zoom broadcast has been made available: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89448141959
Meeting ID: 894 4814 1959
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