Jolene Kerr Malan's Obituary
Jolene Kerr Malan, 79, passed away peacefully on November 1, 2024 in her home surrounded by love. Jolene endured to the end with joy, hope, optimism, a beautiful smile, and a twinkle in her eye. She was gracious in her own pain. She loved life, serving her Heavenly Father, and loving everyone she came in contact with… family, friends, neighbors, her insurance agent, and even a stranger on the street. Her grandson’s friends called her grandma. She was everyone’s sister, mother, daughter, grandmother, and friend. Everyone felt loved by Jolene and were drawn to the light of Christ through her. She will be deeply missed by all.
She was born in Monterey, California on February 18, 1945 to Keith Russell and Louise Foulger Kerr. Her mother and father were serving in the army at the time of her birth. Shortly thereafter, they relocated to Ogden, Utah. She loved and honored her parents.
Jolene is the oldest of six children. As a child, she loved to learn. Her sister would take her outside to teach her to do cartwheels. Even though each time she would kick her in the face, Jolene would keep trying because she knew it was important to her sister. She would try until her sister would give up. It was important to Jolene to work hard at all things. Doing well in school was a priority for her. Even though she failed in cartwheels, she excelled intellectually and spiritually throughout her life. She learned to play the piano and to sing, to sew, teach, quilt, do artwork, garden, cook, and bake. We loved her homemade fruit leather.
Being the oldest, with her loving heart, she was a second mom to her siblings. She was always emotionally available for her younger siblings throughout her life. In her last few days, she was still asking everyone what she could do for them. She wanted to take those requests with her to heaven to help make them happen. She took, “Having Angels Have Charge Over Us,” seriously as she had lots of practice being an earthy angel.
Jolene attended Weber College, earning a degree in teaching. During her studies at Weber, she attended BYU for required classes for her degree that were not offered at Weber. This is where she became a lifelong cheerleader for BYU football. She was a dorm mother for The School for the Deaf and Blind and taught second grade at Dee Elementary in Ogden. She graduated from Seminary and Institute.
She met her sweetheart Arthur David Malan, Jr. on a blind date. Art and Jolene fell in love over his slideshow from his mission. Within three weeks they were engaged and a year later, on March 24, 1967, they were married in the Salt Lake Temple.
Children were an important priority for Jolene. She had to wait five years before her first child was born. Many children became her first through teaching and as primary president, and as she took care of family friends’ children. After that long and difficult wait, she received her baby girl, Vicki. A few years later, her beautiful daughter Michele was born. They were the light of her life. Wanting more children, she went to The School for the Deaf and Blind and asked if there were any children who needed a foster home. She became a foster mother to Codee Warrick. Codee fit right in with the family and was loved deeply by Jolene. Jolene was dedicated to Codee’s wellbeing and education and learning about her autism. Even though Codee was in the home for only a year, Jolene and Codee share a close bond of friendship and love to this day. Wanting a son, she worked with Family Services and, eventually, Richard filled that spot in her heart. Years later, her grandchildren came. Their unconditional love for her brought tremendous light into her life. They are everything to her.
Jolene could never rest for long. Her passion was to be involved in the community. She served in many callings in her ward and stake but her favorite and the one she was most passionate about was that of Family History Consultant. She spent countless hours in her home, in the ward and stake, and at the Family History Center teaching others how to research and find their ancestors. Jolene’s life was a life of service.
Jolene is survived by her children: Vicki (Daniel Sorensen), Michele, and Codee Warrick; daughter-in-law Ashlee Malan; and her grandchildren Austin Wallis, Spencer Malan, Reese Craythorne, Jensen Malan, and Maddox Malan. She is also survived by her brothers Greg, Gary, and Steve Kerr and sister Janet Cazier and many nieces and nephews whom she loved and adored like her own.
Jolene is preceded in death by her husband, Arthur David Malan Junior; her son Richard Thomas Malan; her nephew Cody Kerr Cazier; her sister Susan Diane Kerr Petersen; sister-in-law Myrtle Mae Malan McFarland; brother-in-law Leon J. McFarland; and best friend Sharie Lee Wadman Strebel.
Jolene would want to extend her gratitude and love for her niece Melissa Sue Greenberg for her gentle touch and unconditional loving care for her in her final month. A big hug and kiss to her nieces Kenzie Mexican, Kayla Eborn, Kristy Sunday, and Tiffany Baker for their support and loving care.
The family extends their gratitude to the South Weber 6th Ward for their loving service to our mother, father, and family throughout the thirty years the family lived in South Weber. We appreciate how much you loved and gave to our mother, especially dear friend Linda Marvel.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 9, 2024 at the South Weber Chapel at 2620 E. 8200 S., South Weber, Utah. An opportunity to meet and mingle with family and friends, and to say goodbye to Jolene, will be held at the same location from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The funeral will be held immediately afterwards at 11:00 a.m. A graveside ceremony will occur prior to interment at the Lindquist Memorial Park in Layton at 1867 North Fairfield Road.
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In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you contact Janet Cazier at 801-391-8141 who can give you a family name to take to the temple, which Jolene researched. Jolene will continue the work.
Condolences may be shared at premierfuneral.com.
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