Lila Jean Blanchard Marble's Obituary
Lila Jean Blanchard Marble, age 84, passed away on February 24, 2026 in Taylorsville, Utah. She was born July 16, 1941 in Roosevelt, Utah to William Ira Blanchard and Verda Roberts. She was the oldest of eleven children.
Lila enjoyed growing up on her family’s dairy farm in Monarch, Utah. As the oldest child, she had many responsibilities; milking 20 cows (with her siblings) before and after school, helping attend to the large family garden, bringing in crops and tending to other farm animals. Growing up she enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, and playing softball.
Her siblings were her best friends. She attended Union High School in Roosevelt, Utah and graduated in 1959. She enjoyed being in the high school marching band playing the clarinet and then became a baton twirler which she loved.
When she was 19 years old, she moved to Salt Lake City to attend LDS Business College. After two years, she graduated with her Secretary Degree. During that time she met Jack Marble. He was in the Army National Guard. Soon after they met he was stationed in Washington State. After a year of dating, they were married in the Logan LDS Temple on October 4, 1962.
They had three daughters and lived in Granger, Utah, until 1973. They then moved to Taylorsville, Utah to continue raising their family. She was a loving, nurturing mother. Over the years she and Jack shared their love and home with eight foster children. This continued until their family became complete when they adopted their two sons.
Lila enjoyed being a mother and loved her family. She encouraged her children through their academics, sports, and other extra curricular activities. She was a Room Mother, PTA member, coach and manager of several of her children’s sports teams.
She loved to sew and her first project was her own wedding dress. She made a lot of her children’s clothing. Including prom dresses, and also helped friends and neighbors with their wedding dresses. She made most of her daughter’s bridesmaids dresses. She sewed many fun clothes for her grandchildren. She had a garden every year and enjoyed canning the produce. These were wonderful family activities (most of the time). She loved cooking wonderful meals for her family. She loved learning and was an avid reader. She read so many books that there was a notebook she kept of all the books she had read so she wouldn’t read the same ones twice. She often read novels to her children before they went to bed, even when they were older. This was a fun family tradition. She enjoyed traveling with her family and went on a summer vacation every year. Often it was for her children’s sports or musical performances. Her family visited most states West of the Mississippi River on their various vacations.
As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she served various callings in the Primary, Scouts, Sunday School, Relief Society and enjoyed doing name extractions and genealogy. She and Jack served at the Jordan River Temple for many years. They also served as Stake Missionaries and two full time missions. The first one was with the Church Education System (CES) and their second was at the Salt Lake City Inner City Mission. Jack and Lila also enjoyed teaching English as a second language in their Stake for many years.
She had an unwavering love for her Savior Jesus Christ and her Heavenly Father and nurtured that same love in her children. Church and missionary service were dear to her heart. She loved supporting her children and eleven of her grandchildren as they served their missions throughout the world.
She loved her family and especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Jack Edwin Marble and her five children: Pamela (David) Phippen, Melanie (Brandon) Ihler, Sheila (Randy) Hurst, Cory (Reia Eden) Marble, Jonathan (Abbey) Marble, as well as eighteen grandchildren, and sixteen great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, and two siblings.
Lila’s life was a tapestry of moments both tender and vibrant. Beneath her pleasant demeanor, she had a spark that surprised those who didn’t know her well. She was a woman full of grace but never without a touch of spunk. She was a light to her family and her community and all those fortunate enough to know her. Lila Marble’s legacy will live on in the hearts she touched and the love she so freely gave. We are forever grateful that she is our mother, grandmother, and friend.
The viewing will be held on Thursday, March 5th , from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Taylorsville Stake Center at 4845 South Woodhaven Drive (1365 West) Taylorsville, Utah.
A viewing will also be held Friday, March 6, 2026 at 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. with the funeral service at 10:00 a.m. at the Taylorsville Stake Center (same address as above).
Interment will be held at the Brigham City Cemetery, 300 E. 300 S. Brigham City, Utah.
If sending flowers prior to services, please send to:
Care of Sheila Hurst
4990 South 1130 West
Taylorsville, UT 84123
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