Melinda Jane (Denison) Bowen's Obituary
Melinda Jane (Denison) Bowen, 78, of Orem, Utah passed away May 22, 2026. She was born to parents Elliott Leon Denison and Mary Lucille (Rooks) Denison on September 19, 1947 in Monrovia, California, and later shared her birthday with International Talk Like a Pirate Day. She had four siblings, Bonnie, Renee, Thomas, and Carolyn.
In 1965, Melinda graduated with high honors from Sierra Vista High School and went on to receive a BA in History along with a teaching credential from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona in 1970.
Melinda taught elementary school in Baldwin Park, California until she was married to Michael (Mike) Ray Bowen in 1977 in the Los Angeles temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They lived together in Southern California for twenty-five years prior to Mike’s passing in 2002. During that time they had three boys (Cory, Brian, and Kyle), giving Mike false hope of having his own family baseball team, before having three girls (Katie, Amanda, and Jacie).
She encouraged learning in all of her children, in all areas of life, whether reading, writing, or music. But she said if it involved math, to ask someone else as it was her least favorite subject in school.
Melinda loved music and their home was constantly filled with the sounds of more musical instruments than there were people living there as she encouraged all of her children to learn how to play something to bring joy to the lives of others. Melinda played the piano, guitar, recorder, and even learned the fiddle in her 50s, just for fun.
After her children were in school, Melinda went back to teaching elementary school at the Ontario Center School in Ontario, California. During that time she believed so strongly in education that she went back to school, earning her Master’s Degree in Education from Chapman University in the early 2000s. She retired from teaching in 2019 when she couldn’t keep up with a group of rambunctious kindergarteners anymore.
Melinda was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints her entire life. She always had a smile and had a great sense of humor. She knew her mind, knew what she wanted, and wasn’t afraid to get the job done. She told people to set your standards high to get where you want to be. Those who knew her best describe her as loving, modest, and humble.
Melinda was fiercely independent after her husband’s death and continued to live in California for another nineteen years after his death before relocating to Orem, Utah to be nearer some of her children in 2021.
Left to cherish Melinda’s memory are her six children: Cory, his wife Alanna, and their daughters Rebekka, Lexie, and Jaye; Brian, his wife Erica, and their son AJ; Kyle, his wife Kristen, and Kristen’s son John Pray with wife Paris; Katie Shewbart, her husband Jason, and their sons Miles and Grant; Amanda Stromberg, her husband Logan, their daughter Tara, and their son Malcolm; and Jacie Saltzman, her husband Shane, their son Duke, and their daughter Indiana; Melinda’s sister Carolyn Fuimaono; numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews; and so many others that loved her. Melinda is predeceased by her parents (Elliott and Mary Denison), two sisters (Bonnie Alvarado and Renee Martinez), one brother (Thomas Denison), and her husband (Michael Bowen).
Funeral services are Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at Premier Funeral Services in Orem, Utah. Her interment will be next to her husband in Oak Park Cemetery in Claremont, California.
Her kindness, faith, and love will forever remain in our hearts.
What’s your fondest memory of Melinda Jane?
What’s a lesson you learned from Melinda Jane?
Share a story where Melinda Jane's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Melinda Jane you’ll never forget.
How did Melinda Jane make you smile?