Verla May Quilter Hagen's Obituary
Verla May Quilter Hagen, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, died peacefully at the age of 85 from brain cancer on June 12, 2023.
Verla was born on September 25, 1937 to Alfred and Vera Quilter in Salt Lake City, Utah. She lived in and loved Salt Lake City throughout her life. She had two older brothers, Charles and Karl, both born in Henrieville in southern Utah before her parents moved to Salt Lake City, and a younger sister, Jo-Ann. Verla grew up attending Salt Lake City schools and graduated from West High School in 1955. She then began attending the University of Utah but soon met and fell in love with Howard Hagen, whom she married in June of 1956 in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They spent 58 happy years together before Howard passed away in 2014.
She continued attending classes at the University of Utah until her first child was born in 1957. Although she was not able to continue as a full-time student at that time, she took classes on and off for many years and finally graduated in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.
Verla was a caring and devoted mother. Her first child, daughter Julia, was born when Verla was barely 20 years old, and less than two years later she gave birth to twin boys, Scott and Stuart, making her a mother of three children under the age of two at the age of 21! In relatively short order she had two more boys, Jeffrey, and Andrew. She loved her children and supported them throughout her life. She never missed a music concert or baseball game and encouraged her children as they pursued their own education and families. As her children married and started their own families, she befriended and loved her son-in-law and daughters-in-law and was a cheerful and enthusiastic grandmother to each of her 15 grandchildren.
Verla was a longtime employee of the University of Utah and a loyal Ute to the end. She worked for several years as an administrative assistant in the College of Health and then spent 20 years in the Park Building, working as administrative assistant to the University’s Vice President of Development. She loved the University of Utah and the many friends she made over the years of her career there.
Verla was a devoted member of the LDS church. She grew up in the Salt Lake City 6th-7th Ward, which, at the time of her marriage, was led by Bishop Thomas Monson (later president of the church). She remained active in the church throughout her life, serving in many roles in the young women’s, relief society, and primary organizations. She loved acting in and directing ward road shows. She also served for many years as a leader at her beloved Brighton Girls Camp at Brighton Ski Resort. She was an active member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and served for several years as chapter president. She spent the last 52 years of her life as a member of the East Millcreek 4th Ward. She and Howard made countless friends there whom she loved and supported, and who in turn loved and supported her. In later years, she and Howard served a mission in Nauvoo, Illinois, where they helped produce and direct plays (and demonstrated very good acting ability!).
Verla was a wonderful human being. She was unfailingly cheerful and upbeat, remembered names and birthdays, and loved and accepted family, friends, work colleagues, and everyone else she met throughout her life. She laughed easily and often, even at bad jokes. She was never offended, never demanded attention, and almost never had a bad day. She was not much of an athlete, but she was always a good sport, and enjoyed skiing (very conservatively) and playing golf with her family. She loved nature, spending time in her garden almost every day in good weather and enjoyed visiting Red Butte Gardens and watching birds. She went on a nice long walk with friends every morning and loved to be with her knitting group on Wednesdays. Some of her happiest days were spent at the family cabin at Fishlake in central Utah, where she loved to hike, visit with family, and enjoy the beauties of nature. She was a true joy to her husband and family and to her many friends.
Verla spent the last two months of her life at Spring Gardens Assisted Living Facility in East Millcreek, and her family is grateful for the tender and respectful care she received there from the facility staff, as well as from the nurses from Inspiration Hospice.
Verla’s family would like to thank her many friends and fellow ward members for their years of kindness and support, especially in the final weeks and days of her life.
Verla is survived by her five children and their spouses, 15 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Howard.
Funeral services will be held at 11am. on Monday, June 19, at the LDS chapel at 3750 Hillside Lane, Salt Lake City, Utah 84109, with a viewing held just prior to the service beginning at 9:30 a.m. A viewing will also be held on Sunday evening, June 18, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at East Millcreek 4th Ward, 3103 East Craig Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah 84109. The service will also be transmitted by Zoom at the following link: Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting
What’s your fondest memory of Verla?
What’s a lesson you learned from Verla?
Share a story where Verla's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Verla you’ll never forget.
How did Verla make you smile?
