Vonneal Madsen

Vonneal Curtis Madsen was born March 1, 1925 to Neal K. and Mable Huggins Curtis in Moroni, Utah. She was their oldest child with one sister, Maureen Wilcox, and one brother, Jay Curtis. They had a happy Childhood in Moroni. She graduated from Moroni High School in 1943. On August 14, 1944, she married her sweetheart and eternal companion, J. Harvey Madsen in the Salt Lake Temple. Harvey was in the army and had to report for duty that December, leaving her to cope with the turkeys they had, and their first daughter. After the war, she helped Harvey by taking care of the family while he completed his education. She especially enjoyed their time at the University of Utah. Harvey and Vonneal were blessed with five children: Merilyn (Sonny) Beacham, Ann (Karl) Turner, Dawn (Brent) Taylor, Jay ( Laurie) Madsen, and Robert (Barbara) Madsen. The kids never came home to an empty house. They have 23 grandchildren and 46 great-grand children. She always had plenty of love to go around. The family moved to Vernal, Utah in 1951. Vonneal was a full-time wife and mother while Harvey worked at the Vernal Drug Company. Vonneal remembers those years as full, busy and wonderful. She enjoyed camping, fishing and deer hunting. She almost always caught the most fish and was the deer-spotter for everyone. Vonneal also enjoyed handwork, oil painting and reading. Vonneal loved the Lord and had many callings in the LDS Church including Young Women's, Primary and Relief Society. In 1991, she and Harvey were called to serve a mission in England. The two years there were among her happiest. From 1997 to 2007, she worked in the Vernal Temple, doing two sessions every week. Vonneal is survived by her husband Harvey Madsen, her five children, and her sister Maureen. She was preceded in death by her brother Jay Curtis, her daughter-in-law Laurie Madsen and two granddaughters Sheridan Madsen and TrishaTaylor. Vonneal was beloved by her husband of seventy-one years Harvey, all her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and all who knew her. Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at 11:00 AM at the Vernal 3rd Ward LDS Chapel (475 West 100 South). A viewing for family and friends will be Monday at the Blackburn Vernal Mortuary from 6:00-8:00 PM and at the Chapel one hour prior to the services. Burial will be in the Vernal Memorial Park, under the direction of the Blackburn Vernal Mortuary.