Shirley Rae Arnold Mangum

1928 — 2022

Our darling mom, Shirley Rae Arnold Mangum, passed peacefully from this life, in the home she loved, and into the arms of her sweetheart whom she had so sorely missed these past four and a half years. She left us on April 20, 2022. She was 93 years old at the time of her passing.

Mom was born to Gomer and Ruth Alger Arnold in the coal mining town of Hiawatha, Utah, on August 18, 1928. She was the second of nine children and had a wonderful childhood on the family farm in Cleveland, Emery County, Utah. She met her sweetheart, James E. Mangum, at North Emery High School, and they married in the Manti LDS Temple on June 19, 1947. Most of their married years were spent in Orem where they raised their family of nine children and served in the community and church. Mom often took a supporting role to dad, but without her backing him up and doing everything that needed to be done at home, he could not have accomplished the many things he did. They were a great team. She loved serving with him on four missions, because she was able to serve “with him” rather than wait at home while he was at meetings. They spent 70 wonderful years together before dad’s passing. Mom loved to tell everyone she met that she had the “best family ever.” Mom and Dad were adamant that there were no in-laws in our family. Once you married into the family you were “theirs” and loved you dearly.

You never left mom’s house hungry. She was a great cook and could throw together a meal, or stretch one to include unexpected company, in a moment’s notice. Everyone was welcome at her table. Her homemade dinner rolls were legendary and her cookie jars always full. She loved cooking for and feeding their missionaries in the Arizona Tucson Mission. Mom loved flowers and took pride in having a beautiful yard. She spent time each day pulling weeds and dead heading her flowers. A weed never had time to get much of a start in her yard! She was a “baby whisperer.” She loved babies and could settle a fussy baby like magic. We could not have asked for a better mother. When we arrived home from school each day and yelled “Mom” she was always there. On the few occasions she wasn’t we were worried about what had happened to her. She had a “no nonsense” attitude about life. She faced challenges with resilience and just “did what needed to be done.” She loved us and taught us what was important in life. She taught us to love our Savior and serve others through word and deed.

Mom is survived by her children Kirt (Marcia) Mangum, Necia (Lyle) Burrup, Kevin (Mary) Mangum, Bart (Renae) Mangum, Kaye (Tom) Macdonald, Jamie (Kim) Anderson, Lori (Dave) McGinn, Craig (Nick Chugg) Mangum, Brad (Jane) Mangum; 44 grandchildren; 137 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Brent and Barry Arnold. She was preceded in death by her husband, James; her parents; six siblings; and three grandchildren; David James Mangum, Andria Burrup, and Brittney Mangum Drakulich.

We would like to give special thanks to her many caregivers from Home Care Services who became friends to us all.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the LDS Humanitarian Fund or another charity of your choice.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 27, 2022, 12:00 noon, at the Orem Suncrest Stake Center, 90 North 600 West, Orem, Utah. There will be a viewing before the services from 10:00-11:30 a.m. Interment will be at the Orem City Cemetery following the services. A live webcast of services will be available by visiting www.walkersanderson.com/webcast.