Mary Anne Walisch was born September 26, 1932 in Vancouver, Washington. She was the third daughter of John Peter Walisch and Iva Eurena Askay Walisch. The family would later add a son, John Peter Walisch, Jr. Due to changes in her father’s employment, her family moved from Vancouver to Grand Coulee, Washington, then to Portland, Oregon, and later, to Newport, Oregon. While living in Newport, Mary Anne was introduced to the gospel and became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was baptized in the Pacific Ocean on June 4, 1950.

Mary Anne graduated from Newport High School as Valedictorian. Her love of learning and her dedication to gospel study were hallmarks of her life. She particularly loved reading The Book of Mormon, a key factor in her conversion.

It was also while living in Newport, that she met Larry Brant Sargeant and they were married on July 3, 1950. They were blessed with three children: Michael Brant, Jeffrey Brian, and Joy Ellen. Mary Anne was always quick to tell others that her greatest treasure and pleasure was to be a mother, and later a grandmother, and a great-grandmother. In addition to her descendants, many other people came to think of her as a “mom” and “grandma” because of her loving, serving heart.

Mary Anne served well and faithfully in many capacities in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout her life. One of her first callings was as a branch clerk! She was especially beloved by the children and youth she taught in the Sunday School, Primary, and Young Women organizations. One of her favorite callings was that of temple worker in both the Las Vegas and the Mount Timpanogos temples. Whether as a temple worker or as a patron, she loved being in the temple.

Mom never slacked in her role as a nurturer throughout the years of raising her children–as evidenced by countless camping trips, trips to the beach and to drive-in movies with a car filled with extra friends! She often extended her love and caring to many young people and young couples offering a safe place to live or tenderly caring for their little ones.

When her marriage ended in 1962, Mary Anne became a provider as well as nurturer. She worked for many years at Stanford University and rose to the respected role of Administrative Assistant. In 1977 she left that position to be closer to her children living in Utah. In Provo, she worked as secretary to the president of the Missionary Training Center of the Church. She continued in that capacity for nearly eighteen years, serving under several mission presidents before retiring to spend more time with her growing extended family.

Mary Anne enjoyed many interests throughout her life: reading, cooking, sewing, knitting, puzzling, hiking, camping and spending time at the beach! But, her family and her love for the gospel were always foremost in everything she did.

Her testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ, was demonstrated in the way she lived her life each day: diligently loving, serving, and caring for “the one.” Mom touched many lives over her 92 years on earth, with her love, kindness, friendship and example. She will be greatly missed. We are grateful to know that Mom is now busy loving and serving in a beautiful place alongside many dear loved ones she was looking forward to seeing again.

Mary Anne was preceded in death by her parents: John Peter Walisch and Iva Eurena Askay Walisch; her sisters, Dorothy (Phillip “Pete”) Ekelund and Jeanne (Roy) Young and her brother, John (Carla) Walisch; Larry Brant Sargeant; sisters-in-law, Carla Walisch and Donna Ord; brothers-in-law, Phillip “Pete” Ekelund, Roy Young, Perry Sargeant, Robert Ord and Wallace “Wally” Stasek.

She is survived by her three children: Mike (Sandy) Sargeant of Bakersfield, CA; Jeff (Linda) Sargeant of Boulder City, NV; and Joy (Todd) Stubbs of Mount Pleasant, UT; eighteen grandchildren (and their spouses) and a growing number of great-grandchildren, numbering over a hundred living descendants! She is also survived by her sisters-in-law, Christine (Perry) Sargeant, Jan (Robert) Ord, and Jean (Wallace) Stasek, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

A graveside service was held July 12, 2025 at the Mount Pleasant City Cemetery prior to her internment. A more detailed tribute to Mary Anne, and access to a recording of the service may be found at rasmussenmortuary.com.

We wish to thank Rasmussen Mortuary for their wonderful service and support.

We also wish to express our deep and sincere gratitude to the members of the IHC Homecare and Hospice team, particularly Kallie, Matt, and Karra, who showed such kindness and compassion throughout Mom’s remaining time with us here.