LaNeta Jane Stout

A wonderful family reunion was held on June 4, 2018, when LaNeta Owen Stout, 82, joined her eternal sweetheart, Mel G. Stout; an infant son, Melvin Gary; her parents; and other loved ones on the other side of the veil. Rejoicing in her release and graduation from mortality, but mourning their own bereavement, are her surviving siblings, Richard (Linda) Owen, Gloria (Russell) Robison, Eileen (Ron, deceased) Andersen, and Verl (Margo) Owen; her children, David (Carolyn) Stout, Suellen (Bob) Weiler, Dan (Cynthia) Stout, Rebecca (Dan) Cluff, Ann (Dan) Davis, and Jennifer (Brad) Stinocher; 45 grandchildren, and more than 80 great-grandchildren.

Born August 12, 1935 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Orson C. and Ruth Carlson Owen, LaNeta graduated from Granite High School, married her childhood sweetheart in the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, then almost immediately sent him off and supported him in serving a two-year mission for the Church. In their 64 years of marriage, they reared their children, served in the LDS Church in various capacities in Salt Lake and Mesa, and served three Church missions together.

For many years, LaNeta composed a family newsletter to keep her widely-scattered posterity connected, always ending each edition with her signature exhortation: “Hold to the rod!” referring, of course, to the iron rod leading to the Tree of Life referenced in the Book of Mormon. Those who knew her appreciate her example in doing just that. Her growing posterity all rejoice in the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the eternal covenants which “help us hold on and let go…[,]sweeten, preserve, sanctify, [and] redeem.” LaNeta is missed already. In the childhood words of a beloved grandson: “Grama, [we] love you higher than Heavenly Father’s head!”

A celebration of LaNeta’s life will be held Monday, June 11, 2018 at the LDS meetinghouse at 2334 E. Pueblo in Mesa at 10:00am, preceded by a family visitation at 9:00am. Interment will be at the City of Mesa Cemetery.