DeVonna Heaps Tolman

DeVonna Heaps Tolman, was born on August 4, 1931, in Smithfield, Utah, the oldest child of Orrie and Fern Heaps. She passed away following a short, but courageous battle against brain cancer on September 29, 2007, in Brigham City, Utah, surrounded by her family. The oldest of 6 children, DeVonna spent her early years mostly helping on the family farm in Smithfield, and watching over her younger brothers and sisters. She attended local schools, and graduated from North Cache in 1949. During these years she spent time working at the local drive-in, drug store and bank. DeVonna was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and in 1956 she was called to serve a Mission in New Zealand. While serving in the Mission Office she met her future husband, Lyman Kay Tolman, from Burbank, California. Shortly after returning home from her mission, the couple was married in the Logan Temple on June 6, 1958, and then headed down to Provo to begin schooling at Brigham Young University. They graduated in 1965 and relocated to Southern California where Lyman took a job teaching elementary school Industrial Arts. In 1971 the family moved to Ephraim, Utah, where Lyman was employed at Snow College as an instructor of Engineering Graphics and Drafting. During these years DeVonna worked as a cook in the Student Union Building at Snow College, and at the Bank of Ephraim. Following Lyman?s death in 1996, DeVonna moved back to Smithfield to be closer to her family, and to help care for her mother. She was one of the first people to move into the Spring Meadow retirement development in Smithfield, and enjoyed the many close friends and associations living there provided. Early in June she began to experience symptoms of the disease that would complete her mission in this life. Through it all DeVonna remained valiant in her faith, testimony, and an example of Christ-like love and concern for all she came in contact with. She was an active member of the Smithfield 10th Ward. Lyman and DeVonna were the parents of two children: Dennis Vivian, Brigham City Utah, and Cheryl Charley Langley, Vernal Utah. She is survived by her children, two brothers, Lloyd Janel and David Rea Heaps, and three sisters, Joycelyn Robert Wood, Helen Glen Fairbourn, and Jean Doug Wood, and 5 grandchildren. Friends may call Tuesday evening, October 2nd at Nelson Funeral Home, 85 South Main, Smithfield from 6-8pm. Funeral services will be Wednesday, October 3rd, at 2pm in the Smithfield 10th Ward Chapel, 345 East 300 South, under the direction of Bishop Peter Krusi. Friends may call Wednesday at the church from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Interment will be in the Smithfield City Cemetery. The family wishes to express their appreciation to the Smithfield 10th Ward, her many friends from Spring Meadow, Dr. Gary Harris, and to Dr.?s Blake Welling, Leslie Ingersol, and Harold Johnson at the McKay-Dee Cancer Center for the loving care and concern shown to our mother during these last months. Condolences may be extended to the family online at www.nelsonfuneralhome.com .