VeRene Esplin Tait, age 96 years, passed away in the early morning hours of June 13, 2026 at the Beehive Home in Kanab, Utah.  She was born in the early morning hour of 6 a.m. on November 4, 1929, in Orderville, Utah. She was born in her Grandma Esplin’s front room and weighed 8 pounds. Her mom (Lucy) wrote that she was a long time coming as she came breach. All her life, she liked to rise early in the morning to go for a walk. Now she is walking with her eternal companion, LaVier, in heaven.

Mom was raised and went to school in Orderville, Utah. She married the love of her life, LaVier “C” Tait (a Mt. Carmel boy) in the St. George Temple on July 10, 1948. Their family size soon grew to 7, with the arrival of their 5 children. In the early years of their marriage, they lived in a few places while working for Kaibab, but eventually made their home in Fredonia, AZ.

 Her children believe they had an ideal life living at Mangum Camp on the Kaibab, running free rein all over the mountain, having pet owls and many other amazing experiences associated with living at a logging camp. Mom, however, got to cook on a wood stove, had a pot belly stove for the chilly mornings, a treadle sewing machine for mending and sewing, and lugging the laundry into Fredonia every weekend to wash.

It was late summer of 1964, when LaVier was diagnosed with Leukemia, and as hard as he fought to live, he passed away on September 13, 1965. Mom, of course, was beside herself with grief. How would she take care of 5 children (3 being teenagers) and herself without any education beyond high school? She was blessed to live in a community of compassionate people. She was not on her own, she had the love and care of her family in Mt. Carmel and Orderville as well as the ward and community family she has in Fredonia.  She had been working with the head-start program, and a dear friend Caroline Carlly talked with her about applying for the position of librarian at the school. She applied and was accepted. She later became the high school secretary and eventually the Business Manager of the School District.

She served in many callings in the church (some more than once). She served in the Young Women’s, both in the ward and stake. She went to Young Women’s camp 17 years and even hiked across the Grand Canyon with a group of young women. She also served in the Relief Society (both in the ward and in the stake). She has been a compassionate serve leader (both as a calling in the church and her way of life). She was a ward missionary, Sunday School teacher and served in many other callings.

She has always kept a beautiful, tidy home and yard. Her love for flowers and gardens has influenced her children and grandchildren.

Mom loved quilting, especially with her good friend Georgia Heaton. They made over 100 quilts during Covid as they quilted together, sometimes joined by Georgia’s daughter Lisa. The baby quilts were donated to the Relief Society to give to any of the new babies in Fredonia. We are sure the world’s problems were solved many times over during those quilt sessions.

Her greatest joy was her family. She is survived by her children Teresa Ann Tait, Steven LaVier (Cathy) Tait, Patti (Lyle) Heaton, Nan Tait (O’Connor Dale). She is also survived by 22 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Lavier; her parents, Lawrence and Lucy Esplin; Her brothers: Lawrence Jr., Richard, Israel Mack and John James; Her sisters: Amy Levanger and Nan Johnson; Her son: Lindsay Carson Tait, Her son-in-law: Stanley Koehn, and 5 great-grandchildren: Daryl James Brooksby, Jessica Shaylee Brooksby, Jackson Dan Gilbert, Benjamin Carson Tait, and Mason Tait McCormick.  

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff at the Beehive Home in St. George and in Kanab, and the nurses of Zion’s Way for their kind, gentle and loving care they gave our Mom.

     Our mom loved plants and flowers, but perhaps even more, she loved serving those around her. In her honor, perhaps consider doing acts of kindness to those around you.

Services will be held on Friday, July 3, 2026 at the Fredonia, AZ LDS Church. Visitation at 9 am, and services at 10 am (both AZ time). Internment thereafter in the Mt. Carmel, UT cemetery.

Arrangements were made with Mosdell Mortuary.

A zoom meeting can be watched the day of the service at the following link: https://zoom.us/j/91225122140

As per church policy, the link will only available during the service. A digital voice recording can be obtained through Mosdell Mortuary.