July 9, 1933 — November 11, 2016
Avanell Darrington of Toquerville, Utah, passed from this life Nov. 11, 2016, surrounded by her family. Avanell was born July 9, 1933, in Yost, Utah, to Charles Vernal and Saddie Fern Jones Montgomery, the oldest of six children. She married Rulon Leon Darrington in the Logan, Utah, temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on June 25, 1951.
She traveled the country building LDS chapels with Rulon for many years before settling in Toquerville in 1966, where she remained until her passing. She received from her father a great love of animals and the outdoors. One of her most cherished experiences was riding the Chief Joseph Trail with her father and his beloved Appaloosa horses.
Professionally, Avanell would tell you she was first and foremost a mother, but when the youngest of her 10 children started school, she took the perfect job working in the school cafeteria system to fill her free time. It allowed her to be home whenever the children were out of school as well as giving her the perfect position to keep an eye on them throughout the day.
She made lifelong friends before retiring. Throughout her life, she served faithfully in numerous church callings and provided simple acts of kindness throughout the community. Having raised 10 babies, she had a special empathy for young mothers and went out of her way to give words of encouragement and support at just the right times.
Within the walls of a modest house, she managed to create an exceptional home, where everyone felt safe and welcomed, a home in which she taught her children by example the values of self-reliance, kindness, hard work, service, sacrifice and that family and faith always came first. In her later years, she took great joy in spending time with her numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, always taking extra time to make each feel important and loved.
She is survived by her brother Robert (Donna) Montgomery; sisters (Dennis) Patricia Hirschi and Robin Kaneko. She is also survived by children Randy (Vicky) Darrington, Cedar City, Utah; (Mike) Dendra Stratton, Toquerville, Utah; (Cheryl) Darrington, Hurricane, Utah; (Bud) Malawna Mecham, Montpelier, Idaho; (Eric) LaDawna Pickering, Enterprise, Utah; (Lance) Marvene Gubler, Toquerville, Utah; Rob Darrington and Richard (Julie) Darrington, St. George, Utah; Royd (Natalie) Darrington, Nephi, Utah; and (Met) Maridee Johnson, LaVerkin, Utah, as well as 76 grandchildren, 68 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. She is preceded in death by her parents; brother (Curtis) Kaneko; sisters Donna Scoffield and JoAnn Montgomery; sons Rory Darrington, Henry Nez and Emery Nez; and grandson Steven Pickering.
Funeral services
- A viewing will be held Friday, Nov. 18, from 6-8 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 19, 9-10:30 a.m.
- Funeral service to follow at 11 am. All services to be held at the Toquerville LDS Chapel.
- Interment will take place at the Toquerville Cemetery.
The family would like to thank all those who have so kindly served our mother and our family over the years along with the doctors and nurses who saw her comfortably through her final days.
Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, St. George, Utah, 435-673-2454. Friends and family are invited to sign Avanell’s guest book at www.spilsburymortuary.com.