Yvonne Bryan Gentry

One of the most wonderfully pure daughters of God passed away peacefully and calmly to her eternal glory on Oct. 17, 2026, at the age of 94.

Born into the loving family of Alexander and Mabel Bryan, Yvonne was the 2nd of 4 girls. She loved all of her sisters dearly. It was a home filled with love, gospel teaching and music.

As a young girl growing up in Tooele, Utah, she loved ice skating, playing with paper dolls, and learning to play the piano, being taught by her mother. She also learned to play the cello. She was blessed to have her father as her 5th grade teacher. Just as family has always been a special part of Yvonne, the only thing she wanted to be when she grew up was a mother.

After graduating from Tooele High School, she attended Dixie College in St. George. She didn’t know how people could live in such a hot place and little did she know then that she’d spend the rest of her life living here! It was here that she met a tall, handsome young dairy farmer named Eldon, who had just come home from a mission to Hawaii. After waiting for another year for him to complete his service in the Korean War, they were married in the Salt Lake Temple on Oct. 2, 1952. She got her heart’s desire of being a mother, as they were blessed with 5 daughters and 3 sons. Yvonne was an amazing nurturer and gave her children pure and unconditional love. She made herself a devoted audience to all of her children’s needs, while being involved in the routine day-to-day activities of family life. She was always the peacemaker, wanting no contention. Her children were her greatest work, joy and hobby in this life.

Her daughters grew up with her accompanying them singing in many community events, church meetings, and family gatherings. She loved watching her sons play sports, and went to all their games and contests, faithfully keeping their stats. She was so proud of their accomplishments. She loved cheering them on to reach their dreams and overcome their challenges.

She raised her family on a shoestring budget. She preserved thousands of bottles of fruit, and baked thousands of loaves of bread. She used her bookkeeping skills to volunteer numerous hours supporting her husband in the Gentry Dairy business.

Yvonne enjoyed and excelled in sewing. She sewed her wedding dress, made her own bridesmaid’s dresses, and later for her daughters’ weddings. She enjoyed sewing dresses for her daughters, often sewing matching dresses as they were growing up, and spent many hours patching hundreds of farm pants for Eldon and her sons.

Another joy, hobby, and talent was playing the piano. Her home was blessed with beautiful music as she practiced with and accompanied countless family and ward members as they sung or played musical instruments. She was the ward choir pianist for over 60 years, played the organ in the ward, as well as playing the organ in the temple for nearly 27 years. She also enjoyed playing her cello in the community “Messiah” in the Tabernacle.

As a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she also served in many callings in the Church, including Relief Society President and Compassionate Service Leader.

Yvonne’s compassion, peace-making, and a heart full of righteous desires, made her an often called upon disciple of Jesus Christ. Many sought her counsel and comfort with visits and phone calls, women just wanting a listening ear. She was a lovely lady in the eyes of all who had the joy of knowing her.

Yvonne’s testimony of the restored gospel was deep and genuine. She always chose to do what's right. She lived her life with great faith in Jesus Christ. Her dedication to her baptismal and temple covenants are the defining attributes of her character and lasting legacy. She was a powerful example of service and discipleship. She endured the physical trials she faced during the last 8 years of her life with incredible faith and a thankful, cheerful countenance. We will miss her greatly until we meet again and look forward to that glorious reunion with anticipation and joy.

Yvonne was preceded in death by her beloved husband Charles Eldon, her children Terry and Joe, and son-in-law Keith Ava. Missing her sweet smile and kind and gentle nature are her six surviving children, Pat Ava, Pauline (Scott) Leithead, Debbie (Darren) Bills, Robert (Susan) Gentry, Stanley (Kimm) Gentry and Diana (Roberto) Navas; her 23 grandchildren, her 37 great grandchildren, her beloved sister Nancy Kimball, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services will be held at the St. George East Stake Center, 449 S. 300 E., on Friday, October 30, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. Friends and family are invited to attend a viewing from 9-10:30 prior to the service. Interment will be in the St. George Cemetery.

The family would like to thank Dixie Hospice, especially Cindy, Celia and Brittany, for their loving care during the last year of her life.