Heloyce Hanson Hamilton

Heloyce Hanson Hamilton, our beloved mother, passed away at the age of 92 on April 14, 2025 at her home in St. George, Utah. She was born on December 11, 1932, in Salt Lake City, Utah to Jesse Peter Hanson and Verda May Keyte. She was their first child and their favorite daughter. They had two more children, both boys. Heloyce always said she had a magical childhood and that she grew up at the best time in all of history. During her adolescence, you could find Heloyce at hospitals and community and church events, where she would read poetry, recite stories, and occasionally play the piano. It was during this time she developed a love for theater. After graduating from South High School, she attended Brigham Young University (Academy), where she performed in many plays and even won the award for lead actress. She graduated with a Bachelors in Fine Arts in 1955. Heloyce always considered herself BYU’s #1 fan, often saying that she wanted to be buried in the BYU football field endzone. During Heloyce’s adolescent years she met and dated James (Jay) E. Hamilton. They dated for ten years during which time she graduated from BYU, served an LDS Mission to England, and worked at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Headquarters Office Building as secretary for Gordon B. Hinckley. On October 1, 1958 she married Jay in the Salt Lake City Temple. They made their first home in southern California where their son Mark was born and later returned to Utah where children David, Laurel and Heather joined the family. Soon after through the Native American Navajo Program, Marsha Ann Billy came to live with the family and became part of the Hamilton clan. They spent 20 wonderful years in Layton raising their family before moving to Lindon, Utah where they diligently served as temple workers at the Mount Timpanogos Temple for 12 years. They also served as a senior couple in the Connecticut, Hartford Mission and later in the Nauvoo Temple Mission. Heloyce found great joy serving in the church. In 2016 they moved to St. George, Utah and within a year, after 59 years of marriage, Jay passed away. Heloyce had many hobbies and interests. She loved sports (BYU especially). She loved learning and was well educated. Books were her passion and she had a huge library. For many years she and Jay would take each grandchild individually out to lunch and then to a bookstore to pick out a book. It became a wonderful tradition. But her biggest interest in life was people. Whether they were young or old, she considered everyone her friend. Heloyce will be greatly missed by her family and friends, She is survived by her children; Mark (Cheryl), David (Carol), Laurel Hill (Ron), Heather Kinard (David), her seventeen grandchildren, and thirty four great grandchildren, and her brother, Merrell Hanson. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her brother, Keyte, and great grandson, Sam Hamilton. A graveside service with be held Saturday, April 19, 2025 at 2:00 P.M. at the Mona city cemetery. In lieu of flowers, buy a book and continue her joy of reading.

Heloyce Hanson Hamilton

December 11, 1932 - April 14, 2025