January 19, 1951 to February 17, 2023
Norma Jean “Jeannie” Black Mecham, age 72, of Duchesne, Utah, died Feb. 17, 2023, in the Utah Valley Hospital due to complications from a stroke.
Jeannie was born on Jan. 19, 1951, in Monticello, Utah, to Oley P. and Mary Elsie Shumway Black, and was the second of seven children, six sisters and a brother, whom she loved dearly.
She met her husband of more than 50 years, Herbert Lee Mecham, in Duchesne, shortly after her family moved to Duchesne from Blanding, Utah. They were married on Feb. 16, 1968. They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on Oct. 27, 1990. He died Nov. 2, 2020. Together, they raised their five children in Duchesne. Jeannie and Lee built a home on the banks of the Strawberry River where her large family could gather. She created a home filled with love where her family could enjoy time laughing, playing games around the table, fishing, and riding ATVs or horses. She was a skilled cook and always had a homemade meal or loaf of bread ready for friends, family, and neighbors.
Jeannie was a familiar face and beloved member of the community. She operated her own daycare, where many community children passed through her home. She worked at Zions Bank, the Duchesne Valley Medical Clinic, and most recently as the supervisor of the Duchesne branch at the Duchesne County Library, where she had been employed for the past 15 years. She was set to retire from the county in March. She loved serving the community as a librarian. Jeannie was also active in the Daughters of Utah Pioneers and Mother’s Club.
Jeannie was passionate about Duchesne and was civically involved in many capacities. She was elected to the Duchesne City Council, where she served zealously for nearly 20 years. She was an ardent proponent of freedom. She played a vital role in drafting and passing various statutes, such as the ordinance allowing ATVs to lawfully operate on city streets. She served on the planning and zoning committee and believed in the fundamentals of building infrastructure. During her city council tenure, she oversaw replacing of the city sewer and drainage systems, as well as the surveying and resurfacing of the city streets. She was instrumental in bringing a stoplight to Main Street to protect pedestrians and slow dangerous traffic through town. Furthermore, in her role as city councilwoman, she was named plaintiff in a Writ for Certiorari to the United States Supreme Court. She also served on the library board and helped establish a library branch in Duchesne.
Jeannie was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She held callings and diligently served in every auxiliary, most notably as Relief Society President. She loved attending the temple. She was a true disciple of Jesus Christ and personified His teachings in the way she lived her life. She was a guiding light and a polestar for her family.
Jeannie loved to travel and see the world. She had an affinity for all things sweet. She loved to laugh, was quick witted with puns, and had a great sense of humor. She instilled her values across three generations and is forever beloved by everyone lucky enough to know her. She was firm and immovable in her selfless resolve to care for those she loved. She was admired by all for her fortitude, her devotion, her altruism, her consistent values, her faith, her resilience, her optimism, and her joy for life.
Jeannie is survived by son, Travis (Jeanine) Mecham, Springdale, Arkansas; daughters, Alicia (Chad) Tegan, Duchesne, Utah; Janeece (Daniel) Smith, Richfield, Utah; sons, Lorenzo (Dana) Mecham, Orem, Utah; and Dalaney (Hannah) Mecham, Gulfport, Mississippi; grandchildren, Amanda (Taft) Anderson, Tanner Mecham, Cameron (Sarah) Mecham, Chandler Mecham, Mykelle (Lyle) Sessions, Aariah (Braden) Pugsley, Rossten (Olajeah) Tegan, Dakota (Ariel) Tegan, Kinsley, Jalen (Felisia) Kreitzer, Kylie (Morgan) Hughes, Shania Kreitzer, Kagan Kreitzer, McCoy Kreitzer, Dominik (Mackenzie) Mecham, Bianka Mecham, Dorian Mecham, Blake Mecham, Hudson Mecham, Oliver Mecham, Mia Mecham; great-grandchildren, Simon Anderson, Jonah Anderson, Elsie Sessions, Kayla Sessions, Carter Pugsly, Cohen Hughes, Millie Hughes, River Lee, Kaydence Kreitzer, Deegan Kreitzer, Aiden Kreitzer; siblings, Joyce (Terry) Lance, Provo, Utah; Teri Palmer, St. George, Utah; Cynthia (Curtiss) Perkins, Blanding, Utah; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lee; parents; sisters, Lannette, and Tammi; and brother, Val.
We want to thank friends, neighbors, loved ones, family, and all who have served Jeannie and her family.
Services were on Feb. 23,2023, at the Duchesne 1st and 3rd Ward Chapel.
Burial will be in the Strawberry Cemetery.
Condolences may be shared at www.hullingermortuary.com.