Christine “Chris” Shaw Sudweeks

Chris Sudweeks peacefully passed away on Friday, August 29, 2025. After a recent diagnosis of progressive pulmonary fibrosis, she faced her final days with the same strength, humor, and faith that defined her life. She always taught her family, “We can do hard things” and she was the perfect example of this until the very end. She left this world exactly as she wished—held close by those she loved most.

Christine Shaw Sudweeks was born on May 20, 1950, in Logan, UT to Alfred Dean and LaRue Christiansen Shaw. She grew up in Nephi, UT and loved Nephi her whole life. She graduated from Juab High School and was very active with yearbook, cheerleading, operettas, drill team, and pageants. She was voted “Best Girl” her senior year. She worked at the Fros-T- Freez on Nephi Main Street in high school and early years of college.

She earned her associate degree from Snow College in 1970, where she excelled in business classes and was awarded a medal for her lightning-fast shorthand. She completed her bachelor’s degree at Utah State University in Business Education and Office Administration in 1972. She worked at Blue Cross Blue Shield in Salt Lake City before her children were born. Later she spent 20 years as a beloved preschool teacher known to hundreds of children (and eventually some of her own grandchildren) as “Miss Chris.” She also served as an assistant librarian in various schools. She loved children and they loved her back.

She married DeRay Sudweeks on September 10, 1971, in the Manti, Utah Temple. Their families knew each other growing up and her dad, the school Shop teacher, even pulled DeRay aside once and told him to, “Keep your eye on that little Shaw girl.” He did just that and Chris was so excited to marry her handsome missionary. Their first home was in Logan again as Chris completed her bachelor’s degree. They moved to Sandy and then built their forever home in Taylorsville. They perfectly balanced and supported each other throughout their marriage of 54 years.

She had a great love for music and played the piano beautifully. She taught piano lessons and adored Primary songs. She loved having her mom’s piano in her house and filled her home and church with lovely melodies. She sat on her patio in the evenings and watched the sunsets, and loved reading, journaling, and gardening.

She was very involved as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served tirelessly in many callings, including multiple times as Primary President, Stake and Ward Relief Society President, Young Women’s President, and everything in between. She found great joy in temple service and served for numerous years in the Jordan River Temple. She was honored to have a new temple built in her beloved Taylorsville and to have served as a worker there until very recently. She could see the temple from her front yard.

Her most cherished role was that of mother and grandmother and she loved nothing more than being with her four children, their spouses, and her 16 grandchildren. She was a teacher, protector, helper, friend, and the best of mothers. She loved serving her family with traditions like Sunday dinners, yearly Pineview camping and boating trips, Ute Stampede rodeo, holiday gifts and celebrations, Shaw Family bowling, and birthday shopping trips with each grandchild. She was a wonderful cook and always made sure everyone had their chosen birthday and holiday treats, including everyone’s favorite seven-layer Christmas Jell-o. She prioritized her grandkids and was at every ball game, primary program, marching band parade, concert, play, graduation, and other special milestones. Her children and grandchildren will always remember her constant presence and support in their lives and the way she’d joke, “Grandma loves a winner!”

She had many friends new and old, and maintained friendships over a lifetime. She regularly met with friends for girls’ night out dinners and celebrations. She kept a detailed planner and in it she listed the birthdays of everyone she knows. She especially loved adventuring with her life- long best friend and sister, Suzie.

Chris leaves her family with legacies of unconditional love and forgiveness, beautiful flower gardens, traditions, and her deep and abiding testimony that will stand as a witness of Christ for her posterity.

Chris is preceded in death by her parents, whom she missed dearly. She is survived by her husband, DeRay; her children Monica & Aaron Butcher, Ryan & Heather Sudweeks, Phillip Sudweeks, Mikell Gardener Sudweeks, and Christian & Ariel Sudweeks; her grandchildren Mitchell & Morgan, Makayla & Tanner, Gabrielle, Ashlyn Kate, Jack, Maggie, Gavin, Tate, Rex, Tayler, Molly, Jaden, Micah, Jonah, Rhett, and Baby Haven, and many more children she’ll send down from heaven. She is also survived by her siblings Suzanne and Russ Farrer and Curt and Sheila Shaw and many nieces and nephews and friends and neighbors who adored her.

Chris was Best Girl to all of us, and we will miss her forever. “Love you more,” Mom.

Funeral Services:

● Viewing: Friday, September 5, from 6:00–8:00 p.m. at Anderson & Goff Mortuary, 11859 S. 700 E., Draper, UT

● Morning Viewing: Saturday, September 6, from 9:45–10:45 a.m. at Taylorsville Heritage Park 1st Ward, 4986 S. Valois Dr., Taylorsville, UT

● Funeral: Saturday, September 6, at 11:00 a.m. at Taylorsville Heritage Park 1st Ward, 4986 S. Valois Dr., Taylorsville, UT

● Graveside Service: Saturday, September 6, at 3:00 p.m. at Vine Bluff Cemetery, 1200 N. 400 E., Nephi, UT

Funeral services will be live-streamed at:  https://evt.live/christine-sudweeks