Joanne Seely

Joanne Somers Seely, 77, of Nephi, Utah, peacefully passed away on April 13, 2023, surrounded by her loving sons, after recently being diagnosed with interstitial lung disease.  

Joanne was born on January 28, 1946, in Pioche, Nevada to Donald Varley Somers and Margaret Louise Rathbun Somers. After graduating from American Fork High School in 1964, she attended the Mary Kawakami School of Beauty where she received her credentials to be a licensed hair stylist.  

Joanne met the love of her life, John Ross Seely.  After a long courtship, they were married on June 29, 1968. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Manti LDS Temple. After years of trying to have children, they were ecstatic to welcome their oldest son, Justin, whom they were privileged to adopt shortly after his birth.  Joanne would always say that this jump started the process, as they were later blessed to become pregnant and welcomed their next two sons, Jeff and Jake. This made their family complete-- “The Five Js”

Joanne started her career as a beautician, but later found great joy in numerous other career opportunities, along with supporting her husband, John, with his trucking business. Due to John’s business, the family was always on the move.  This created many opportunities for adventure.  The family moved from Orem, Utah to Moab, Utah.  Later they would then move to Farmington, New Mexico, where one of Joanne’s favorite career opportunities was working with law-enforcement. 

Later the family settled in Nephi, Utah in 1986. Joanne then started her career at Central Valley Medical Center working as a Billing/Insurance Specialist.  She loved being a part of this great organization. Her devotion and loyalty grew even stronger for the doctors and nurses with on May 4, 1990, as they valiantly tried to save her youngest son’s life from a tragic accident. Their love, comfort and support during this difficult time inspired her to then make it her own personal mission to serve and provide support to others. Which, from that point forward, she became a member of a special group that provided comfort to families experiencing loss. 

Being true to her character, Joanne took early retirement after working for 26 long years to lovingly care for her husband, John, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease which she did until he passed. 

Afterwards, she took the opportunity to travel and spend time with her beloved family. Joanne provided great support to her son, Jeff and his family, wherever his career took him in Wyoming, Montana, and California. Because she loved spending time with Jeff’s family, she would pack up and go wherever, or whenever, she had the opportunity to serve and help them. 

Additionally, while at home in Nephi, Joanne never missed an important date or event for Justin, and his family. It didn’t matter if it was a grandson’s football game in cold, rainy weather, or sitting all day at a wrestling tournament, she never missed. She absolutely loved supporting her grandchildren, and her boys and their wives meant everything to her.

Joanne loved serving others and shared her talents fully and freely. She made certain her home was always a shelter, or a place of rebuilding, for those in need. She valiantly served in many different callings in her wards through the years, with her favorite calling being the Gospel Doctrine teacher, in which she spent countless hours preparing her lessons in hopes of impacting those she taught. 

Joanne was preceded in death by her husband, John, and her youngest son, Jacob Vance Seely.  She was also preceded in death by her parents, and her three siblings, Beverly, Donna and Allen.  She is survived by her sons Justin (Stacy) Seely, of Nephi, Utah, and Jeff (Trinity) Seely of Ojai, California.  Additionally, she is survived by her grandchildren Ashton, Addison, Aiden, Kathryn, Wyatt, Tap, and Sam, as well as multiple nieces and nephews and other close relatives.

Services will be held on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at the Nephi Utah North Stake Center, located at 1125 North 400 East, Nephi, Utah.  A viewing will be held on that day, Saturday, from 9:30 am to 10:45 am.  Funeral services will then immediately follow at 11:00 am in the chapel.  

The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to Dr. Jones, and the team of nurses and respiratory therapists that cared for our mother, at Central Valley Medical Center as well as the doctors and nurses in the ICU at LDS Hospital. Through this difficult time, they were tender, caring, and showed genuine love for our mother and our family. 

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Joanne’s medical and funeral fund. 

If you would like to donate, please make it to the: 

Joanne S Seely Trust 
C/O Justin or Jeff Seely
180 W 700 S
Nephi, UT 84648