Mary Lou (Dalley) Mounteer

Our mother and grandmother, Mary Lou (Dalley) Mounteer loved exploring the world with her beloved husband and our father, Gene. On Tuesday, October 28, 2025, Mary Lou embarked on the ultimate excursion having left mortality to reunite with her husband in the eternities. Mary Lou spent her final years at Beacon Crest Senior Living in Draper, Utah.

Mary Lou was born to Jess Stewart Dalley and Mary Lucille Hoodless on October 4, 1936 in Logan, Utah. While attending Logan High School, Mary Lou was selected as the Girls State Correspondent for the Salt Lake Tribune, won first place in the Region One shorthand contest, won first place with her debate partner at the Utah State High Forensic Tournament, participated in student and Seminary councils, was a staff member of the school paper, and sang in the girls chorus. She was also one of the featured speakers at her high school graduation.

After her first year at Utah State University in Logan, Mary Lou took a summer job in Stockton, California. At an LDS Young Adult activity, Mary Lou met local resident Karel Gene Mounteer (Gene) where they quickly “fell in love and never fell out.” At summer's end, Gene went to Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and Mary Lou returned to school in Logan. On October 13, 1955 they married in the Logan LDS temple.

The couple settled in Bakersfield, California where they had two daughters, Janet and Julie, before moving to San Jose, California where Gene completed his bachelor's degree in English at San Jose State University and his master's degree at Santa Clara University. A son, David, and two daughters, Carole and Laurie, were born during the couple's San Jose years. Gene taught English at two local high schools and at Saratoga's West Valley College.

During Gene’s school years, Mary Lou supported the family working at General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC). She worked there periodically until 1980 when becoming a full time employee. She was eventually promoted to credit manager until her retirement in 1995.

An avid reader and learner, Mary Lou graduated from San Jose State University in 1974 with a bachelor’s degree in English while pregnant with her youngest child, Laurie. Mary Lou enjoyed learning and teaching the gospel as a speaker, Relief Society teacher, and a marriage and family instructor at the LDS Institute. In 2010, she spoke at the BYU Women’s Conference on the topic of retirement preparation.

In 1978, the family moved to Morgan Hill, California where Gene and Mary Lou served in LDS ward and stake callings. They retired to Sandy, Utah in 1995 and soon served a Church education mission in Lyon, France where they opened the first LDS Institute in Europe. Later they served a temple mission in Mexico City and enjoyed working in the Jordan River and Draper Temples.

With her passion for travel, Mary Lou circumnavigated the world with her husband and family. Mary Lou and Gene took great pride in their family: daughters Janet Lowry (Keith), Julie Hawker (Rick), Carole Kamradt (Eric), Laurie Stearmer (Jon), son David Mounteer (Sherri), eighteen grandchildren, and twenty-one great-grandchildren.

Mary Lou’s family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to the caregivers and staff of Draper’s Beacon Crest Senior Living for their warm and tender care. We look forward to meeting our parents again in the eternities.

A memorial will be held Monday, November 3, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at the Cottonwood Creek 6th Ward chapel, 1433 Old Mission Road, Sandy, Utah. The viewing will take place from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. Interment, Sandy City Cemetery.