Nola Jean Davis Whipple

Nola Jean Davis Whipple passed  away on January 16, 2025 from natural causes at the age of 91.

She is survived by her brother, Ebbie Davis; her two children Lisa Smith and Brad Whipple; four grandchildren, Lydia Knight, Davin Whipple, Braddock Sandoval, and Dominique Whipple; and one great-grandchild, Evette Wente,

Nola was born in Las Vegas, Nevada before anyone had heard of the little pioneer settlement with dirt roads. She was raised on a ranch where she learned ho to work hard and have fun. She excelled at barrel racing, was crowned Miss Helldorado and went on to compete for Miss Rodeo America.

Nola's mother arranged for Nola to attend BYU where she obtained a Bachelors Degree in Nursing with the first class of BYU nurses. She returned to Las Vegas and worked as a school nurse and then in a hospital.

She was called on a mission to the Texas-New Mexico Spanish speaking mission. When she returned from her mission she met the man she would marry, Boyd Whipple. A few years later, she and her husband went overseas with their two children, to serve as diplomats for the US Government.

Twenty years of diplomatic service took her to many countries across four continents. She talked with presidents and consulted with Prophets. She survived military coups and detentes; not to mention, she saved lives. On top of that, she could throw a great party. (A coveted skill for a diplomat.)

During her diplomatic service, she was instrumental in helping the church grow and develop wherever she was stationed. Upon retiring, she dedicated herself to service in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She was a temple worker in two temples, served in several local missions, and had many different callings in her Wards and Stakes.

In nine decades of life Nola saw the world change. She reminisced about her grandfather- a prospector who came from Wales, described her uncles who were from the Old West and still wore their guns, talked about the first telephone she ever saw, lived through the Depression, had vivid memories of WWII, became a career woman, traveled the world in jets, learned how to watch cat videos and shop online, and saw Las Vegas get covered in pavement and lights, across the entire valley.

The things that people will miss most about Nola is her warmth and friendship. She cared for everyone around her throughout her life, and kept in constant contact with those people. There are empty spaces in lots of hearts from Nola's passing. And I'm sure there was a large crowd waiting to greet her on the other side. 

A Memorial Service will be held at 10 am on February 8th at 1762 South River Road St. George, Utah 84790.