Viola Jean Beal

With a blend of deep sorrow and yet gratitude for her loving, devoted presence intertwined throughout our lives and memories, we announce the passing of Viola Jean Beal. She slipped from our world into eternity on December 16th to join her Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ, in the tranquil, divine courts above.

Jean was born on January 10th, 1940, in American Fork, Utah. On July 15th, 1961, she married Alex Beal and was sealed to him for time and all eternity on January 9th, 1970. Jean and Alex had four children: Rick, Julie, Teresa, and Darren. They lived in Cedar City and Las Vegas for a time before moving to Leeds, where they resided ever since.

Her life was a tapestry woven with vibrant and radiant colors, symbolic of an unshakeable faith in her Savior Jesus Christ, and a boundless capacity for loving devotion to her family and service to others. Her family was her heart and soul, the epicenter of her world. The companionship and love she shared with Alex, her husband of 62 years, was a testament to the unyielding fidelity and devotion of their temporal and eternal union. Upon Jean’s passing, Alex remarked, “Our little dove has flown to heaven.” We learned Alex had referred to Jean as his little dove throughout their marriage.

For Jean, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ was the keystone of her life. Her testimony of the Gospel gave her strength and courage so much that she didn’t fear death. Her dedication to her faith was vividly expressed through love, fulfilling her church callings, and service as an ordinance worker in the St. George Temple, a role she cherished and performed with reverence and joy.

Her interests and hobbies were diverse. To name just a few, she loved dirty Diet Dr. Pepper, her iPad, the novelty and catharsis of a good book, and the thrill of motorcycles. She enjoyed creating beautiful things; aside from the welcoming and loving spirit in her home, she made quilts, pillows, and gorgeous baby blessing dresses, each piece a labor of love and a testament to her artistic talent. She was also not afraid of a challenge, such as opening and successfully running the well-respected Cosmopolitan Steakhouse in Silver Reef with her husband, Alex, in the 1990s and 2000s.

Jean was fiercely loyal and protective of her family, and that stretched from her children to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved them dearly. If you crossed her family, you were “in big trouble,” as she might say. Jean’s love for children was deep and abiding, mirroring that of the Savior and evident in every creative endeavor, every smile, and every moment spent in their company.

Jean is survived by her husband Alex; her children, Rick, Julie, Teresa, and Darren; as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren and siblings. 

She is preceded in death by her grandsons, Alex Brent Beal and Kyle Scott Nackos, and siblings, Connie Elkins and Richard Bland. We know Brent and Kyle, along with other family and friends, were waiting for her on the other side of the veil.

As we bid farewell to Jean, we wish to express our profound gratitude to the staff at Dixie Regional Medical Center who cared for her during the final days of her sojourn on earth. Our hearts are filled with memories of a life lived with goodness, sacrifice, love, and an unwavering commitment to her faith and family. Her departure leaves an indelible mark on the hearts of those she leaves behind.

A service to celebrate and remember Jean's life will be held on December 22nd at the Leeds LDS Chapel, 75 N. Main Street, Leeds Ut. Visitations at 10am, with the service at 11am. Interment will take place in the Silver Reef cemetery. 

Though she has embarked on her heavenly journey, Jean’s legacy will remain with us. Rest in eternal love, dear Jean, our wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. And God be with you till we meet again.

Arrangements are made under the direction of Hughes Mortuary,  1037 E 700 S. St. George, UT, 435-674-5000.