Linda Lee Avarell Moat

Linda Lee Avarell Moat, age 95, of Duchesne, Utah, passed away on September 10, 2022, at Rosetta Assisted Living in Burley, Idaho, returning to her loving Heavenly Father and the arms of her beloved husband Don and daughter Charise.

She was born on January 10, 1927 in San Pedro, California to Hugo Elof Avarell and Annalee Kohlhepp. She was the youngest of four children: Avon, Hugo, Hope, and Linda.

She grew up enjoying sunny days spent on the beach with her cousins and sister Hope, climbing Half Dome in Yosemite National Park with her father Hugo, riding her bike down the hills of San Pedro, and performing in plays and dance productions. She loved tap dancing, ballet, singing, and the theater. Her mother would write lines and Linda would implement, choreograph, stage, and finally perform these plays using family, friends, and neighbors. This passion of hers continued as her life progressed and eventually led Linda to teaching ballet for over 30 years in Duchesne.

Linda learned the value of hard work while working as a telephone switchboard operator and seasonal mail carrier as a teenager. In 1944 during World War II, Linda met her future husband Clarence Donald Moat Jr. while working as a gardener at the Long Beach Naval Base in California. Linda was impressed with Don due to him being the only sailor she had met that did not drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes. Don on the other hand was impressed with her football pass when she threw a perfect spiral back to him. They instantly fell in love and two weeks later were officially engaged; they were married on May 14, 1945. Two weeks later her husband Don was shipped off to the Pacific once again to continue fighting for our country as a Marine.

Two and a half years later, Don was finally able to return from serving in China and Japan. Soon after, their first daughter Charise was born while living in Oceanside, California. At this time, Linda and Don were able to be sealed in the Mesa, Arizona Temple for time and all eternity. From there, they moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Pleasantville, New Jersey, Provo, Utah, and eventually Duchesne,in 1955 where they spent the next 62 years.

Linda and her husband were blessed with seven children. She and her husband made life magical for their family through hard work and struggles. Linda loved adventures such as traveling, camping, hiking, ice skating, water skiing, and swimming as much as she loved her home and family. She enjoyed and had a gift for gardening, singing, performing, dancing, and teaching. Linda was a talented singer and was frequently sought after to sing at church, parties, and funerals, often with her husband, Don. She was hard-working and someone who appreciated the bounty and beauty of this earth, finding joy while tending to her vegetable garden, canning fruits and vegetables, and planting flowers around her yard.

She had a deep faith in God and was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in many different capacities in the church throughout her life; she spent hours each day studying the scriptures and loved teaching adult Gospel Doctrine and Relief Society.

She came alive at family gatherings, reunions, and holidays and especially loved hotdog roasts in the backyard or mountains with family. She wanted gatherings to be special and always made sure that there was enough fun and food to go around. She will be remembered for her great cooking in both quality and in quantity along with always having popcorn and ice cream on hand to share. She loved to tell and hear stories and was a doting, tender grandmother, making each of her 31 grandkids think they were her favorite. She was always loving, accepting, endlessly generous and was a friend to everyone she met.

She is survived by her children, David (Rolayne) Moat, Duchesne, UT; Valenna (Daryl) Grant, Duchesne, UT; Starling (Dallas) Reynolds, Evanston, WY; Heidi Clark-Honeycutt, Florence, OR; Chris (Janet) Moat, Layton, UT; Tephra (Delbert) Oman, Burley, ID; 31 grandchildren, 94 great-grandchildren, and 9 great-great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband Clarence Donald Moat Jr., her daughter Charise Eileen Moat, grandson Lynx Moat, great-grandson James Pope, father Hugo Elof Avarell, mother Annalee (Kohlhepp) Avarell, brother’s Avon and Hugo Avarell, and sister Hope (Avarell) Hilton.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Bridgeland Ward. A viewing will be held from 9:30 - 10:45 a.m.

Burial will be in the Duchesne City Cemetery under the care of Hullinger Mortuary of Roosevelt, Utah.