Laurel Bushman

Jessie Laurel Baird Bushman, 98, passed away on May 15, 2022 in Overton, NV. Laurel was born on May 14, 1924 in Heber City, UT to William Harry Baird and Winnie Murdock. She attended Wasatch High School with her best friend and aunt, Lucille, and they played on the basketball team together. She also played the Marimba and was the Majorette for the Marching Band. She graduated in 1942 and attended LDS Business College to earn a degree in Bookkeeping. She later moved with her parents to Provo, UT, and attended a Mutual dance where she met Grant Moroni Bushman. They continued to dance all of their lives. They started dating, and were engaged soon before Grant joined the United States Army Air Corp during WWII and moved to Lubbock, TX. He called her, and Laurel, her mom, and Grant’s parents all drove down to Texas for them to be married in the Branch President’s home on July 10, 1943. They were later sealed in the Salt Lake City, UT Temple on January 28, 1944 before being stationed in Guam. After the war, Laurel and Grant welcomed their six children as they tried to settle between Provo, UT and Moapa Valley, NV. After a few years in Central Utah, Grant was lured by Grant M. Bowler for a teaching and coaching position, and they remained in Overton, NV. Laurel lived in the same home for sixty years.

Laurel was a full-time mother and she worked as a bookkeeper for Lee Bishop’s several businesses for many years. She was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served dutifully in many callings. She served as the Stake Relief Society President twice, served as an ordinance worker in the St. George, UT and Las Vegas, NV Temples, and she and Grant served a two-year Mission in Tonga on the Island of Niue. She loved handywork: quilting, crocheting, embroidery, cross-stitching, knitting, ceramics, tole painting, and stamp and coin collecting. Laurel and Grant made sure they attended all their childrens’ and grandchildrens’ special events: births, baptisms, graduations, mission farewells and homecomings, and weddings. All her children and grandchildren knew she loved them and she would sacrifice anything for them.

Laurel is survived by her children, Rebecca “Becky” Bishop, Barbara (Brant) Bishop, Roger (Penny) Bushman, Laurie (Paul) Thompson, Terry (Diane) Bushman, Janet (Brent) Pulsipher, and her grand posterity, numbering two hundred strong. She is preceded in death by her husband, Grant M. Bushman; her grandsons, Justin Bishop, Tyler Pulsipher, and (Baby) Roger Bushman; her parents, William “Bill” and Winnie Baird; and her siblings, Niff (Joy) Baird, Anna Lee (Lloyd) Ford, and Audrey (Dewey) Jolley.

Viewing services will be held on Friday, May 20, 2022 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. PST at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Overton, NV Chapel, with Funeral services following at 12:00 p.m. PST. Graveside services will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. MST at the Eastlawn Memorial Cemetery, 4800 N. 650 E., Provo, UT 84601. Livestream of the services may be found at Laurel Bushman Memorial Facebook Group. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in their Guest Book at www.moapavalleymortuary.com.

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