Mary Virginia Larsen

Mary Virginia Bailey Larsen, 82, longtime resident of the Pocatello area passed away peacefully on February 23, 2013.

She was born in Filer, Idaho on the 30th of December 1930 at the home of her parents, Benjamin Noel Bailey and Icy Henderson Bailey. She was the youngest of four children. She attended school in Twin falls, graduating from Twin Falls High school in 1948. She continued her education at Idaho State College. She received her teaching certificate and began teaching when she was 19 years old.

On August 12, 1951, she married Wendell Davis Larsen in Twin Falls, Idaho. Their marriage was solemnized on August 30, 1960 in the Idaho Falls Temple.

They lived and farmed in McCammon for several years and moved to a farm in Tyhee in 1955. She taught school for 29 years with all but one of those years in first grade. She later received her Bachelors degree in Elementary Education from Idaho State University and in 1986, she was named teacher of the year for School District #25. She faithfully served in many callings as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints including serving as an ordinance worker in the Idaho Falls Temple for many years. She enjoyed her affiliation with the Delta Kappa Gamma, PTA, and the Golden Girls. She was a longtime member of the Tyhee Literary Guild and enjoyed lifelong friendships there. She also served as president of the Retired Educators of Idaho. She loved china painting, ceramics, crocheting, and handwork of all kinds. Her love and service blessed many lives.

Survivors include her three daughters, Wendy (Barry) Crane, Boise, Idaho; Cindy (Jeff) England, Rigby, Idaho; Gina (Brian) Nilsson, Chubbuck, Idaho; a sister Betty Jayne; a brother Ed Bailey; 17 grandchildren; and 32 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Wendell, a son, Michael, and a brother, Robert Bailey.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 2nd at the Chubbuck 9th ward building located at 4773 Independence Avenue with Bishop Robert Elison officiating. Internment will be in the Norton Cemetery in McCammon, Idaho. The family will receive friends on Friday evening from 6-8 p.m. at Wilks Funeral Home and from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. at the church. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Wilks Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Perpetual Education Fund (pef.lds.org).

Service information is posted under the "Service Schedule."

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