Audrey Iris Gubler Slade Obituary (1936

Audrey Iris Gubler Slade (Iris), our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin and friend, passed away surrounded by the love of her family on April 2, 2018 at the age of 81. Though we are heartbroken to let her go, we find comfort in imagining her joyful reunion with her beloved Keith; her grandson, Kevin; grandson-in-law, Jaron; great-granddaughter, Zoey; two brothers, Brian and Brent, and parents, Tell and Audrey. Iris' mother, Ella; her living brothers and sisters; her children, and living grandchildren and great-grandchildren will miss her every day until we meet again. Iris was born on August 18, 1936, the second-oldest child and oldest daughter of William Tell and Audrey Gregerson Gubler, in La Verkin, Utah. She had many wonderful memories of her childhood in La Verkin. Iris' mother, Audrey, passed away of heart failure when Iris was only seven years old. Her family had a difficult few years, as relatives cared for the children during the hardships of WWII and Tell worked traveling all over the state of Utah as a professional Scouter with the Boy Scouts of America to help support them and make ends meet. In 1947, God gave Iris' family an amazing gift. Tell married Ella Brooksby Hinton, a widow with two children of her own. This brought the family together and was an immense blessing to Iris for the rest of her life. Together Ella and Tell had five more children, giving them a grand total of eleven children: Brian, Iris, Jeanne, Greg, Carol, Kathleen, Don, Stella, Denise, Deanna and Brent. Iris graduated from high school in Baker, Oregon and attended Brigham Young University (BYU). During her senior year of college, she met and married the love of her life, J Keith Slade. They married on May 30, 1958. Iris and Keith were the parents of ten children, whom they loved dearly: Gregerson, Claudia, Bradley, John, Rodney, Kimberly, Stefanie, Matthew, Heather and Jeremy. Iris always kept her focus centered on her family. She loved being a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She also welcomed many others into her home and loved them like her own. Through the many challenges she faced over the years, love was her hallmark. She loved fiercely and took care of people in whatever way she could. She was kind and gentle, but she could be “Mama Bear” when she needed to be. She unofficially “adopted” many people over the years, and so many people love her. Keith and Iris made their home primarily in Provo, Utah, but spent time in Bloomington, Indiana while Keith pursued graduate studies, and they had many opportunities to travel to France for Study Abroad as Keith worked as a French professor at BYU. She loved the beauty, art and culture of Europe. Iris enjoyed many years working as a temple worker in the Provo, then the Provo City Center temples, at first with Keith, then on her own, after Keith started to struggle with his health and eventually passed away on May 17, 2011. Being separated from Keith was probably the hardest trial she ever faced, because their love and friendship were central in both of their lives. Iris enjoyed many years of membership and association with friends in TOPS. She will be greatly missed by her friends there. Iris loved going for walks and hikes, especially with loved ones, reading, and, most of all, spending time with family and friends. She could do the Hokey Pokey and she liked to have fun. Iris was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Iris loved her Heavenly Father and her Savior and wanted to be worthy to be with them and with her beloved Keith and the rest of her family forever. She knew that God is love, and that is what she aspired to become. We believe she succeeded better than she ever knew. She was and is a mighty soul, and we were blessed to know and be loved by her. Iris' funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, April 6, 2018 at the Bonneville 4th Ward Chapel, 1289 East 300 South, Provo, Utah. Viewings will be held at the Berg Mortuary of Provo, 185 East Center Street, Thursday, April 5 from 6-8:00 p.m. and at the church Friday, from 9:30-10:45 a.m. prior to services. A graveside service will follow the funeral, and Iris will be interred in the Provo City Cemetery. Condolences may be expressed at www.bergmortuary.com.