Gloria Rose Heiner Obituary (1934

Gloria Rose Johnston Heiner was born on November 19th, 1934 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Norman James and Olivia Wilson Johnston. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Gloria provided her children and grandchildren with opportunities to travel the world and see places she loved…sharing her appreciation for different places and cultures the world over. She lovingly cared for her husband Steve in his last years. Gloria grew up in the Sugarhouse area of Salt Lake City on Simpson Avenue where she attended local public schools, ultimately graduating from South High School where she met her future husband of 60 years, Steven Warner Heiner. While in High School, she was part of an informal group of friends known as the “Jolly Girls” of which she enjoyed the company of and stayed in touch with all her life. Gloria attended the University of Utah and later Brigham Young University where she graduated and earned her teaching certificate. She taught in the BYU Design department specializing in interior design and lighting. She later established her own business, Gloria Heiner Interior Design, where she quickly collected clients from around Utah Valley and helped design beautiful interiors for many of the nicest homes in the area. Gloria and Steve were high school sweethearts and eventually married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 8th 1955 in Salt Lake City. When Steve joined the US Army, they later lived in Germany where Steve was stationed for 18 months. Gloria enjoyed making friends with other Army wives and loved the experience of traveling and sightseeing throughout Europe while Steve was on active duty. Steve and Gloria returned to Salt Lake City where they adopted their son Steven Blake, who was born on Gloria’s birthday in 1961. They later adopted their daughter Kara Jane who was born in 1966. The family settled on Lorraine Avenue in Salt Lake City where Steve took the position of head basketball coach for West High School. Gloria enjoyed traveling with her husband Steve and her children around the country every summer. Not one to pass up a learning experience, she always insisted in stopping at roadside historical markers to better understand the places the family traveled. Gloria and Steve later traveled the world including to Australia and Japan where she and Steve helped recruit elder athletes for the Huntsman Senior Games held in St. George, Utah every year. Steve was on the board of the organization through his interest and profession in Gerontology studies at BYU in the Heart Sciences department. Gloria had a great appreciation for the beauties of nature, always noticing the sunset, mountains, trees, and flowers. She recently commented on how blessed she has been to have lived in beautiful Utah Valley, so close to the mountains. Gloria was very accepting of others differences and never one to judge. She welcomed all to her home and her heart. Gloria was extremely interested in politics and kept up to date through watching her news programs and reading the newspaper. Not long ago she asked us to look up the phone number for the Governor's office so that she could call and express concerns over mistakes she felt he was making. Gloria was preceded in death by her parents, Norman and Olivia Johnston and her brother Paul Johnston (Irene Johnston). She is survived by her sister Lujean Scott (Duane Scott); brother Clark Johnston (Susan Johnston); son Steven Blake and daughter Kara Jane; her three grandchildren, Wyatt Lindley (Angela Sue Lindley); Javin Lindley, Devin Lindley; and Gloria’s great-granddaughter, Kiah Nicole. She is also survived by Julie Bringhurst (Scott Bringhurst) a lifelong and dear friend of the family. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, July 26, 2018 at the Rock Canyon Ward Chapel, 3050 Mojave Lane, Provo, Utah. Friends may call at the Berg Mortuary of Provo, 185 E. Center Street, Wednesday, July 25, from 6-8:00 p.m. and at the church Thursday from 10-10:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment, Midway City Cemetery. Condolences may be expressed at www.bergmortuary.com. The family would like to thank the staffs of Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, Provo, Aspen Ridge of Provo, Stonehenge of Orem, Utah Valley Specialty Hospital of Provo, Legacy Village of Provo, Brighton Hospice, and Senior Partners of Provo for their exceptional care.