Lorraine Lee Callaway Wilson Obituary (1942

Lorraine Lee Callaway Wilson, age 81, passed away peacefully surrounded by her children on May 14, 2024. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and caregiver. She was born on November 4, 1942, in Hays, Kansas to Ernest Callaway and Geraldine Georgette Wyatt. She grew up on farms in rural Kansas and Nebraska and the city of Hastings, Nebraska where she and her mother converted to the LDS church. She attended Brigham Young University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in nursing in 1964. While living in Provo she fell in love with her eternal companion Kristen Vere Wilson. They were married on May 29, 1964, in the Salt Lake Temple. Her mom would not consent to marrying until she had graduated from college, so she graduated from BYU in the morning and married her sweetheart in the afternoon. Kris and Lorraine raised 5 children, most of that time was spent in Vernal, Naples and later Glines. One of Lorraine’s greatest gifts to her children and grandchildren was her ability to listen and make them feel special. She was known for her unconditional dessert rule. Grandkids were always allowed to have dessert, even if they didn’t eat dinner. Often to the consternation of their parents. Family unity was very important to her and she often spoke about how grateful she was that her children remained friends as adults. Lorraine found time to spend time with each of her 18 grandchildren and made them all feel unique and loved. Favorite times with the grandchildren included sleepovers on her bedroom floor and swim parties in the hot tub. After retiring, Lorraine talked Kris into going on a year-long road trip. They packed up their house, rented it out, and bought a large 5th wheel. They spent several months living in each of their children’s communities from Southern California to South Carolina where they were very engaged in the lives of their children and grandchildren. This trip was a highlight of their lives and the lives of their family members. Lorraine loved her sweetheart, Kris. They had a beautiful love and friendship throughout their married life. Together with the help of their children, they built their house in Glines from the ground up, while living on site in a tiny camp trailer and a borrowed truck bed camper. They bought their first boat when they had teenagers and could often be found at Steinaker or Flaming Gorge, where they loved to fish and play. After they sold their last boat, they turned their love of outdoors to bird watching. They loved to go bird watching and went almost daily to Utah Lake where they became expert birders. This was a passion for them until the day Kris died. They were married for 54 years and they seemed to fall more in love each year. Lorraine was an amazing seamstress. She made most of her children’s clothing when they were young and made beautiful prom gowns and theater costumes. She was an accomplished pianist and taught herself to play the organ for her church calling. She also served as ward Relief Society President and Sunday School teacher. Kris and Lorraine served as missionaries in the family history center for several years. She loved doing genealogy and working in the temple. Lorraine had a long and impactful career in nursing. She worked at several different hospitals around the state. After settling in Vernal she worked at Ashley Valley Medical Center, medical clinics, and the Uintah Basin Health Department where she helped start a program to provide underprivileged mothers with essential prenatal care. That program expanded to be the Baby Your Baby program that is now statewide. She later returned to BYU to become a Nurse Practitioner. She received her Masters Degree in nursing at the age of 51 in August of 1994. She then became a provider at the Basin Clinic where she practiced for 8 years before retiring. She was beloved by her patients and was always willing to give free advice and care for neighbors, family, and friends whenever needed. Her grandchildren often called her “Doctor Grandma”. Lorraine is preceded in death by her parents, Geraldine Wyatt Turley and Ernest Callaway and her husband, Kristen Vere Wilson. She is survived by her children, Philip (Kristy) Callaway Wilson, Jill (Rodney) Wilson Bills, Eric (Mark) Jacobi-Wilson, Michele (Jerry) Wilson Muchmore, and Benjamin (Michelle) George Wilson; 18 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren; sister, Becky (Jerry) Turley Brueningsen and brother, Steve Turley. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at the Glines 1st Ward Chapel, 1499 West Hwy 40, Vernal, Utah. The family will receive friends from 10-10:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment will be in the Vernal Memorial Park Cemetery. Condolences may be expressed at www.bergmortuary.com.