Obituary for Connie Mava St. John
Connie Mava Banford St. John passed away on May 23, 2023 at the age of 81 years young after a long struggle with dementia.
Connie was born in Ogden, Utah on July 24, 1941 to Rulon and Fern Carver Banford, and grew up in Eden, Utah with her older brother and younger sister. In 1958, she married her high school flame Doug Dixon, and soon gave birth to three daughters before divorcing in 1961. She then met Paul Swift, who she married and had two more children with before divorcing in 1979. In 2003, she married Leo St. John in St. George Utah, where they lived until the end of his life in 2016. She then moved to Twin Falls, Idaho, where she was lovingly cared for by her daughter Leesa until she passed.
Connie was a force of nature, determined and independent, and always the life of the party. She loved golfing and made many friends on the greens and at the Bloomington country club after playing 18 holes. She loved a cold beer and a good conversation on her back porch with friends. Her legacy of strength and passion lives on in her children and grandchildren.
Connie was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Don, her husband Leo, and two great-grandsons Ryker Stimpson-Vega and Justin Wilcox. She is survived by her sister Sheri (Dale) Holt, of Salt Lake City, Utah, her Children Vickie (Rick) Sorensen Barlow of New Harmony, Utah, Cindy (Larry) Sellers of Hilo, Hawaii, Leesa (Craig) Stimpson of Twin Falls, Idaho, Jan (John) Swift Bozek of Washington, Utah, and Shane Swift of Glenns Ferry, Idaho, as well as 19 grandchildren, 57 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren, with a third due to arrive soon.
Connie always said that she didn’t want any crying or preaching at her funeral, she wanted to have a party, so we are planning a celebration of her life on June 3, 2023 at Hearthside Event Center in Eden Utah, with a viewing from 10:00 to 11:00 AM and graveside services at 11:30 at the Mountain View Cemetery in Eden, where she will be laid to rest next to her mother and brother.
Connie was born in Ogden, Utah on July 24, 1941 to Rulon and Fern Carver Banford, and grew up in Eden, Utah with her older brother and younger sister. In 1958, she married her high school flame Doug Dixon, and soon gave birth to three daughters before divorcing in 1961. She then met Paul Swift, who she married and had two more children with before divorcing in 1979. In 2003, she married Leo St. John in St. George Utah, where they lived until the end of his life in 2016. She then moved to Twin Falls, Idaho, where she was lovingly cared for by her daughter Leesa until she passed.
Connie was a force of nature, determined and independent, and always the life of the party. She loved golfing and made many friends on the greens and at the Bloomington country club after playing 18 holes. She loved a cold beer and a good conversation on her back porch with friends. Her legacy of strength and passion lives on in her children and grandchildren.
Connie was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Don, her husband Leo, and two great-grandsons Ryker Stimpson-Vega and Justin Wilcox. She is survived by her sister Sheri (Dale) Holt, of Salt Lake City, Utah, her Children Vickie (Rick) Sorensen Barlow of New Harmony, Utah, Cindy (Larry) Sellers of Hilo, Hawaii, Leesa (Craig) Stimpson of Twin Falls, Idaho, Jan (John) Swift Bozek of Washington, Utah, and Shane Swift of Glenns Ferry, Idaho, as well as 19 grandchildren, 57 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren, with a third due to arrive soon.
Connie always said that she didn’t want any crying or preaching at her funeral, she wanted to have a party, so we are planning a celebration of her life on June 3, 2023 at Hearthside Event Center in Eden Utah, with a viewing from 10:00 to 11:00 AM and graveside services at 11:30 at the Mountain View Cemetery in Eden, where she will be laid to rest next to her mother and brother.