BOMBER MEMORIAL

ELISE WYONA DERRICOTT RICHARDS ~ Class of 1955
June 23, 1937 - April 4, 2010

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Elise Derricott Richards was born in Logan, UT, on June 23, 1937. She was raised in Richland where she graduated from Columbia High School in 1955. She married Dale Owen Richards on June 14, 1955, in the Salt Lake Temple. She enjoyed many hobbies including hiking, reading and card making.

They moved to Iowa for Dale's graduate work, where Garnet, their first daughter, was born. Dale took a position with BYU in 1963 and Elise began studying at BYU. Their daughters, Miriam and Andrea were born in Provo. She began teaching and graduate work at BYU in 1973. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Masters Degree in English and taught at BYU for 13 years.

She studied piano and from early in her life played for church regularly. In 1985 at the age of 48, she began studying organ with J.J. Keeler at BYU. She studied for 8 years and performed a student recital at the Provo Tabernacle. She then studied with Dr. Don Cook for 2 years. She was truly gifted and loved sharing her musical talent with others.

She served faithfully throughout her life in the LDS Church, including Relief Society President, Primary teacher, organist, choir director, and her last and favorite calling, Gospel Doctrine teacher. Dale and Elise served a proselyting mission in the Auckland, New Zealand Mission from 1995-1997. In 2000, Elise was asked to be the organist at the BYU Jerusalem Center.

She died Sunday, April 4, 2010, in Provo. She is survived by her husband Dale Richards, three daughters, Garnet (Roger) Pennington, Miriam Richards and Andrea Richards, her brother Roland (Nancy) Derricott ('64) and 11 grandchildren.