Dec. 6, 1929 – Feb. 6, 2022
Lucille Dowdell Tebbs, 92, passed away on Feb. 6, 2022, in Layton, Utah. She was born Dec. 6, 1929, the fourth child to Errol and Nettie Arvilla McEwen Dowdell in Panguitch, Utah. She married her high school sweetheart Wallace Earl Tebbs, June 25, 1948. The marriage was later solemnized in the St. George Temple on June 18, 1966.
Wallace and Lucille moved to California seeking employment. Wallace joined the Air Force and they spent time in Topeka, Kansas and Witchita Falls, Texas. They eventually ended up in North Las Vegas, Nevada, where Lucille worked many years at EG&G as an Executive Secretary. She was very proud of the work that she accomplished over the years at EG&G. In 1982, Wallace and Lucille moved to St. George, Utah, and enjoyed retirement together until his death in 2002. Lucille maintained the household by herself for many years until she moved up to Layton, Utah, to be closer to her son, Michael. The last nine years of her life she spent at Fairfield Village in Layton, Utah, in Senior Living, Assisted Living and eventually in Memory Care.
Lucille was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was a proficient typist and said that in her years working in the Genealogical Extraction Program she had never typed faster and more accurately than while serving in this capacity. She was a long-time member of the Bloomington 3rd Ward and was appreciative of all those that came to visit her over the years.
She will be remembered as a gracious hostess and the life of the party as she was skilled at imitating comedy sketches from television. She loved her sisters and when they were together it was always a good time. She loved Wallace and took care of him the last two years of his life while his health declined. She was teased that her hip replacement was because she was always dancing with her grandchildren.
She inherited the name of Muzzy and Grandma Yellow over the years as she interacted with nieces, nephews, and great-grandchildren. She was also known as Dick Tracy because she could find her children using a rotary dial phone no matter where in the world they were. When she learned how to use the computer a simple message of, “it’s time to report in” was her children’s clue that Mom needed to know where we were and what we were doing.
Lucille is survived by her son, Michael (Nancy) Tebbs, Layton, Utah; grandchildren: Erin (Marc) Dudley, Eamon (Charly) Springall, both of Las Vegas, Nevada, Kelsey (Skyler) Bernards of Layton, Utah, and Jason (Cara) Tebbs of Eagle Mountain, Utah; sister, JoAnne (Karl) McAllister, Washington, Utah; and nine great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by daughter, Vickie (Gordon) Walker and her parents.
The family would like to extend their thanks and appreciation to all friends and relatives who helped Lucille as a widow and eventually with failing health. The cards, letters and phone calls meant the world to her. One particular day when she was struggling with her health and memory, she was asked what do you want to tell your extended family if you could see them all right now? She stood and looked across the empty room, as if she could see everybody, and said, “we have a great family”.
A visitation will be held Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, from 5-7 p.m. at Metcalf Mortuary, 288 West St. George Blvd., St. George, Utah.
Graveside services will be held Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, at noon at the Panguitch City Cemetery, 290 South Cemetery Road, Panguitch, Utah.
Arrangements entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary, 435-673-4221. Visit Metcalf Mortuary’s website at www.metcalfmortuary.com for condolences, complete obituary and funeral listings.