July 1, 1940 – July 6, 2023
Celia “Clarice” Mouser Young was born July 1, 1940, and passed away on July 6, 2023, after a 5 year struggle with dementia.
Clarice was the second-to-last of 7 children born to Averil and Marvin Mouser in Shafter, California. She attended Shafter High School and completed the nursing program at Bakersfield College, initiating her 30 year career as a registered nurse.
Most of her nursing years were spent working in administration at Kern View Hospital and Mental Health Center.
Clarice married Charles Ray Young on December 30,1960 at the First Southern Baptist church in Shafter. After a brief stint in Phoenix, they settled in Bakersfield, California, where they resided for the following 32 years.
In 1994, Charlie and Clarice retired, and moved to St. George, Utah joining their children and grandchildren who had relocated a few years earlier.
A loving mother to 2 daughters, and “Nan” to 7 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren, Clarice was both a quiet presence and staunch supporter of all family members. She could always be counted on to show up and help — be it babysitting, packing, moving, taking care of the sick or bee-stung.
She was always available for a comforting ride-along on trips to the emergency room or gentle mentoring those first few weeks after the birth of a new grandchild. She frequently hosted “coffee club” for her teenage grandkids.
Among her favorite things, having her family all together and playing games, like Catch Phrase, ping pong, and also cruises.
A trip to Mesquite to play the slots put a glint in her eye like you would not believe, if you were familiar with her usual exceptionally calm and placid demeanor. And, she was a good sport about the teasing she got for that.
“Nan” and “Pop” were able to enjoy their retirement years living less than a mile from their grandchildren — the daily family proximity in those years was a tremendous blessing to us all.
Clarice was a deeply committed Christian and relished her church family at South Mountain Community Church. She volunteered as a counselor at the Hope Pregnancy Center in St. George for many years, and served at its sister effort, The Hope Chest, from inception until she was no longer able.
Greatly missed by her family, we are comforted that Clarice is now fully restored from the devastation of dementia.
We have confidence that she is in the presence of the Lord, where there are no more tears, and in the arms of family and loved ones who preceded her, including Charlie, her beloved husband of 57 years, her big brother Hugh Mouser, whom we lost only a few short weeks ago, siblings Rachel, Buel, Helen, Jesse, and precious great-grandson, baby Ace.
Clarice is survived by daughters Jennifer Guter, & Jana Bickel (Jeff); her grandchildren Josh Conklin (Derrica), Jaren Conklin (Ashley), Jordan Bickel (Courtnee), Julia Bickel (Dre), Rhett Guter, Braeden Guter (Anna), Alyssa Popkes (Mark), and great-grandchildren Izaiah, Liam, Addy, Rylee, Ethan, Alijah, Aidan, and Finn, her sister Nadine Christy (Jim), sisters-in-law Glenda Altenhofen and Donna Hallenbeck, and sisters-in-law Lorraine Mouser and Vera Mouser.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, August 12, 2023, at 10 a.m. at the South Mountain Community Church, 3158 East 2000 South, St. George, Utah.