Together Again
The Heavenly choir just received an amazing addition. Marian is now singing and playing beautiful music again!
Marian Eva Lay Schoonover was born on March 3, 1941 in Mt. Pleasant Utah to Howard K. and Eva Beck Lay. She was born with an ear for music, and she amazed everyone with her talent. Marian could play any song that she had ever heard, by ear. She never had piano lessons, but you wouldn’t believe it if you ever heard her play. If she didn’t know a song, you could just hum a few bars, and she would play it as if she had always known it. She could transpose to any key, on the fly, to make the singer sound their best. She filled our home with beautiful music every day. Our fondest memories are sitting around her at the piano and singing Christmas carols together as a family. She was such a cool mom, playing in a band, and entertaining at parties. She truly blessed so many lives with her music.
After graduating from North Sanpete High School (with her dad as her principal), she attended Snow College, where she was a cheerleader. While at Snow, she was entertaining at an event in Maple Canyon, playing the guitar and singing, when she caught the eye of her sweetheart, Lee Schoonover. They were married on December 12, 1961, in the Manti Temple. There was a huge snowstorm that day and it took them three attempts to get up the hill to the temple. Marian and Lee had great years at Snow and Westminster College. She supported him as he played basketball, and she helped him finish school. She was so supportive as he started his career, and they were such a great team. Together, they had four children: Marilee (Rick) Poulson, Gary Schoonover, John (Sidnie) Schoonover, and Paula (Matt) Evans. Marian was involved in all of our activities, volunteering at the school, playing for talent shows and plays and singing groups, playing catch in the backyard, and cheering loudly from the stands. She was an entertainer. She would host great parties, and it never failed that someone would ask her to play the piano. Lee was always so proud of her and loved to show off her talent.
Marian was a great friend. She had the opportunity to move around the country with Lee’s job, and she was able to develop great friendships in every place that they lived. She had a little red phone book full of numbers and addresses. and she kept in touch with all of her cherished friends over the years. In Fountain Valley, she would get on her little 10-speed bike and ride all over the neighborhood, going to check on her friends and stop for visits. She really was such a great friend and loved to laugh and to serve.
Marian loved her family fiercely. She would do anything for us. After settling in Fairview, following retirement, she loved being close to family. Her health struggles in recent years made it difficult to attend all of the various family events, but she never missed her early morning birthday phone calls to sing to us. She called very very early, so she could be the first one to wish us a happy birthday. She truly loved her family.
In her later years, Marian’s health struggles increased. Lee took such tender care of her for many years, until it became too difficult. She moved into an assisted living facility and Lee would make the long drive to visit her multiple times a week, where they would play cards and just be together. They were such a great team and their love story has been such a wonderful thing to witness. The love and service that they have shown each other over nearly 64 years, is such a great example of what true love is. Their love and devotion was obvious this week, as we know that they still longed to be together. Our sweet mom went to go be with dad, only 16 short days after his passing. We find comfort in knowing that they are together and that their love story lives on.
Marian is survived by her children Gary, John, and Paula, and son-in-law Rick Poulson, 12 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, and her sister, Paula Bright. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Sandra and brother Ron, her daughter, Marilee Poulson, and her grandson, Kyle Poulson.
We would like to thank First Choice Home Health for the wonderful care that they have provided over the last few years.
Graveside services for Marian will be held Monday October 6, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. in the Mt. Pleasant City Cemetery.
To Watch Recorded Graveside Service, Click Here.
Recordings will be available for 60 days from date of service.
