Addie Golden

Our dear wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, Addie Irene Weaver Golden, passed away peacefully on May 11, 2022 as a result of a hemorrhagic stroke. Heaven gained an angel that day, but we will miss our angel here on earth.

Addie had a brain bleed and had emergency brain surgery on Mother’s Day. She miraculously woke up and spent several hours with much of her family gathered around her. She recalled so many memories and was so happy to have her family there. Addie was calm and happy. She suffered a stroke the next morning.

Addie was born December 19, 1936 in Bennington, Idaho, the third child and second daughter to Melvin and Irene Smart Weaver.  Her Dad paid the doctor with two weaner pigs for his services, and Mom used to joke that maybe the doctor got the better deal. Mom had a wonderful childhood being raised in Idaho with a talented and amazing family.  She was very close to her sister, Emma Lou, and brothers, Glenn, Frank, Mike and Bob. They brought so much joy to her.

She graduated from Grace High School in Idaho in 1954 where she was senior class secretary.  She later attended LDS Business College and Brigham Young University. She graduated in Elementary Education from BYU and taught at Springville Elementary for five years.

While living in Provo and attending BYU, she met her sweetheart and eternal companion, James Golden (Jim).  She said that it was “love at first sound” as she first heard his voice and then heard a voice tell her that that was the man she was going to marry. After the first of 63 German Chocolate Cakes, Jim and Addie were married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 30, 1961.  Addie wanted 12 children. She and Jim were lucky to adopt their only son, Jim, in 1970 - nine years after they were married.  They were blessed again to adopt their daughter, Jennifer, in 1973. They began building their home in Highland, Utah in 1972 and have lived there for the last 50 years.

Addie lived a life of service to her family, friends, her church, and especially her Savior.  She served as the Stake Relief Society President in the new Highland Stake in the 1980’s, as Primary President, as the Young Women President at the Utah State Developmental Center when Jim served as the Bishop of that ward, and as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Nauvoo Restoration Incorporated Mission. Highlights of her mission were acting as Agetha in the play Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo with Dad playing the part of George, painting the Carthage Jail, prepping the Nauvoo Temple doors for final painting, and washing Lucy Mack Smith’s china. Wherever she served, she made immediate and lifelong friends. Her example of selfless service has inspired her family and so many others.

Addie lived a celestial life and never said a bad word about any one. She was virtuous and only wanted to please our Father in Heaven. She was so prepared to meet Him and our Savior.

Addie had a special way about her that is hard to explain. Wherever she went she would make friends. If she was at a restaurant, then she would talk with the waitress.  If at the doctor or in the hospital, she would connect with the nurses. In the line at the grocery store, she would find someone to chat with and lift. She just had a special way to connect with people that made everyone feel that she loved and cared about them - because she did. She would always put aside her needs to help someone else.

She had a special connection with Jim’s family as well and enjoyed wonderful relationships with Jim’s brother, Mike (Nelly), and also with his sister, Barbara (John).  She loved keeping up with all of their families and felt a connection to each niece and nephew.

Mom was not afraid of any task. She worked hard and would learn to do whatever she had to. When Dad wanted to build a cabin, Mom was right there with him. Sanding, staining, and finishing was where she excelled.  Dad was the craftsman but then Mom would apply the finishing touches.  For many years, Dad would create small wooden Christmas toys to give to neighbors, the teachers and friends at the Developmental Center Ward, friends at work, and family.  Dad would create them and then Mom would fill them with homemade chocolates or carmels, and some cute decoration to make them a true treasure. Mom and Dad did this together for years.  They were an amazing team!

Mom loved music and played the piano and the drums. She always appreciated the talents of her family and loved to hear them practice and perform. She and Dad were always attending recitals to hear her grandkids and encouraged them to keep practicing. She also loved to watch the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square and loved to look for her niece, Glenna, in the choir each week.  This was a highlight of every Sunday, especially during the last couple years of COVID.

Mom is beloved for her abilities to cook and sew. Scrambles at Christmas and German Chocolate Birthday Cakes were always favorites. Quilts and her talents to alter dresses - too numerous to mention - were another speciality. Every stitch was done with love.

Her beautiful cursive handwriting has produced countless cards and letters. They will be lasting memories for her posterity.

Her favorite hymn was There is a Green Hill Far Away because of the simple, yet powerful, way it testifies of Jesus Christ.  The last line reads, And trust in His redeeming blood, and try His works to do.  This was the way that she lived her life.

Addie is survived by her sweetheart and eternal companion, Jim; son, Jim (Lisa) Golden; daughter, Jennifer (Chris) Hall; and her nine crown jewels (her grandchildren):  Tyler (her champ) and Sam Golden; Dallin (her best beau) and Tasha Hall; Spencer (her hero) and Kaitlyn Golden; Alicia (her princess) and Porter Fife; Angela (her Angel) and Justin Allen; Elder Jared Golden (her best pal and cabin manager serving in the Brasilia Brazil Mission); Addie (her honeybun) Golden; Casey (her sweetheart) Hall; and Colton (her darlin’) Hall. She is also survived by two great grandchildren:  Brent Golden and James Allen.

She was preceded in death by her dear parents, Mel and Irene Weaver; brother, Glenn, and his wife, Madeline Weaver; sister, Emma Lou, and her husband, Dean Almond; and her dear cousin, Adelaide (who was like a sister).

A viewing will be held at the Anderson & Sons Lone Peak Chapel, 6141 West 11000 North, Highland on Thursday, May 19th, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.  Another viewing will be held on Friday, May 20th, from 9:30 to 10:30 am at the Highland 24th Ward building, 5212 West Country Club Drive, Highland, and will precede the funeral at the same location at 11:00 am.  Internment will be in the Highland City Cemetery. Please share a memory on Addie's tribute wall.

If you're unable to attend the service, please attend and honor Addie through the following Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89246149088