Sharlene Jensen Ottley

Nov. 28, 1934 - Sep. 16, 2017

Date of Service: Sep. 23, 2017

ELBA – Sharlene Jensen Ottley was born Nov. 28, 1934, in Brigham City, Utah, as the oldest daughter of DeLore Roosevelt Jensen and Margaret Hawkins Gunnell. She was raised on the family farm, three miles west of Brigham City and attended grade school, junior high, and high school in Brigham City. In 1951, on her 17th birthday, she married Clifton Davis Ottley in the Logan Utah LDS Temple. She felt that there was never a girl treated with such royalty and love as her husband, Clifton, showed her. They were the proud parents of three sons, Charles Clifton (Chuck), Thomas DeLore, and Michael Troy Ottley.

They were able to have 20 years together visiting Elba, Idaho, often, as Clifton loved his hometown. She remembers how beautiful she thought it was the first time she visited in April 1951. They lived in Montana a short time after being married, then moved back to Utah as they needed to stay close to medical care for Clifton. She cleaned houses and worked hard to help provide a living for their family while her husband was ill. They enjoyed going to club activities for the 7-11 Horse Riding Club, camp outs, hunting, and holidays with family.

The year 1971 was a very hard year for Sharlene. In a span of five months she lost her mother, mother-in-law, father, and finally her beloved husband, Clifton, on December 18th. Four family deaths in such a short time were almost more than she could bear. But with two young sons still to raise, she moved to Elba, on Aug. 25, 1972, with the help of her eldest son, Chuck, and her brothers and sisters. She grew to love Elba and the people there and it was a wonderful place to raise her sons.

She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and enjoyed her time spent in the Relief Society presidency and teaching in Primary. She was a visiting teaching reporter for many years. She worked in the school lunch room at Raft River for 12 years where she used her talents for cooking and cleaning. Sharlene also loved flowers and enjoyed growing a garden. However, her greatest joy in life came from the time she spent with her grandchildren as they were the “sunshine in her life.”

Sharlene passed away Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, at Highland Estates Assisted Living in Burley, Idaho.

She is survived by her three sons, Chuck Ottley of Tooele, Utah, Tom (Sally) Ottley and Michael (Talee) Ottley both of Elba; 12 grandchildren, Clifton Gerald (Darcy) Ottley of Sandy, Utah, Caitlin Charlene (Steven) Baum of Tooele, Utah, Thomas Braden (Aubrey) Ottley of Malta, Kassie Alaine (Brad) Darrington of Declo, Elder Bowdrie Zane Ottley - serving a mission in Durban, South Africa, Kamri Dawn Ottley of Elba, Brodey Clifton Ottley of Elba, Gage Dean Hanley of Elgin, Iowa, Nate Alan Hanley of Casper, Wyo., Ruthanne Naomi Ottley - attending BYU-Idaho in Rexburg, Abbygail Tess Ottley of Elba, and Nash Stetson Ottley of Elba; four great-grandchildren, Samantha, Bjorn Rowan, Kate Minnie, and Kinlee Sue; two brothers, Steve (Ann) Jensen of Bear River, Utah, and Leon (Margie) Jensen of Brigham City, Utah; two sisters, Carolyn Davis and Sue (Max) Jensen both of Brigham City, Utah; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Sharlene was preceded in death by her husband, Clifton Davis Ottley; parents, DeLore Roosevelt Jensen and Margaret Hawkins Gunnell; parents-in-law, Charles Edward Ottley, Annie Davis Ottley, and Blanche Lloyd Ottley Parish; granddaughter, Melissa Ann Ottley; sisters-in-law, Karen Jensen, Vera Pettingill, and Ruth Kelly; brothers-in-law, Kenneth Pettingill, Thomas Kelly, and LaRue Davis.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Elba, with Bishop Thomas D. Ottley officiating. Burial will follow at the Grand View Cemetery in Elba.

Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 22, at Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, or from 10 until 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, prior to the service at the church.

The family would like to thank the staff at Highland Estates Memory Care for their loving and tender care.