Feb. 5, 1941 - Jun. 20, 2026
Date of Service: Jul. 1, 2026
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Joan Bailey Ashby, 85, of Orem, Utah, and formerly of Heyburn, passed away Saturday, June 20, 2026, in Orem.
She was born on February 5, 1941, to William Ray and Irma Sarepta Thaxton Bailey in Burley, Idaho. Joan was the second of Ray and Irma’s seven children. She grew up in Heyburn, Idaho and, except for one year, lived there until her move to Utah in June 2021.
Following her graduation from Minico High School, Joan moved to Salt Lake City to attend Darrell’s Beauty College, from which she graduated after a year’s course of study. Shortly after her return to Heyburn, Joan married Norman Dee Ashby on December 8, 1960, in the Idaho Falls Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
After working in a beauty shop in Burley for a short time, Joan started her own shop in their Heyburn home. She worked as a hairdresser in her shop until retiring in 2006. She worked in her shop even as their three children were born and raised. Joan served in many callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and blessed many people through that service. She helped to care for several members of her and Norman’s families as they aged. She was very talented and enjoyed all kinds of hand sewing, knitting, and crocheting. Joan sewed most of the family clothes as her children grew up. She loved teaching others and shared her hand-made gifts with others.
After her husband, Norman, passed away in March 2016, Joan continued to live in their Heyburn home for the next five years. She moved to an assisted living near her daughter’s Utah home in June 2021. She died as a resident of Covington Senior Living in Orem, Utah. She had previously resided at Spring Gardens Assisted Living in Lindon. The family thanks the many staff at both facilities who served her so well. We also thank the staff and volunteers from First Choice Home Health and Hospice for their hours of service to Joan over the past several months. We also extend great thanks to Dr. Aubrie Brooks, an exceptionally skilled and compassionate healthcare provider who served Joan over the entire course of her five years of residency in Utah.
Joan is survived by her children, Troy Dee Ashby of Norco, California, Bonnie Sue (Jeffrey) Belliston of Pleasant Grove, Utah, and Brent Jay “Woody” (Melissa) Ashby of Heyburn, Idaho; her eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren; one sister, Jeanne Heiner; one sister-in- law, Brenda (Lamar) Bailey; three brothers, Dee Ray Bailey, Nolan (Dawna) Bailey, and Neldon Bailey; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; one sister, Marilyn Bailey; one brother, Lamar Bailey; two sisters-in-law, Sylvia (Dee Ray) Bailey and Sharon (Neldon) Bailey; and one brother-in-law, Lynn (Jeanne) Heiner.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 1, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints - Emerald 2nd Ward, located at 300 South 500 West, of Heyburn, with Bishop Chris James officiating. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Heyburn.
Family and friends will be received from 9:30 until 10:45 a.m. prior to the funeral service, at the church.
A live webcast of the Funeral Service will be available and maintained at the following link: https://youtu.be/utXtCEiJYFc.
Arrangements are under the care of Rasmussen-Wilson Funeral Home of Burley.
