RGene Pugh Bunting

Oct. 4, 1933 - March 31, 2017

Posted

RGene Pugh Bunting, 83, passed away peacefully on March 31, 2017, at the Coral Canyon BeeHive Home in Washington, Utah. RGene was deeply loved by her family.
RGene came to this earth in Cedar City, Utah, on Oct. 4, 1933. Our dear, sweet Mom grew up in Glendale, Utah with a family that was highly engaged in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and community. Her father, Alton R. Pugh, served as the Bishop of the Glendale Utah Ward for 13 years in the old white church, so her family supported and acted in many callings to help serve. This was a very influential part of her life as her Father would later serve as the Branch President at Kaibeto, Arizona and would spend many weekends with her and her family in Page, Arizona going and coming from Glendale. It was a great example to her whole family.
RGene attended Dixie College and BYU to receive her bachelors of science degree. She had the opportunity to participate in the Hill Cumorah Pageant in Palmyra, New York. She would then marry Merrill Hubert Bunting in the St. George Temple after he returned from serving in the Army in Japan. RGene and Merrill moved to Page, Arizona in 1957 during the construction of Glen Canyon Dam. They brought one of the early pioneering families to Page, Arizona. They invited six children onto this earth and enjoyed many great times together as a family. The joy of her life was her family, including her 12 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.
RGene was actively engaged and served in many church callings here in the Page Arizona Stake. She has a deep and abiding love for the Lord Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His Gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. This was a great example to her children and to all who surrounded her.
Mom always tried to find natural, holistic solutions to the illnesses, pains and ailments of this life. She experienced cancer early in life and was directed to these solutions to be able remain here upon the earth with us. A great deal of her time was spent using herbs and helping others with them. She appreciated all the love, concern and care from friends and neighbors enjoyed in Page, Arizona.
RGene taught school for 20 years or more. She began teaching Elementary in Glendale and Kanab, Utah. After raising her family, she would return to teaching elementary school in the Page Unified School District until retirement. She loved the opportunity to teach and make the difference in the life of a child. Many of her students remember “Mrs. Bunting” and the impact she had on their life to this day.
When she began to lose her eyesight to macular degeneration, life took on many more challenges. Desperately seeking solutions to no avail, she would learn to endure and make peace with this challenge … listening very closely and not missing much. We learned to choose our words more carefully around her.
After Daddy died last July, she missed him greatly and would try to see him in their wedding picture every day out of the side of her eyes and dance with him in her mind. In these final failing moments of life, she provided much opportunity for her children, especially Malan and Meri, to serve her. As the outspoken mother that she always was to all of us … She will NOT MISS the poking and prodding (although necessary) that she received in her final hours of care at the hospital, rehabilitation center and assisted living! We love you Mom!
We are thankful that she has been taken home to that God who gave her life. She’s been released from her body and is finally reunited with our Father on the other side of the veil. She is able to WATCH this latest General Conference while in the company of those loved ones who’ve gone on before her instead of just hearing it. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will miss her here in mortality.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Merrill Bunting, and daughter, Lynette Anderton, in 2016. Her five living children are, Merildene (Tom) Hull, Elyse McInelly, Karlyn Don (Janette) Bunting, Malan Lance Bunting and Jaquel Lowder, all of Page, Arizona. Virginia Morgan Nelson, a foster child, spent time with the family in the early years, as well. She is also survived by her two brothers, Maurice Pugh and Sam Pugh; and her two sisters, LaVerl Roberts and LouNell Chamberlain, all of Blanding, Utah.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. April 8 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Church Row, 313 Lake Powell Boulevard, Page, Arizona. Viewing will begin at 10 a.m. Burial in the Glendale Utah Cemetery will follow. All are invited to attend.
Arrangements were made with Mosdell Mortuary of Kanab.