Sheila Ray Checketts, 80, returned to her heavenly home surrounded by family on both sides of the veil Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. Ever one for a family get-together, Sheila valiantly fought through several flat-lines to make sure everyone had a chance to come and visit, sharing love and memories of her wonderful life. A mother through and through, she left before her son's birthday so he would never have that association in the future. Afterall, "Everyone deserves their own special day."

Sheila was born during World War II at Bushnell Hospital in Brigham City, Utah, on May 2, 1944, to Evans and June Ray. She had an idyllic childhood growing up in her beloved Ogden when it was much smaller and younger. In fact, a treasured memory of Sheila's was sitting with her grandfather, putting a penny in her bank each time a car happened to drive by on Harrison Boulevard. Later, as a teenager, she loved working at L.R. Samuels Department Store. No other department store would ever measure up to Samuels.

As an only child for nearly eight years, Sheila enjoyed special relationships with both her maternal (John and Edith Harbertson) and paternal (Raymond and Mattie Ray) grandparents. She would often share dear memories of times spent with her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. In time, Sheila was finally joined by her brother, Steven, and her sister, Rachelle. Oh, how she loved them! She forever treasured family events, parties, and vacations. She sought any and every opportunity to spend time with them, even if it was to simply talk on the phone.

Sheila graduated from Ogden High School and attended Weber State University. Through mutual friends, she was lined up on a blind date with a handsome young man from Logan, Utah, named Brent Checketts. It was love at first sight! They were engaged one week after they met and were married three weeks after they met on June 20, 1970. They were later sealed for time and all eternity in the Ogden Utah Temple on November 25, 1975. Nearly 55 years later, their marriage is a testament to all of those who said it would never last.

Brent and Sheila made their home in Farmington, Utah, where they would be forever changed by the wonderful friendships and memories they made in that special sacred place.

Coming from a smaller family, Sheila wanted to have a lot of kids and to have them closer in age than what she had experienced growing up…Mission Accomplished! Brent and Sheila had six kids in nine years: Chad, Ryan, Nicole, Kimberly, Brandon, and Christopher. They were her world! She devoted her entire life to being their mother, and they will forever be thankful for their dear sweet mother!

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Sheila had a special testimony of her Savior Jesus Christ and the power of eternal family relationships. As her children grew, she relished the opportunity to become a grandmother. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and tended them whenever and wherever she could. She sought every opportunity to love and support them. She wanted them to know of her abiding, unconditional love…a love that lasts eternally and remains unchanged despite her temporary physical absence. The recipients of this love include Michael, Logan, Julia, Shayla, and Emma; Addyson, Amelia, Avery, and Ashlyn; Eydie, Elsie, Eric, and Evan; and Owen, Finn, and Cole.

Sheila was preceded in death by her parents, Evans and June Ray; her infant siblings, Rosalind and Richard Ray; maternal grandparents, John and Edith Harbertson; paternal grandparents, Raymond and Mattie Ray; and her niece, Joscelyn Galbraith.

Sheila is survived by her husband, Brent Checketts; her brother, Steven (Cathy) Ray; her sister, Rachelle (Robert) Galbraith; her children, Chad (Crystal), Ryan, Nicole, Kimberly (Jean-Jacques) Futey, Brandon (Dorthy), and Christopher (Jen); 16 grandchildren; and her nieces and nephews – each of whom she loved dearly.

A viewing will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at the Farmington Davis Creek 1st Ward, 825 South 50 East, Farmington, Utah. Funeral services will also be held at the Davis Creek 1st Ward on Friday, March 28, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. A viewing will precede funeral services from 9:45 – 10:45 a.m. Interment will be at Leavitt's Mortuary & Aultorest Memorial Park, 836 36th Ogden, Utah, 84403.