Barbara Ann (Conger) Laycock

Barbara Ann Conger Laycock, age 81, passed away on April 8, 2024. She was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where her parents were stationed due to the advent of World War II and where her father awaited posting for the Italian campaign. She returned to Salt Lake City at age eight months and was raised in the valley in the Salt Lake Stake, graduating from West High School in 1961 with a straight “A” average and also graduation from four years at West High Seminary. On her graduation she was awarded a scholarship to BYU, but found it necessary to work as a secretary to support her mother and aunt. Her dreams of college and a mission were given up while she worked for 15 years in downtown Salt Lake, walking to work every day through Temple Square.

In 1978, she at last enrolled at the University of Utah, majoring in history and going on to complete all but one quarter there, and also met her wonderful husband, Harry Laycock. They were married June 16, 1978, in the Salt Lake Temple. Harry had lost his first wife in 1977, and although Barbara was unable to have children of her own, she became an instant mother and grandmother.

Harry and Barbara enjoyed an ideally happy, harmonious marriage, having almost everything in common and being best friends as well as husband and wife. One of their passions was raising AKC Dobermans and taking their dogs on their numerous travels, crisscrossing the United States and Canada. In 1983, they visited the British Isles, the land of Harry’s birth and a place of intense interest to Barbara also, as her heritage was English and Scottish.

When they relocated to Southern Utah after her husband’s retirement, Barbara enrolled in Dixie College where she earned an associate degree, then went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in 1983 from Southern Utah State in Cedar City.

Besides her musical interests, serving as ward chorister seven times and choir director five times throughout her life in various wards of the church, Barbara was a serious gospel scholar and an adult teacher in the church numerous times. In later years she worked with Harry as an ordinance worker in the Vernal temple.

Barbara and Harry had 31 wonderful years together before his death in May of 2009. In her early seventies, health issues forced Barbara to use a walker, losing her ability to garden, to drive, and much of her independence. She relied on friends for transportation to doctors, church and the grocery store. To these priceless friends, she is eternally grateful. 

She spent her last years reading, especially anything to do with history, indexing for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and working on genealogy for her husband, his first wife, and her own family. She eagerly awaited release from her handicaps and reunion with her helpmeet and beloved pets.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 15, 2024, at 11 A.M. with a viewing held prior from 9-10:30 A.M. All services will be held at the Tremonton Stake Center ( 660 N 300 E, Tremonton). Interment will take place in the West Jordan Cemetery (7925 S 1300 W, West Jordan) at approximately 2:30 P.M. The service will be livestreamed and may be accessed below.