Jeanette Walker Christensen

January 18, 1936 ~ November 20, 2019

Jeanette Walker was born on January 18, 1936, in Red Mesa, CO to Jesse Lorenzo and Annetta Eaton Walker. She was the eighth of ten children. 

They later moved to Blanding where she spent most of her youth. She fondly remembers playing with her best friend, Gaylene, and going on adventures with her brothers and sisters and anyone else who came along.

Jeanette married Samuel Wayne Christensen in Farmington, NM on October 13, 1955. They were later sealed in the Mesa Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on March 13, 1963. 

They lived in Monticello first, then moved to a few different places for work and school. They settled back in Monticello. 

They had six children. Jeanette was a full-time mom. She spent a lifetime making a home. 

She followed her children around wherever the sports would take them. She read her children books and poetry. 

She was an amazing seamstress. With four girls, she sewed so many dresses both for the girls and their dolls. She also sewed pantsuits, costumes, dress-up day attire, ’50s skirts, and quilts and bound more quilts than she could count. 

She tied a lot of those quilts. She would get together with her sisters and visit for the day while they quilted. 

There were also many gatherings for Jeanette to cut, perm, color, and generally fix the family’s hair. This included her husband, kids, nieces, nephews, sisters, and brothers.

She also gathered all those same people to do the fall canning from peaches to jam, salsa to beans.

Jeanette grew up in a house full of music. She played the piano, pump organ, ukulele, banjo, and accordion. She loved to play and dance. 

She also loved to sing. She was often asked to play at gatherings around town, both the piano and the accordion. 

She learned to play music by ear from her mother. Many people were fascinated by this talent. 

She wanted her children to love music and gave all of them piano lessons. She wanted them to be able to read the music. She could sing a song about almost anything that was said. 

She loved a full house and welcomed one and all. The Walker reunion was held in many places, but as the clan grew older, Jeanette had it in her backyard every year.  

In the earlier years, the Christensen reunion was also held in Monticello. The house became home base as everyone passed through on their way to campout on the mountain. 

Her house had a revolving door with people coming and going all the time. Granny Walker used to say she wanted a big family so she wouldn’t be lonesome. That definitely spilled over into Jeanette’s life, and she loved it.

She loved the flowers and trees and could often be found in the yard. She enjoyed working in the yard and added flowers and decorations often. 

Her yard was the gathering place for all the neighborhood kids even after her own kids and grandkids were grown. After all, there was still a trampoline, swing set, tree, sandbox, and always someone to play with. 

She loved the deck that Sam built so she could always enjoy the backyard. 

Jeanette loved the gospel, had a strong testimony, and served in many callings. She was primary chorister, which frightened her because she didn’t read music, but she loved teaching and singing the songs. She loved being with the children. 

She served in Relief Society and Primary in many different callings. One other surprise was in Young Women’s as the camp director. Again, scary, but she loved it. 

One of her favorites was visiting teaching. She enjoyed visiting and being visited.  

She loved serving in the temple. She and Dad were thrilled when the temple was built in Monticello. 

She kept a journal faithfully, starting in 1980. 

Jeanette is survived by her husband, Samuel Wayne Christensen; her children, Shelli Hugentobler, Gina Bailey, Vicki (Karlton) Moss, Scott (Lisa) Christensen, Jill (Toby) Pearson; 17 grandchildren; and 28 great-grandchildren. (Three sisters, two brothers)

She is preceded in death by a baby daughter Denise, a grandson Travis Wayne Hugentobler, a son-in-law Kyle Allen Slack, her parents, two brothers, and two sisters. 

Her memorial services were Monday, November 25 at the Monticello Stake Center, and she was interred at the Monticello City Cemetery.

Card of thanks

The family would like to thank all the many neighbors and relatives who came to visit and to convey condolences. Thank you for all the food and prayers. 

Thanks to all the doctors and nurses who cared for her over the years and the staff of Zions Way Hospice for making her last days comfortable. 

Mom touched so many lives because she was always welcoming and had such a big heart. She will be missed by all who are left but also greeted by many more loved ones beyond the veil.