Gloria Dawn Grow Precourt Christensen 's Obituary
On Tuesday morning, February 11, 2020, Gloria Dawn (Grow) Precourt/Christensen, mother of four children, passed away at the age of 84. There will be a private family burial dedication where she will be laid to rest next to her first husband at Greenwood Mortuary in San Diego, California.
Gloria was born on December 21, 1935 in Ogden, Utah. The third child and second daughter to Samuel Elmo Grow and Romola Evelyn Smith. Her family heritage included participants in the Mormon migration west as well as ancestors from Germany and Denmark, but mostly Great Britain. Of particular note, her great grandfather, Henry Grow, was commissioned by Brigham Young as the architect and builder of the Salt Lake Tabernacle on Temple Square.
At the age of four, her parents moved the family to the San Diego area in pursuit of employment. She recounted her childhood memories of the Second World War with its rationing, nightly black outs and its ever-present blimp balloons guarding the skies. During these formative years, her family resided in the suburbs of Linda Vista and La Mesa. Gloria graduated from Kearny High School and later attended San Diego State College while working as an operator for the telephone company.
While at a college dance, she met her future first husband, Edward Ray Precourt, a Korean War veteran and SDSC student. They were married on November 25, 1959 and had four children; Douglas Ray, Suzanne Marie, Elisabeth Anne and Rebecca Lynn, who were primarily raised in Spring Valley, California. During this time, Gloria, a stay at home mother, would serve in church positions as a youth and primary teacher, Relief Society homemaking instructor and Cub Scout Den Mother. Of particular note was her position as Eastern San Diego Campaign Chairman for Ronald Regan’s first successful run for Governor of California. A voracious reader, she also enjoyed gardening and at times crocheting and sewing. In March of 1975, she suffered the loss of her husband, Ray, to a heart attack. This occurrence would not only be a life changing experience for Gloria, but for every member of the family.
Within a few years, she would become reacquainted with Richard Gail Christensen and they would eventually be married and move to Bonita, California with the family. During the Bonita period, her life focused on her teenage children, extended family and church responsibilities. With Richard’s retirement, they moved to Lake Tahoe, Nevada, residing there until his death on December 6, 2000. She then moved to her last home, in Elk Grove, California, close to her daughter, Suzanne.
Overtime she lived in various age-health related homes or facilities until passed away in San Marcos, California.
Gloria is preceded in death by both of her husbands, Edward R. Precourt and Richard G. Christensen, one sibling, Harry Smith Grow and both of her parents, Samuel E. Grow and Romola E. (Smith) Grow. She is survived by all four of her children, 13 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren as well as three siblings:
- Surviving Children: Douglas Precourt (Kristine Kurtz) of Aurora, CO; Suzanne (Precourt) Herrera (Carlos Herrera) of Elk Grove, CA; Elisabeth (Precourt) Thompson (Michael Thompson) of Salem, OR; Rebecca (Precourt) Orlando (James Orlando) of Carlsbad, CA
- Surviving Grandchildren: Spencer Precourt and Anne (Precourt) Jacox (Armando Jacox) of Aurora, CO; Ethan Precourt of San Clemente, CA; Sarah (Precourt) Pukahi (Carlton Pukahi) of Orem, UT; Carlos Andreas Herrera (Ariel Gasca) of San Jose, CA; Daniel, Rebecca and Sophia Herrera of Elk Grove, CA; James Thompson (Lindsey Yazzie) of Cave Creek, AZ; Dennis Thompson (Beth) of San Francisco, CA; Edward and Lowell Thompson of Salem, OR; Vaughn Orlando of Carlsbad, CA.
- Surviving Great Grandchildren: Bodhi and Sage Jacox, Keawe Pukahi, Errol Thompson, Aurelia Thompson, Lillian Thompson, Liam Thompson, Lincoln Thompson.
- Surviving Siblings: Carol Jane (Grow) Christensen (Virgil Christensen [deceased]) of Nebraska; Harry Grow [deceased] (Carolyn Dawson [deceased]) resting in Morgan, UT; Georgeana “Gigi” (Grow) Poulson (T.O. Poulson) of Ogden, UT; Cheeryl’Le “Cheery” (Grow) Fjellestad (Neil Fjellestad) of San Diego, CA.
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