Janice S. Asay

Janice “Jan” Marie Fox Sorensen AsayJan was born on February 7th, 1932 to Charles Gibbs Fox and Louise Stevenson Fox in Cottonwood. She was their 6th of 8 children, and 2nd of 4 daughters. She passed away peacefully at her daughter's home in Evanston, WY on August 12, 2026. Jan began taking piano lessons at the age of 4. Her mother would stand behind her while she practiced, keeping count while ironing clothes. By the age of 6 she was playing piano for her Ward Primary. She also began learning to play the organ around age 11, and would go early on Sunday mornings with her dad to his Priesthood meetings to practice. It wasn’t long before they recruited her to play their opening hymns for Priesthood Meeting. She also started filling in for her mother, who was the Ward organist, when she wasn't available. This was the beginning of a life of music, and 79 nearly consecutive years of being called as Sunday School or Ward Organist, even amongst many moves,In Junior High, she started learning violin, soon becoming the best violinist in her school orchestra. As a teenager she got the opportunity to take organ lessons from Roy Darly, the organist for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. It was a 6-week, invitation only, class, playing on the great Tabernacle pipe organ, an experience she would relate to her family with great joy.As she was still unmarried in her 20's, she was called on an LDS mission to South Africa from 1955-1956. She loved sharing the experiences, photos and mementos from the time she served, and the things she saw when she visited a few European countries on her way to her mission, and on the way home. She was sealed to Robert D. Sorensen on July 3, 1959 in the Salt Lake Temple. He was the love of her life! They had 3 children before he passed away in November 1966.She married Basil R. Asay on June 21, 1968 in Salt Lake City, UT, a widower with 7 children of his own. They had one child together, which completed their family at 11 children. Jan had purchased some property in Millcreek, UT before her marriage to Basil, and together they built a large, beautiful house for their large blended family.In 1976, the family moved to Mesa, Arizona for three years before settling in Washington UT, just outside of St. George. By this time, only the youngest 4 were still living at home. While looking for a house to buy, the family attended the Washington 1st Ward Sacrament Meeting. The Bishop stood up before the meeting and asked if anyone in the congregation could play the organ. Basil volunteered her, and after the meeting the Bishop said he would find them a house within the Ward boundaries, which he did! She started giving piano and organ lessons during their stay in Washington, which kept the home constantly filled with music. Basil passed away in November 1987.She married Zane S. “Johnny” Asay on June 3, 1989 in St. George, UT, who was the brother of her second husband, Basil. Johnny’s 2nd wife had died, and they joined forces for companionship, which turned into a deep love for each other. Johnny brought another 13 children to their marriage before he also passed away in June 2014.Both Jan and Zane acquired the nicknames “Uncle Dad” and “Aunt Mom” from their 24 combined offspring. Through moves from Washington City, to St. George, and later to Sandy UT, Jan continued teaching piano and organ, eventually adding violin and viola to her teaching repertoire. She is survived by two sisters, Marilyn (Jerry) McGhie, Alpine, UT, and Annette Kennett, Sandy, UT; sister-in-law Eunice Fox, Lehi, UT; 4 children, daughter Shelie Jackson, Lompoc, CA, daughter Kellie Ann (Rick) Fryer, Evanston, WY, son Scott (Karen) Sorensen, Midvale, UT, son Kreg (Tanya) Asay, Cedar City, UT; 3 step-children through Basil, son David (Jennifer) Asay, Cedar City, UT, son Grant (Kerstin) Asay, Conifer, CO, Ellen (Stan) Brimley, Pima, AZBetween the three marriages she ended up with 24 children or step-children, 85 grandchildren, and many many great, great-great, and great-great-great grandchildren.Special thanks to those from Best Home Health that helped Jan over the past few years.