Patrena Gale Overton

Patrena Gale Overton (age 82) passed from this life on 27 March 2026. She rallied through several health challenges and hospitalizations but eventually needed long-term care. Despite years of devoted family attention and medical assistance, her weakened endurance gave way to RSV.

Patrena was born in Provo, Utah 8 April 1943 to Arvil Stubbs Gale and Norma Turpin Gale and was the oldest of four children. Her siblings include a sister Alice Marie Jones deceased (Val) and two brothers Douglas A Gale (Cynthia) of Provo and Roger W. Gale (Sylvia) of California.

Patrena was born a month early weighing 5 lbs. 5 oz. Her mother Norma was upset that everyone commented on how tiny Patrena was instead of how cute she was.

Sister Alice and brother Doug soon joined the family. Patrena learned to adjust to the new family dynamic. The family lived in a basement apartment and with three little ones, the apartment was very crowded.

Father, Arvil, soon built a home in Provo. When Patrena was 6-years-old, the family moved into the partially finished home. The youngest sibling, Roger was born in 1952 and came home to the new house. This became the Gale’s family home.

Franklin Elementary was only 2 blocks away and Patrena enjoyed being able to walk to school.

Some of Patrena's favorite things included playing marbles, visiting at Grandpa Turpin's farm in Murray, reading books, white daisies, and purple and blue pansies.

At Dixon Jr. High and Provo High, she played the clarinet and marched in the band. She enjoyed sports and competing on church and school teams, but was often injured. When yearbooks were signed, classmates frequently mentioned her bad luck in P.E.

Her bad luck followed her on the ski slopes at Timp Haven. She severely fractured her leg which resulted in a long recovery. During that time her mother brought some yarn and knitting needles and she learned to knit. Patrena was soon making sweaters which was a skill she enjoyed mastering for many years to come.

When she graduated from high school, she wanted to join the Women's Army Corps (the WAC's). There were a variety of career opportunities and she would be part of a "team" of purposeful women.

Patrena ended up taking others’ advice which swayed her away from that goal. She admired her P.E. teacher and church sports team leaders who encouraged her to stay and Patrena attended BYU, graduating with a teaching certificate in P.E. She taught in Monticello and Ogden high schools.

During the summer she was a camp counselor at Camp Oakcrest. She had time to think about the direction in her life, and decided while she loved sports, teaching P.E. was not the career she desired.

Patrena learned from this and taught her children to pursue the righteous desires of their hearts, research options, pray and then have the courage to act on the impressions God gives you.

In 1968-1970 Patrena served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the North British Mission. After serving she returned and was hired to work in the cashier's office in the BYU administration building which eventually led to being set up on a blind date with her future husband, Jeff Overton, by her coworkers.

After a time, she accepted Jeff's proposal, and they were married and sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on June 4, 1977.

Soon after marriage, Patrena moved to Iran with Jeff for work. That experience gave her a new understanding for other cultures which she embraced. Within the year she returned back to Provo in anticipation of her first child’s arrival. Amber was born in 1978 and in quick succession Quinn, Trudy, and Todd joined the family

After the four children arrived, Patrena was at peace. They settled into their home in South Provo. Patrena loved animals and eventually made room for many pet dogs.

Patrena was creative, resourceful, and often was able to turn a hobby into a side business to earn extra money. Some of her favorites were a lucrative dog grooming business, and umpiring girls fastpitch softball.

Patrena was very proud of her four children, especially of Quinn and Todd who joined the military and served several tours of duty. Patrena especially rejoiced in having 11 grandchildren.

Patrena was faithful in her church attendance and callings, and often looked for ways to serve others. She was frequently helping neighbors with yardwork and errands. Patrena always looked for ways to make other people’s loads lighter.

The years leading up to her accident she delighted in spending a weekly afternoon with her brother, Doug, and his wife, Cindy, where she would enjoy lunch and work on personal and family histories.

The summer of 2017, Patrena suffered a serious injury that she was unable to bounce back from. Every effort was made in rehabilitation but long-term care was necessary in the end.

The last 9 years of Patrena’s life were spent with family taking her out on safaris like she had enjoyed doing for so many years of her life prior to her accident. She especially enjoyed her weekly letters from her brother, Roger. Recently, safaris had become difficult for Patrena so family cherished quiet moments with her every chance they could get.

Patrena was a force of nature, a woman ahead of her time, who left a legacy of love, reading, and the desire to always try new things. She will be missed.

Patrena is survived by her husband, Jeffrey Overton, children Amber Jeppson (Matt), Quinn, Trudy Warner (Stephen), and Todd, siblings Douglas (Cynthia), Roger (Sylvia) and brother-in-law Val Jones, as well as 11 beloved grandchildren and many nieces and nephews who all loved their safari’s with Patrena.

Family wishes to acknowledge the staff at Cascades at Orchard Park in Orem, Utah for the 9 years of assisting the family in caring for Patrena. A special thanks to LaRae who came every 6 weeks to cut Patrena's hair. When hospice was needed, the family appreciated the attentive care of Belle Vie Hospice.

An evening viewing for family and friends will be held on Thursday, April 2, 2026, from 6-8 pm at Wheeler-Sundberg Funeral Home, 495 South State Street, Orem. Funeral services will be on Friday, April 3, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Wheeler-Sundberg Funeral Home, 495 South State Street, Orem, with a viewing held that morning at the Funeral Home from 9:30-10:30 a.m. prior to the services. Interment will be in the Provo City Cemetery, 610 South State Street, Provo.

Condolences for the family may be expressed on this page.

For those unable to attend the services in person, you may view the Livestream HERE