LaVay Hansen passed away in American Fork, Utah, on February 8, 2024, surrounded by members of her loving family. She was the oldest daughter of Glen Lamont Hansen and Grace Minnie Peterson. She was born on February 24, 1933, in a little town called Buckinberg, Utah. While growing up on a rural farm, she learned how to perform hard work, and it served as a firm foundation for her character during her life.

She graduated from Gunnison Valley High School and married Donald Erickson on December 21, 1950 and later divorced. Over the years, she went on to become a renowned Midwife, and graduated as an accomplished Personologist achieving the highest academic score ever previously seen. She also taught courses on Emergency Preparedness and Home Nursing. LaVay and Donald raised their family of 6 girls while living in Provo. In February of 1985, she married Douglas J Shay and later divorced in 1992.

During her life, LaVay served in many positions within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints including Relief Society President, Gospel Doctrine teacher, Spiritual Living Instructor, Primary President, and Temple Worker.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter Kathy Erickson, two sons-in-law Arthur Dix and Russell Sessions, her sister Coralee Thurgood, her sister Kathy Dodge, her brother Faris (Jake) Hansen, and great-granddaughters Rosemary Ann Heiner and Sophie Marjorie Burton, and a great-grandson Dru Folsom.

She is survived by her 6 daughters: Vicky Erickson, Tammie (Steven) Belnap, Wendy (Brad) Folsom, Karen Sessions, Linda (Reid) Barker, and Kris (Annie) Erickson along with 35 grandchildren, 107 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great-grandchildren. Her brother Del Hansen and sister Nancy Reynolds.

A celebration of LaVay's life will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2024 from 2-5pm at Walker Sanderson Funeral Home, 646 East 800 North, Orem.