Maryanne Berrett

Maryanne Elaine Kiser Berrett

Maryanne was born on October 2, 1945 to Gerald Kiser and Mary Knox Kiser in North Island California–the youngest of two girls. She passed away at home surrounded by friends and family on June 23, 2025 in Draper Utah.

Maryanne was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Bob Berrett. She is survived by her sister Anadeane (Layne); her sons–Russell (Kristine), Brent, Mark (Jennifer), and Bryan (Jessica); her 14 grandchildren–Amanda, Ky (Skylar), Tyler (Mazie), Taylor, Ryan, Brielle, Berkeley, Heather (Rylee), Rees, Eliana (Solomon), Olivia, James, Hailey, and Maggie; her 2 great-grandsons–Logen and Finnley; and one expectant great-grandson.

Maryanne's father was in the Navy and as such she moved around quite a bit as a child, living in San Diego, Hawaii, San Leandro and Chula Vista. They made yearly visits to Cedaredge Colorado to visit her Grandpa Kiser. Wherever she lived, her home was always filled with family, friends, love, and music. Maryanne was an adventurous child and enjoyed spending time at the beaches and camping. She enjoyed being a part of the Camp Fire Girls group, achieving the highest honor “Torch Bearer”.

When she was 12 years old, Maryanne began meeting with senior LDS missionaries because her Mom thought that the LDS church had a good youth program and thought it would be good for her girls. Up to that point, she had been attending different churches with a variety of friends. On Oct 4, 1958, Maryanne was baptized, two days after turning 13. Joining the Church was a defining moment in her life and altered everything in her life from that time forward.

Maryanne graduated from BYU with a degree in education, and while engaged to Bob, taught one year of elementary school in California. After marrying Bob on June 22, 1968, she returned to Provo where Bob finished his degree.

Shortly after celebrating their one year anniversary Bob and Maryanne welcomed their first of four sons in August of 1969. Three more sons followed in 1971, 1973, and 1976. During the early years of her sons’ lives she stayed home caring for and educating her sons. Her sons meant the world to her, and she smothered them with love, attention, and affection. Prior to the birth of her final son, she and Bob moved their growing family to their Holladay home near Wasatch Boulevard and 3900 South.

Maryanne was adept at managing the family’s finances. She was able to make the monthly income from Bob’s teacher’s salary stretch and last. She was a good cook, ensuring that each morning and night her family had a home cooked meal. She cooked, baked, and canned. She sewed the seemingly never ending holes in the knees of her sons’ pants, as well as countless numbers of flamboyant shorts for Bob’s volleyball teams. She watched her sons’ sporting events, and learned more about sports than she probably ever expected. She traveled with Bob to countless volleyball tournaments throughout the United States.

In the fall of 1985 she returned to teaching at Wasatch Junior High, teaching Algebra to classes of 40+ students. Maryanne had numerous medical conditions throughout her life, but the one that changed the trajectory of her life happened in February of 1986 when she slipped on a patch of ice, struck her head, ruptured a blood vessel in her cerebellum, and nearly died. From that moment on, vertigo was a constant companion. Later in life, her and Bob’s retirement plans further changed when Maryanne was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

Yet despite the many struggles and trials that her health brought, she was an everlasting example of kindness and love. She was not a woe is me kinda gal. She touched the life of everyone who came into contact with her. She remembered names, and details of people she met only briefly. She loved to give hugs, and provide comfort to not only her sons, but also their friends. As her Parkinson’s progressed and she became more confined to home, she provided light to those who visited her. Even in the face of her terminal breast cancer diagnosis, she chose to be grateful for the opportunities she had to meet with people that came to her home.

She loved Bob. She loved her sons. She loved her daughters as they finally arrived through marriage. She loved each of her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Maryanne loved all.