NaDean Sheen

1 July 2015, Salem Utah

NaDean Sheen is a spry 92-year old.  She was born June 16, 1923 in Springville at her grandmother's home. Her parents, Reed and Cathrine Hansen, lived in Palmyra.  She grew up there on the family farm.  She learned to work helping her dad on the farm.  She helped with the haying and thinning, topping, and weeding beets.  She was the oldest of four children.  She has two sisters, Beverly Davis who lived in Salem, Evelyn Fugate lives in St. George, and a brother Jay Reed Hansen, Mapleton.  When they all got married they would go on a vacation every year together with their families.

She attended schools in Spanish Fork.  She was the queen of the Junior Prom.  She met her husband, Ken, in high school.  They were High School Sweethearts.  Ken was from Salem, the son of Clarence and Kate Sheen.  They were married on November 18, 1942 and lived in Salem.  Ken passed away in April 2002.  They raised three boys and one girl. David and Laraine Sheen, Orem; Jack and Barbara Sheen, Salem; Annette (Dale - deceased) Morrison, Salem; Robert and Julie Sheen, Lehi.  They have 20 grandchlidren and 28 great grandchildren.

Shortly after they were married Ken enlisted in the Air Force as a mechanic.  This was during WWII.  After returning from the war, they moved to Henderson, Nevada where he worked as a painter.  In 1953 they moved to Spanish Fork.  He worked at Geneva as a painter.  Then he went to work at a body shop in Payson.  In 1966 he opened Ken's Auto Body Shop on Center and Main in Spanish Fork.  Her son, Jack, still runs the business.  They built a home in Salem and moved into it in December 1977.  NaDean, along with her daughter Annette, still lives there.  Jack lives next door to them.

During her high school years she worked at Del Monte Cannery for the summer.  While Ken was in the war, she was the Librarian at Spanish Fork High School.  In the 1970s she worked at the County Court House during tax season.  Most of all she enjoyed being home with her children.  The Clarence Sheen family was honored during Salem Days as Family of the Year in 1983.  Ken and NaDean were proud to be part of this family.

NaDean likes to do embroidery work.  She has embroidered on several sets of tea towels, dish towels, pillow cases, table cloths and quilt blocks.  She also likes to read.  When Ken was alive they were avid campers and loved to travel.  She loves chocolate ice cream.  Her daughter, Annette, said: "They were wonderful parents and the grandkids love them.  They spoiled us all."

When NaDean was asked what she likes most about Salem she responded, "The environment, the mountains, the peacefulness and the people."  And -- NaDean, we enjoy you in our community.

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Senior Spotlight, Salem City Newsletter, August 2015, page 3