Retha Radue

Retha Maye Radue, known affectionately to her closest friends as Jackie, passed away peacefully on December 20, 2025. Born in Golden, Missouri, on September 21, 1935, to Elvin T. and Nettie M. Phillips, Retha married the love of her life, Carl O. Radue, on December 20, 1955. She passed away, on what would have been their 70th wedding anniversary — a tender reminder of how deeply she missed him. Retha often spoke of Carl after his passing, carrying his memory with her in every season of her life.

Together, Retha and Carl built a life shaped by military service, moving their young family across states and countries — Idaho, England, Tennessee, Germany, and Utah. These moves were not always easy for Retha, especially being far from her own family, but she met every transition with quiet strength, resilience, and a steady faith that carried her through deployments and challenges. She took comfort in prayer and lived her faith gently, without fanfare, but with a sincerity that guided her actions and her heart.

Retha nurtured her children with unwavering love, supporting them through every life change with patience, encouragement, and a mother’s steady presence. No matter where the Air Force sent them, she created a home filled with warmth, stability, and love. Her children always knew they were cherished.

Retha lived a vibrant life, full of color — especially red. She loved red cars, red clothes, and anything that matched her spirited personality. Her humor, her sayings (“bless their heart” and “my stars and garters”), and her ability to make people feel welcome made her unforgettable. Even as life brought challenges, Retha held onto the people and moments that mattered most. Her memory for love remained strong, and she continued to give it freely.

She was a talented cake decorator, a competitive bowler, and a skilled cosmetologist known for her iconic big brunette hair. Later, she worked as a Customer Service Supervisor at Hill Air Force Base, where she made lifelong friends with her kindness, humor, and steady presence. Retha had friends from every place she lived, and she kept in touch with many of them over the years — a testament to her warmth and loyalty.

Her generosity extended far beyond her family. She cared for several women who needed help, offering rides, groceries, companionship, and dignity. She gave from the heart, quietly and without expecting anything in return. Retha was a long-time member of Iris Court #47, Ladies of the Oriental Shrine of North America, a lifetime member of Eastern Star and a member of the Daughters of the Nile in Ogden. Retha and her husband Carl were big supporters of the Shriner's Children Hospital in Salt Lake City.

Retha loved her family deeply. She cherished her children, grandchildren, great‑grandchildren, and great‑great‑grandchildren. She is survived by her daughters, Carlene Meyers and Sherri (Jim) Randolph; her son, Rick (Gustav) Radue; her sister, Naomi Geerhart; and her many grandchildren, great‑grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Elvin T. and Nettie M. Phillips, her beloved husband, Carl, and her brothers, Ermal, Roy, and Raymond Phillips.

She leaves behind a legacy of kindness, humor, resilience, generosity, faith, and love — the very qualities she lived every day. Her spirit lives on in the people she shaped, the memories she created, and the love she gave so freely. We leave you with this closing from Retha, " I love you to the moon and back. Take care and be happy."

We invite you to leave memories and upload photos to the memorial page as we celebrate and remember Retha's vibrant life. Her spirit lives on in each of us who were blessed to know her. A special thank you to Madi and the staff at Family Tree Assisted Living, Allison her hair stylist, Kristi her companion and friend from Home Helpers and her doctors and nurse practitioners.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Myers Mortuary, 5865 S 1900 W, Roy, Utah. Friends and family may gather for a viewing at 10:00 a.m., prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Shriners Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City.

Please take a moment to share your memories and upload any photos you may have to the memorial page at www.myers-mortuary.com