Susan Linda McGiven

Susan Linda White McGiven, age 74, passed away peacefully on October 11, 2020 in Springville, Utah. There is an old song by the country band, Alabama, called Angels Among Us. The chorus of this song says. "I believe there are angels among us, sent down to us from somewhere up above. They come to us in our darkest hours to show us how to live, to teach us how to give, to guide us with a light of love." Susan Linda White McGiven was one such angel sent down by our Heavenly Father to share light and love in everything she did. Susan was born to Steven and Georgia White on April 28, 1946 in Santa Monica, California. She was the oldest of four children. The family moved around quite a bit during her early years living all over the United States, finally settling in Mountain View, California. She graduated from Awalt High School and attended Brigham Young University. She met her husband, Gary McGiven in 1960, the two were high school sweethearts. The couple were married in the Oakland California Temple on June 11, 1966, and together they welcomed eight children. They started out family life in San Jose, California and then moved to Orem, Utah, where they lived for more than 20 years. They spent their later years in Springville, Utah. Susan was a woman of many talents. She was a great lover of music. She played both the piano and the guitar but her favorite form of musical expression was singing. She was a member of several choirs over the years including the Chauntenettes of Orem, Utah. As a young mother she also developed a talent for folk art (Tole) painting. There were several of her creations displayed in the family home over the years. While these talents brought much joy into her life, the role that truly defined her as a person is that of a servant. She served in many capacities over the years both within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and in her community, but her crowning "achievement" aside from raising her family, came in 2012 when she called to serve in the Hawaii Honolulu Mission, fulfilling a lifelong dream. Susan was a friend to many and had several wonderful relationships that she enjoyed. She and Gary enjoyed traveling and doing things with their friends often. She also opened her home to many of her children's friends and became a second mom to many. She was a devoted wife and mother and a fixture at numerous ballgames, wrestling matches, orchestra and choir concerts and plays. She was her children's and grandchildren's biggest fan, fiercest advocate and her family's North Star. Her shining example taught us the way we should live. She taught us to be generous in all things, to be humble and kind and she showed us every day how to love. We all have many cherished memories and her influence in our lives has been profound but her most enduring legacy is that of pointing of her family and everyone she knew to Jesus Christ. Susan is survived by her eight children: Holly (Dane) Berry, Julie (Adam) Weight, Sean McGiven, Steven McGiven, Kevin (Lindsey) McGiven, Kelly (John) Boyle, Gary (Katie) McGiven, Ryan (Sarah) McGiven, 23 cherished grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Sister, Lynn (Bill) Brady, brothers Glenn (Nancy) White, and Dan (Browynn) White. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gary McGiven, and her parents, Steven and Georgia White. A viewing will be held Friday, October 16, 2020 at Spring Creek Mortuary, 737 North Main Street, Springville, Utah from 7:00 - 9:00 pm. Funeral services will be Saturday, October 17, 2020 at Spring Creek Mortuary, 737 North Main Street, Springville, Utah at 1:00 pm. A viewing will be held prior from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm. Interment will follow in the Orem City Cemetery. Condolences can be offered at www.legacyfunerals.com and springcreekmortuary.com.