Ann Novak Voyles

Ann Novak Voyles, 97, passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by her four children and extended family. She was born in Park City, Utah, to John and Mary Moze, later adopted by John Novak, and graduated from Park City High School. Ann married Robert Earley Voyles on 17 February 1947 in Salt Lake City, and was a lifelong Catholic.

Ann touched a multitude of lives throughout the years, and was a constant source of joy and gratitude to everyone around her. She worked at the Utah State Tax Commission, U.S. Bureau of Mines, State Farm Insurance, and Granite School District, and volunteered at St. Mark’s Hospital in Salt Lake City for 15 years. Her compassion was infectious for everyone she served in everything she did.

Ann lived a busy life of adventures and service. Along with her “partner in crime” Robert, she religiously occupied the passenger seat of their red 1963 Thunderbird, which they showed at countless car shows, Thunderbird Club events, and cruises. Ann was a peerless gardener, and her green thumb kept her both engaged her entire life, and was something she passed on to her family. Every winter, she would put away her dozens of geraniums, which filled every windowsill of her house, and she always eagerly anticipated the arrival of spring, when she would plant them again in her gardens. Her backyard was perennially in full bloom, overflowing with countless flowers, her prized roses, cherries, peaches, pears, and strawberries. Ann’s homemade strawberry jam was a family treasure, and a mainstay at any family meal. She remained busy all her life, but loved to spend her free moments “just puttering” around her garden, planning future additions and watching the birds who came to enjoy the garden she prepared for them. Ann was known by everyone around her to be supportive, kind, generous, loving, and positive, and threw herself into every project for her loved ones. Above all, she dearly loved her children, sons-in-law and daughters-in-law, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Ann and Robert were talented dancers, and their monthly bridge club was a legend in their social circle.

Her children never remember her ever raising her voice or getting angry, and she was above all else, a polite and gentle woman. They fondly remember that the height of her frustration was saved for an embarrassed “Oh, Robert!” at one of her husband’s off-color jokes. Up until just days before passing, Ann lived a healthy, active, and vibrant life, and kept her mental sharpness up through the end. She was adamant for keeping up her daily routines, and loved to make her bed and do her hair every morning at home, up through just the last few days. Ann loved to have everything “neat and orderly and in its place,” and even last week, insisted that her home hospital bed was squared up with the wall to be positioned “just so.” She would even point out stray pennies on the floor, and would pick up individual crumbs by hand off of everyone’s placemats. Her greatest source of pleasure in her last several months was opening her front door each day to admire the fresh coat of bright green paint on it, and her verdant green lawn and gardens.

Ann is survived by her four children Robert (Jayne) Voyles of Pensacola, FL, Sandy (Joe) Straley of Salt Lake City, Sharon (Dave) Butterfield of Sandy, and Lisa (Mike) Frisbie of San Antonio, TX, her 12 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Robert E., brothers, John, Joseph, and Philip, sister, Evelyn, grandsons, Miles Joseph Straley III and Jordan R. Butterfield.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, June 30, 2022, at 2pm at Larkin Sunset Lawn Mortuary, 2350 East 1300 South. Ann will be buried, by her request, in her wedding gown, which she sewed herself by hand in 1946. Friends and family may show their respects at a viewing one hour prior to the services, and interment will follow at the same location.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Salt Lake City VA Fisher House.

Many are remembered as a saint after they pass, but Ann was unlike most people – she lived as a saint her entire life. Her infectious enthusiasm, humor, and love will be deeply missed by her family.