Gloria Lee Morrison van Soolen passed away on January 27, 2022 in West Valley City, Utah. Gloria was born on June 30, 1934 to Lydia LaSena Christensen and Arthur Wendell Morrison, the youngest of three children.
She attended Liberty Elementary, Lincoln Jr. High and South High School in Salt Lake City. She graduated from the University of Utah in 1956 with a business degree and a minor in secretarial training. In 1965 she returned to the U to complete course work for a teacher’s certificate and in 1986 she received her Master’s degree from Utah State University in Education.
Gloria taught school for 37 years, primarily second grade students at Vista and Robert Frost Elementary schools. She also taught ESL kindergarten in California.
She married Harry van Soolen on September 19, 1969, an authentic Dutchman from Rotterdam, Netherlands. Harry took Gloria to Holland for their honeymoon and they also traveled to Denmark, Sweden and Finland. Gloria loved to build rockets, cardboard boats, electric cars and sailboats with Harry, just to name of few of their shared hobbies. She had a collection of model trains, influenced by the career of her father who worked for the Union Pacific. She learned to sew from her mother and often made her own fashionable clothes. She loved English, math, and science and mastered shorthand at an early age, working as a secretary before starting her teaching career.
She loved her callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in Primary and leading drama productions. She was always supportive of her extended family.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Reta Maralyn Morrison Allred and brother, Arnold W. ‘Bud’ Morrison. She is survived by her husband Harry and son Ben; sister-in-law BJ Peterson; brothers-in-law Rudy, Robert and Jerry van Soolen and numerous nieces, nephews and grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
Services will be held on Thursday, February 3, 2022 at 11:00 am at the Hunter 15th Ward chapel, 5000 West Pavant Ave (3725 So), West Valley City, Utah. Friends may call at the church on Wednesday evening 6-8 PM and from 9:30 am-10:30 am prior to the service. The service will also be broadcast at https//:bit.ly/Hunter 15th. Interment will follow the service at Memorial Estates Mountain View, 3115 East Bengal Blvd (7800 So). Cottonwood Heights, Utah. Online condolences and memories can be shared at www.daltonhoopes.com.
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Laura Hannant Winegar
I taught with Gloria for many years. I know how much she loved her family, how well organized she was and that she enjoyed teaching. I am sorry I didn't see this until after the funeral. May God be with you.
I worked with Gloria for many years at Robert Frost Elementary as a teacher and then a school technology specialist. I have many special memories of our times there. My prayers and love are with your family.
She was my 2nd grade teacher! Such wonderful memories and a kind soul! Heaven has gained a wonderful woman
I was one of Mrs. VanSoolen’s many 2nd grade students at Robert Frost Elementary b She also taught my mother Tracy Stevens. She remembered her when I began her class! I also ran into her in my sister in law’s ward, and she remembered me then too! I was blessed by her patience, love, kindness and help. I remember she introduced me and my class to Rahl Dahl books especially Charlie and the chocolate factory, James and the giant peach, and Matilda. She spoke to us of Holland in class and I still remember her telling us they had public showers that you had to pay for shower time, and that seemed like something so foreign to me. She helped me through a personal challenge that year and was very good to me! She is a teacher I will always remember. She blessed many lives including mine. God bless your family during this difficult time!
I met Gloria 12 years ago when I was having a difficult time in my life. She offered to help me and we got to know each other and became good friends. She was so thoughtful and kind and such a very giving person. I feel blessed to have known her and honored to have had her as a friend. She touched so many peoples lives through the years, and she will be missed by everyone that knew her.
I'm so sorry for your loss. She was my 2nd grade teacher at Robert Frost 30 something years ago. She was a great teacher. I was lucky to be taught by her. A few years back, I ran into her in the store. She actually remembered me. It made me so happy.