OBITUARY Constance “Connie” Jean Edwards Fairbanks Kinsey Constance (Connie) Jean Edwards Fairbanks Kinsey, loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend, passed away in her home, surrounded by family, on Wednesday, November 14, 2018. She lived a long and full life and was loved by many. Connie was born in Washington, D.C. on October 9, 1930, the only child of Ethel Jean Iverson and Harry Edwin Edwards.
She had a wonderful childhood, and because her grandfather was an Assistant U.S. Attorney General, went to many parties and events at the White House and was privileged to sing at an inauguration of President Franklin Roosevelt. After graduating from high school in Columbus, Ohio, Connie met Richard Frank Fairbanks. They were married shortly after meeting and always celebrated three wedding anniversaries: their elopement to Kentucky on September 1, their official wedding in Ohio on September 12 and their sealing in the Salt Lake Temple on September 29, all in the year of 1948.
After living in San Francisco for a time for Frank’s dental school, they made their permanent home in Salt Lake City. Frank and Connie were the parents of six sons and one daughter, their first child being born when Connie was 18 and their last when she was 40. In addition to raising her children, Connie stayed active in her community and nurtured her many creative talents.
She had a beautiful voice and took voice lessons for many years. She loved classical music, theater and art. She took up painting and also participated in several plays at the University of Utah when her children were young.
When she was in her late 40’s, Connie went back to school and earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Social Work from the University of Utah in just five years. She spent many years working as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and psychotherapist. She loved helping people and was very passionate about it.
Her clients loved her and she stayed in touch with many of them up until her last days. She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was a great teacher and taught in many capacities at church.
She enjoyed teaching marriage enrichment classes and also helped provide counseling for church members in need. Connie was a great sport. In a family that loves to tease, she always laughed when she became the subject of the teasing.
She was always up for spontaneous ideas and vacations, and frequently went hunting and camping with her family. She was a big fan of the University of Utah and loved all things purple. She was an animal lover and had several dogs over the years.
Connie was a fantastic cook and published the cookbook, “A Century of Mormon Cookery,” with her friend, Hermine Horman. She had a knack for keeping track of family history and was always the one who could explain who was related and how. She took up jewelry making in her later years and created the most beautiful pieces for herself, the women in her family, dear friends and caretakers.
Connie had big, beautiful dimples and was very proud of how many of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren inherited them. It was always the first thing she looked for when a new baby was born in the family. After Frank’s passing in 2008, Connie married John (Jack) David Kinsey on September 3, 2011.
She was very happy to have found love and a companion for the second time. They were truly devoted to each other and had seven wonderful years together. Connie and Jack had fifteen children between them and enjoyed spending time together and with their large families.
They were avid fans of the Utah Jazz and loved watching the games together. Connie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Frank, son, Michael and daughter-in-law, Sally. She is survived by her husband, Jack, children, Rick (Karen) of Ogden, Dave (Gerry) of Bluffdale, Shauna (Scott) Vernon of Sandy, Steve (Dorothy) of Mesa, AZ, Jon (Cyndy) of St. George, Matt (Kelly) of San Tan Valley, AZ and daughter-in-law, Nicquita of Midvale as well as 36 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.
She is also survived by Jack’s eight children and his many grandchildren, who were so kind to her. The Fairbanks family is particularly grateful to Jack’s daughter, Cheryl Gilmore and her partner, Gerry Wilson, who moved in with Jack and Connie recently and took such wonderful care of them. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 1 at 11:00 AM at the Murray 1st Ward, 755 E. Three Fountains Circle, Murray, UT.
A viewing will be held prior to the services at 10:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Connie’s name to a charity of your choice.
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