Marguerite Eliason Obituary

A Joyful Journey Through Mortality,
A Perfect Brightness of Hope
September 15,1930 – April 23, 2025
"She filled the world with love." This simple sentence reflects the extraordinary life of Marguerite ("Peggy") Louise Mauss Eliason. All who know her would agree that she epitomized the light, warmth, and selflessness of the Savior, Jesus Christ. Her radiant, outgoing spirit and generous nature won her countless friends from beginning to end. And loved ones believe that her righteous, faith-filled life of consistent discipleship won her the warm clasp of the Savior's embrace upon her return to her heavenly home.
Born on September 15, 1930, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Vinal Grant Mauss and Ethel Lind Mauss, Peggy grew up happily ensconced between her beloved brothers, Armand and Gordon. Her father's employment opportunities took the young family to Oakland, California, and Peggy thrived during her elementary and teenage years among good friends and robust educational experiences.
In 1949, Peggy joined her family in relocating to postwar Japan, where her father had been called to preside over the Japan Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After assisting her parents and other missionaries in the Tokyo mission home for nearly a year, Peggy received a two-year mission call of her own. Serving from Niigata to Nagoya to Osaka, Japan, Peggy touched the lives of many and was blessed with an exceptional ability to communicate in Japanese, which gift remained throughout her life. Following her formal release from missionary service, she accompanied her mother traveling around the country to organize the first Relief Society units in Japan.
Perhaps the greatest blessing to emerge from her service in Japan was her marriage to fellow missionary Orville LeGrande Eliason. With their love for Japan and her people, LeGrande and Peggy rejoiced in subsequent military and university assignments in Japan, Taiwan, Okinawa, Korea, and the Philippines, as well as every corner of the United States. They energetically undertook missionary and leadership activities in each location, encouraging their children to study the language of each host country and otherwise follow their example of honoring and befriending others.
Daughters Susan Chieko and Carol Emiko later served as missionaries in the Tokyo South and Tokyo North Missions, respectively, literally walking in the footsteps of their parents among beloved Japanese associates.
Following LeGrande's passing in 2011, Peggy enjoyed living in Orem, Utah, with her daughters. She loved serving in church assignments and interacting with friends and family until her last day on earth. With her boundless charity, welcoming smile, and perfect brightness of hope in the Savior and His gospel, she truly has filled the world with love.
Peggy is survived by her daughters, Susan and Carol; her grandchildren, Angela Nibley, Joseph (Mallory) Nibley, and Mariana (Rachael) Nibley; her grandson-in-love, Roberto (Amber) Rodriguez; her great-grandchildren, Elvin Rodriguez, Gwendolyn Rodriguez, and Newton Pallerine; her brother Gordon (Barbara) Mauss; her brothers-in-love Gordon "Cook" (Karine) Eliason and Dean (Montana) Eliason; her sisters-in-love Barbara Eliason and Annette Eliason; and cousins, nieces, and nephews. Preceding her in death are her beloved husband, Orville LeGrande; her parents, Vinal and Ethel Mauss; her brother Armand Mauss and his wife, Ruth Mauss; her brothers-in-love Darrell Eliason, Lynn Eliason, and Alan Eliason; her sister-in-love Mary Eliason; her nephews Michael Mauss and Gregory Eliason; and her niece Linda Rosenlof.
(We, her daughters, express our deepest appreciation for your love and support of our mother in recent years and at the time of her passing.)