Ricky Lynn Cole Mueller

Our beloved wife, mother, sister and friend, Ricky Lynn Cole Mueller, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 7, 2024, after a second courageous battle with cancer. Ricky was born on January 18, 1947, to June Fowers and Elmer Merrill Cole. She spent much of her growing up years in the loving home of her grandparents, Dina Bartyn and Levi Jesse Fowers. In fact, it was while she was at her grandparents’ home that she met the love of her life, Darrell Lynn Mueller. Ricky’s grandfather had just brought her to their home one day, and while she was still sitting in her grandfather’s car, Darrell, who was sitting out front on his porch steps (he lived just across the street from her grandparents), had the thought that he should go and meet the young lady sitting in that car! That was the beginning of their eternal love affair!  

 

She attended school in Ogden and graduated from Ogden High. Ricky and Darrell were married on April 13, 1966, in the Logan Utah Temple. They just celebrated their 58 ^th Wedding Anniversary. They lived for a while in Ogden, but because Darrell had joined the military the family adventured with their three children, Michelle, Mike, and Matt, to Clovis, New Mexico and Mountain Home, Idaho, but West Point, Utah became their permanent home.   

 

Ricky worked in Kaysville at the movie theater for several years. She was a substitute teacher for a while. She also worked at American Play World which was incorporated into the Lifetime Company. Ricky was smart and could figure out ways to do things that were clever and organized. She turned the produce from her garden into beautifully-filled bottles on her storage shelves. She was a hard-working and a dedicated soul. She was a wonderful wife and mother. Ricky was a wonderful cook, and she shared her delicious meals often with others in need. Even when she was so ill at the end of life, she still wanted to help take a meal into the sisters she ministered to.      

 

Ricky was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and she loved the gospel, her Heavenly Father and her Savior. She believed in the power of prayer! She served in many callings, including the Relief Society Presidency, Relief Society instructor, Primary teacher, Activities Committee member, Humanitarian Leader, Sunshine Committee Leader, Ward Missionary, Visiting Teacher, and Ministering Sister.   Ricky and three of her dear friends formed a scripture study group. They loved getting together to visit, strengthen each other, share good times and bad, and share gospel learning together. But mostly they just loved being together!!!  

 

She was creative and loved to sew. She often included a handmade item in her Christmas and birthday gifts to others. She made beautiful quilts and loved looking for new patterns.  She enjoyed going with friends to a quilting class to continue her learning. She was always sewing and embroidering a project and planning her next new project. She could sew, repair or fix almost anything, including changing hem lines and adding a pocket for her daughter Michelle. She made her grandchildren a holiday pillowcase for whatever holiday was coming up just for a fun thing for them to sleep on!

 

Ricky wrote wonderful notes to others with her beautiful penmanship. She and her friend Merlene instigated sending “happy mail” to other sisters while working on the Sunshine Committee where she also helped spread happiness, laughter and fun. She was fun to be around!!! One sister recalled that it was because of a note that Ricky wrote to her that she remained active in the Church when someone else said things that offended her and she didn’t want to come back to Relief Society ever again. Ricky loved hand-writing beautiful birthday cards to the sisters in the ward on their birthdays while she was serving as a ward missionary. She enjoyed sending out holiday cards to her family and friends and gave holiday gifts to the sisters that she ministered to. The gifts were always given in beautiful, creatively crafted bags or some other beautiful presentation.  

 

She loved her family. She enjoyed trips to Washington to see her son Matt and his family.  She wanted to visit Texas to see her son Mike, but life didn’t seem to have that in the plan for her.  Her children were always on her mind.  She loved seeing her grandchildren and enjoyed having them come to visit. She enjoyed visiting with her dear high school friend Katie and her family in California and Idaho. She and Darrell enjoyed camping and trips to their condo at Lava Hot Springs. “Rocks and Sagebrush” property was a refuge for them.

 

Ricky also loved people and would do anything she could for you. Some of the things people will remember about her include having a “giggle fest” with her, Coke runs, shopping and looking for fabric, always leaving her home feeling better that when they came in because of her kind and loving words to them, being a kind, wise and loving friend, and how thoughtful she was of others. Ricky always thought of others and knew their likes and dislikes, so when she found the “perfect gift” for someone she would buy it then and save it for their birthday or Christmas. She has a closet full of gifts purchased ahead for others!  

 

With Heavenly Father’s help, Ricky fought her way back from a debilitating stroke in 2004. She knew what it was to suffer, and she didn’t want others to suffer. She was always a caregiver, including taking her mother into her home to care for her near the end of her mother’s life. Ricky’s husband Darrell always took great care of her, and even more so as she was recovering from her stroke, then she became his caregiver as his own health concerns became evident. She has spent countless hours caring for Michelle, watching over her, and striving to prevent the problems that come from diabetes. Always Ricky was learning and striving to be more Christ-like!

 

Ricky is survived by her husband of 58 years, Darrell; daughter, Michelle; sons, Michael Jesse Mueller, and Matthew Robert (Amy) Mueller; seven grandchildren; her sister, Patricia (Dale) Stephens; and a multitude of loving friends. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends, but we are grateful to know she is out of pain and doing whatever she can for her family and loved ones from the other side of the veil!!!  

 

We Love You Ricky!!!!!