Tyra Chugg

Tyra Alder Chugg, 95, peacefully passed away on Monday, October 10, 2022. Born in Hyrum, Utah on January 2, 1927 to Estella Johnson Alder and Frederick Theurer Alder. Tyra grew up in Providence and graduated from South Cache High School in 1945 where she was active in the school band, playing percussion and handbells.  World War II raged during her high school years and workers were difficult to find, so Tyra spent every weekend with her father and siblings at their turkey farm in Trenton pinning the birds and plucking their feathers.  As the second of ten children, she also helped care for her younger siblings, and they developed a close and lasting bond which continues today. 

Summers in Tyra’s youth were spent at the Alder family ranch in Southern Idaho’s Pocatello Valley.  Tyra and her sisters cooked all the meals at the ranch and kept the house clean. In her freetime, she loved riding her horse through the plowed fields.  The ranch brought her and her cousins together, and she cherished her memories there.  Even in her nineties, Tyra asked to drive out to the ranch every year and visit her family there.  

Tyra knew from a young age that she wanted to be a nurse and earned her nursing degree from the University of Utah in 1948. She served in the United States Cadet Nurses Corp and was also president of her nursing class. Shortly after graduation, Tyra moved to Los Angeles to work for the Red Cross as a nurse in the polio wards.  She then returned to Cache Valley after her rotation in LA was complete and began working at Cache Valley Hospital.  Later, she moved to LDS Hospital where she worked in surgery, obstetrics and the emergency department.  She also served as a nursing supervisor for 15 years.  Tyra continued working as a nurse for almost 40 years and was known for her kind, but no-nonsense demeanor.  Her colleagues loved and respected her for it, and she could walk into the hospital years after retiring and doctors would still stop and listen to her “orders.”

A ride home from a rainy day at church began the courtship between Tyra and Duard Glen Chugg. They loved attending the dances that were hosted by the Lions Club together. On October 11th, 1950, Tyra married Duard in the Logan LDS Temple.   As the parents of eight children, they ran an efficient and organized household. Tyra assigned every child responsibilities to fulfill just as she had when she was young. 

Tyra and Duard loved traveling extensively around the world together and with friends. When they wanted to stay closer to home, they retreated to their family cabin in Island Park, Idaho.  

Friendships played a prominent role in Tyra’s life, and she belonged to the Daughters of Utah Pioneers (DUP) and the La Dessa Club. They went about doing good in the community while they enjoyed each other’s company. Her monthly lunch dates with dear friends and sisters’ birthday adventures were some of her most treasured moments.  

Never idle, Tyra was always busy making the world a more beautiful place. She created countless quilts and needlepoints and was rarely seen without a needle in her hand.  Every grandchild has a cherished  handmade Christmas stocking and the walls of her home were adorned with her handiwork.  She and Duard spent many hours cultivating their vegetable and flower gardens.  In turn, her shelves were always filled with homemade canned goods from pickles and beets to corn and beans.  Her grandchildren loved her homemade rolls and sugar cookies and always looked forward to Sundays visiting her and Duard at their home.  Tyra also enjoyed family history work and dedicated time extracting names for the temple.  She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout her life and willingly served in any capacity in which she was called. Her actions always reflected her love and care for others. 

Tyra is survived by seven of her eight children: David, Kevin, Janell (Russel) Liechty, Marie (Kent) Pearce, Dee (Milissa), ReNia (Troy) Bingham, and Hal (Danelle); 23 grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild who all loved her dearly.  She is also survived by her sisters: Drue Richardson; Dixie (Devon) Doney; Gloria (Kent) Olson; and her brother, Karl (Claudia). She was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, Duard; her dear son, Richard; her daughters-in-law, Susan and Cindy; her grandson, Bo; her brothers: Paul, Ferd, Alan, Orlo, and Gerald; and her sister, Orma Jean.

The family expresses its appreciation to the nurses at CNS Home Health and Hospice Care, especially Marci.  We also extend our gratitude to the staff and nurses at Williamsburg Assisted Living for their attentive care. 

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of White Pine Funeral Services.  A celebration of Tyra’s life will be held on Monday, October 17^th, 2022 at noon at the Providence 4^th Ward Chapel, 155 North 100 East, Providence.  A viewing will proceed the service from 10:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.  Interment will be in the Providence City Cemetery.  Condolences may be sent to the family at www.whitepinefunerals.com . 

To view Tyra’s service via Zoom, please click the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83345767064