Obituary

On February 25, 2023, Hyrum Michael Mace passed away gently, without pain. We miss him already. Before Hyrum was even born, we knew how badly he wanted to be here- in this world, in our family. He was an easy baby and a delightful toddler. He spent his first 6 months living with us above a laundromat, then three years in our south-Provo home. While we lived there, he loved walking to see the horses, visiting the family orchard, and reading books. In 2021, we moved to Oklahoma, and Hyrum quickly adopted our neighbors as family. We took daily swims in our neighbor’s pool, used rocks and berries to make “canal soup” during family walks, and often visited the OKC zoo. Hyrum attended public Pre-K, made great friends, and loved school.

On April 4, 2022, we took Hyrum to his pediatrician, thinking that vision problems were the cause of his week-long vomiting. A CT scan revealed an aggressive brain tumor- an incurable pediatric cancer called DIPG. Hyrum underwent 6 weeks of intensive radiation therapy in the spring, and in the Fall he participated in a CAR-T cell clinical trial at Stanford University. As these tumors do, his continued growing and we stayed with family in Utah for his last quiet weeks.

Hyrum is a soul-deep caretaker. He loves babies and has an uncanny knack for calming, entertaining, and caring for them. Gardening is another signature Hyrum activity, and his appetite for raspberries and cherry tomatoes is endless! He is a deep feeler and a deep thinker, and a naturally faithful soul. Though his tumor was not, Hyrum’s heart was healed by Jesus Christ. He learned how to forgive. How to accept an imperfect now. How to live on hope.

We know that Hyrum’s soul lives on, and that our covenant bond with him allows Hyrum to remain involved with our family.

All are invited to join us for Hyrum’s funeral on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at 11:00 am in the Sunset Stake Center chapel, located at 1560 South 1100 West, Provo, Utah. Please also join us for viewings on Friday evening from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Sunset Stake Center and again Saturday morning from 9:30-10:30 am prior to his funeral. Interment will follow at East Lawn Memorial Hills Cemetery in Provo, Utah.

We are inexpressibly indebted to our friends and family for the love and support we’ve received during this past year. We’ll gratefully accept funeral flowers but if you feel so inclined, consider bringing a letter or sending a message to the family that shares a Hyrum memory or one way his journey impacted you.