Brenda Ann Stocks, 1939 – 2018

Brenda Ann Stocks was born December 10, 1939, in Elko, Nevada, the daughter of Doris

(Steunenberg) Knowles and Abram Anthony Knowles.

She died surrounded by family at her home in Old La Sal, Utah, on April 3, 2018.

Brenda attended school in the old mining camp of Mountain City, Nevada, through the eighth

grade. She graduated from high school in Elko, Nevada, as valedictorian of her class.

Brenda was an accomplished piano player, having been taught by her mother. She was in the

seventh grade when she began playing for the local Mountain City dances with Turk Montrose

and his band.

She married Don Griswold in Elko, and began work as a nurse at the hospital in Elko. She was

very proud to be a nurse, as her mother was. She and Don lived around Elko and on several

ranches in northern Nevada where Don constructed reservoirs and did dirt work. Two children,

Anita Marie and Bill, were born at this time. They moved their small construction company to

Moab in 1970.

Later, Brenda and Don divorced and she acquired Southern Utah Paving, a small local asphalt

business in Moab. She rapidly learned the business and spent many long, hot days and nights

working to make the company into a success. Over the years, Brenda became a very astute

and respected business woman.

She married Fred Stocks, who was involved in the timber industry and local construction, in

1978. Brenda called Fred “the love of her life.” Together they built two sawmills, and a

planer, and ran one of the largest timber operations in southern Utah.

Brenda loved to garden, bake and can. She grew enough vegetables and baked enough to

supply all of her friends and family. Brenda was always willing to share her knowledge of

gardening and canning.

Music was always a big part of her life and she often played with old-time musicians. Family

and friends loved being entertained by her at family gatherings and parties.

Brenda is survived by her daughter, Anita (Tom) Keogh, of Old La Sal; son, Bill Griswold (Tina)

of Dickinson, North Dakota; step-children Bill Stocks (Denise) of Old La Sal; Colleen Stocks of

Olathe, Colorado; Bobbie Jean Crosley of El Cajon, California; brother Ted Knowles (Wanda) of Dubois, Wyoming; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.SpanishValleyMortuary.com.