Karla May Shields Wilkes, age 75, passed away on Tuesday, December 29, 2020 in Delta, Utah. She was born on August 17, 1945, the youngest of the three children of L.A. “Buss” and Zada Louise Evans Shields. She grew up in Delta, attending Delta Elementary, Middle and High Schools. Following high school she moved with her parents to Salt Lake City. She got a job with Deseret Industries in Salt Lake where she met Wesley Dan Wilkes. They were married in the Jordan River LDS Temple on January 30, 1989. Karla taking on a role as another mother to Wesley’s three children. In 1998 after her father’s passing, Karla and Wesley moved to back to Delta. They made many new friends in the Delta community, especially with their neighbors in the Sands Apartments. In 2019, Karla was diagnosed with cancer. She was incredibly brave facing her many treatments over the past year and a half.
We will always remember Karla’s cheerful attitude. She always seemed to be happy. She enjoyed needlepoint and coloring. She also enjoyed watching television shows from her youth like the Dick Van Dyke Show and Petty Coat Junction.
Karla is survived by her husband: Wesley D. Wilkes, Delta; daughters: Angela Gail Wilkes, Salt Lake; Jennifer (Bobby) Hickman, Delta; son: James “Jimi” Wilkes, Delta; grandchildren: Ian, Eric, Abbie, and Katie Wilkes; great-grandchildren: James Woodmaster and Raine Wilkes; brother: Richard Shields, West Jordan; nieces: Kulena Vondrachek and Danae Fredricksen. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister: Ardith Louise Shields; nephew: Kehl Fredricksen.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, January 12, at 10:00 am, at the Nickle Mortuary Chapel, 190 S Center Street, Delta. Viewings will be held at Nickle Mortuary on Monday, 6:00-7:30pm; and Tuesday, 9:00-9:40am, prior to the service. Masks and social distancing are required. Burial will follow at 1:30 pm at the West Jordan Cemetery. The recorded video of the Funeral Service is available at: https://youtu.be/pIYjxAmYO6o