Joana Hobbs Major, 94, died peacefully on November 4, 2026, at her home in Pleasant Grove, Utah, where she had resided for 63 years. According to a November 9 report, her death was due to causes incident to her age.
Born on July 10, 1932, in Nephi, Utah, Major was the youngest child of George Lloyd and Jennie V Malmgren Hobbs. Her family moved to Provo in 1942, where she attended BY High School. During her graduation, she performed in a woodwind trio alongside Dallin H. Oaks. She later attended BYU, where she served as student body secretary and graduated in 1954 with a degree in Theatrical Arts.
Major married Joseph Duane (Duke) Major on September 1, 1955, in the Salt Lake Temple. The couple initially lived in Southern California before moving to Utah in 1963, where they built a home on Canyon Road in the Manila Ward, north of Pleasant Grove. Major was a piano teacher for many years and later earned a teaching certificate in 1980, teaching at Grovecrest Elementary for seven years. She was also active in local theater, supporting her husband's activities at the Villa theater in Springville and the Alhambra in Pleasant Grove.
A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Major served in various callings, including as the 1st Relief Society President of the Manila 3rd Ward. Between 1999 and 2000, she and her husband served an LDS mission in Nauvoo, Illinois, where she portrayed Lucy Mack Smith at the Lucy Mack Smith home.
Funeral services are scheduled for Friday, November 13, at the Canyon Heights Ward building located at 3785 West Box Elder Drive in Cedar Hills. A viewing will be held on Thursday, November 12, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the same location, with the funeral services following on November 13 at 11 a.m. The family requests that donations be made to the general missionary fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in lieu of flowers.
