Lila Jane Staley Giles of Saratoga Springs, Utah and former longtime resident of Thousand Oaks and Frazier Park, California passed away unexpectedly but peacefully at home on Friday morning, March 3, 2023. She was 91 years young.

Lila is survived by her husband Lynn William Giles of Saratoga Springs; son Steven (Kathy) Metcalf of La Verne, California; daughter Lynn (Andy) Preece of Eureka, California; daughter Vicki (Neils) Ludlow of Newbury Park, California and son Brian Staley of Sandy, Utah. She is preceded in death by her second husband Clair Victor "Vic" Staley, to whom she was married for 54 years; first spouse Arnold Metcalf; son Paul Metcalf and grandson Matthew Brian Staley. Lila is blessed with 9 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

Born in Hamilton, Ohio on July 5, 1931, Lila was the only child of Helen Reed Yost and Benjamin Reynold Fry. Her mother was very talented in voice and piano, so her love of music started at a young age. The small family moved from Cincinnati, Ohio to Southern California where she graduated from Huntington Park High School in 1949. She was a member of many clubs and service organizations. Lila was President of the High School Friendship Club and Commissioner of Welfare in the student body government. On June 15, 1951, she received the degree of Associate in Arts from Los Angeles City College where she was elected Homecoming Queen.

On July 20, 1969, Lila and her husband Vic were baptized as new members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This was the very same day that Neil Armstrong first stepped onto the surface of the moon. Lila's incredible love for the Savior and insatiable desire to learn and serve in the church were followed with many callings in the Relief Society, Primary and numerous choirs. She served with Vic in the Los Angeles Temple for over 10 years and was also a frequent temple patron with Lynn in Saratoga Springs.

Lila was a lover of the great outdoors especially the mountains. She donated monthly to the Yosemite National Park Conservancy. Being in nature was her heaven on earth, and she loved to walk barefoot when outside. Animals rarely feared her as they could sense her gentle and loving spirit. She had a collection of little stuffed animals that perched in the back window of her car. She said, "When there's a parking lot full of gray Camrys, I can always find mine by the stuffed friends in the window." If she noticed anyone that needed a little extra love and kindness, she would let them pick one to take home.

Lila always had a big smile, warm embrace and a kind word for the lonely or sad. She was keen to sense when the need presented itself. She was adored and loved by all who knew her. She was truly an "Earth Angel" to everyone. If you needed a friend or someone to talk to, she would stop whatever she was doing and pay full attention to what you had to say. Lila's elegance, poise, child-like silliness, profound love and compassion for others, guileless nature and warmth will be greatly missed by all those who knew and admired her.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. in the Saratoga Hills 7th Ward Chapel located at 49 E Centennial Blvd, Saratoga Springs, Utah with a viewing preceding the services at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be held at a future date at the Bakersfield National Cemetery in Arvin, California. Online condolences may be sent to the family at Wing Mortuary, wingmortuary.com.

If you are not able to join us in person, please use this link to view the services online:
https://zoom.us/j/92358362410?pwd=ZXlHbFp6bDdqTm80MXU4S01JcllYZz09
Meeting ID: 923 5836 2410 Passcode: 801264