Osmond matriarch dies

Olive Osmond , matriarch of a Utah family of famous entertainers, was being remembered on Mother's Day for her devotion to her nine children and her millions of "children" throughout the world.

Mrs. Osmond, who had been suffering the effects of numerous strokes over the past 5 1/2 years, died about 4:40 a.m. Sunday at her Provo home, surrounded by family. She had turned 79 on Tuesday.

A spokesman said her family felt relief that she had been released from suffering. "They've been anticipating this, but nothing prepares you for the time, or (for) it to come on Mother's Day," family spokesman Ron Clark said.

Mrs. Osmond's health had declined in recent weeks, and all of her children were able to say their goodbyes. Some were not at her bedside when she passed because they had contractual obligations, but they were en route to Utah Sunday.

Messages from fans throughout the world were posted to Mrs. Osmond's Web site, http://www.oliveosmond.com.

A woman identified as "Cindy" wrote she was sorry for the loss. "I grew up with your family on TV and radio. I felt that I knew you through this media."

Mrs. Osmond was born in Samaria, Idaho, in 1925 to Thomas and Vera Ann Davis. Her father was a school principal, which Clark believes explained why she loved reading all her life.

She moved to Ogden and worked as a secretary at the Adjutant General Depot where she met a young soldier, George V. Osmond, and wrote in her diary, "Today I met someone who's going to mean a lot to me."

They married in 1944. Early in their marriage, she played saxophone in a band that performed at local dances. She later played the sax on television for family Christmas specials, albeit reluctantly. "Her kids (would) say, 'Look, we're producing the shows, you're going on,' " said Clark, who was the executive director of corporate communications for the family for 14 years.

Mrs. Osmond complied because she believed the specials promoted a "positive aspect of family, in this case, a large family," he said.

The Osmonds' first two sons, Virl and Tom, developed degenerative hearing losses that also affected their speech, Clark said. Their subsequent seven children — Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay, Donny, Marie and Jimmy — did not develop the same hearing problem and went on to musical fame and fortune.

"She knew the kids wanted to sing. They loved to sing together," Clark said. "It became something they enjoyed so much, she and George put their lives on hold."

In an interview this year, Merrill Osmond said the family originally began entertaining to raise money to send family members on missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.