Olive Osmond, 79; She Passed Love of Music to Her Singing Offspring

Olive Osmond, mother of Marie and Donny Osmond and other members of the musical performing family, died Sunday in Provo, Utah. She was 79.

Family spokesman Ron Clark said she had died of complications from a massive stroke she suffered more than two years ago. Her condition began to deteriorate last week, and family members were at her bedside.

“She was surrounded by those who made her life worthwhile and complete,” Clark said. “Many of her children were at her side. She couldn’t have passed with any greater love and peace than existed in that room.”

She was born in Samaria, Idaho, the daughter of Thomas Davis, a school principal, and his wife, Vera Ann.

She later moved to Ogden, Utah, where she took a job as a secretary and met George V. Osmond, the soldier she married in 1944.

Both enjoyed music. George sang and Olive played the saxophone, and they passed along their love of music to their children.

Their first two sons, Virl and Tom, developed degenerative hearing losses that affected their speech. The next four sons, Alan, Wayne, Merrill and Jay, began singing close four-part harmonies as children. They performed as the Osmond Brothers, producing 34 gold and platinum records in the 1960s and 1970s.

They were later joined by Donny, Marie and Jimmy Osmond.

The family toured internationally and made numerous recordings and TV appearances. From 1976-79, Donny and Marie Osmond hosted the television program “The Donny and Marie Show,” which their older brothers helped produce.

Olive Osmond is survived by her husband; nine children; 55 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services are pending.