Shirlyn Watson founded Shirlyn’s Natural Foods, a well-known Utah grocery chain with multiple locations in Salt Lake County. She married David Watson — who would later become the prophet and leader of the AUB — in 1973 through a plural ceremony. Together, they raised 11 children. For decades she worked as both an entrepreneur and a contributor to the Watson family businesses, including five years as secretary at her husband’s auto body repair shop.

What the Case Involves

In 2016, Shirlyn and David relocated to Manti, Utah, along with three other sister wives. Each wife was promised equal interest in a shared property. Shirlyn invested $36,000 into the home. David Watson then:

• Demanded wives pay $260 per month in rent for property they believed they co-owned
• Locked Shirlyn out of the home after she traveled to California following the death of their son Robert, who had Down syndrome
• Kept her name off a property agreement that would have entitled wives to a share of the home
• Denied any legal solemnized marriage with Shirlyn and claimed 100% ownership of the property

In Her Own Words

“Too many women walk away with nothing,” she told ABC4. “He wouldn’t have what he has without me. Somebody needs to take a stand. I’m prepared to take that stand.”

Her case exposes the legal vulnerability of plural wives, who often lack the protections afforded to recognized spouses — and who can find themselves homeless and without financial recourse after decades of contribution to a shared household and shared businesses.

JPA’s Role

JPA supports Shirlyn’s fight for basic property rights and housing security. This case represents a critical area of JPA’s work: ensuring that women who dedicated their lives and labor within these communities are not discarded with nothing when those relationships end.

Sources

• ABC4 News: ‘Too many women walk away with nothing’: Sister wife sues well-known polygamist prophet
• Daily Mail: Mormon grocery store founder sues her polygamist husband
• Yahoo News: Mormon grocery store founder sues her polygamist husband

Related Cases

• Grant, et al. v. Kingston

How to Help

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