Our wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, Margaret Smith Beecher passed away Sunday, December 19, 1993 from complications following a stroke she suffered in September 1992.
She was born on September 15, 1907 in Salt Lake City, Utah, the daughter of Hyrum Mack Smith and Ida Elizabeth Bowman Smith. She married Harold Kline Beecher in the LDS Temple in Salt Lake City in 1936. She devoted her life to her family, her religion, friends and to furthering the Arts in Utah. She is listed in Who's Who of American Women for her many accomplishments supporting the Arts.Margaret Beecher organized the Utah Symphony Guild in 1953. She chose to first serve as vice president from 1953 to 1955, then became president of the guild from 1955 to 1957 and was very active in the guild throughout her life. She also served on the Board of Directors for the Utah Symphony for 18 years (1961-78) and was a member of the Symphony Executive Committee from 1961 to 1966. Also a fine musician, she studied music at the University of Utah, Northwestern University, Banff School of Music in Canada and the McCune School of Music in Salt Lake City.
Always an advocate for the Arts, she became the chairman of the Utah State Institute of Fine Arts (now the Utah Arts Council) in the early 1970's and was the chairman of the Literary Arts for the Utah Arts Council for 12 years (1966-78).
In addition to the Utah Symphony Guild and the Utah Arts Council, she was also very active in the Utah Poetry Society, the National Poetry Society, Utah League of Writers, Ballet West Guild, Salt Lake Art Center Guild, Pioneer Memorial Theatre Guild, National Orchestra League, Pioneer Craft House, and Women's Architectural League. She was Utah State chairman for the very successful fund raising campaign for the University of Utah Medical School in 1958-59. She was also an Honorary Emeritus from the University of Utah.
She was always very active in various church callings, especially with the youth. Always warm, loving, encouraging and enthusiastic, she made everyone feel special and loved. She will be remembered for her great faith, graciousness, warmth and deep love for her family, friends, the gospel and the Arts.
She is survived by her husband, Harold K. Beecher and her two daughters, Jane Beecher Yeates and Allyson Beecher Smith (Mrs. Larry S. Smith) and five grandchildren, Elisa Jane Yeates, Kenneth Beecher Yeates, Kathryn Beecher Yeates, Margaret Ann Yeates and Jennifer Beecher Smith, her sister, Macksene Smith Rux and brother, Hyrum Mack Smith. She was preceded in death by her brother, Joseph F. Smith and sister, Geraldine Smith Ballard.
Funeral services will be Thursday, December 23, 12 noon, at Parley's 1st Ward, 2350 South 2100 East. Family will meet friends Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m., Larkin Mortuary, 260 East South Temple, and Thursday one hour prior to services at the ward. The burial will be at Salt Lake City Cemetery.
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