Our mother, Jessie Johnson Dalton, age 92, died of natural causes on Easter Sunday, March 30, 1997 in Provo, Utah.
She was born October 11, 1904 in Mapleton, Utah, the daughter of Aaron Wayne and Anna Whitney Johnson. Jessie attended BYU before marrying Oliver Huntington Dalton, Dec. 3, 1924 in the Salt Lake Temple. The couple later served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Colorado and New Mexico. A cultured woman who devoted her talents to art, music, and literature, Jessie's writings were published in Utah verse anthologies. She functioned as a gracious hostess to many in a home which exemplified her artistic nature. A charter member of the Springville Federated Music Club, she also was president of the Bel Canto Ladies Chorus. Jessie was called upon to offer `one-woman' dramatic presentations, such as her portrayal of Emily Dickinson, before this biographical style became generally popular. She was engaged to portray the deceased grandmother in the original film, `Man's Search for Happiness,' a BYU production. Jessie directed church and community dramas from `Life with Father' to `A Midsummer Night's Dream.' She was founder of the Springville Little Theater and was a fifty-year member of the Ladies Literary Club.Her numerous recognitions included Springville Mother of the Year, `Artist of Life' award, and Grand Marshall of the 1995 Art City Days Parade; moreover, she was recently recognized as the oldest living descendant of Captain Aaron Johnson, founder of Springville.
She was the mother of five children: Robert O., St. George; David J. (Donna), Provo; Jan W. (Jani), Oceanside, California; Stephen E. (Elaine), Salt Lake City. She was preceded in death by her husband Oliver and daughter Anna Jane, and is survived by her sister Nelda (Mrs. Oral) Franson of Lakewood, Colo. She has 20 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Friday, April 4 at 12 noon in the Kolob LDS First Ward, corner of 800 South and 400 East, Springville, Utah. Friends and family may call at Wheeler Mortuary, 211 E 200 S, Springville, Thursday 6-8 p.m. and at the church Friday morning from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Interment will be in the Evergreen Cemetery.
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