ST. GEORGE, UT <! > - Emma Gayle Dunbar Hovey, 86, passed away at her home Tues., Oct. 29, 2002 in St. George, Utah.
She was born July 8, 1916 in Logan, Utah, the tenth and young-est child of George Dunbar and Lillie Annie Hyde Dunbar. She attended Logan City Schools graduating from Logan High School in 1934.
She married Dennis Rex Hovey November 28, 1940. They then moved to California living in Manhattan Beach and El Segundo where Dennis worked for Douglas Aircraft Company and Standard Oil of California. Because of Emma's many bouts with Pneumonia, they returned to Salt Lake City. In 1962, they moved to Bountiful. Dennis worked at the Post Office for 20 years. There they raised their family.
In 1983, Dennis came down with Asthma. In seeking a better location to live, they discovered St. George, with it's beautiful sunsets, surroundings, moderate climate and wonderful people. They called it the "Kingdom of Heaven". To live here gave years to their lives and life to their years.
Emma was an active member of the LDS Church. She served in many capacities, such as Primary, Young Women, Sunday School, cub scouts and visiting teaching. She loved being a missionary and served two stake missions with her husband, served in the St. George Temple for six years, served as a Member Locator Missionary and as a Ward missionary in her mid-eighties.
As a mother, she loved her family. To provide them with the extras, she worked many part-time jobs, always putting her family first. She learned many things from these jobs that she said helped to raise her children. She volunteered at the Senior Citizen Center and at the Meadows in St. George. She always insisted that her children "wash their hands with soap and brush their teeth regularly". She was a lover of people and loved serving them and visiting them.
She was preceded in death by her dear husband, Denny (Dennis Hovey), three brothers: Marvin William Dunbar, Wallace Eugene Dunbar, George Lisle Dunbar, and five sisters: Lillie Dunbar, Annie Lorraine Berntson, Irene Dunbar Ryan, Doris Dunbar Bolger and Clarice Dunbar DuBois.
Emma is survived by her three daughters: Susann (Raymond) Durrans, Kaysville, UT; Carol Jean (Howard) Schmutz, Bountiful, UT; and Linda Marie (Stephen) Record, Santa Barbara, CA. She had 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her dear sister, Eiley Dunbar Loosli, St. George.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 2, 2002, 10 a.m., Metcalf Mortuary Chapel, 288 West St. George Blvd. There will be visitations, Friday, November 1, from 6-8 p.m. at the Metcalf Mortuary and Saturday, November 2 from 9-9:45 a.m. prior to services. There will be graveside service at the Bountiful Memorial Park Saturday, November 2 at 4:30 p.m., 2020 S. 200 W. Bountiful, UT under the direction of Metcalf Mortuary 435-673-4221.