Atha Johnson Montgomery 1908 ~ 2006 Atha J. Montgomery, beloved mother and grandmother to many, died peacefully July 27, 2006, in Salt Lake City, UT, at the age of 98. Atha was born in Heber City, Utah, June 29, 1908, to Ralph and Luella Cummings Johnson. She married Earl G. Montgomery November 25, 1926, in Heber City, Utah. They were later sealed to each other and their children April 22, 1937, in the Salt Lake Temple. He died November 27, 1990. She is survived by all five of her children: Ralph B. Montgomery (Shirley), Salt Lake City, Utah; Earl Rex Montgomery (Mary), San Antonio, Texas; Melvin J. Montgomery (Ruth), St. George, Utah; Marva M. Nelson (John), St. George, Utah and Philip L. Montgomery (Lorraine), Orem, Utah. She is survived by 25 grandchildren, 79 great-grand-children, and 17 great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by sisters and a brother: Mae Murdock (Merrill, deceased), Nona Babb (Leo), and Jay O. Johnson (Theda). She was preceded in death by a brother, Fay R. Johnson (Nena). Atha was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving in many leadership positions in the Relief Society, MIA, and Primary. At the age of 14 she was taught to lead music and for the next 83 years she was a chorister in one organization or another including her LDS Branch at the Seville Retirement Center. She was an excellent teacher in church, in the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, and in her Shakespearean Club. She was the last living member of the Merry Eves Club of Heber. She was an avid reader and a great Utah Jazz fan. She was an excellent seamstress and made most of the clothing for her young children during the depression years. After her children left home she worked at Heindselman's Knit Shop in Provo as a teacher of knitting and crocheting. She won many awards for her knitting and crocheting. In 1989, at the age of 81, she began working as a Senior Home Companion visiting shut-ins. She helped them with their banking, grocery shopping, their mail, and taking them to doctor appointments. She regularly read to them from books she recommended. She retired as a Senior Home Companion in 2001 at the age of 93. In 2001 she moved to the Seville Retirement Center in Orem, Utah, where she made many friends with her friendliness, her good humor and jokes. She had an amazing memory. She could tell you the names and birthdates of all her children and their descendants. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 1, 2006, at the Fourth Ward Chapel, 200 West 500 South, Heber City with visiting from 9:45-10:45 a.m. Friends may visit on Monday from 6-8 p.m. at the Olpin-Hoopes Mortuary, 288 North Main, Heber City. Interment, Heber City Cemetery.
Obituary: Atha Johnson Montgomery
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