Ordella Violet Ord Mathews
"Grandma Gum"
Our loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, Ordella Violet Ord Mathews, 80, passed away July 25, 2010, following complications from surgery.She was born September 23, 1929 in Nampa, Idaho, to Robert Lewis and Violet Anderson Ord. She graduated from Nampa High School and attended BYU. Ordella married Donald Arthur Mathews on Nov. 23, 1948 later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple Aug. 4, 1976. Together they raised four children and faced the hardship of losing two sons in separate tragic accidents. She was employed by Fernwood Candy Co. and later General Electric. Some of her happiest times were spent "post-officing" around the country with her husband. She enjoyed traveling, reading, gardening, crafting and spending lots of time with her children and grandchildren. She took pleasure in creating scrapbook vacations with her grandchildren.
Family was important to her and she brought the family together with reunion vacations for the past five years. Holidays were special and she took great delight in sending out cards with gum enclosed to every child. She was "Grandma Gum" to 16 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. Her infectious laugh was as original as her name. She took great delight in being unique. She was the "dessert lady" of her neighborhood. Her life was dedicated to serving others. She was an active member of the LDS Church and loved serving in Primary and Relief Society. Her selfless example and firm testimony of the Savior were her greatest contributions to her children. Ordella was preceded in death by her husband and best friend Don, sons Robert Jay and Bruce Donald, parents and her sister Vanita Rummler.
She is survived by her sisters Roberta Anderson and Evona Buckley, daughters Gerri (Jerry) Alldredge, and Terri (Duane) Mortensen, grand and great grandchildren.
The family wishes to thank the great ICU staff at Salt Lake Regional Medical Center for providing compassionate care.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, July 31, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. in the Mt. Olympus 1st/9th Ward, 4635 South Lanark (3285 East). Friends may call of Friday at Russon Brothers Salt Lake Mortuary, 255 South 200 East from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and prior to services at the ward from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 S. Highland Dr. Online guestbook available at www.russonmortuary.com