Great Grandma Mortons Funeral

Molliedean Morton
JANUARY 9, 1929 ~ SEPTEMBER 20, 2018 (AGE 89)

Molliedean Stockton Morton, 89, returned to her Heavenly Father and was reunited with her beloved husband Bill Morton on Thursday, September 20, 2018.

She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She served in many positions, including Relief Society, Primary, Cub Scouts and at the LDS cannery in Vernal. She and most of her family also served an Indian Mission in the Randlett Branch. She loved serving in the church and would help anyone who needed it, even when she was in need of help herself. For over 35 years she was a caregiver to different family members, including her grandmother, mother, brother-in-law and husband. She loved having her family around her and helping take care of her grandchildren. In her later life she became a voracious reader.

She was born in Pocatello, Idaho on January 9, 1929 to Ross and Mollie Roberts Stockton. She had one brother, Ralph Stockton. Because it was during the depression they lived in many different areas in the Northwest US, wherever her parents could get work. They finally settled in Las Vegas, Nevada where she attended her senior year of high school graduating from Las Vegas High in May 1947. On June 27, 1947 she married her eternal companion Bill Morton. They were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. They were married for 63 years until his death in March of 2010. Together they raised 8 children and had a stillborn daughter. She is survived by her children: Jane (Don) Houghton, Vernal, Christine (Chuck) Johnson, Woodstock, Illinois, David (Diane) Morton, Vernal, John (Diane, JoAnn) Morton, Dutch John, Utah, Marsha (Tom) Perry, Vernal, Carol (Lee) Burns, Thermopolis, Wyoming, Shelly (Bob) Bodily, Vernal, and Valerie (Kevin) Merkley, Emmett, Idaho. Also 39 grandchildren and 104 great grandchildren.

She was preceeded in death by her husband Bill Morton, her parents, her brother, 2 sons-in-law, Chuck Johnson and Don Houghton, daughter-in-law Diane Powell Morton and 2 great grandchildren, Tyler Kiever and Lucy Jane Houghton.

She loved making cookies and decorating them and for many years she made them and gave them away for Christmas and other occasions. Her childrens teachers would always receive a box of cookies for Christmas. She became known as the cookie lady. Her best known cookie was her beautifully decorated Santa Clause. She collected Cookie cutters and had over 500 different ones.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 29 at 11:00 AM at the Vernal Utah Uintah Stake Center at 4080 South 2500 East. A viewing will be held Friday evening from 6 to 8 PM at Blackburn and Sons Vernal Mortuary 15 East 100 North, Vernal and from 9:45 to 10:45 AM Saturday at the Stake Center. Interment in the Vernal Cemetery. Services are entrusted to the care of Vernal Blackburn and Sons Mortuary.
-BlackBurn Vernal Mortuary

Grandma Morton passed away last Thursday after her health started to suddenly decline rapidly. We were told it would be a matter of days and things went down hill very fast.
A week prior she was at home and had been accidentally given too much anxiety medication and thought that she had been kidnapped and was being help captive in her home. She contacted the police and told them where she was, giving clear directions to the home. Her two daughters were suddenly surprised when the police came banging down the door late in the evening, prepared to handle a hostage situation. Only to find Grandma fast asleep in her room.

Grandma's house sat back off Highway 40 in the Davis area. We would all gather there for family reunions and have picnics on the front grass with our numerous extended family. Or when we would go to visit we would just sit around the kitchen table and tell stories. Everything always stayed the same in Grandma's house, no matter how much time past. Every old chair was in the same place, every piece of furniture the same position as it was when they moved in. She had these cookie tins everywhere that were always filled with sewing items- never cookies. However she had glass jars on the cabinets that almost aways had cookies or candies in them.

This last April she mailed Michael a birthday card. Which I found a sweet reminder that she not only approves of him, but even with so many grandchildren and great grandchildren of her own she cares about even her extended children in law.

When I was born Grandma Mortons mother Great, Great Grandma Grandma Stockton was alive and with myself, my mother, and My Grandma Perry we were part of 5 living generations.
I was not aware until after her passing that Grandma did not have Any Great, Great Grandchildren. If Michael and I had had a child it would have been her first Great Great Grandchild and a living 5th generation. 
This was a bitter moment discovering that if we had not miscarried 2 years ago this would have been something we could have been part of. So the 5 living generations is gone with her now... there is very little chance that we will ever have 5 of us together again, especially with the postpone Michael and I have on having children.

Here is a picture at my wedding with Grandma Morton standing directly on my right. Great Grandpa Perry is standing behind her. We lost him a year ago.

Luckily Michael and I were able to take some time off work and travel down to be present at the Funeral. And even though we didn't have long to stay in town we were able to take a couple days and see all our family. Including my Grandma and Grandpa Perry (Pictured far right) as my Grandpa had just been released from the hospital following an intense surgery.

It was good to see everyone again. I wish we had had just a little more time to walk through Grandma's house one last time before it was packed up and gone forever. I hate that when we lose someone we are so quick to pack up and clean out their things. I feel there should be a mourning period where we could all just sit there and remember what it was like growing up and going to Grandma's house. Before it is all gone forever and you can never go back.