Twila Linford Henderson

Downey…..Twila Linford Henderson passed quietly away by gently falling asleep on January 20, 2009, from causes incident to age. She was born April 9, 1916 in St. Charles, Idaho, a daughter of Amasa and Carrie Merrill Linford. Twila graduated from East High School and from the University of Utah. She married Erwin Henderson July 2, 1937. they were blessed with four children; Linford (JoAnn) Henderson of Salt Lake City, Utah; Joan (Clarence) Funk of San Diego, California; Paul (Janet) Henderson of Murietta, California; and a son Grant, who died shortly after birth. Following their college years, Twila and Erwin moved to a small farm they owned in Clifton, Idaho. Together, they worked the farm, and Erwin also taught school. In 1951 they moved to Downey, Idaho, and Twila began her teaching career. Her first year she had 30 students, and taught them without aides or helpers. She taught first grade fro 27 years, long enough that she also taught some of the children of her former students. In 1957 Erwin, Twila and their children built their home in Downey. They did all the labor from the concrete slab to the shingles on the roof. Twila and Erwin retired from teaching in 1978. After they retired, they did carpentry work. They made countless sets of wooden blocks, rocking chairs, dressers, and other special request orders. Many of the homes in the Downey area have something built by them. they also did carpentry work for the school, library, church and other civic buildings. During the last years of doing this work, they did not charge for their labor, only for materials. Their generosity and service to the community was so appreciated by the people of Downey, that a small memorial park was named in their honor, and is appropriately called “Henderson Park”. Twila’s angel food cake was “to die for”, and she made one for every funeral luncheon fro many many many years. Erwin passed away in 2004 and Twila continued to live alone in their home until October 2005. She then moved into the Millcreek Retirement Home in Salt Lake City, Utah, so she could be closer to her family. By March of 2008, her memory had failed, so she moved into Alta Ridge Assisted Living, and it was here that she passed away. The family wish to express their gratitude and love to the staff of these homes, who provided tender and loving care to her. Twila is survived by her three children, 10 grandchildren, 34 great grandchildren and 11 great great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on Saturday January 24, 2009 at 12 noon in the Downey LDS Ward Chapel, with Bishop Rex Nielsen, officiating. Friends may visit with the Henderson family on Saturday prior to the services from 11:00-11:45 am. Arrangements are under the care of Horsley’s Marsh Valley Funeral Home. Friends are invited to send condolences to the Henderson family at wwwhorsleyfuneralhome.com.