John_Mary_16 September 1912
Mary Richards John, 86, wife of the late Ora John, passed away Thursday, Dec. 25, 1997 in the Oneida County Nursing Home.
Funeral services will be held at noon on Dec. 29 in the Benson-Horsley Funeral Home, 132 West 300 North, Malad. Friends may call at the funeral home on Monday from 10:30 a.m. until time of service. Burial will be in the Malad City Cemetery. A complete obituary will follow in Sunday’s Journal.
Mary Richards John, 85, lifelong Malad resident, left this earth on Christmas Day after a long and courageous battle with an extended illness. Mary had enjoyed living at the Oneida County Nursing Home for the past several years, where she was loved and cared for by a very special nursing staff.
Mary was born on September 16, 1912, in Samaria, the youngest daughter born to John Henry and Emeline Waldron Richards.
She married Ora Thomas John on June 2, 1934, in Brigham City, Utah. Ora passed away on October 11, 1968.
Although not blessed with children of their own, Mary and Ora formed a special bond with the family of Ora’s brother, Cecil, and his wife, LaVene John, and their three children.
Mary was loved and will be missed by Malad residents: her sister-in-law, LaVene John; nieces, Vicki Ekstrom and Linda Daniels; and a nephew, Larry John.
She was preceded in death by her parents, four sisters, four brothers, and her husband.
The family wishes to express sincere gratitude to Dr. Stephen Johnson and the special nurses and staff of the Oneida County Long Term Care Facility. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the nursing home.
In loving memory of “Aunt Mary,” the following poem was written:
Aunt Mary died on Christmas Day;
Her gift to all of us.
It’s a comfort to know she’s now okay
Living with the Lord we trust.
A little red bird house hangs from my tree;
The one last trinket she gave me
Hanging there for all to see
A constant reminder it will be
Of her undeniable love for me.
More than an Aunt she had become,
For it was off to Aunt Mary’s
When Mom and Dad had errands to run.
Countless hours Linda, Larry and I have spent in her home
Mary treated us royally, placing us on a throne.
For we were her children,
She was not blessed with her own.
I’ll miss you Aunt Mary,
My favorite Aunt you’ll always be
Good luck on your new journey,
Merry Christmas from me.
Funeral services under the direction of the Horsley Funeral Home were held at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, December 29, at the Oneida County Long Term Care Facility in Malad. Burial was in the Malad City cemetery.