Verna B Melville

Verna Bennion Melville passed away peacefully on Mother's Day, May 11, 2014. She was born March 9, 1913 in Taylorsville, Utah, the daughter of Hyrum Bennion Jr. and Nellie North Bennion.

Following her graduation from Granite High School, she attended LDS Business College during which time she met her sweetheart, Alton Crane Melville. They married on February 1, 1934 in the Salt Lake Temple. Their home was built in the community of East Mill Creek in 1935 where she resided since that time. Alton and Verna are the parents of three children, Marvin Alton Melville (Renee), Marie (Robert) Irvine and LuAnn (Gary) Jensen.

Preceded in death by her parents, husband (Alton) and daughter (Marie), Verna has reunited with family and siblings; Harold, Everett, Daisy, LeGrand, Claude, Wilma, and Nellie.

Verna was always active, sharing both church and civic projects with her husband, as they raised their children. They were instrumental in starting the East Mill Creek Betterment League, which became affiliated with Lions International and received its charter as the East Mill Creek Lions Club in 1944. She organized the first East Mill Creek Youth Parade on July 4, 1936 and served as an officer in the East Mill Creek Lady Lions for many years. In 2012 she was named the “East Mill Creek Citizen of the Year.” Travelling with Alton as he served as president of the National Ski Association and later as an International Director of the Lions Club, Verna enjoyed many opportunities to support these projects as a couple.

Sister Verna Melville served faithfully in many Church callings. She sang in and directed many choirs and congregations until 90 years of age. In addition, she enjoyed serving as a Hostess in the Church Office Building for many years.

One of the many talents Verna enjoyed was to be the hostess for any gathering. Known for her whole wheat bread, she would feed the ski racers as they returned from training, and often quoted them as saying “I could smell your bread all the way down the canyon, Verna.” At Christmas, she would delight her friends and neighbors with her famous pecan rolls and fudge. Verna was a proficient seamstress who sewed her own wedding dress and many clothes for her children. Later, she became an expert at knitting and tatting, providing beautifully knitted sweaters for the family and baby blankets for each great-grandchild. Later, while watching her beloved sports games, she tatted bookmarks, ornaments and doilies that were given to friends & family as well.

Verna is survived by two of her children, Marvin Alton (Renee) Melville and LuAnn (Gary) Jensen. She leaves behind posterity of 14 grandchildren, 57 great-grandchildren, and 19 great-great-grandchildren. Of her greatest accomplishments, Verna would say, “My family means everything. I am so proud.”

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, May 17 at 1:00 pm at the Valley View 4th Ward, 2125 E. Evergreen Ave (3435 South). A viewing will be held Friday, May 16 from 6-8 pm at the Holbrook Mortuary, 3251 South 2300 East, and at the church on Saturday 12:00-12:30 pm prior to the service. Interment will be in the Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Multiple Sclerosis Society, Perpetual Education Fund or the Humanitarian Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Online guestbook available at www.HolbrookMortuary.com