Della Summerhays

Born December 8, 1910 to George Riley and Lenora Miller Green in Holladay, UT. Her mother died in 1918 when she was only eight. Della was reared by her father, brothers and sisters; she was the second youngest of seven children.

Della passed away at the incredible age of 101 on August 26, 2012, in Draper. In her hundred-plus years of life she had many rich life experiences. She learned to drive at the wheel of a new Model-T Ford at the age of thirteen, in 1923. She educated loved ones about proper grammar and the history made in her lifetime, such as the Great Depression, two world wars, and women’s suffrage. She often spoke of her love of FDR as the ‘greatest president” and was a lifetime Democrat. Della was a world traveler who enjoyed painting ceramics, sewing, and keeping an immaculately clean home. She was also an avid reader.

Della grew up in Holladay, Utah; she graduated from Granite High School in 1929. She married George Franklin Summerhays “Hank” on October 9, 1929. They were the proud parents of six sons: Boyd Frank (Arleen Olson), Lesley Neil (deceased at age 14), Dennis Clare (Carma Smith), Malin Brent (Mickey Davis), Gregory Ross (Rosalie Lopez), and Norman Alan (Kristine Hartwell). She was a loving grandmother to 20 grandchildren and “many many many” great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren. She enriched five generations of family; she was a bright light of education and love to all she met.

A special Thank You goes out to Della’s Friday Lunch date Karen Summerhays.

Della was preceded in death by her husband George Franklin Summerhays, son Lesley Neil Summerhays, and grandson Dustan Riley Summerhays.

Family will receive friends on Friday, August 31, 2012 at 10:00 am with a funeral to follow at 11:00 am at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary 3401 S. Highland Dr. Interment will follow at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.