Marella Taylor

Salina, Utah - Our loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and good friend, Marella Peterson Taylor, age 83, passed away peacefully at her home in Salina on June 11, 2010. She was born September 10, 1926 in Redmond, Utah, a daughter of Sidney Niels and Fern Christine Jensen Peterson. She attended Redmond Elementary and North Sevier High School, graduating in 1944. After high school graduation, she worked in Clearfield, Utah, living at the Beehive House in Salt Lake City. She married her high school sweetheart, Elton Lars Taylor, April 13, 1946 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Their marriage was solemnized in the Manti LDS Temple, April 16, 1954. Marella always enjoyed the opportunity to meet and talk to people. Everywhere she went, she made new friends and made others feel like they were part of her family. Their 64 year love affair lasted through three wars and multiple transfers as Elton’s military career took them to Taiwan and many US States. In 1966, she returned home to Salina, Utah, while Elton was stationed in Vietnam, to continue to raise their family and it has been home for 44 years. She was well known working at Stubb’s Department Store in Salina, for being friendly and hard working. She left a lasting impression on everyone she met. She was always generous with her time and talents in the community and the church, serving in Primary, Young Women and Relief Society presidencies and was a dedicated visiting teacher. She and Elton served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, working in the Genealogy Library in Richfield. Her enthusiasm for genealogy was infectious. She loved local history and was instrumental in getting the process started which resulted in establishing Miss Mary’s Museum in Salina. Her family was the center of her life. She loved having her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren come and visit her and Elton. She never forgot a birthday. Her many talents included gardening, sewing, reading and rearranging furniture. She could grow anything, having been blessed with a green thumb. She was able to sew anything you needed with or without a pattern. If you could tell her what you wanted, she could sew it. She had a special talent for organizing everything and remembered where she had put it. Marella is survived by her eternal companion, Elton of Salina; her children: Michael and Kathleen Taylor of Roy; Robert and Nancy Taylor of Springville; Brenda and Craig Chidester of Salina; 14 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; twin brother, Moyle Lee and Lila Peterson, sisters: Darlene Bjerregaard, Willadean and Dee Olsen. She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Connie Lynn Taylor; sister: Idonna and Sam Jorgensen; and two brothers: Grandon Peterson, Kendell and MaRee Peterson; and a brother-in-law, Shirley Bjerregaard. Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at 12 Noon in the Salina 2nd LDS Ward Chapel, 85 South 100 East in Salina. Friends may call for viewing at the Springer Turner Funeral Home, 150 East Main Street in Salina, Tuesday evening from 6 to 8 P.M. or Wednesday morning from 10:00 to 11:30 prior to the services. Burial will be in the Salina Pioneer Cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina, Utah.