Blanche
E. Bird 5/22/10~12/22/02 Our beloved mother, grandmother,
great-grandmother, and friend, Blanche Ewing Bird, 92, passed from
this life to be with her eternal companion, Stanford W. Bird, on
December 22, 2002. We are so blessed to call her our mother. Blanche
was born in Smithfield, Utah, on May 2, 1910, to Porter Ewing
and Clare Ione Thomas Ewing Latimer. She lived in Smithfield, Logan;
Burley, Idaho, and Salt Lake City before settling in Santa Monica,
California, when her mother married Richard Latimer. Blanche earned
her Golden Gleaner award as a young woman in California.
On April 2, 1932, she married her sweetheart, Stan. They were
sealed for time and eternity in the Salt Lake Temple on April 6,
1932. Blanche and Stan made their home in the Los Angeles area. She
served in many church callings, especially in the M.I.A., in both
ward and stake positions. During World War II Blanche helped direct
the "Black Out" plays during air raids, which were the
predecessors to "Road Shows". Blanche also served in the
Inglewood Hospital Auxiliary.
In 1955 Blanche accompanied Stan and their two daughters, Becky
and Kathi, to New Zealand to serve an LDS Church Building
Mission. She was the perfect companion serving with him in his many
responsibilities. Mother could put together a luncheon for thirty
with just a moments notice. Having just completed this mission in
1960, they were again called as building missionaries to London,
England. While there she served as a counselor in the Relief Society
Presidency of the British Mission under Sisters Woodbury and Hanks.
And again in 1963 she served as the wife to the Church Building
Supervisor in the Scandinavian area, which covered Sweden, Norway,
Denmark, Holland, Belgium, France and Switzerland. She was her
happiest working with Stan serving the Lord.
In 1965 they returned to the United States choosing Salt Lake
City (Murray) as their home. Here Blanche enjoyed the association of
their many friends. She loved to entertain especially at Christmas
time with an open house for their friends. She also served as RS
presidency of the Murray 23rd ward. From 1975-1978 Blanche & Stan
served as Mission President and ehoa in the New Zealand
Wellington Mission.
Blanche loved her family, delighting in her four grandchildren,
and five great-grandchildren. A gracious lady to the end, Blanche
passed on surrounded by her loved ones. She was preceded in death by
her husband; grandsons, David Justin Weir and Paul Stanford Weir;
parents; sisters, Gladys Urquhart, Ada Ronning and Connie Price; and
many friends.
She is survived by daughters, Rebecca M. Bird and Kathleen Moana
B. Weir (Dennis), Provo, Utah; grandchildren, Stephen D. Weir
(Jodi); Megan W. Macfarlane (Mitch), Provo, Utah, and Jason A. Weir,
serving a mission to Portugal (MTC); and five great-grandchildren,
Justin, Dylan, Alycia Weir, Madison and Ashley Macfarlane, and
special friend, Pat Mitchell. She will be missed by all who loved
her.
Funeral services will be held Monday, Dec. 30, 2002, 11:00 a.m.
at Memorial Mortuary, 5850 S. 900 E., Murray, with a viewing one
hour prior to service. There will be a viewing at her home, 745 E.
Three Fountains Cr., #36, Murray, Utah, on December 27 through 29.
1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Interment, Provo City Cemetery.
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