Thelma Mellor

Thelma Mellor

Fayette, Utah

Our loving mother, grandmother, sister and friend, Thelma Sorensen Mellor, 88, passed away November 30, 2013 at Legacy Village in Taylorsville, Utah. Born June 12, 1925 to Nels Andrew Sorensen and Gladys Elsie Christensen in Bingham, Utah.

At two years old her family moved to Mayfield, Utah where she lived until she moved to Fayette after her marriage.

Thelma enjoyed many fun activities growing up but one activity always took top priority. Playing the piano was Thelma’s favorite thing to do. She started taking piano lessons at the age of 11. As a teenager, she played piano for church every week, and for the dances they had throughout the years.

Thelma graduated from Manti High School, then chose to complete two years at Snow College. She then went on to BYU to start on her business degree. After one year at BYU Thelma married the love of her life, Max Mellor of Fayette, on February 12, 1947 in the Manti LDS Temple. After her marriage she helped run the Fayette Mercantile for many years and raised her three boys, Glenn, Larry and Kelly. She decided after they got into school that she needed to help with the income of the house and so Max told her that she needed to go back and finish her schooling. At this time Thelma had a lot of activities going on, everything from raising her boys, running the store, and being the stake organist. She decided that school was the thing that she needed to do. Thelma started going to school, and what a change; the early morning drives to the late nights of studying. She decided that a business major was not what she wanted anymore so a teaching degree was the answer.

After she graduated, she began teaching school at the Gunnison Elementary. She taught first and second grades. She accompanied her class for the Christmas program every year. Teaching was one of the highlights of Thelma’s life. She loved it more than anything. She loved it when her former students came up and said hello when she was out and about. It really made her day. Thelma formed a very tight bond with many of the principals and teachers, they were very important to her and she keeps every memory with them close to her heart..

Thelma retired from teaching after 30 years. After that she spent all of her time helping her family. With everything from giving rides to doctors, dentists and just around to helping her grandkids learn how to count money. She always was ready to accompany anyone for a solo or a duet for a program or just for fun. The time she spent practicing for programs are fond memories where she had fun and got to know the people she played for. She had a love for music and her love of music showed every time she played. Her family was always her top priority. Thank you for being a wonderful mother, grandmother and teacher to all of us. You have taught us and helped us with things that we will never forget.

The family would like to give a special thanks to all the wonderful people at Legacy Village of Taylorsville; to the special friends who have been so thoughtful and written letters and visited during Thelma’s stay; to Bessie Mellor and Lorna Bown, your friendship meant the world to her.

Thelma is survived by son, Larry Don (Mary), West Jordan; daughters-in-law: Jenny Mellor, Mona; and Lynette Mellor, Fayette; sister Glenna Peterson (Glade), Murray; sister-in-law Mary Louise Sorensen, Mayfield; brother-in-law Robert Graham, Salt Lake City; 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren with one on the way.

She is preceded in death by parents; husband, Max Mellor; sons: Glenn and Kelly; brother, Neil Sorensen and sister Joyce Graham.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 7, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. in the Fayette LDS Ward Chapel where friends may call Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Interment will be in the Fayette Cemetery. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti. Online guestbook at www.maglebymortuary.com