Vida M. Clark

Vida May Carruth Clark was born to David Jones & Margaret Elizabeth Mitchell Carruth on May 26, 1920, in Cedarview, UT. She returned to her heavenly home Monday morning, December 29, 2014. Her responsibility as one of 10 children was to tend sheep for her dad. She says she learned more from her dad and herding sheep that anything else. She had many good memories of her youth. It was always a treat when her dad came out to the sheep camp to check on her and bring supplies. Another good memory from her youth was coming home from school and eating fresh tomatoes out of the garden. She had a horse named 'Old Snip' that she would race. Once she was challenged and she raced the same man and horse many times just to prove she could beat him, winning each time. Old Snip was also her companion and friend out at the sheep camp. She attended school through Jr. High in Roosevelt UT. She married James S. Clark on July 8, 1936, in Vernal, UT. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple. James was their ranch hand that worked for room, board, and an occasional dance ticket. When he asked to marry Vida, her mother said he would be a good husband because he was kind to her animals. Throughout their life they lived in Cedar View, Dragon, Bonanza, White River, & Vernal. She stated that marrying James and having children was the most important thing of her life. They are the parents of 6 daughters: Norlene (Linford) Batty - deceased, Eleen (Jack) Swaner - deceased, Tamria (Buzz) Peterson - Altonah, UT & Mesquite NV, Lorna (Neil) Anderson - Rock Springs, WY & Mesquite NV, Marcia (Bill) Critton - Vernal, UT, and Jimmy Norlene - deceased. They were married for 60 years. James died January 21, 1997. She is also preceded in death by her parents, siblings, and grandchildren, Mikeal J Swaner, Jaqueline Swaner, Jerry Allen Justice, Sammy Ann Critton, and great-grandchildren, Jeremiah Justice, and Shancey Ray Warby. They have a large posterity with 27 grandchildren, 86 great-grandchildren, and many great-great grandchildren. Vida and James worked side by side. James made welding his trade. They built and co-owned Basin Machine and Welding for many years. Besides being a good wife and mother, she also worked at the Commissary in Bonanza, Jim's Cafe, Hotel Vernal, Garden Gate Floral, Ashton's, and later in life, worked hard on the ranch here in town and the family place in Altonah UT. She loved to work with the cattle, irrigate, cut and bale hay. Many times you would find her out on the ranch, in the fields on her tractor or with a shovel in her hand irrigating. After a hard days work they loved to go to the Friday night dances at the Golden Age Center. Vida says the ladies would line up to dance with James. James & Vida built a pavilion over the old foundation of the home he was raised in at Altonah, UT. The park has power and water hook-ups for camping, horse shoe pits, bathrooms, swings, teeter totters, and plenty of grass for softball, volleyball, or kickball. There's a pond for the kids to collect frogs. And often the men wll bring their guns for skeet shooting. All of the kids and grandkids help build this gathering place and it brings us all together every year on Memorial Day and Labor Day. Their posterity look forward to going to Altonah and the pancake breakfasts that are cooked every morning on the big grill that James built. They were wise in providing a gathering place, to keep the family together. Cousins know cousins for several generations. She held many positions in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and gained her testimony while serving. Her scriptures are full of quotes that she liked and would copy down. They worked as ordinance workers in the Provo Temple every weekend for four years. She loved the temple and especially working in initiatory. She lived across from the tabernacle as they were converting it to the temple, taking many pictures of the construction. President Gordon B. Hinckley rested in their home before the ground breaking. He sat at their table and ate a sweet roll and drank a glass of milk. She has a paper stating that the Prophet sat there taped to the bottom of the dining room chair that he sat in. They are pictured with the Prophet in the front yard under the flag pole with the tabernacle in the background. James died in 1997 before the temple was finished, but she was called to be an ordinance worker there also. Her hobbies included sewing, embroidery, bowling, dancing, square dancing, square dancing on horses, riding club, quilting, stuffed pillows, writing letters, parades, etc. She loves the flag, birds and baby kittens, but doesn't like the center of a biscuit and liver. The hardest times in her life is when she lost her baby Jimmy Norlene from a heart condition at 4 months old. She also lost her brother Lorn that she was very close to when he fell down a shaft in the mine. She has been the best 'Cowgirl Grandma' to her grandkids. Over the past 94 years she says, "All in all, we've had a wonderful life and a happy family." Funeral services will be Saturday, January 3, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at the Vernal 3rd Ward Chapel (475 West 100 South) next to temple. Friends and family may call at the Blackburn Vernal Mortuary, Friday evening from 6:00-8:00 and at the Chapel one hour prior to the services Burial will be in the Vernal Memorial Park, services are under the direction of Blackburn Vernal Mortuary. www.blackburnvernalmortuary.com