Glenis Orton Obituary (1922 - 2013)

Glenis Simkins Orton passed peacefully on Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at her home in Cedar City, Utah surrounded by family members and close friends.Mom was born July 17, 1922 in Cedar City, Utah to Robert Bulloch and Ellen Ashdown Simkins. She was the oldest of 7 children and had a deep love and respect for her parents and siblings.On December 2, 1941 Mom married her Eternal sweetheart (of 71 years) Elmo Pendleton Orton in the St. George Temple. They werw blessed with three children. Elma Lee (Ward) Halterman, Las Vegas Nevada; Francie (Alan) Pace, Mesa, Arizona and Dale (Netta), Cedar City Utah. They have 12 beautiful grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.Shortly after they were married Dad was called to serve in WWII and they moved to Sacramento California for a short period of time prior to Dad being deployed to the Philippines and New Guinea. Their oldest child Elma Lee was born while Dad was overseas and Mom raised her alone for thefirst year of her life.Mom loved the beauty and grandeur of Southern Utah and Cedar City. She loved the outdoors and found great enjoyment in exploring the area surrounding Cedar especially the Red Hill. She often commented on how blessed she was to be raised among the wonderful people of Cedar City and she enjoyed her association with many dear friends and loved ones. She attended public schools in Cedar including (BAC) now Southern Utah University.At an early age she learned the value and importance of hard work. At the age of 15 she started working to help her widowed mother support a young family. She worked at the dairy, Dee Stevens Department Store, JC Penney's and retired in 1985 from the Bureau of Land Management District Offices where she served as an Administrative Assistant for 23 years. She cherished her association with her co-workers and ranchers in the area.Mom had a firm testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She loved the Savior and strived to be loving and kind to others. She served in various wad and stake callings and especially loved her callings with the music. After their retirement Mom and Dad served an 18 month mission in Manchester England, a 12 month mission at the LDS Employement Center and seeral years as Ordinance workers in the St. George Temple.Mom was an excellent cook and found great satisfaction in hosting gatherings with famliy and friends in her home. She felt a tremendous need for immediate and extended family to gather and to keep relationships strong. Over a twenty year period of time she had the privilege of hosting dinners for many General Authorities and other Church leaders when they came to Cedar City for Stake Conferences.She is survived by ehr husband, children and siblings McLean Simkins; Kenneth (Donlee) Simkins and Tae (Tom) Bradfield, sister-in-law GeorgAnn Simkins Macdonald. She is preceded in death by her parents, grandaughter Jacque Halterman Ward, sister Connie Baldwin and brothers Gayle and Robert Simkins, sister-in-law Elma Simkins and brothers-in-law Melvin Baldwin and Lloyd Fullerton.A special thanks to Maree Prince, Lynette Hansen, Cheri Wilson, Debbie Corbridge, Dawn Jones and others at Iron County Home Health Agency and Dr. Nupur Aggarwall and staff who were so gentle and loving in caring for Mom. Mom was very grateful to her wonderful neighbors, friends and members of the Cedar 5th ward who are so compassionate, loving and caring.Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, January 14, 2013 in the Cedar Stake Center, 155 E. 400 S. A viewing will be held Sunday evening, January 13th, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 pm. at the Southern Utah Mortuary and Monday, January 14th from 9:00 to 10:40 a.m. at the Cedar Stake Center. Internment will be in the Cedar City Cemetery. Services will be under the direction of Southern Utah Mortuary. Online condolences can be sent to