Marilynn Brown Bowthorpe

Marilynn was born May 9, 1932 to Henry Joseph Brown and Edith Mary Hansen Brown in Butlerville, Utah. She graduated from Jordan High School in 1950. She married Bruce Reynolds Bowthorpe July 10, 1952 and together they built a home in Holladay where they lived together for 56 years. She worked for ZCMI for over 25 years, always getting clothes on sale for her kids and grand kids. It was surprising to Bruce that she even brought home a check.

Marilynn loved to paint with oils, water colors and charcoal. She studied under Nina Kingston, Charles Stubbs, and Lin Serebrin, painting her favorite Utah spots: from the Henry Mountains to Big Cottonwood Canyon, to the red rocks of southern Utah. Her friends and family have paintings in their homes that she handed to them right off her easel, a cherished memory hanging on their walls.

Marilynn loved to camp all over Utah with her family and gave them a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors and traveling. She loved seeing Petro glyphs in 9 Mile Canyon, driving along Skyline Drive in the Manti LaSals, fishing at Bounds Reservoir on the Boulder Mountain, and her many fishing trips to Hebgen Lake in West Yellowstone, Montana with her husband and family. She loved getting lost on a road seldom traveled. She never passed a wildflower, bird, archeological site, geology site, or geography site without a teaching moment to her kids and grand kids. Mom was a strong and independent woman and instilled respect and love of family into her kids and grand kids.

Marilynn loved to travel, whether it was driving or flying to see her sister, Gloria, in Virginia, or Canada and Mexico with her family, or just going on many rides with husband Bruce. She loved Yellowstone and tried to pass thru some part of it on all of her travels. She went to Nevada by way of Yellowstone, just to see it again. And next to traveling, watching the Utah Jazz Basketball games with Bruce was a very favorite pastime.

Grandma’s house was a favorite spot for all kids. She had all the toys, all their favorite cereals, all their favorite candy, and everything else that any kid would love. Her grand kids weren’t spoiled, they were “well taken care of.” She collected dolls but let the grand kids play with them. Everything she had was there for the enjoyment of others. She loved her son-in-law and daughters-in-law as much as she loved her own kids. She loved to cook for her family and Christmas was a favorite gathering together time for family and friends. Those happy times will be missed.

Marilynn was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was proud of her pioneer heritage. She was a visiting teacher, scout leader and primary teacher. Marilynn was the Girls Camp Director in her LDS Holladay ward and taught the girls camping skills along with many other life skills.

Marilynn was preceded in death by her husband Bruce, her parents, and her sister Gloria Peterson. She is survived by her brothers Melvin Brown and Edward Brown; children Michael (Paula) Bowthorpe, Connie (Larry) Bridge, Barry (Wendy) Bowthorpe, Bryce (JoRae) Bowthorpe; 10 grand kids and 7 great grand kids.

We would like to express our appreciation to Alta Ridge Assisted Living and Millcreek Hospice for the kind care they gave to our mom.

A viewing will be held Sunday, May 2, 2010 from 5-7 pm at the Holladay Cottonwood Mortuary, 4670 S. Highland Drive. Funeral services will be held on Monday May 3, 2010 at 1:00 pm in the Cottonwood Mortuary Chapel with a viewing one hour prior to services. Burial will be at the Holladay Memorial Park, 4900 S. Memory Lane, Holladay Utah.