Merle (Kartchner) Shumway |
| Posted 2009-08-12 by Sharla |
| Merle Kartchner Shumway, age 91, passed away May 30, in Provo, Utah of causes incident to age. As a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she had lived a long life full of service to God, her family, and her fellow men. She was born July 30, 1909, in Salt Lake City to Kenner Casteel Kartchner and Adlee Lindsey who had gone there from Arizona to be sealed in the temple, and stayed for two years to work. The family returned to northern Arizona in 1912 where she grew up, living most of the time in Snowflake but also in Flagstaff, Springerville, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, where her father had transferred with the Forest Service. Merle came from a very musical, extended pioneer family and had a great talent for music, manifested at an early age. She was known throughout her life as a pianist, composer, or arranger who could provide music for any occasion. She received her teaching certificate from Arizona State Teachers College (later ASU) in music education and later a BA degree from the University of Arizona. Merle was well known locally for her teaching ability, particularly in teaching youngsters music and how to sing. She was also well known for her many years of teaching the youth in Sunday School classes. Merle married James Carroll Shumway February 9, 1934, to which union were born six children: Larry V. Shumway (Sandra), Provo, Utah; Marlene O'Dell (Harold), Cocoa Beach, Florida; Carmen Davis (Clint), American Fork, Utah; Eric B. Shumway (Carolyn), Laie, Hawaii; Del K. Shumway (Marsha), Orem, Utah, and Nicolas S. Shumway Austin, Texas. Her husband, Carroll, passed away April 2, 1986. She is survived by her children, 30 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren, one brother, Jene O. Kartchner (Alberta) of South Salt Lake, Utah, and numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews. Most of her teaching career was in St. John, Arizona where she created a shining path for countless students in church and the schools, teaching them singing, dancing, the gospel, pioneer history, and English. Of particular note were the operettas she put on where she would often invent new dialog and create new songs so that there would be more parts available to include all of the students. The motto she lived by was that music was for every child and that any child could be taught to sing if taught correctly and every day. Numerous adult members of the community have benefited from her thirty plus years of excellent teaching. During her life she could be called on at a moment's notice to provide music for a program, a dance, or a funeral. She was a member of the St. John's Mandolin and Guitar Club, founded in 1883, which provided music for many years for civic and church events in St. John and surrounding communities. This provided a means to preserve the old-time music of the area and thus led to one of her great projects, the notation of music and text of all the old-time songs she had ever learned from family, friends, and the club. In 1967 she and Carroll moved to Provo, Utah where they made their home. In retirement she continued to teach and was particularly keen on passing on the excellent training and experience she had received for elementary music education, often lamenting the fact that such training had now disappeared from the teacher training curriculums. In 1988 she was given the Governor's Award through the Utah Arts Council for her work in teaching and preserving the songs and dances from pioneer times. Though home-bound for the last few years her mind was clear, and she appreciated so much those who visited her. The family would like to thank particularly Gail Clark who came to read to her every Wednesday for the last eight years and Bonnie Milner who provided her with good company and the all-important acidophlus for her health. They would also like to thank those who lived with her and gave her care in her last years: Ellie Wise, Earlene Karren, Ben and Connie Sowards, and Erek and Mirei Loosli. Services will be held in Provo on Tuesday, June 19, 2001 at 11 a.m. at the Pleasant View 4th Ward Chapel, 2900 North 650 East (Timpview Drive). There will be a viewing at the chapel from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. under the direction of Berg Mortuary. Services will be held in St. Johns, Arizona on Thursday, June 21 in the down town chapel at 11 a.m. Viewing for family and friends will be between 9:45 and 10:45 a.m. Burial will be held at 3 p.m. at the Taylor, Arizona Cemetery. Deseret News, The (Salt Lake City, UT) Date: June 17, 2001 See Also: Find A Grave |
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