SOLOMON, Gertrude

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ April 7, 2008 Gertrude Shumway Solomon, 92, died peacefully April 2, 2008. She was born Jan. 18, 1916, to Wilson Averett Shumway and Ruth Smith Shumway. She grew up in Shumway attending grades first through eighth at the little red schoolhouse there. She graduated from Snowflake H.S. in 1934. She married Elbert Drew "Bert" Solomon Aug. 10, 1935. They moved 1 1/2 miles up the creek to the Solomon Ranch where she spent most of her life, raising their family of six children. Gertrude was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints all her life. She served in all the auxiliaries and enjoyed teaching literature lessons in Relief Society most of all. In later years, she and Bert moved to Mesa where they served several enjoyable years as temple workers at the Mesa Arizona Temple. Gertrude was an avid reader, especially fiction, but she loved learning of all kinds. She enjoyed flower gardening, needlework, and because of her love of nature, bird watching. She was a wonderful homemaker and an example to all those around her. The biggest thrill in life was spending time with her large family that she loved dearly. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. Gertrude is survived by her six children, Elbert N. "Bert" (Velleda) of Taylor (currently serving a mission in the British Virgin Islands), Janice (Lin) Lester of San Diego, Calif., Gloria (Leon) Palmer of Taylor, William G. (Kathy) of Queen Creek, Sandra (Kirk) Memmott of Scipio, Utah, and Patricia (Mike) Munroe of Prescott. She is also survived by 29 grandchildren, 59 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren; brother Rex P. Shumway; and sister Mauretta Walker of Mesa. Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, April 12, at the Taylor Love Lake Chapel, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with a visitation one hour prior to services at the church and from 6-8 p.m. Friday, April 11, at Owens Mortuary Heritage Chapel in Snowflake. Owens Mortuary of Snowflake is handling arrangements. For those who have special memories and would like to send private condolences or sign an online guest book visit www.owensmortuary.com.