MATHESON, Ouida May

Bunker Family Funeral & Cremation Mesa, Arizona Ouida May Matheson April 3, 1922 ~ February 18, 2012 Matheson, Ouida May Lofgreen. Services to celebrate the life and accomplishments of Ouida May Lofgreen Matheson will be held Saturday, Feb 25th at 10:30 AM at the LDS Church at 633 So. Higley Rd. in Mesa. Following a private service for close family members, extended family and friends are invited to attend a closed casket visitation from 9:30 to 10:30 A.M. Ouida May was born April 3, 1922 to Edward T. and Rebecca Pederson Lofgreen in St. David, Arizona, the youngest of 13 siblings, all of whom have preceded her in death. She died in Mesa February 18th from a cerebral hemorrage forty five days before her 90th birthday. Her mother liked a book she was reading, "A Dog of Flanders" written by a French author, Marie-Louise de la Ramee, who wrote under the pen name of "Ouida". That is how a baby girl of Swedish and Norwegian parentage was given a French name. Ouida was a talented musician who played in a dance band as well as serving as a church organist for many years in Tucson, Mesa and Stockton, California. She gave faithful volunteer service all of her life in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, not only in music, but teaching all age groups, serving at various times as president of the Relief Society, Primary, and Young Women's organizations, working in the Mesa, Arizona LDS Temple, and serving as a missionary on the Salt River Indian Reservation. She is survived by her husband of 70 years, Mac C. Matheson of Mesa, seven children, Robin Woodwell (Woody) Carrollton, TX, Rodney (Norma) Queen Creek, Derry (Susan) Gilbert, Kristen Shumway (Bill), Leileen (Mitchell) Waite of Mesa, Philip (Jolene) Orem, UT, and Eric (Amy) North Ogden, UT. She has thirty three grandchildren and forty nine great-grandchildren, all of whom are living, the latest of whom was born just one day after her death. She also has four surviving half-brothers and two half-sisters. In lieu of flowers you are invited to contribute to the LDS Temple Patron Assistance Fund, in care of 363 So. Alvaro Circle, Mesa, AZ 85206.