Margaret Flora Hurd Barton, "Maggie," passed away on September 10, 2014, after a wonderful life cut short by Alzheimer's disease. She was born on August 16, 1942, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to attorney Wallace Duke Hurd and Jeannette Earl Hurd. She was the third of five children, and grew up in a chaotic but loving household in Salt Lake City. She attended Stewart School, where she made lifelong friends. She graduated from East High School in 1960. At the University of Utah, Maggie majored in fine arts, despite having never taken an art class before. She took math classes to boost her GPA, and graduated cum laude in 1964. Maggie was a loyal and active member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority all her life. She married Francis Reid Barton Jr., "Reid," in Salt Lake City on August 21, 1964. Although their wedding day is still the coldest August 21st on record, Maggie and Reid enjoyed a warm and loving marriage of over fifty years. They have three children, who were raised in Salt Lake City and still reside there. Maggie was naturally beautiful, bright and had many talents. She was an accomplished singer, an accurate bookkeeper, and remained generally satisfied with her golf scores, until she was forced to give up the game she had played regularly for years with her friends at the Salt Lake Country Club. Maggie was very involved in local community organizations—such as the Junior League, the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, the Arthritis Foundation, Town Club and Neighborhood House, where she served as President during its centennial celebration. Maggie found great joy in everyday things: her beloved dogs, her garden, a clean kitchen, singing in the car, sunsets. Most of all, Maggie was a happy, kind and loyal person whose friends and family loved her dearly.
Maggie was preceded in death by her father, mother, brother Thomas, sister Elizabeth O'Reilly and brother-in-law David O'Reilly. She is survived by her husband Reid; her brothers Michael Hurd (Susann Rohwedder) of Pacific Palisades, California, and Joseph Hurd (Patricia) of Pleasant Hill, California; her children, Thomas Barton (Susan Eisenman), Katie Roberts (James) and Frank Barton (Patricia); and six grandchildren: Annie and Ben Barton, Aidan and Mimi Roberts, and Matthew and Alexis Barton. Maggie and her family have been very grateful for the many friends, especially the "Glory Girls," who continued to hold her close and visit as her illness deepened. The family also wishes to thank Silverado, whose staff and caregivers lovingly looked after Maggie over the final years of her life.
A family graveside ceremony will be held at Mount Olivet Cemetery. A commemoration of Maggie's life will begin at 4pm on Monday, September 15th, at the Salt Lake Country Club (2400 E. Country Club Dr. (2380 So.)). It is suggested that donations be made to Neighborhood House, Town Club Preservation Fund, or the charity of your choice.
