Our sweet mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend passed away surrounded by her loving family on Saturday April 8th, 2017.
Gloria was born in Ogden Utah on November 2, 1926 to Samuel E. Blackham and Grace Newman Stone. She grew up in Washington D.C and graduated from Manhasset High in New York before moving to Utah where she attended BYU and the University of Utah. At the U she joined Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority and met a handsome Beta, Robert V. Smith, at a fraternity party. In 1949 they got married in the Little Church of the West in Nevada and remained married for 66 years until Robert's death in 2015.
Mother's love of gardening, ballet and exploring nature began as a young girl and continued throughout her life. She loved to hike, particularly with her children and grandchildren, which they happily remember to this day. Later in life she found great joy in traveling. She loved traveling to Hawaii with her husband, and to Laguna Beach with the "Laguna Loonies". She also adventured to Africa, Peru, down the Amazon, and to the Galapagos. But what she really loved most was being in her own backyard and working in her beautiful garden, sitting in the yard in the evening with her husband, and entertaining family and friends in her gazebo.
Gloria was beautiful and will always be remember her smile and infectious laughter.
Gloria Grace Blackham was Unique!
Gloria was preceded in death by her husband, Robert V. Smith, her parents, and sister, Dianne Shumway
She is survived by one sister, Louise (Berney) Mondragon; two daughters, Allison (Dave) Clayton, Linda Smith-Hunter; two sons, R Bradford (Kim) Smith, Scott (Heather) Smith; 11 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild.
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the staff and CNAs at Pacifica Senior Living for their excellent care, to Hospice for Utah, to Larkin Mortuary; and to those very special people who visited her and brightened her days.
A celebration of Gloria's life will be held on Friday, April 14, 2017 between 12:00 ‚ 1:30 at Larkin Sunset Gardens 1950 E. Dimple Dell Rd. (10600 South), Sandy, Utah
