On September 4, 2022, 4 months before her 103rd birthday our fun, talented and much loved mother, Eleanor Grace Stephenson Zimmerman Heward, peacefully returned home to her Heavenly Father and many loving family and friends.
Eleanor was born the only child to her parents Johanna Riedelbauch and Guy Bartram Amberson on a homestead in Craig, Colorado. Her parents divorced when Eleanor was 5 years old and she and her mother moved to Salt Lake City. Her mother later married David Cobb Stephenson who adopted Eleanor and was a loving father to her.
Eleanor loved learning and was an excellent student. She attended South High School and was valedictorian for her graduating class. She continued her education at the University of Utah for several years.
On June 2, 1941 she married our wonderful father Clifford John Zimmerman at Memory Grove in Salt Lake City. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Los Angeles Temple. Together they raised their four children, Craig, Mary, Marsha and Kerry in the east Millcreek area of Salt Lake City. Clifford passed away July 23, 2000. On November 27, 2001, Eleanor married Enos Nephi Heward. Together they served an 18 month mission at Liberty, Missouri.
Eleanor was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and served in callings in the Relief Society and Primary as well as a volunteer in the Salt Lake Temple for two years.
Eleanor was the creative genius behind the well known and loved family business known as ZIM’S, which she and her late husband, Clifford John Zimmerman started together in 1947. Eleanor was an artist’s artist who could make a masterpiece from anything and often did. She worked with everything from sculpting, to oil and watercolor paints to discarded trash. She had followers and admirers from all around the world.
As the new, “Art & Craft Industry” was struggling for credibility and recognition, Eleanor emerged as one of the true pioneers of the Industry and was later recognized by a jury of her peers as one of the five most influential people in the industry.
It was always rewarding for Eleanor to let people know that ZIM’S was often better known around the world and within the industry than it was here, locally in SLC. Her tremendous creativity led to a never ending search for new creative products that permitted extensive travel around the world and which she enjoyed with her husband Cliff.
Eleanor is survived by her four children, Craig, Mary Hutchings (Brent), Marsha Calder (Doug), Kerry Marshall (Kuhn), 19 grand children, 53 great grand children, and 3 great great grand children.
We would like to give a special thanks to those who cared for her with such kindness, patience and skill at Sunrise Assisted Living, especially Paul Wilkinson, Tabatha, Erica and Haley. We would also like to extend profound gratitude to the amazing Hospice nurses who were so good to her in her last 18 months of life, Caralee Jones and Kate W. Anderson.
An evening viewing will be held on Friday, 9 September 6:00-8:00PM at Larkin Mortuary (SLC) 260 East South Temple. A morning viewing prior to the funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 10, 10:00-10:45 AM, The funeral service will begin at11:00 AM followed by a graveside service at Mount Olivet Cemetery at 1342 East 500 South in Salt Lake City. For those who wish to watch the recorded service on-line, please click the blue "Watch Services" box shown above.
I have always thought Elenore Grace was such a lovely name. She can see eternity clearly now and can't wait to spend it with her dear family. We pray you to know the warmth of her love and wrap it all around you.