Ora Daybell Burton, 95, beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother passed away peacefully in Salt Lake City on May 31, 2015. Ora was born June 21, 1919 in Ephraim, Utah to George Daybell and Mona Hansen. Although born in Ephraim, she lived much of her childhood in Charleston, near Heber City, Utah, and in Provo. Her mother Mona passed away when Ora was just 10 years old and she mourned that loss the rest of her days. After moving to Salt Lake City, she met David Earl Burton while attending West High School. The two of them hit it off and on August 5, 1940 they were married in the Manti Temple in Manti, Utah.
Ora and Dave were married for nearly 75 years before Dave passed away in January of 2015. Calm Ora was the perfect counterpart to her active, energetic husband. She was the definition of patience. She deftly managed five rough and tumble sons (she always said that every time she was pregnant she was sure it would be a girl!) and an equally mischievous husband.
While Ora was a busy mother, she was also very involved in her own passions. Ora was an active member of the Utah Iris Society where she served as secretary for many years and was active in growing and hybridizing many varieties of iris. She and Dave played contract bridge and competed in a number of bridge competitions sponsored by the World Bridge Federation. She was also an avid fossil and mineral collector and served as a docent at the Natural History Museum at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. In this role she taught children about the wonders of fossils and minerals.
Ora was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, where she served mostly as a teacher and leader in the Primary organization, serving the needs and interests of children.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 75 years, Dave Burton. She leaves behind five sons, Jeff (Marlene), Jon (Mickie), Tim (Suzanne), Andrew (Cheryl) and Paul (Janene), plus twenty-five grand children and many great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. So Temple, on Friday, June 12. Viewing at 11:00 and services start at noon. Full obituary and funeral details are at: larkinmortuary.com.
