Edith Marie Petersen

Edith Marie Petersen died Saturday afternoon, July 20, 2013 at her daughter's home in Show Low, Navajo County, Arizona from complications incident to her age. She was 88 years old. Edith was born on Sunday, June 14, 1925 in Florence, Pinal County, Arizona to her parents, the late Benjamin James and Sarah Ethel (Hancock) McNeil. She moved to Clay Springs as a toddler and lived the remainder of her life there. After graduating from high school, Edith married Lester James Petersen on March 17, 1943 at Grandma Hunt's house in Clay Springs, Arizona. They were married by Ben Perkins. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Mesa Arizona Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in November of 1950. Together, the couple raised 6 children to become highly respected, independent and responsible people, whom all made them so proud to be their parents. At the time of Lester's death, in September of 2002, they had been married for nearly 60 years. Throughout her long life, she was blessed with an incredible work ethic. She was of the mind that "Cleanliness is next to Godliness" and she lived by that mantra. She worked as a janitor for the Clay Springs School for a few years and then went to work nights for a couple of years at the Paper Mill making paper sacks. Edith went back to Clay Springs School and continued working for several more years as its janitor. Hers was always a familiar and friendly face to the hundreds of school kids who walked through the classrooms and hallways that she so lovingly cleaned. Edith also spent a year working in the cafeteria at Show Low Elementary School. Then, throughout the 1970s, Edith began a new venture in her life when she became a facilities custodian for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She always considered it a sacred privilege to be able to clean the ward chapels for the upcoming Sabbath day services. She continued working for The Church until her retirement in 1980. Edith spent her life in the service of others. She knew that when she was "in the service of her fellowman," she was "only in the service of her God." She served as her ward Relief Society President for 15 years. She also was her ward Primary President for a few years and truly appreciated the sweet spirit the primary children brought into her life. Edith was never one to turn down a church calling because she knew from Whom the call came. Edith was blessed with the Spirit of Elijah and faithfully sought out her kindred dead through genealogy and family history research. She loved working with her hands and was an expert quilter. Edith has literally made hundreds of quilts for family members and friends. When her grandchildren were married, they each received her handmade quilt as a wedding gift. Most recently, her great-grandchildren were starting to receive them too. Edith also liked to crochet and loved to make hot pads for everybody. Over the years she enjoyed tole painting and even took refinishing classes to spruce up old and worn wood items. She could take the proverbial "sows ear and present you with a silk purse." Her talents were many and her skills were crafty. She and her husband would paint their home every summer and taught her children the value of hard work. Her children would always clean up right behind her as she painted, making that annual family project a memorable and happy one. Edith was also blessed with a green thumb, as she and Lester could grow just about anything in their large garden. Many were the recipients of their bountiful harvest. Edith always loved horses and enjoyed riding them. Her favorite one was her "big BLACK" horse that she was able to spend countless hours riding. Just a months ago, she said to her children that if they would put her on top of her horse she would ride him. That day, she had to give in to her children's wishes and simply appreciate her horse from the ground. Also, since she was a young girl, Edith loved to dance. She was known to be "quite the rug cutter" through the years. In fact, just a few weeks ago, Edith told her daughter that she'd "dance the Irish Step Dance if they'd hold her up!" Her spirit was so willing to continue living life's adventures. As busy as she was throughout her life, Edith always found time to care for her family. She truly was a model wife, a loving mother and a doting grandmother to her family. She lived to serve the needs of her large family and they never went without. As much as she loved her own children, that same love was magnified as her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were born. She loved and admired them all so very much and they, in turn, loved her right back. This sweet woman, who has blessed the lives of so many, will greatly be missed by those whom have had the blessed opportunity to call her, "Mother, Grandmother, Sister or Friend." We all are better people for having her in our lives. Edith is survived by her 6 children: Della M. (Loran) DeWitt of Show Low, Arizona, Ethel R. Petersen Harris of Gilbert, Arizona, Jake L. Petersen of Clay Springs, Arizona, Priscilla M. (Grant) Perry of Gilbert, Arizona, Ruth A. Petersen Kennedy of Gilbert, Arizona, Frank D. (Jennie) Petersen of Clay Springs, Arizona; 3 sisters: Sammy Kizzar of Clay Springs, Arizona, Rose Marie Bailey of Watsonville, California, Ann (Richard) Nelson of Eagle, Idaho; 15 grandchildren and 50 great-grandchildren. Along with her parents and husband, Edith was preceded in death by 1 sister, Laurena Brewer. The visitation for Edith will be from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M., Sunday, July 28, 2013 at Owens Livingston Mortuary - White Mountain Chapel, 320 N. 9th Street in Show Low, Arizona. The funeral service will begin 10:00 A.M, Monday, July 29, 2013 at the Clay Springs Ward Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, right off of Highway 260 between Pinedale and Clay Springs, where additional visitation will begin 1 hour prior. The concluding service and interment will immediately follow at the Clay Springs Cemetery where she will be laid to rest alongside her eternal sweetheart, Lester. Memorial contributions, in her name, to the General Missionary Fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been suggested by her family.