Mary Ellen Bushman

In Loving Memory of Our Mother

Beloved wife and mother Mary Ellen Bushman, 83, passed away on June 20th, 2023 at Legacy House in South Jordan, Utah surrounded by her family. She was born on July 16, 1939, in Poplar, Montana to Howard Farnsworth and Lucille Bigelow Farnsworth.

As a young child, Mary Ellen grew up in Orem, Utah. She graduated from Brigham Young University in 1961.  She worked as a substitute teacher before working (and traveling extensively) for Wyndham Hotels and Resorts for 15 years.  Mary Ellen was a dedicated member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  

Mary Ellen was sealed to Boyd Bushman in the Salt Lake City temple in 1960, and they were happily married until his passing in 2014.  Mary Ellen was an incredible dancer, loved to spend time with her family, and was a great seamstress and homemaker.  She enjoyed traveling, reading and watching her gameshows.  Her strength and affection soothed everyone she knew.  Her service and dedication to her six children, 20 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren were an inspiration.  

Mary Ellen was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Lucille Farnsworth; her husband, Boyd; her brother, Donald Farnsworth; her sister-in-law, Patty Nielson; her son-in-law, John Caruso; her granddaughter, Rachael Herpel Miller; and her grandson, Jared Hart.  

Mary Ellen Bushman is survived by her children, Kym Whitecar (son-in-law, Larry), KaLynn Herpel (Mark), Tracy Portz (Steve), Jennifer Cordova (Carl), Bryan (Christina), and Joshua Bushman (Natalie). Mary Ellen’s living grandchildren are: Brinton and Alyse Whitecar; Adam Herpel (McKenna), Spencer Herpel (Samy Galvez), Sarah Newby, McKay, and Trevor Herpel; Jessica, Aaron, Katie, David (Jessica), and John Portz (Kenzie); James (Adriene), Joseph, John (Katelin), and Jacob Hart; Genevieve Bushman; Quanah, Wil, and Audrey Bushman.  Mary Ellen’s great-grandchildren include: Dallas, Blakelee, Ayla and Camron Miller; Nathan and Emily Newby; Cheyenne, Kailey, and Natalie Pearson; and Krista Ann Hart.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 1, 2023, Owens Livingston Mortuary~White Mountain Chapel, 320 N. 9th St., Show Low, Arizona.

The family of Mary Ellen wish to extend our sincerest thanks to the doctors, nurses, and staff at Legacy House, and Jana Wright from hospice.