Gwendella Earl Murri, age 95, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 4, 2020, in her home in Salt Lake City, UT. Gwen was born on July 16, 1925, in Salt Lake City, UT, to Alma Eugene Earl and Esther Marie Petersen. She married Ralph J. Murri on January 23, 1943 and was later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on June 23, 1947. Her family has always been her greatest joy. She never missed any of the sports events, musical performances, theatrical performances, or any other event that her children participated in. They both loved attending the grandkids and great grandkids activities and life events as well. Her greatest joy has always been her family and she has done so much for everyone. She has truly been our family anchor.
In addition to her family, she loved her involvement in her church and in scouting. She had leadership roles as a Den Mother and leader in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Brownies, and Girl Scouts. She taught in Primary and Sunday School and was the Ward Primary President for many years and served on the Stake Primary and Scouting boards. She served a service mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the genealogy department for quite a few years doing name extractions. She did mostly names from Norway. Being in her 80’s at the time, she conquered learning to work a computer like a champ as well as learning a bit of Norwegian along the way. She loved that mission. It was a sad and difficult decision for her to end it when it became too physically difficult for her to travel downtown every day.
She worked for many years for Weight Watchers. She was a lecturer, a trainer, and a supervisor over lecturers at many locations. She drove all over Utah and the surrounding states. She often stopped in Wyoming and visited with the West family who she adopted as her own family after they became friends with her daughter, Jolene, and her family. She treated their kids just like her own grandkids.
Another of her joys was making baby quilts for each of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. With such a big family, there was oftentimes a quilt on the quilting frames down in the basement. She also loved to crochet and made many afghans for the grandkids as they got married until it was too hard to see.
She has desperately missed her sweetheart of 77 years who passed away 15 years ago. There must be a wonderful reunion happening on the other side. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph J Murri; children, Wanda Logsdon Bush and Martin Murri. She is survived by her children, Lynn (Sandi), Jolene (Gary) Porter, Robert (Judy), Douglas (Michael), and Cindy (Todd) Powers; 16 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild.
The family would like to thank the staff at Chateau Brickyard where she resided. There were many people that were so kind and caring to her there. A huge thank you to Quality Hospice who lovingly took care of her, especially Becky Johnson who gained a bonded friendship with her. Mom loved her and trusted her care with her.
A private funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 14, 2020, at 11:00 am at Holbrook Mortuary, 3251 South 2300 East, Salt Lake City, UT, with a private viewing at 10:00 am prior to the service. Interment will take place at Salt Lake City Cemetery. Attendance at the services is by invitation only, all others are invited to watch the funeral service online.
The services will be live-streamed and then remain available to watch for 90 days.