Thella Montierth

Thella Elizabeth Hancock Montierth born October 7, 1906 in Eden, Territory of Arizona of Franklin Lionel Hancock and Elizabeth Rebecca Tryon Hancock died Tuesday August 2, 2011 at the age of 104. Married to Arch Montierth January 19, 1924, Mother of Norma Lee Montierth Pender, Robert Arch Montierth, and Monte Jay Montierth. Thella graduated from Thatcher High School with some classes in her later years from Gila Academy (Now called Eastern Arizona College). She worked alongside her husband running the family farm in Lone Star. Her social life included most of the womens clubs in Safford. She is Past President of the Arizona & Texas Emblem Clubs (the womens auxiliary of the Elks club). She sang for many years in the church choir. As a civic duty she has worked in polling places and taken censuses. At the age of 80 she served a full time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Lubbock Texas and then served in the Arizona (Mesa) Temple in her late 80s while taking care of her younger sister, Marie Lawson. She loved to travel and visited Hawaii, Canada, Ireland, Scotland, England, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, France, and Italy. Within the United States she visited New York, Florida, California, Texas, Utah, Alaska, Louisiana, and states between. She made beautiful quilts, crocheted tablecloths, doilies, and she knitted full blanket and lap covers. She taught in the Relief Society. She has many talents that can be taken into the next life. She was a seamstress. She would buy a readymade dress and remake it into an original. She could design clothes. At 75 Thella learned piano, practicing every day. She bought and learned to use a computer when she was 90. She proved you are never too old to learn and do new things. She has set us an example of living life to the fullest. Keep on living the whole time. Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 13, 2011 at the Solomon LDS Church. Friends may call on Friday, August 12, 2011 from 6-8 p.m. at the Caldwell Funeral Chapel, and one hour prior to services at the church. Interment will be in the Safford Cemetery.