Marie Porter Larsen Obituary (1916 - 2011)

Marie Porter Larsen, 94, passed away March 8, 2011 due to advanced age. Our loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister-in-law and friend passed away leaving a void in our lives. Marie was born September 8, 1916 in Kingston, Utah the second child and only daughter of Nathan Alma Porter and Vida Martina Elder. She grew up during hard times, but always maintained her shy, sweet, soft spoken spirit. She was a gentle, kind, loving person, and a faithful daughter of God. She loved the Gospel of Jesus Christ and was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She held many leadership positions: President, counselor, secretary and teacher in the M.I.A.; secretary and teacher in Relief Society; secretary and teacher in the Primary and Sunday School; and secretary of Panguitch Stake Relief Society. She had many loves in life, the first was her family, another was developing and sharing her gift and skill of writing children’s stories. She wrote and sold over 250 stories to various children’s magazines including “The Children’s Friend”, “Highlights”, and “Jack and Jill.” She loved writing about pioneers and life at that time in history. Marie loved to fish and in her younger years could often be found on the Mammoth or Asey Creeks with one or more of her brothers, patiently waiting for a “nibble” on the line. She worked 29 years as a secretary, bookkeeper and office manager in the business world. She tried many things during her lifetime, she learned to tap dance, played the saxophone, oil painted, crocheted, learned to tie flies, sewed and in the 1940’s and 50’s, she was the town “Toni Permanent Wave Giver.” She attended Dixie College in St. George before her marriage. She married her eternal partner, Lawrence Peter Larsen, on October 20, 1936 in the Manti Temple, she is once again in his loving arms. Marie is survived by her daughter, Joyce Hanson, of Murray, Utah; and her son, Shelbert J. Larsen (Mely) of Anchorage, Alaska. She has three grandchildren, J. Courtney Larsen (Jessica), Laureen and Sylvia Larsen; two step-grandsons, Jordi and Samy Prieto Cascajares; and two great-grandsons, Tallis and Rhys Larsen, all of Alaska. She is preceded in death by her husband, parents, and brothers Nathan Grandon Porter, Lerin Porter, Ray Alma Porter, Lyle George Porter and Dee Elder Porter. Marie will be missed, but is now in a beautiful, peaceful place embracing family and waiting for each of us to join her. She now can remember all the good things in her life and can rejoice in her faithfulness during this earthly life and she is looking forward to the promised eternal life. We love you and will miss you very much. Thank you for your sweet example of how to be a true child of God and how to endure well the trials we face. A viewing will be Friday, March 18, 2010 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, 4760 So. State Street in Murray, Utah. Funeral services will be Saturday, March 19, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at the Circleville LDS Ward in Circleville, Utah with a viewing at the church from 12:00-12:45 p.m. Interment: Kingston Cemetery.