Alice Marie Young Ezell

Life story – ALICE MARIE YOUNG EZELL.

Alice Marie Young Ezell, 84 years and eleven months of age, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother returned home to her Heavenly Father on February the 12th, 2015 after a long and difficult time with Alzheimer’s disease.

Alice was born on March 19th, 1930 in Bryan, Texas, to Dr. Vernon A. Young, originally from Moab, Utah, and Berneice Stock Young, originally from Fish Haven, Idaho.  She was the second of two children.  Her parents, her older sister, Clara Beth Young Bond, and a daughter, Susan Ezell, preceded her in death. 

When Alice was born, her father was teaching at Texas A&M College at College Station, Texas.  A short time later he accepted a position at New York State College at Syracuse, New York, where Alice then spent her childhood.  Her father’s next teaching position was at the University of Idaho at Moscow, Idaho.  Then, 1943, when she was a freshman in high school, the family moved to Escondido, California.  Alice fondly recalled a memorable summer living in a tent right on the beach at Carlsbad, California, with her mother’s friend.  After World War-2 ended, her father joined the staff at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho.  He concluded his University teaching career by returning in 1946 to Texas A & M College as a department head in the school of forestry and range management.  These series of moves resulted in Alice being born in Texas and then years later completing high school in the same place in Texas (living in California, New York and Idaho in between).  She enjoyed fun summers through the years with her grandparents at Fish Haven, Idaho, next to Bear Lake, where she learned to ride horses and work on the farm.

Alice commenced college at Texas State College for Women in Denton, Texas, and completed her junior and senior years at Utah State University where she met her husband, Robert (Bob).  She received her BA degree in Home Economics and Secondary Education at Utah State in May 1951, and started her teaching career at nearby Bear River High School. 

Alice and Bob were sealed for time and eternity in the Logan Temple in 1952, and have been happily married for 62 years and eight months.  They both look forward to a heavenly reunion not too many years from now, as Bob is only three months short of 88 years old.

In the early 1950's her husband, Bob, who was an officer in the U.S. Army reserves, was called to active duty during the Korean War.  This upset their plans considerably.  Bob’s first assignment was to Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland, and Alice was able to accompany him there.  Their first child, Claire, was born in an Army hospital for a total cost of $10.00.  Alice remembered having to get up early every morning and stand in front of her bed while the somewhat embarrassed officers did the morning hospital inspection, including the very pregnant or recently delivered mothers in the hospital maternity ward.  Bob served two years at Aberdeen Proving Grounds and was discharged when the war ended. 

Alice and Bob returned to Utah where Bob began his career as a geologist.  Alice’s second child, Susan, was born in Craig, Colorado, and this turned out to be a very traumatic experience for the family.  Susan died at birth, almost taking Alice with her.  Alice lost so much blood that when the small hospital ran out of blood, Bob had to give her a direct arm to arm transfusion. 

Bob’s work in the petroleum industry took the family to Venezuela for eight years where two more children, Steven and Carolyn, were born.  Childbirth for Alice was difficult and Carolyn, a Caesarian birth, was to be the last child. 

Alice and her family moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Littleton, Colorado; London, England; Houston, Texas; and Stavanger, Norway. 

Alice completed a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education in the mid 1960’s while living in Oklahoma, and then taught third and fourth grades for eight years in a school within walking distance of her home.  Her two younger children, Steve and Carolyn, attended this same school.  Alice remembers Steve bringing his friends to her classroom door and whispering in their ear, “That’s my mom.” 

Alice enjoyed life.  She was always busy. She loved taking care of her home and children, working in the church, going to the theater, dining out, taking French language lessons and French cooking classes, square dancing, playing the piano and travel.  She was always looking for and trying new recipes, much to her husband’s delight.  Bob’s London and Norway assignments gave them wonderful travel opportunities throughout Europe and other areas.  After Bob retired from Mobil Oil Corporation in 1987, they traveled for an extended time throughout Europe deciding each day what to do next, and spending a number of months behind the “Iron Curtain” where travel opportunities had just been eased.

Alice served in numerous Church callings over the years.  She served as a president and in teaching and music callings in the Relief Society, Primary and Young Women's organizations.  She was a Family History director in London. England.  She was a missionary with her husband in the Connecticut Hartford Mission in 1988-1989, working in northern New York.  She served with her husband as a Bountiful temple ordinance worker for six years when the temple first opened.  Alice had a strong testimony that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was divinely restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith and that the Book of Mormon is the word of God.  She firmly believed in and accepted Christ as the Son of God and her Savior.  She believed that Christ’s atoning sacrifice brings salvation if we accept Him and follow His teachings. She sustained President Monson as God’s prophet and head of the latter-day church.  She looked forward to being together forever as a family through the eternities.  She knows that her sister and parents that preceded her in death still live.  Before Alzheimer’s caused her decline she actively worked in family history assisting deceased ancestors with the necessary temple ordinances.

Alice and Bob built a home in Farmington, Utah in 1989 where they have lived for over 25 years.  She began having difficulties with Alzheimer's disease in 2002, but was able to cope with it and live a fairly normal life until she had a serious fall in late 2013, breaking both bones just above her left ankle.  This, coupled with advanced Alzheimer’s, incapacitated her and left her unable to walk. 

Alice has been a resident at the Fairfield Village of Layton through 2014 until now.  The care at this facility has exceeded our expectations, and the family expresses our gratitude and appreciation for this and for the good life they have given her. 

Alice is survived by her husband, Robert Lee Ezell, two daughters, Claire Ann Ezell Mellor of Kaysville, Utah and Carolyn Lee Ezell Furner of Farmington, Utah, a son, Steven John Ezell of Dove Canyon, California, 16 adult grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren with two more on the way.  We all will greatly miss her, but know she has now moved on to a better life.

Funeral Service information – A viewing will be held Monday, February 16th from 7 to 9 PM at the Russon Brothers Mortuary, 1941 North Main, Farmington. Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, February 17th, 2015 at the LDS Somerset Chapel located at 1885 N. Summerwood Drive, Farmington, at 11:00 AM with a viewing from 9:45 to 10:45 AM. Interment will take place at Lake View Memorial Cemetery in Bountiful.