Edna Brooke

From Overton to Phoenix to Bountiful…a life well lived, an example well set, a testimony deep and strong, true friends gathered along the way. Striving for the best, plowing through obstacles and keeping a smile through it all.

This is the legacy of Edna Mae Shurtliff Brooke.

Edna was born 10 February 1923 in Las Vegas, Nevada as the only child to Alma Lyman Shurtliff and Leah Mae Ketcham. She died in Bountiful, Utah on 30 December 2013 at age 90 in the company of her loving husband and family. She was a cancer survivor showing the strength of the human spirit as it turns adversity into rich blessings forged through experiences.

Edna married Bill T. Brooke in Phoenix, Arizona on 22 December 1949. In July of 1975 they were sealed in the Mesa Arizona Temple.

Edna received her doctorate from Arizona State University and was a professor in their business college. After ASU, she became the Dean of Instruction for the Maricopa County (Arizona) Community College District. Among her many significant professional accomplishments, she was an innovative pioneer in curriculum development allowing community college students’ business classes to transfer to Arizona’s universities. This pioneering effort allowed students to have the opportunity of a university-level education in the more supportive community college environment, dramatically improving the content and instruction level of the community college’s business classes and allowing the Universities to concentrate on upper and graduate level classes.

Edna was very active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holding many callings in the Ward and Stake. With her husband, they served as missionaries in the employment center (Phoenix) and genealogical library (Mesa Temple).

Edna is survived by her husband, Bill, their son, John C. (Nevi) Brooke of Bountiful, Utah, five grandchildren, Bonnie (Brett Humphrey; Tokyo, Japan), William (Seattle, Washington) Justin (Tiffaney; Kihei, Hawaii), Heather (Zach Sims; College Station, Texas) and Callie (Dallin Holt; Waco, Texas) and 11 great-grandchildren (Sage, Joseph, Rachel, Meia, Cason, Tatum, Noah, Jack, Hamilton, Mason and Henry).

A viewing will be held at Russon Brothers Mortuary (295North Main; Bountiful, Utah) on Thursday 2 January 2014 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. An additional viewing will be held Friday 3 January 2014 at the Bountiful 54th Ward (540 North 1200 East; Bountiful, Utah) from 9:30 am to 10:30 am. The funeral will be held at the 54th Ward and begins at 11:00 am.