Kathleen Meikle

Kathleen Hurst Meikle, 93, passed away on August 4, 2009 of causes incident to age. She was born January 11, 1916 in Pawnee, Oklahoma to Waldo Ross and Nora Hendricks Tippetts Hurst. She attended Hopewell Elementary in Pawnee, a one-room school. She was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Merrimac Lake in Oklahoma. In 1928, her father was killed. In 1930, she, her mother and siblings moved to Smithfield, Utah to be near family. She graduated from North Cache High School in 1933. On November 15, 1933, Kathleen married John Hind Jack Meikle. They began their married life as sheep herders in the hills of Cache Valley. She became a master seamstress with a successful sewing shop specializing in tailor-made western shirts. During WWII, she worked as a guard on the Women’s Civilian Guard Force at the Ogden Defense Dept. In 1949, she and Jack were blessed with a son, John Roger, and less than two years later, a daughter, Mellanee. Though busy raising a family, Kathleen immersed herself in politics and civic organizations. She was a delegate for three National Democratic Conventions, was a member of the National Platform and Resolutions Committee in 1956, and co-chaired the Utah Democratic Party in 1957. In 1962, she became a real estate broker and started her own business, Meikle Real Estate. Two great highlights of her life were hosting Pres. John F. Kennedy during his 1963 visit to Utah, and attending the Presidential Inauguration of Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson as personal guests of Vice Pres. Hubert H. Humphrey. In 1966, she was appointed Utah Director of US Savings Bonds Div. of US Treasury Dept, and moved her family from Smithfield to Bountiful. In 1975, the Idaho Savings Bonds Division was added to her duties. She retired in 1981. Kathleen was a gracious, kind and lovely lady leaving a great legacy for her family to treasure and remember her by. She is survived by her daughter Mellanee Lloyd Kilpack, Bountiful; daugher-in-law Dianne Wright Meikle, Hurricane; 12 grandchildren: Todd Meikle, Tyler Meikle, Hurricane; Tamera Meikle, Cedar City; Torri Meikle, St. George; Travis Vicki Kilpack, Josh Amy Kilpack, Bountiful; Corey Kilpack, San Francisco; Kami Roger Phillips, Meghan Matt Doelling, Carter Roslyn Kilpack, Centerville; Christopher Martha Kilpack, Endicott, New York; Abby Brian Roberts, Albany, Oregon. She is survived by 28 great-grandchildren with two more on the way. Kathleen is also survived by her dear siblings, Waldo Ross Hurst II, Bothell, Washington; Rosslyn Duane Parker, St. George; Pauline Griffin, Logan; and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, son and two brothers. We offer heartfelt thanks to Pam Frazier, Mom’s &qoute;Pamie&qoute;, for her years of love and devotion. Also a special thanks to friends and staff at Heritage Place and Alpine Hospice. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on August 8, 2009 at the Barton Creek Ward Chapel, 640 South 750 East, Bountiful, Ut. A viewing will be the evening of Friday, August 7 from 6:30 to 8:00 PM at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 295 North Main, Bountiful, Utah, and Saturday 9:45 – 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment will be at the Smithfield City Cemetery.