Mary Stringham Rampton

Mary Stringham Rampton passed peacefully from this life into the next on Thursday, March 26th at her home in Bountiful, Utah. She was the daughter and 2nd child of Jacob Harvey Stringham and Wilhelmina Hogan Stringham born in Hutchinson, Kansas. Moved to the Bountiful area as a baby. She grew up a beautiful woman, surrounded by loving relatives. She was the queen of Cantaloupe Days in 1949. Graduated from Davis High school in 1946. She had a natural sense of rhythm, she was a drummer in the marching band and could dance with anyone and make them look good. A great beauty, she captured the eye of John Rampton when he returned from his mission. She married John R. Rampton Jr in 1950 in the Salt Lake Temple and lived in Bountiful her entire life. She and John were blessed with the birth of a son, Joel in 1954, a daughter Sue followed in 1956.
Mary was an active member of the community and church, teaching fitness classes and was always a proponent of healthy living. She played a mean game of basketball and tennis. She was a breast cancer survivor and worked with the Reach to Recovery program for decades, providing a stunning example of how to live life to the fullest after breast cancer. She and John participated in square dancing and she especially loved her water aerobics classes and found her way to the swimming pool as much as she could. She was a huge nature lover and served as a docent at Hogle Zoo for many years. She also traveled to local schools, carrying snakes and small mammals in her quest to educate children about the importance of wildlife and caring for animals, both great and small. She taught anyone and everyone about birds, dogs and nature and was known as the local expert on hummingbirds. Feeding the wildlife and caring for her pets was her greatest joy.
Mary was known as being plain spoken and graciously shared her expertise of sewing by making hundreds of scout neckerchiefs for the 24th ward scout troop 218 which she continued until very recently. Lucky is the scout that has one of her hand sewn neckerchiefs for his scouting uniform.
Preceded in death by her parents, her brother Stanley Stringham, son Joel and numerous favored pets.
Survived by husband, John; daughter, Sue Dyle (Sonny); grandchildren: Nathan, Erin, Alexia, Brandi, Cori Jo, Greg, Clifford, and Megan; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, March 30, 2015 at the Bountiful 24th Ward, 720 East 550 North. A viewing will be held Sunday evening from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 295 North Main and Monday morning at the church 1 hour prior to services. Online guest book at www.russonmortuary.com.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Humane Society of Utah or Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.