Miriam Meads

MIRIAM MEADS Miriam T. Meads &qoute;Nana&qoute; Miriam Smith Taylor Meads, 94, passed away peacefully from natural causes on August 11, 2009, surrounded by family.The eldest child of Albert LeRoy Taylor and Rachel Smith, she was born April 23, 1915, in the Beehive House when her grandfather, Joseph F. Smith, served as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her family lived in a home in Salt Lake City on University Street for most of her youth, with a few years in Palo Alto where she read every book in the library. She attended LDS and East High schools and the University of Utah where she was President of her sorority. At the U, she discovered her talent for acting, studied with her beloved Miss Babcock, and performed in many pays in the Playbox Theatre and Kingsbury Hall. She graduated in Speech and Theatre as well as Education. She taught Kindergarten for 13 years in Salt Lake City schools and also instructed teachers at the University of Utah. She spent memorable summers in New York City performing on the radio while completing post-graduate work at New York University. She served on the General Board of the Primary, starting &qoute;The Children’s Friend of the Air&qoute; radio program during her tenure. She also worked as the fashion coordinator for ZCMI. At 31, she began patiently dating Garner B. Meads, M.D., whom she married on August 20, 1948, in the Salt Lake Temple. They wanted a large family and welcomed five children in five years. As a dedicated physician’s wife, her service rearing children in the home enabled Garner to serve those in need. Also service-minded, Miriam was a Beehive House guide for 16 years, where sharing her childhood experiences with visitors brought her great joy. She enjoyed being a temple worker and served with her husband in the Temple Visitors’ Center of the Washington D.C. North Mission. After 47 years on Browning Avenue, she resided at Park Lane for the past six years where she remained active in her associations with the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, the Emeritus Group, study group, and her Taylor and Smith cousins. An avid reader and wonderful storyteller, she also found joy in growing roses and tomatoes, collecting historical clothing, and following local sports. Throughout her life, she read the entire newspaper daily and always kept her hair appointment. She loved to put out a beautiful Christmas table with homemade caramels and delicate tarts. She was steadfast in her testimony of the church. Her spirituality and integrity were woven through every part of her life. She loved her great heritage and lovingly worked to preserve and share her memories of her magnificent ancestors. Always elegant, dignified, and wise, she was a proud matriarch who showed her love quietly. She is survived by her children Marjorie Greg Spencer, Garner Jr. LeeAnn, David Marjorie, Mary Ann Robert Silver, and Judy Jardine; 23 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and siblings Mary Ellen Elvon Jackson, deceased, Marjorie Howard Sharp, and David Taylor Lila. She was preceded in death by her brother LeRoy Jr., parents, and husband. There will be a one-hour funeral service at noon on Saturday, August 15, 2009, at 2215 E. Roosevelt Ave. Family and friends may call between 6 and 8 p.m. the night before at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 255 S. 200 East, or at the ward from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. before the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Primary Children’s Medical Center. Interment will be in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.