Ora Kirkham

Our loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, Ora Ruth Hall Kirkham, passed away on October 2, 2010 at the age of 89. Born December 7, 1920 in Richfield, Utah, to Charles Ernest Hall and Leda Hannah Peterson Hall, Ora graduated from South High School in Salt Lake City, attended LDS Business College and worked as a bookkeeper for the federal government and private companies before taking on the challenges and blessings of a full-time mother and homemaker. On March 17, 1951, she married her war-time, sailor husband, Milo Kealohalani Kirkham in Alameda, California. Their marriage was solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple. Together they made their home in Farmington, Utah, where they spent many of their best years rearing children and grandchildren. They patiently cultivated them, teaching them to work as they cultivated the tomatoes, corn, cherries, peaches, beautiful flowers, and much more in the gardens and orchards she dearly loved. Ora lived a life of quiet, humble service to family, friends and her Heavenly Father. She was a life-long, devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to which she gave years of service. She is perhaps best remembered as a caring primary teacher and faithful ward pianist and organist. She was a gifted musician and passed her love of music on to succeeding generations of children and grandchildren. In addition to her gardens and her music, Ora loved sewing, scrap-booking , reading and she was an avid journal keeper. She was also a dedicated member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. She is survived by her devoted husband, Milo, four children: Susan Jean (Jim) Johnson, David Milo (Judy) Kirkham, Kathleen Ruth (Kim) LeFevre, and Colleen Kay (Chip) Tessen; her sisters, Jean Jennings and Darlene Andreasen, her brother, Clyde Hall; 22 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her son, Michael Charles Kirkham, and her sister Luana Yates John. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 7, 2010 at 11 a.m. at the Compton Bench LDS chapel at 850 North Compton Road in Farmington. Friends and family may pay respects at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 1941 North Main, Farmington, Wednesday, October 6 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. and on Thursday at the church from 9:45 a.m. 10:45 a.m. prior to the service. Interment will be at the Farmington City Cemetery.