Eileen Hurst Clifford

Eileen Hurst Clifford – 88, died Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at the Logan Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Logan of causes incident to age.
Eileen was born November 8, 1922 in Logan, the daughter of Loran and Lois Kelsey Hurst. She was the second child and only girl in a family of four. She grew up in Logan and attended Logan schools. She graduated from Logan High School in 1941.
The summer before she started high school, she was introduced to Delbert Clifford of Millville. They began a long friendship and eventually a romance. After going together for three years they drifted apart and each went their separate ways.
Some time later, Delbert was in the U.S. Army, and a mutual friend gave Eileen Delbert’s address, and she began writing to him. In March of 1944 Delbert came home on leave and he and Eileen were married on March 6, 1944. Delbert returned to the army and Eileen lived with her parents until Delbert’s return in December of 1945.
She was a member of the LDS Church and served in many callings. She worked in the young women as a teacher and counselor, and was Relief Society secretary. She was publisher of the ward newsletter and was the ward librarian for many years. She was a visiting teacher until her health prevented her from going.
In November of 1949 the prospect of a better job lured them to northern California. They were only there for about a year and a half, however, because they didn’t like California and it wasn’t home.
The home on sixth south that they bought on their return to Cache Valley was Eileen’s home for the rest of her life, except for the last five months. She resided at the Logan Nursing and Rehabilitation Center during that time.
She was an excellent seamstress and made many of her children’s clothes. She learned to sew on her Mother’s old-fashioned treadle sewing machine. She could not quite manage an electric one. She inherited a treadle machine from her grandmother and this she used for all her sewing needs.
She was also a wonderful cook, and over the years she fed us all well. We all remember the Fourth of July suppers and fireworks in the driveway, Easter dinners, Sunday night suppers, and sweet potato casseroles at Thanksgiving. She enjoyed reading and putting together photo albums. She also wrote poetry. She started this when she was in grade school. Many of us received personalized poems on our birthdays.
She was a member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and belonged to the Mary Fielding Smith Camp. She was active in that organization for many years.
She spent many summers bottling every vegetable grown in their very large garden as well as many different kinds of fruit. That was much of what we ate all winter.
Delbert and Eileen loved to travel and went many places around the world. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on March 6, 1994, and on November 12, 1995 Delbert passed away of a sudden heart attack.
She never drove a car, but boy could she walk fast. She could be seen walking all over town and frequently rode the bus.
Being a mother and homemaker have always been the most important callings in Eileen’s life.
She is survived by four daughters and one son – Sheila (Ronald) Archibald, Smithfield; Julie (Gaylin) Jesmer, Holden Beach, North Carolina; Colleen (Paul) Wirth, Eagle Mountain, Utah; Eileen Tidwell, Herriman, Utah; and Rick Clifford, Logan. She is also survived by ten grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, two step great grandchildren, and one great, great grandchild. She is also survived by one brother, Blaine Hurst of San Antonio, Texas.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Delbert; and two brothers, Darrell and Lynn Hurst.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, February 28 at noon at the Logan 6th and 14th Ward Chapel, 94 West 600 South, Logan. A viewing will be held on Sunday night from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 East Center in Logan and at the church prior to services from 10:30 to 11:30 AM on Monday. Burial will be in the Logan City Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenmortuaries.net