Ellen Ziles Smith

PROVIDENCE, UTAH: Ellen Eudora Zilles Smith, 87, our loving mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt, passed away Sunday, March 22, 2009, at the Cache Valley Assisted Living Center. Her family extends their appreciation to the kind staff of that facility where she has resided the past five years, and to CNS Hospice Nursing Services. Several of her children were at Ellen's bedside throughout her final hours. Ellen's family also conveys their gratitude to youngest daughter, Dena Christensen, for her selfless devotion to her mother's welfare.
Ellen was born August 13, 1921, the second of ten children parented by Lillie Anderson and Theador John Zilles of College Ward, Utah. She was delivered by her maternal aunt and midwife, Tennie Owen, at the Cache Valley Hospital at the site of today's Cache Valley Bank.
Ellen was married to Cleon Daniel Smith in the Logan LDS Temple November 19, 1941. He was nine years her senior and passed away May 6, 1995. Their 53 years together celebrated the births of four sons and four daughters. Their firstborn son Sherman was killed in the driveway of his paternal grandparents at the age of 18 months when his sister Mary Ellen was six weeks old in June 1945.
Surviving children are Mary Obray, Soda Springs, Idaho, Utah residents Noreen (Terry) Clawson, Morgan, Bryan T. (Carol), Nibley, Gloria (Dane) Smith, Kearns, Dena (widow of Zan) Christensen, Cove, Lex (Sueann), Nibley , and Corray (Janine) of Hyrum. Cleon and Ellen's progeny numbers 28 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren with another anticipated this week.
Ellen is survived by a brother-in-law, Norton Rhodes of Silver Springs, Maryland, and former sister-in-law, Ilah Tibbitts of Redding, California. Her surviving siblings include sister, Margene Low (widow of Oliver), brothers Rex (BettyLou), Deloy (Vera), and Ray Jacob (Glenda) Zilles of College Ward, and sisters Wanda Gore of Jacksonville, Florida, and Sheryl (Robert) Nettles of San Antonio, Texas.
In addition to her parents, her in-laws Morris and Lorraine Bullock Smith, a five-month old brother Ariel, and eldest sister Elda (Levi) Jorgensen, she has been preceded in death by a grandson, Tyler Clawson, son-in-law Zan Christensen, and great grandson, Jayden Christensen. She has endured the passings of most of the Smith family and served as the Cache Valley matriarch in celebrating the joys and sorrows of her extended family.
Much of Ellen's married life was spent living just a few doors from the Smith homestead on First West in Providence. She greatly admired her mother-in-law and cared for her during the final months of her life.
Ellen grew up on the family farm and shared in the many chores required to sustain a family of seven siblings. She was very easily pleased with little and was generous in sharing whatever she had. Family comprised her childhood playmates and pleasures
were simple and free--swimming in the slew, gathering watercress, milking cows by hand, and races hoeing unending rows of sugar beets.
She worked along side her husband and kids raising cash crops such as beans, corn, and berries, as well as canning the produce of an annual garden and orchard. Ellen had aspirations of becoming a nurse, but college was not financially feasible when she graduated from South Cache High School. She passed the Red Cross First Aide Course and cared for her family's minor illnesses. Her youngest son was born with diabetes when Ellen was 41, Ellen's first grandchild arrived in 1968, so she had never really experienced an 'empty nest.'
Ellen was industrious and worked whatever hours were necessary at such jobs as cleaning dormitories at Utah State and shift work at the Del Monte cannery in Smithfield. She obtained a certificate as a Nurses Aide and retired from the LDS Hospital where she especially enjoyed working in the nursery. Her response to those who questioned her sanity in having such a large family was- "Which one would I give back?"
Ellen was devoted to her husband, her family, and her LDS faith. She served in the presidencies of the Primary, Mutual, and was the President of the Relief Society at the same time she was mothering a young son and getting to know her first son-in-law.
The family is eternally grateful for the legacy of their wonderful mother and will miss her earthly presence.

Funeral services will be held at 12 noon on Thursday, March 26 at the Providence 2nd/3rd Ward Chapel, 309 South Main. A viewing will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Allen-­Hall Mortuary, 34 East Center St in Logan and from 10:30-11:30 am prior to the funeral services. Burial will be in the Providence City Cemetery in River Heights following the service. Condolences and thoughts may be expressed to the family online at www.allenmortuaries.net .