Deseret News, 03/27/12


Beloved Ella May Richards Moon passed away at her home on March 24, 2012 due to illness related to her age of 86.
She was born March 17, 1926 to William H. Richards Jr. and Margaret Annie John in Malad, Idaho. She was kind, loving, and always giving of herself to others. She married Dr. Grant C. Moon 66 years ago on April 26, 1945 in the Logan Utah Temple.
In Malad, Idaho she enjoyed growing up with many cousins, relatives, and friends. She always enjoyed being with other people. Married life began in Salt Lake City, followed by Provo, New York City, Lawrence, Kansas, Vermillion, South Dakota, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Petersburg, Virginia, Saranac Lake, New York, Washington, D.C., Melbourne, Florida and retirement in Salt Lake City.
They raised four children-Kathleen Martin married to Clem; Bill married to Annette; Rick married to Suzanne, and Ron married to Nancy. Ella and Grant had fifteen grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren. She was loved by nieces, nephews, cousins and many relatives who loved her and adopted her as their mother and grandmother. Their family has been the joy of their lives.
Ella was taught the importance of education by her mother. Ella was valedictorian in the eighth grade and one of the top four students in high school. She graduated from Northern Virginia Community College, Summa Cum Laude. She was working toward a Master's degree in Library Science at the University of Maryland when they moved to Florida. Ella conversed with world dignitaries, government officials, church leaders, and everyone she met; she made everyone feel important and valued.
During the first two years of their marriage, Ella attended and graduated from cosmetology school and worked in a shop in Provo. As the years passed, while Grant taught at six universities, she did secretarial work for professors who were writing and preparing textbooks for publishing. She also typed theses for graduate students. While living in Washington, D.C., she worked as a secretary at the National Academy of Science and National Geographic. She assisted her husband in the completion of his Bachelor, Master and Doctorate degrees.
Ella has always been active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and has held many positions in Sunday School, Relief Society, MIA and Primary. Two of her unique positions were making appointments for people to see the Bishop, and relocating people to the Washington, D.C. area. Her home became the "Moon Motel." She was an organist for 26 years. She was also a member of the League of Women Voters and the Daughters of Utah Pioneers.
Ella outlived her siblings: Marjorie Madsen, Anna Marie Perkes, Ralph Richards and William Richards. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Grant C Moon her four children, and her brother-in-law, Dee Perkes.
The family wishes to express appreciation to the Intermountain Homecare Hospice Team. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Humanitarian or Perpetual Education Fund.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 28, at 10:30 am, at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E South Temple, SLC, Utah. Viewings will be held before the funeral at 9 am and on Tuesday, March 27, from 6 to 8 pm at Larkin Mortuary. Interment will be at the Pleasant View, Idaho Cemetery at approximately 4 pm. Condolences may be sent to larkin@larkincares.com.

Published in Deseret News from March 27 to March 28, 2012