Edna May Prigmore Milligan
My mother, Edna Milligan, was 91 years old when she died Sunday morning, February 22, 2009 at Logan Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Mother lived a long life in fulfillment of a promise given to her in her patriarchal blessing, a promise that she lived for and reminded us of often.
Mother was born on May 2, 1917 in Farmington, Utah to Charles Henry and Bertha Windross Prigmore, who had come to America seven years earlier from England. The Prigmore family moved into a home at 620 West Center when Mother was about 5 years old. At the time the area was out in the country. The house still stands today in a busy area just west of the freeway and north of the Deseret Mill grain elevators as you’re passing Kaysville. The railroad was just west of the Prigmore home and they heard and felt every train that went by.
Mother was the third of five children, having one sister, Rose, and three brothers: Jim, Eugene and Wally. The family lived in Utah without any relatives except for a great aunt and uncle. Their four first cousins, an aunt and uncle, their maternal grandfather and step-grandmother lived in England. Nevertheless, they grew up among good neighbors, caring ward members and helpful school teachers.
Mother worked hard in her youth. Money was scarce, especially during the depression. Mother delivered milk from the family cow on the way to school. The kids even walked the railroad tracks to pick up coal that had fallen off the train. The coal was used to heat their home. Mother worked in a cannery for about 27 cents an hour. She could snip beans so fast her hands were a blur.
In 1936 Mother graduated from Davis High School. She received a Bachelor’s Degree from Utah State Agricultural College four years later. Following that, she taught in Davis County schools for a few years, earning up to $1800 per year.
Mother lived in New York City from 1943 -1945 while she served her country in the WAVES, a branch of the Navy. She shared an apartment with her sister, Rose. After World War II, Mother lived a short time in Moscow, Idaho and Oakland, California. Mother and Dad got reacquainted in California in 1946. They were engaged on Halloween and got married in the Salt Lake Temple on November 20, 1946. They made their home in Logan, Utah where Dad practiced dentistry.
Mother gave birth to seven children in ten years. Jean, Marilyn, Kathryn, Marsha, Richard Kent, James Keith and Ronald Dean. The 5th child was born on the oldest child’s 6th birthday. With having children every 18 months, Mother had two children on November 11th and two on May 29th. I wasn’t one who shared a birthday with a sibling so I always felt left out. Dad spent 12 years in the bishopric while all of us kids were born. Mom was a church widow. She did the bulk of raising us kids because besides his church callings, Dad was always at a meeting… Dental Association, Rotary Club, the School Board or Savings and Loan Association. On top of that, we were a one-car family and Mother didn’t have a drivers’ license until I was in grade school. Dad never changed a diaper as he said he made a living with his hands in people’s mouths. Mother never complained. Mother and Dad also provided a home and help raise a foster Indian son, Marvin Johnson, for 10 school years. A university student from Guatemala also lived with us for a year.
Mother played the piano a little and also the violin. I think Mother always felt badly that we were not a musically talented family. She would have liked us to gather around the piano to sing for Family Home Evening or on holidays but we sounded terrible. Singing ‘Happy Birthday’ was even pathetic at our home.
Mother put all her efforts into serving church and family. She was a neat, clean and tidy homemaker and an organized, dedicated, and knowledgeable Church worker. She faithfully fulfilled many church callings including serving twice as Relief Society President and twice as Primary President. Mother and Dad served as member-locator missionaries and then served full-time in the Oklahoma Tulsa Mission during 1993. Mother also worked in the linen department in the Logan Temple.
Mother was preceded in death by her sister, Rose, her brother, Jim, an infant son, James Keith, and her husband, H. J. Mother and Dad had been married 51 years when Dad passed away in 1998. After Dad died, Mother moved from the family home on East Center Street in Logan to a condo. For a while, grandchildren Michael and Rachael Walker and Emily and Steve Ballard prepared meals for Mother to allow her to live in her own place for a longer period of time. After that, she lived for 3 ½ years with her oldest daughter, Jean and her husband, Ron. I’m sure I am speaking for the whole family, in expressing thanks to each of you who willingly assisted Mother. Since December 2006 Mother resided at Logan Nursing and Rehab. We also appreciate the care they gave Mother.
Mother is survived by six children, 28 grandchildren and 55 great-grandchildren. Two brothers, Gene and Wally Prigmore and sisters-in-law Helen Milligan and Leola Prigmore also survive. Mother will be buried in the Logan City Cemetery between Dad and their son, James Keith.
Mother was a very compassionate person. She taught us the Gospel in word and in deed. I never heard her raise her voice or say anything unkind. Mother had many Christ-like attributes. May we all follow her example.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
--I love her and miss her--
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