Laura Montierth McClanahan, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, peacefully returned to be with her Heavenly Father on January 9, 2017 at the age of 97. Born on November 6, 1919 in Safford, Arizona to Leslie Moroni Montierth and Hedevig Elizabeth Jensen, she was the second of six children raised on the family farm and ranch near Fort Thomas, Arizona.
Laura graduated from Ft. Thomas High School at the age of 17 and attended what is now Eastern Arizona College in Thatcher, Arizona. During WWII, she met her future husband, Edwin O. “Mac” McClanahan who was in the Army Air Corp and was stationed near Phoenix, where they were later married. They were subsequently sealed in the Mesa Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Laura and her husband were faithful members of the church all their married years and served in many callings. Laura truly loved the gospel and her Savior Jesus Christ.
Mac preceded Laura in death in 1989. Her sisters Opal and Ivy also preceded her in death.
Laura is survived by her son Philip and daughter-in-law Denise, four grandchildren, Timothy (Misty), Stacey Griffin (John), Christopher (Melanie), Steven (Kamille) and 19 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by three of her siblings, Don Montierth (Anna Laura), Joy Carpenter, and Dorothy Pearson (Ivan). Counted among Laura’s greatest joys in this life was her family, including her many nieces and nephews. They have numerous fond memories of this magnificent lady who blessed and enriched the life of everyone she touched. She loved and was loved greatly.
The family is appreciative of the wonderful caregivers at Copper Ridge Health Care in West Jordan and the nurses of Symbii Hospice who treated our mother and grandmother with such kindness and compassion.
A funeral service will be held on Monday, January 16, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. in the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Safford Stake Center located at 501 W. Catalina Drive in Safford, Arizona. A viewing will be held in the Relief Society room of the chapel beginning at 10:00 a.m. prior to the funeral service. Interment will follow after the services at the Safford City Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of McDougal’s Caldwell Funeral Chapel & Gila Valley Crematory. Online condolences may be extended at www.caldwellfuneralchapel.com.
