Marion Burrows Smith
April 6, 1929 - October 16, 2019
Marion Burrows Smith died peacefully at her home with family at the age of 90. Born in Salt Lake City to Leah Burton Burrows and J. Alma Burrows, she married Nicholas G. Smith, Jr. in 1950. For 68 years, she had an adventurous, love-filled life with him. Cofounder and first director of Intermountain Sexual Abuse Center (ISAT) her work in the community was tireless. Educated at Berkeley and University of Utah, she received her BA (Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi) and a M Ed Psych from U of U. Marion was a founder of Youngstown Children's Home, and an area chairman for United Way. Her honors include: National Association of Social Workers Utah Public Administrator of the Year 1985, Division of Family Service Award 1986, Pan Hellenic Alumni Woman of the Year Award 1985. Published books: Paperdolls; Healing From Sexual Abuse in Mormon Neighborhoods, 1992 (co-author) and Riptide, 1999. She is survived by seven daughters: Kathleen Smith, Sharon Christenson (A. J. Martine), Lindy Burton (Mark Burton), Robin Burrows, Charlotte Smith, Wendy Smith (Jim Michie Jr.), Niki Hagen (Stephen Hagen), fourteen grandchildren, and ten great grandchildren. The family gives thanks to Georgia Maloney and her team of extraordinary caretakers. Service to be held Sunday October 20, at 2:00 P.M. at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, Salt Lake City. Guests are encouraged to use the complimentary valet parking on the north side of the building.
In Loving Memory
The world is smaller and less bright without Marion. I remember her own words about death in her final chapter of Riptide. "We're blades of grass, tiny fireflies of energy blinking on and off, vanished foam on some Kauai beach... It's death that makes life precious. Acting in the face of death. I think I had my children to help me ward off death. And it's worked. I'd live my life again, but only...if I could love the same people... all of you. I want to hold you... I'd like to believe that on the night I die, stars will laugh. A young and beautiful woman will open long arms to me and say, 'Come.' My children will forgive me. They'll mourn. My husband will be comforted. He'll find his god. Sunrise will come to some quadrant of the earth... I close my eyes. Hold on to who I am. "
Maxine
Salt Lake City, UT
Marion made the world a better, safer, more compassionate place. Her contributions touched lives locally and globally. But, above all, she was warm, funny, intelligent, and caring with so many--including us. We will cherish our memories of her, while giving thanks for the life she lived so well... Ken and Carol Verdoia
Ken Verdoia
COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS, UT