Martha Bearnice Landon

Martha Bearnice Landon1924 – 2009  Martha passed away peacefully Monday, January 19^th, 2008 in Salt Lake City, Utah.  She was 84 years old. Martha was born April 28^th, 1924 in Beason, Illinois to Schuyler and Susie (Conway) Pope.  She married Melvin C. Landon on May 18^th, 1946 and they enjoyed “almost 60” wonderful years together. Martha shared a special relationship with her sister Mary.  They left the family home in Nevada, MO as young women and moved West where Martha met the love of her life, Mel, in Mesa, Arizona. Martha and Mel spent their retirement years in Porterville, CA, a town they called home in the 1950’s and again from 1980-2006.  Martha and Mel thoroughly enjoyed the Senior Dances in Porterville and surrounding communities.  For many years they spent 3 or 4 nights a week twirling around the dance floor and visiting with dear friends.  When not out dancing they enjoyed playing cards and games with friends.  Martha had many dear friends, too many to name.  There were two special “young” friends in her life; John Skedd (Escondido, CA) whom she thought of as a son and Mette Pedersen, her “Danish Daughter” from Denmark. In November 2006 Martha moved to Utah.  She had a beautiful apartment at Legacy Retirement Residence in South Jordan.  She loved Legacy and met many very special new friends.  She especially enjoyed the entertainment, outings, and playing Rummikub.  When asked if it was too cold in Utah she always replied “It doesn’t matter, I don’t have to go out if I don’t want to.” Martha is survived by her daughters and their husbands Melba and Allen Taylor, Merrilee and Daniel Puccio; sisters Dortha Ramsey, Lorene Wolf, Mary Hughes; brothers Leonard, Elmer Dean, Louis Pope; grandchildren Harrison (Cleeland), Tanya and Tyler (Puccio); step-grandchildren Ross (Rhonda) Taylor, Jessica (Ryan) Cumming; and three step-great-grandchildren Tyler, Adrieanna and Weston Cumming. She was preceded in death by her husband Melvin; son Kevin Ray Landon; brother Lawrence Pope; and step-granddaughter Aubrey Taylor. The family would like to thank the nurses and aides at CareSource in Salt Lake City who cared for Mom, everyone at Woodland Park Rehab, the Bee Hive Home in West Jordan and Annette who kept Mom’s hands beautifully manicured. Martha will be buried in Porterville, California on February 6^th. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, phone: 1-800-873-6983, mail: 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Disabled American Veterans, Attn: Gift Processing Dept., P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, Ohio 45250-0301. Mom, we hope you are dancing with Dad again – with our love, your daughters.