Audrey Lillian Olson Portela Melaney Topham

LAYTON/WEST HAVEN – Audrey Lillian Olson Portela Melaney Topham, 97, our loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother and sister, passed away on Monday, September 29, 2014 at Lotus Park Assisted Living and Memory Care in West Haven, UT. Audrey was born on November 17, 1916 to George Ludwig and Fannie Tippets Olson in Osmond, WY. She lived most of her life in Star Valley, WY, Pocatello, ID, Layton, UT, and wintered in St. George, UT. She married Eldon Augusta Portela on May 8, 1936 in Randolf, UT. They had four children while living in Osmond and Pocatello. They later divorced. On August 1, 1952, she married Claude Lewis Melaney in Ogden, UT. Their vows were solemnized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on June 16, 1954. He had two children from a previous marriage and together they had one daughter. He died in June 1991. She then married John Herbert Topham on June 29, 1994, in Roy, UT. He died in July 2011.

Audrey’s passion in life was dancing, especially the waltz and the polka. She loved to play cards, work crossword puzzles, write poetry, go camping, have her fingernails painted, and watch her grandchildren play sports. She was an avid Utah JAZZ fan. She loved to provide service to others, especially making sure no one left her house hungry.

She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served in many callings, her favorite was Stake Mutual (Young Women’s) President in the Layton, UT Stake, a position she held for over 12 years. She worked as a waitress at the Signal Café and Travelers Café in Layton. She was the manager of White’s Community Bakery inside the Clearfield Safeway store and was a demonstrator for Meadow Gold Dairy at various businesses. Later she worked in the administrative office at Tanner Clinic where she retired after 15 years.

She had two sisters and five brothers. Still living are Darwin Olson and Erva Miller. Her deceased siblings are DeRell Olson, Wanda Nebeker, Rondo Olson, Everett Olson and Ross Olson.

She is survived by her children: Renee (Donald) Gilmore, Meg (Bill) Schlaffer, Dennis (Linda) Melaney, Melanie (Richie) Bovero, Brian (Judy) Melaney, and Bonni Jensen. Her oldest son LaDell Portela died in 2003. She has 24 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 4, 2014 at 11 a.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 N. Fairfield Rd. where friends may visit with family from 9:30 to 10:30 prior to the service.  

Interment, Lindquist’s Memorial Park at Layton, 1867 N. Fairfield Road.