Ellen Marie Shillington Whatcott

Ellen Marie Whatcott (nee: Shillington) passed away on April 16, 2023 in Layton, Utah. She was 98 years old and was born June 18, 1924 at Jerome, Idaho, the oldest of twin girls. She was the daughter of Roy Harold Shillington and Martha Ellen Fulkerson and had six sisters and three brothers. She was married to Merlin Wayne Whatcott on June 2, 1954 in the Logan, Utah LDS temple. He preceded her in death on 23 September, 2008.

Ellen’s childhood in Jerome with her family was filled with memories and much joy. After high school, she received nurses training in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and lived and worked as a nurse for ten years there. She joined the LDS church in June, 1951 and she met Merlin while he was on his mission in Oklahoma.

Ellen continued nursing in Salt Lake City, Utah until she was married to Merlin. They lived in Salt Lake City briefly and then Grantsville, Utah, where Merlin began his school teaching career and Ellen became a homemaker. They also lived in Paris, Idaho and Grace, Idaho and Merlin taught high school and junior high school music and developed a secondary career as a piano tuner. Over those early years, their family grew with the births of three boys; Blair, Neal, and Dirk, and they raised that family in Rigby, Idaho. Almost 40 years of active family life in Rigby were filled with true joy and love. Ellen poured herself into church work, friends, reading, sewing and nurturing her family.

In 1998, she and Merlin moved to Layton, Utah to be closer to family and she lived there until relocating to an assisted living facility in June 2022.

Ellen is survived by sisters Charlotte Edna Shillington Whatcott and Jennifer Eileen Shillington Wolverton. She is also survived by Blair Trent Whatcott, Neal Ray Whatcott, and Dirk Allen Whatcott, 14 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at the Layton Utah Layton Hills Stake Center (2400 N University Park Blvd., Layton, Utah) on Friday, April 28, 2023 at 11:00 am with viewings Thursday evening, April 27, 2023 at Lindquist Mortuary (1867 No. Fairfield Road) from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm and at 9:30 am prior to the funeral at the Stake Center.

We express appreciation to family, friends, and the nurses and care givers at Sunridge Assisted Living

Center for your gentle and kind care of our mother.

Interment will be at Lindquist Memorial Park, 1867 No. Fairfield Road, Layton, Utah.

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