Gloria Rackham Jennings

Gloria Rackham Jennings left the bonds of this world at the home of her daughter on Monday, August 22, 2011. She had been suffering from declining health and had spent the last nine months living with her daughter Jeanne, who along with others took care of her when she no longer could take care of herself. Gloria had nurtured her family as they grew up and she received that same nurturing in her physical decline because of the love and respect her family had for her. Her loving husband, Robert Jennings, who has been deceased for nearly six years wanted to make sure that Gloria was taken care of until they could be reunited.

Gloria was born on April 16, 1923 in Ogden, Utah. She was the daughter of Evelyn Burgi and Guy LeRoy Rackham. Her father passed away from a railroad accident when Gloria was only 3 years old. Life was challenging and she spent a lot of time with her extended family as she grew up. This helped her develop her feeling of how important family is and her desire that the family be together to support each other. Her mother married Conrad Hooper in 1930 and in 1933 Gloria had a sister, Connie Hooper Spencer to care for and grow up with.

Gloria graduated from Ogden High School in 1941 and then attended Weber State College where at the last day of school she met the love of her life Robert Jennings. Robert enlisted in the army and while he was in an engineering course at the University of Kentucky, Gloria traveled to Lexington so they could be married. Bob and Gloria were married on June 26, 1943. A year later Bob was sent to Europe during World War II and Gloria and Bob wrote daily letters to each other until he returned home.

Their marriage was later solemnized in the Logan LDS Temple on February 16, 1955. Gloria and Bob raised a family of six children, Jeanne (William) Godfrey, Nancy Field, Bob (Julie) Jennings, Cindy (Greg) Montgomery, Tamara (Kent) Whitaker, and Paul Jennings. She was blessed with 27 grandchildren, three of whom have preceded her in death and 49 great-grandchildren. All of her family and extended family meant the world to her. She was also preceded in death by her parents and sister Connie.

The family spent eleven years living in Tracy, California as her husband had accepted a job there at the Army Depot. When he retired they returned back to Utah and the family home in Harrisville. She loved her family and her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. She served in leadership positions in Young Women''s and Relief Society in the various wards she lived in, but enjoyed most serving along with her husband for 13 years as a temple worker in the Ogden LDS Temple.

Besides her family, Gloria loved flowers of all types; both in her home and in the yard. She loved chocolate and mints and always had a stash by her bed. She had dealt with many physical infirmities throughout her life but never complained about those difficulties. She was an example of enduring to the end with grace.

The family would like to thank Caring Hands Hospice and Right at Home Caregivers with a special thanks to Janelle Shields, Mindy Fisher and Shannon Rich who have been of assistance these last months.

Funeral services will be held Monday, August 29, 2011 at 11 a.m. at the Harrisville 6th Ward Chapel, 115 Childs Avenue, Ogden, Utah.

The family will meet with friends on Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist''s North Ogden Mortuary, 2140 North Washington Blvd. and Monday from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. at the church.

Interment, Ogden City Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.lindquistmortuary.com