Marian Ella Watson Hill

Marian Ella Watson Hill, 87, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday, June 27, 2013, in Ogden, Utah. Marian was born on June 30, 1925, to Nymphas Coridon Murdock Watson and Ethel Fern Moulton in Charleston, Utah. She grew up in Heber City, Utah, the eldest of four children.

Her high school activities included playing flute in the band and performing in the school plays. She used her musical talents throughout her life by singing in the church choir, performing in church musicals, and leading the music at the Gardens Retirement Center Sunday services. She also loved to travel "whenever and wherever or just up a road".

Marian married George Junior Hill on October 31, 1951 (Halloween) and then had to stay home on all of their anniversaries to take care of the trick-or-treaters! Marian and George raised their six children in Ogden. They were married for almost 40 years before George passed away in 1990.

She worked all her life. Right out of high school, she worked as a secretary at Geneva Steel. Later, when her children were small, she did daycare in her home. She next worked at McKay-Dee Hospital. She then worked at Weber State University as a secretary in the Geology and Geography Department, then as secretary to the Vice President of the University, and lastly in the Nursing Department. She volunteered at McKay-Dee Hospital and at Horace Mann Elementary.

Marian shared her life with her close neighbors. Those same neighbors looked after her in her older years in many ways.

Her greatest joy was her ever expanding family. She loved them all and was welcoming to each. She sent birthday cards to all of her 30 grandchildren with personal notes of love and encouragement. She began the annual Swim Party to gather her siblings and their descendants once a year. It is a tradition which the family continues in her name.

Marian was a lifelong faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Following George''s death, Marian served a genealogical mission in Salt Lake City. She was also an active member in the Daughters of Utah Pioneers.

She lived at the Gardens Retirement Center for the last years of her life. She said that they treated her like a queen. Marian''s family extends their sincere gratitude to all who took care of her.

Marian is survived by her sister, Joan (Kay) Hortin; sister-in-law, Lois Watson; children, Weldon (Gean) Hill, Bob (Shelly) Hill, Susan McCollum, Ken (Tammy) Hill, Paula Jonas, and James (LeAnn) Hill; 29 grandchildren and 55 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, George; parents, Niff and Ethel Watson; two sisters, Muriel Watson and Glenna Brunner; brother, N.C. Watson; and a granddaughter, Andrea Gygi.

A Celebration of Marian''s life will be held on Monday, July 1, 2013 at 11 a.m. at Lindquist''s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. Friends may visit with family on Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Monday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the mortuary.

Interment, Ogden City Cemetery.