Vivian Elinor Empey

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SOUTH OGDEN - Our loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Vivian Elinor Welch Empey, 90, passed away Saturday, July 9, 2011 at her home surrounded by family.

Vivian was born May 7, 1921, in Greenville, S.C., to John H. and Hattie Evelyn (Cobia) Welch. When Vivian was 3 years old her family traveled west to Salt Lake City, then to Pocatello, Idaho. She graduated from high school in Pocatello and did her post-graduate work in business and bookkeeping.

She married her childhood sweetheart, Stirl L. Empey on May 20, 1941, in The Salt Lake LDS Temple. They were married 67 years before Stirl''s passing in 2008.

Vivian and her older sister Evelyn Stewart sang together for many years and were known as the Welch Sisters. She sang soprano and tenor, and her sister sang alto.

Through the years, Vivian was a baby-sitter, waitress, sales lady, cashier and Cub Scout den mother. She worked as an education secretary for Ogden schools for 23 years and was a member of Sweet Adelines for many years. She also spent many years as a chorister. She enjoyed dancing and singing, fancy handwork, reading, traveling, and spending time with her family. She belonged to a dinner group, birthday group, and a women''s club.

Surviving her are her children, Renae (Kent) Matthews of Morgan, Stephen L. (Vicky) Empey of Kaysville, and Robert S. (Rose Marie) Empey of Pleasant View. Also surviving are her five grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

Preceding her in death are her husband and two grandchildren.

Funeral service will be on Friday, July 15, at 11a.m. at Lindquist''s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd.

Friends may visit family Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Friday from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. at the mortuary.

Interment, Lindquist''s Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Todd Shelby, IHC Hospice, and Mountain Ridge Assisted Living Center for all their loving care.