EAST CARBON CITY – Ella Dean Brown Hunter, age 88, passed away Aug. 27, 2018 in Price.
She was born Dec. 6, 1929 in Koosharem, Utah to Vernon and Rhoda Williams Brown. Ella Dean moved with her family to Dragerton when she was a teenager when her father came to work in the coal mines. Married Robert “Dale” Hunter on Dec. 14, 1947 in Sunnyside, Utah. They were blessed with five children. The family moved to Carlsbad, N.M. in 1960. While living in Carlsbad, Dale was killed in a mining accident, leaving her with four children to raise. In 1970, she moved back to Dragerton where she was living at the time of her death.
Ella Dean was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in many callings, including Relief Society President, Primary President, Gospel Doctrine teacher, and also served at the Manti Temple for many years. She was very proud of her pioneer heritage and was a longtime member of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers where she held many leadership positions.
She worked for the Carbon School District as a cook at the Ann Self School and the Castle Valley Center. Ella Dean also drove the school bus to the Castle Valley Center and was the first woman bus driver in Carbon County. She was an amazing cook, always baking something to take to someone. She loved to crochet and made many doilies over the years which she gave to family and friends, and many can be seen at the Manti Temple.
She is survived by her children, Robert (JaNell) Hunter, Green River, Wyo., Ramona (Jim) Holt, East Carbon City, Randy Hunter, Price, and Annette (Barry) Evans, Sandy, Utah; sister, Mary (Tom) Boatright, Washington, Utah; brothers, DeLoss (Barbara) Brown, Carlsbad, N.M. and Lonnie (Diane) Brown, Layton, Utah; 12 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dale; daughter, Carolyn; sisters, Dorris Verlene, LaNelda Colette and Janice Sereano; brother, Lamar; and great-grandson, Brandon.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to everyone at Community Nursing Services, especially, Larine Naylor, Melanie Christensen and Waree Patterson for your skilled and compassionate care.
Funeral service, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, 11 a.m., East Carbon LDS Ward. Family will receive friends at Mitchell Funeral Home Friday evening from 6-7 p.m. and at the church Saturday one hour prior to service. Interment, East Carbon Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home of Price where friends are always welcome daily and may share memories of Ella Dean at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net.