Josie Arlene Telford

Josie Hammon Telford, 82, passed away Thursday, June 30, 2016 at her home in Firth with her husband by her side and surrounded by her family.

Josie was born July 11, 1933 in Layton, Utah, to Marion B. Hammon and Sarah Rhea Thurgood.

She grew up on what she called the Sandridge. Her life revolved around her three brothers, her sister, and many cousins.

There was a lot of time for work, play and thinking. As a teenager she could be found working on family farms and helping many families care for their children. She attended Davis High School, in Kaysville, Utah, and later earned her GED

.

It was at Davis High that she met her high school sweetheart Don Richard Telford and they were married on December 15, 1950 in the Salt Lake Temple by Harold B. Lee.

Josie was an excellent homemaker, patient mother and devoted wife.

She made friends everywhere she went.

Her intelligence, sweet spirit, ability to listen, quick smile, infectious laughter and gift to love unconditionally blessed all who knew her.

After raising four sons and one daughter she went on to work for the Bonneville County Assessor as a clerk.

Her supervisor encouraged her to attend appraisal school, which she did and it wasn’t long before she became a certified appraiser.

Later she became supervisor of the Motor Vehicle Department. Throughout Josie’s life of family and work, at night she could always be found proofreading boxes and boxes of transcripts for her favorite boss at Telford Court Reporting.

Her attention to detail and desire to get things perfect contributed to Dick’s success in his freelance business.

They were quite the team.

Josie’s true passion in life was her family.

She could be found at every game, recital or program that her children were involved in, which continued as the grandchildren and great grandchildren came along.

She also loved the outdoors, camping, cooking, reading, sewing, gardening, and going on rides with her sweetheart. She had a knack for making every grandchild feel like they were her favorite as she made special time for them on their birthdays.

She held numerous church callings throughout her life, serving as Relief Society President, Young Women President and Stake Young Women’s President.

She was a dedicated Visiting Teacher.

Josie is survived by her husband Don Richard Telford of Firth; four sons and a daughter;

Rick (Patty) Telford of Idaho Falls, Dave (Cindy) Telford of Firth, Steve (Valerie) Telford of Nampa, Wayne (Cindy) Telford of Shelley, and Vicky Halverson of Redmond, Washington; 18 Grandchildren and 26 Great Grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her 3 brothers Howard, Kenneth and Junior, her sister Lola and a Son-in-law Scott Halverson.

The family would like to express our love and appreciation to the Hands of Hope Hospice staff who lovingly cared for our mother, as well as helped our father through this difficult time.

We would also like to express our deepest gratitude to Shirley Bame and Cindy Lee Telford for their expertise and devotion to mom.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 8, 2016 at the Firth Ward Chapel (744 North 600 East). The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 6:00 till 7:30 P.M. at Nalder Funeral Home (110 West Oak) and Friday morning from 9:30 till 10:40 a.m. at the church. Burial will be in the Firth Cemetery.