Obituary: Myrtle Saxton

1908 ~ 2003

Myrtle Viola Otte Saxton, born July 26, 1908, passed through the veil into the loving arms of her Savior, Jesus Christ, on Sunday, November 30, 2003, at 9:26 p.m.

Surrounded by family members, her passing was peaceful as she was reunited with her husband, Joseph Herman Saxton, who had been sent ahead 38 years ago. They are rejoicing in their reunion and have a lot of "catching up" to do.

Myrtle was born in Montpelier, Idaho, the daughter of Hans Frederick Otte and Alma Marie Augusta Bjorkman Otte. Myrtle lived in Idaho, Utah and Wyoming during her growing-up years. The day after she graduated from Logan High School, at age 16, her family moved to Evanston, Wyoming, where she later met Joseph Herman Saxton and fell in love "at first sight." They were married in the Logan Temple on October 18, 1928. After living in Ogden for a short time, they moved to Salt Lake City, where she has lived for more than 74 years. Myrtle and Herm were blessed with nine children. Myrtle was widowed in 1965, and after the death of her husband she returned to college to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a Registered Nurse, which she accomplished at age 60. During her schooling and thereafter, she supported herself, maintained her own home, raised her two youngest children, and gave countless hours of church and other service. She worked at the LDS Hospital caring for new mothers for 13 years until, at near age 74, hospital policy dictated her retirement. She would have preferred continuing in this labor of love.

She served regularly in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, holding many responsible positions, including service in Primary, Boy Scouts, Young Women, Relief Society, Name Extraction, Genealogy, and Choir.

An accomplished poet, Myrtle published a book entitled "Family & Friends, Poems to You from Me." She was always learning something new. She studied piano as an adult, worked at learning Spanish and had a passion for crossword and picture puzzles. She had a great love for music and singing in the ward choir. She loved handwork - quilting, crocheting, and tatting. She loved to teach tatting to anyone who had the patience and time to learn.