Marjean Beattie Emerson

Marjean Beattie Maughan Emerson, 91, passed away in Flower Mound, Texas, on Saturday, June 29, 2019. Marjean, the oldest of three girls, was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Parley Baxter and Janet Elizabeth Maughan on January 26, 1928. She, her parents, and her two sisters—June Faye ("Pat") Fountain and Margaret Elizabeth ("Peggy") Kirchhof—moved to Santa Maria, California, when Marjean was a senior in high school. She graduated from Santa Maria High School, and, while attending Santa Maria Junior College, met and married Arthur Gordon Emerson. She and Gordon were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on November 20, 1950, and they were happily married for 62 years, until Gordon passed away April 15, 2012.
Gordon and Marjean had six children, four girls and two boys—Janet, Cecily, Becky, Steve, Kevin and Sherri. They moved their family from California to Las Vegas in 1968, where they lived in the same home until moving to Mesa, Arizona, in 2011. After Gordon's passing in 2012, Marjean moved to Texas.
Marjean has been called a "tiny woman who had the biggest heart," a true example of unselfish service and love for her friends, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She served in a number of Church callings, including as Relief Society President and as a Temple Ordinance worker in the Las Vegas Temple. She loved being part of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, Family Home Evening Group and the "Lunch Bunch," she participated with for a number of years. A dedicated homemaker, she was an excellent cook and kept a tidy home, with fun decorations and miniatures lining the shelves and where her "excited, welcome and hugs, the yummy food she always prepared for us and the way she had beds made up for us," made her home a favorite place to be. She and Papa also took countless road trips, traveling for baptisms, graduations, baby blessings, and other important events. "She had the ability to make every trinket, meal, get together, story and gift stand out as something special and memorable. I love the way she made me and everyone else feel welcomed and loved." Using Marjean's familiar words, we would like to say to her in return: "We love you so," and "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
Funeral services will be held in Las Vegas at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 221 S. Lorenzi St., on Saturday, July 6, with a viewing from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. and the funeral at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
Marjean is predeceased by her husband; her sister, June Faye Fountain; son, Steven Mark Emerson; and a great-grandson, Trevor Luke Elam. She is survived by her sister, Margaret Elizabeth Kirchhof; her children, Janet Combs (Don); Cecily Condie (Rex); Becky Lacouture (Terry, deceased); Peter Kevin Emerson (Kathy); and Sherri Matyas (Tom); daughter-in-law, Debbie Emerson; 21 grandchildren and 47 great-grandchildren.
Flowers may be sent to the church address or donations may be made in Marjean's honor to Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy for research and to help two of her great-grandsons who have Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. To donate, go to http://bit.ly/BadenandPorterCombs

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