Mary Mortensen

Mary Harmon Faulk Mortensen was born on November 17, 1935 in Glendale, California to Irwin Woodbury Harmon and Winnie Agnes Rees Midgley. Her mother developed toxemia when she was pregnant with baby number six and nearly died. They decided they shouldn’t have any more children, but a year later, Winnie had a dream that taught her she needed one more child. Eleven months later, Mary was born. We are so grateful for Irwin and Winnie’s willingness to follow the promptings of the Spirit. She was blessed with three older siblings--Kent, Dora Ann, and Alice Rae. She loved them immensely. Three older brothers passed away before she was born-Melvin Myron, Elwood Melvin, and Jonathon Irwin.

Mary grew up in Glendale, but during her senior year of high school, her parents bought a new home and moved to San Pedro, California. She chose to remain in Glendale to finish high school living in a little cottage and visiting her parents on weekends. After High School graduation, she moved to San Pedro and attended Harbor Junior College before transferring to Long Beach State. She graduated in 1957 with a BA in Elementary Education. This began her life long love of teaching others.

Shortly after college graduation, her mother drove her on a job hunting trip and they attended Sacrament Meeting in the San Jose Third Ward. Mary felt a strong impression that this city should be her home. Shortly after that, she was hired to teach elementary school with the San Jose Unified School district. Many of the young adults in her ward were stake missionaries and she became desirous to serve a stake mission as well. This put her in a position to meet and get to know better Maynard Elliott Faulk, Junior, who was also serving a stake mission. They began dating in March of 1958 and in August 1958 he proposed in the Celestial Room of the Los Angeles temple when she received her endowment. They were married and sealed for time and all eternity on December 27, 1958 in the Los Angeles Temple. This began their eternal love story.

Maynard and Mary joyfully welcomed six children into their family. Lora Lee (Ron Sudweeks), Barbara Lynne (Dave Argyle), Daniel Brian (Sheila), Carol Renee (Dan Burgoyne), David Elliott (Laurie) and Karen Marie (Randy Fox).

Mary was a wonderful wife and mother. The family enjoyed many family traditions including delicious fruit cocktail for Thanksgiving and Christmas breakfasts, cutting down Christmas trees in the Santa Cruz mountains, and going camping with friends. Maynard and Mary consistently held family home evenings with each child taking turns planning the lesson, activity, and special dessert. One of the favorite family desserts were Mary’s wonderful chocolate chip cookies. Her children admitted later in life that they may have snuck an extra cookie or two. For some reason, Mary wasn’t terribly surprised.

In 1973, her husband Maynard learned he had cancer. The Faulk family was strengthened through this trial by turning to their Heavenly Father in mighty prayer. In February of 1974, tests showed no sign of cancer. The family rejoiced that many prayers were answered.

In March 1975, Maynard began feeling tired again and a month later, was diagnosed with leukemia. Family and friends rallied around the family as her eternal companion passed through the veil on October 21, 1975.

Shortly after Maynard passed away, she began teaching piano lessons. In January 1980, Mary attended Gavilan Jr. College before transferring to San Jose State where she took business courses. In June 1983 she began working for Community West Mortgage as a secretary. She retired as a loan underwriter.

Mary served in a wide variety of church callings including Ward organist, stake and ward Relief Society president, ward Primary president, and teaching Relief Society Young Women, Primary, and Sunday School. She also served eight years as an early morning seminary teacher. She absolutely loved the people she taught and put her whole heart in studying and preparing lessons that would be spiritually edifying. Many of her seminary students let her know that she made a positive difference in their lives.

In May of 1999, Jack Mortensen asked if he could come over and visit. His wonderful wife Ann had passed away on Christmas Day in 1998. The Mortensen and Faulk families had known each other for years. They were former neighbors and Jack had served as 1st counselor when Maynard served as Bishop. Jack asked if she ever thought about getting married again. She told him she had no desire to remarry. However, as she thought about his question, she was impressed that Jack could make her happy. As she served in the Oakland Temple the following week the impression came again that Jack could make her very happy. She accepted a dinner date later that day and they were married on October 8, 1999. Jack was a tremendous blessing not only in Mary’s life, but also for her children and grandchildren. Jack’s children became part of the family—Julie (Blair Kirk), Amy (Kraig Martin), Jill (Brian Borders) and Aaron (Kristy).

Mary and Jack enjoyed spending nearly 25 years together. In 2006 they were called to serve a full-time mission in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and were assigned to the Wheeling, West Virginia ward. They also enjoyed serving as ordinance workers for many years in the Oakland, California temple.

Jack and Mary were blessed with 36 grandchildren and 52 and counting great grandchildren.

Jack Mortensen passed away on April 6, 2024. In June 2024, Mary moved to Utah to be closer to many of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

We would like to thank the wonderful staff of Sagewood at Daybreak and Canyon Home Care and Hospice for all the kindness and love they showered on Mary the last several months of her life.

Her children also want to express our gratitude for our knowledge that families can be forever. We know we will see our parents again.

Funeral services will be held in two locations.

On Saturday, January 18, please join the family at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 4021 W Shinnerock Dr., South Jordan, Utah. The viewing will be from 9-9:45 am MST followed by the services at 10 am MST.

On Saturday, February 1 the second funeral will take place at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 150 Bernal Road in San Jose, California. The viewing will take place from 9-9:45 am PST followed by services at 10 am PST. The burial will follow at noon at Los Gatos Memorial Park. 2255 Los Gatos Almaden Rd., San Jose, California.