Sharon Suzanne Allred McDonald Obituary (1938 - 2019)

"Sue" Our beloved mother, Sharon Suzanne Allred McDonald (Sue) passed away peacefully surrounded by all of her children on October 2nd 2019. Born April 7th 1938 to DeMar Parkinson Allred and Bettie Ruth Jenkinson in Salt Lake City, Utah, Sue was raised in a loving household by two of the most loving parents anyone could wish for. Along with her sister Judy she spent her childhood laughing at her fathers’ jokes at the dinner table, riding horses and skiing in the Utah Mountains. Sue grew close to her cousins who she remained close with her entire life. When Sue was 14 years old in the spring of 1952, her father was transferred to Idaho Falls, Idaho for his employment. Living in Idaho was a black haired blue eyed young man named John. It was not long before they fell in love which proved a difficult situation for both their fathers. In November of 1954 Sue’s father was transferred back to Salt Lake City. An excerpt from the Journal of Sue’s father read “Sue and John McDonald have fallen in love and of course are unhappy about being separated”. Having moved back to Salt Lake City, Sue attended East High School where she graduated in 1956. John graduated from Idaho Falls High School in 1955 and had gone away to college at the University of Idaho in Moscow. Despite the distance their romance continued and on June 14th 1957 John and Sue were married in Salt Lake City, Utah, later solemnized in the Salt Lake City Temple on June 14th 1962. Together they moved to Moscow, Idaho to begin their new life. In 1959 John graduated from the University of Idaho and they moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. In 1965 John and Sue built a new home in Murray, Utah where they raised their family and stayed the remainder of their lives. It’s no exaggeration Sue’s primary focus was her family. There was nothing Sue wanted more in life than to be a mother. She exemplified that roll in every way from the beginning until the end. There are few as strong and willing to endure as much as she to realize her dream. Together she and John endured the loss of two young children and a still born yet continued to persevere to create the family she so yearned for. She eventually raised seven children. Sue was an incredible mother. At every sporting event and dance recital Sue was the first there and the last to leave. She was PTA president for many years and each teacher seemed to be a personal friend of hers. Costumes were crafted by hand. Halloween and Christmas candy was crafted by hand. Bread was crafted by hand including the grinding of the wheat in a stone grinder; usually early on a Saturday morning, much to the chagrin of anyone sleeping in the house at the time. Great care was taken to make every holiday, event and milestone as special and memorable as possible. Christmas was made to be as magical a time as any child could imagine. Every detail was meticulously addressed and in any given December some 30 plus scenes of the nativity could be found in the living room alone. Christmas trees could be found on either floor of the house. The first was for beauty flocked in blue and each ornament placed with care. The second was for fun decorated with seven children’s worth school holiday projects and surrounded by an electric train which would be fought over for rights to operate. From the words of her granddaughter, she was the Martha Stewart of her time. Great care was taken to make her home a warm and inviting place for her family and anyone who visited. Candles, music, blankets and a cozy feeling were always present. A television was never allowed in the living room, only people and conversation. We gathered there only to realize hours had passed. This was later referred to as getting sucked into the vortex. Described by her children and grandchildren as a lover of all babies, she never saw one she did not want to hold. When her children and grandchildren were present she was never content to sit across the room. She wanted them right next to her. It was not uncommon for her to be tickling two backs at a time with others ready to take their place. Blue was the theme both at holidays and every day in between. The walls of the house were painted blue, even the carpet was blue. Dresses, sweaters, blankets and even shoes and boots were blue. Sue once said while shopping “sometimes when I don’t know what I want, I just pick something blue”. As years went on it became more and more difficult to find a Christmas tree flocked in blue and much to her dismay some years concessions had to be made. Sue was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served diligently in many callings her entire life including Relief Society President. Sue first and foremost considered herself a child of God. Her love and commitment to the Savior Jesus Christ was the guiding factor in everything she did. Her dedication to her husband, children, friends and loved ones was and extension of her intense faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice. Her love for each of us was a by-product of her love for the savior and the enduring belief in an eternal family. Sue’s posterity has grown to twenty-five grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. Each of us has been touched by her gracious and tender kindness. She will be forever missed. Till we meet again. Sue is survived by her children Michelle McCutcheon (Steve), Carlsbad NM; Spencer McDonald (Jackie), South Jordan, UT; Lance McDonald, Kansas City, MO; Tara Allein (Mike), Holladay, UT; Camille Rubsamen (Dean), Murray, UT; Nathan McDonald (Kimberly), West Jordan, UT; twenty- five grandchildren; twelve great- grandchildren. Sue is preceded in death by Husband, John Henry McDonald III; Daughter, Lisa McDonald; Son, John Henry McDonald IV; Son, Sean Christian McDonald; Father, DeMar Parkinson Allred; Mother, Bettie Ruth Allred; Sister, Judith Engh. A viewing will be held Wednesday October 9th 2019 at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, 4760 S State St, Murray, UT from 6-8 P.M. Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 10th, at the Murray 1st Ward, 755 E Three Fountains Dr, Murray UT, at 11 A.M. There will be viewing immediately preceding services from 10-10:45 A.M. Interment will take place at the Murray City Cemetery immediately following the services. The family would like to thank Beehive Home of South Jordan and Brio Hospice for their loving care of our mother and grandmother in her final days.