Mom died of natural causes in the home of her youngest son, Corey at the age of 95 on September 7, 2023. A longtime resident of Dragerton and then East Carbon. She was born May 16, 1929 in Joplin, Missouri to Chalmers and Lora Mae Hicks. When she was four her family moved to El Monte California. During the depression, she helped the family by putting on her special shoes and killing and dressing chickens for the orders her father would get. She picked walnuts from their trees, and developed a dislike for carrots (She would be sent weekly to the store for a 10 lb. bag for 10 cents; a lot of carrots).
She met and married, Edgar J. Ewan on June 12, 1948. They settled in Glendora, CA and raised three boys, Greg, Jeff, and Corey there. When dad retired from the LA County Fire Department in 1973, they moved to Utah. Their house cost $6,500.00 and they quickly made it a home.
Mom worked a variety of jobs, first at Bullocks Department Store, then in her brother’s printing business. In Utah, she worked for Thayn Meats and then spent the bulk of her working years in the kitchen at Peterson Elementary School where she made several friends among the students and her fellow cooks. She would often get in trouble for giving the students seconds and extra milk when they asked. She touched many lives at Peterson Elementary and there are people today who remember her fondly.
In her spare time, she painted, knitted sweaters and house slippers, and cross stitched. Many of these became gifts to her children and grandchildren. She went fishing with dad to Schofield, Lake Powell, and the Green River. She was a brilliant cook having learned the great recipes of her mother and grandma Ollie. Her specialties were her spaghetti sauce, tacos, and pepper steak. She canned tomatoes, apricots, peaches, and apples. I will miss her apple butter. She had a love of beautiful things and collected and shared beauty with those she loved. She had a great sense of humor and a wonderful; full laugh. She was a fierce defender of her children and grandchildren (sometimes against their parents). Almost everyone who met her and who were fortunate enough to get to know her loved her immediately. She will be greatly missed.
I have no doubt that the reunion on the other side of the veil was large and filled with tears of joy, while we are filled with tears of sorrow here for the time we will be separated from her. Jared as he was learning to talk called her, Meme, and it stuck. Mom never missed a birthday wish or card, she would send stickers in the cards for the grandkids to play with. She always sent thank you cards for those who sent kind thoughts and gifts. She made every Christmas and Easter magical, with her beautiful tree with chickens clucking, “Jingle Bells,” and her homemade pies. Her pumpkin pie and rolly pollys were unmatched. She was the greatest mom, Meme, and grammy we could have ever been blessed with.
She leaves behind son’s, Gregory Michael Ewan of Las Vegas, Nevada and Corey Alan and Tamara Ewan of Price, Utah; grandchildren, Jake and Caroline Ewan, Boise, Idaho, Jessica Bonny Ewan, Covina, CA, J.J. Ewan and Robert Collins, Bayfield, CO, Jared and Tawny Ewan, Price, Utah, Mitchell and Heather Ewan, Eagle Mountain, Utah, Amanda and Erick Vanderstel, Brigham City, Utah, Brianne and Russell Nelson, Provo, Utah, Giséle Ewan, Price, Utah, and Stephen Carl, Buena Vista, VA; sister-in-law, Kathleen Hicks, Oak Harbor, WA; and 15 great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Edgar J. Ewan; her son, Jeffrey Kim Ewan; parents, Chalmers and Lora Mae Hicks; her brother, Chadd; grandchildren, Jennifer Kim Ewan and Nichéle Claudine Ewan; and many aunts, uncles, and very dear friends who were more often like members of the family.
A special thank you to Michele, Brody, Dolly, Brady, and Neil from Elevate Home Health and Hospice. They went above and beyond; we are so grateful for the care they provided to mom and the family as well. Finally, a thank you to Rusty Truman DVM for always finding time to take care of Peaches for mom, Stan and Brenda Richardson and all her other friends and neighbors too numerous to mention in East Carbon, Joan Felice at Olivetos for her kindnesses over the years and the ornaments and gifts mom sent to friends.
Maman, tu resteras bien en notre Coeur. Nous t’aimerons á tous jamais. Jusqu’ á ce que nous nous revoyions.
Per mom’s wishes; she was cremated. Services will be held at a later date. Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home of Price and Huntington where friends are always welcome daily and may share memories of Mary online at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net