Thursday, April 25, 2013

Kirkhams Touch the World

We learn of the loss of Elizabeth Kirkham Ryser in Salt Lake City. I have taken this account from the Deseret News obituary

She is the daughter of Ebenezer John Kirkham and Mary Ethel Wright Kirkham. She married James J. Ryser Jr. on September 4, 1947 in the Salt Lake Temple. They had almost 65 years together. She is survived by her four children, Randall James Ryser (Kathryn), Robyn Ryser Nicholas (Peter), David Kirkham Ryser (Antoinette), Rebecca Ryser Jolley (Kevin), and 16 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and her sister, Marie Thompson (Robert). She was preceded in death by her siblings, Homer Kirkham (Millie) and Barbara Jolley (Arben). 
Elizabeth was a remarkable wife, mother, grandma, counselor and educator who valued service and lifelong learning. After attending BYU for one year beginning at age 16, she attended the University of Utah. She worked as a social worker for the Red Cross duringWorld War II. She subsequently attended graduate school at Tulane University where she met her husband Jim. Elizabeth completed her Masters in Social Work degree at the University of Utah. She worked at Relief Society Social Services, Primary Children's Hospital, Utah Family Court, and was a marriage and family therapist in private practice for 15 years. She served as President of the Utah Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.

Two of our number have received assignments from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to serve as Mission Presidents. Dale B Kirkham and his wife Jill Hoggan Kirkham will begin serving the Cancun Mexico Mission in July.

Roger L Kirkham and his wife Judy Ann Gowans will also leave in July for the Liberia Monrovia Mission.