OBITUARY: Minnie Payne Ashby; Leamington, Millard co., Utah
surname: Tenney, Payne, Johnson, Ashby, Rowan, Rasmussen, Smith

submitted by Stephen D. Robison (kinseeker @ hotmail.com)
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Obituary: The Spectrum, St. George, Utah, Saturday, 3 Jan 2003: 

Minnie Payne Ashby
1911-2003, "Still a Beauty"

     PROVO -- Minnie Payne Ashby passed quietly Friday, December 26, 2003 of
causes incident to health and old age. She was born July 14, 1911 into a
polygamous family in Dublan, Colonia Juarez, Mexico, to Edward William and
Rosalia Tenney Payne. Minnie's grandfather, Ammon Tenney was the noted Mormon
scout and first president of the Mexican Mission. Her great-grandfather was
Joel Hills Johnson, early Utah pioneer and lyricist of "High on a Mountain
Top." In 1912 they left Mexico to make their home in Tucson, Arizona and then
Hurricane, Utah and finally to Provo where Minnie was educated at the Brigham
Young training school and BY High School. She later attended Brigham Young
University, where she met her husband, George Marion Ashby, who was from
Leamington, Utah. They were married on September 3, 1934 in the Salt Lake
Temple. They had four children (Marian, John Howard, Karolyn and Ray Lavon)
who are happy she is now with her husband, who adores and cherishes her. They
have 23 grandchildren, 52 great-grandchildren and three great-great
grandchildren. She is survived by a half-sister, Edith Payne Rowan of Provo,
and two sisters-in-law, Sylvia Payne of Provo and Nina Ashby Rasmussen of Salt
Lake City and a brother-in-law, Maiben Ashby of St. George. Four brothers
preceded her in death as well as four half sister and four half brothers.

     Minnie was first and foremost a homemaker and a mother. She gave love to
all who came near her. She was a gracious hostess and wonderful cook and
attracted all kinds of people to her home for this reason. She loved to dance
with her husband, had a beautiful singing voice, and loved to play the piano.
She painted portraits of several of her children and grandchildren, and also
was known for her dramatic "readings." She taught creative dancing to younger
girls and was well known for her colorful presentations. She was a very good
business woman and was particularly successful in the area of sales.

     She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and
served in various ward and stake capacities. She and her husband served two
missions-one at the Joseph Smith Home in Palmyra, New York, and the other at
the Mormon Battalion Visitors' Center in San Diego. After retirement, Minnie
lived in St. George for more than 10 years. There she served as a chorister
for several care centers and retirement homes and served in the LDS St. George
Temple. While in St. George, her husband George passed away on December 18,
1987.

     Funeral services will be held Monday, January 5, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. in
the Walker Sanderson Funeral Home, 646 East 800 North, Orem, Utah. There will
be a viewing on Sunday evening at the Funeral Home from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and
also on Monday morning from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. prior to service. Interment
will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Springville on 400 West 1800 South. 

     To send condolences please visit www.walkerfamilymortuaries.com. 

     Originally published Saturday, January 3, 2004