Emma Lou Pehrson Kirkham

July 17, 1933 - March 6, 2014

Emma Lou Pehrson Kirkham, age 80, returned home on March 6th, 2014. She was surrounded by her loving family and they stood vigil over her with great tenderness as the angels gently lifted her spirit into the heavenly hands of her Savior. Emma was born on July 17, 1933, to her goodly parents, Sydney Pehrson and Sarah Delvora Gurney Pehrson. She was blessed with great beauty, even as a child, and she loved and was loved by everyone she ever met. She grew up on a farm/ranch in Vernon, Ut. whereshe had a wonderful childhood with lots of fun and hard work on the family potato farm. Her mother taught her how to cook and she excelled above and beyond with this talent for the remainder of her life. She attended Vernon elementary, and Tooele High, and graduated from Tintic High School in Eureka, Ut. where she was a Senior class officer. Emma was very well liked by all for her friendly and outgoing personality. She met her future husband, Doug Kirkham and they married on Aug. 28, 1957 in the Salt Lake Temple. They lived in Salt Lake City for a short time, and then moved to Farmington, Utah, where they raised their six children. Being a mother was central in Emma's life and she was a constant example of Christ, which was especially evident in the nurturing of her family. Life is about choices, and Emma humbly made the right choices, choosing to live each day with joy and unconditional love. If you met Emma, then you were blessed to feel the Saviors love. She never said an unkind word and loved others the way the Savior did, unconditionally, and without hesitation. She chose to have six children and they were born to a mother who cherished them and their differences. She was a constant example of love and guidance, and each child felt that they were secretly their mother's favorite. Her grandchildren were also blessed with her never ending love and she constantly kissed and hugged them at every opportunity. Emma was an exceptional cook and baker, and she was known far and wide for her amazing pies, cakes, cookies, and cinnamon rolls, even opening her own pie ship in Farmington during the early 1980's. She also worked at the Lion House restaurant in Salt Lake City, and the Heidelberg restaurant in Farmington, where she cooked and prepared wonderful food. There was a constant stream of amazing meals and deserts that came from her home and went to anyone in need. She was incredibly charitable, and her children watched and learned from their mother. Emma was a woman of great faith. She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and happily chose to spend her days in constant service to others. She magnified every calling, serving as Relief Society President, temple worker, and a myriad of other auxiliary positions. She had an exceptional testimony of her Savior, Jesus Christ and found strength in her love of him. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her half brothers Bryant and John Pehrson , her half sister Elaine Bitner and her sister Lois Gattung. She is survived by her husband, Douglas Kirkham Sr., her siblings, Jacqueline Pehrson, Clayton and (Erla) Pehrson, Eric and (Darlene) Pehrson, Sydney and ( Tiiu) Pehrson, Linda and (Jim) Ekker, and Vicki Jo and (John )Smekens, and her children, Julie and (Rick) Nielson, Douglas and (Laurel) Kirkham, Richard and (Tina) Kirkham, Scott Kirkham and (Wesley Beard), Steven Kirkham, Curtis and (Carol) Kirkham, 20 grandchildren and 3 and ½ great grandchildren. Friends and family may pay their respects at Farmington Compton Bench Chapel, 900 N. 300 W., Compton Road, Farmington, Ut., either Wednesday, March 12, 2014, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m ,or Thursday, March 13th at 10:00 a.m.. followed by services beginning at 11:00 am. Interment, Farmington City Cemetery. Mother, we will miss you more than we can ever say, but we are comforted in the knowledge that we will be together again, and we will honor your legacy by being joyful in our lives and serving others with unconditional love.