Mildred Crittenden Miller

June 19, 1917 ~ February 9, 2015
Mildred Crittenden was born June 19, 1917 to John Mark and Attie Mae Crittenden at Riceville, Tennessee.
When Mildred was two years of age, her dad and mother left Tennessee, taking along brother, Howard. They went by train to Montana but it was so windy there, they went on to Idaho.
Her dad worked in different sawmills for several years, both in Idaho and Oregon. They moved a lot the first few years. Her brother, Dee, was born in Idaho in 1921. Mildred always said she went to a different school every year.
At this time, her dad wanted to do some farming, and he had heard of homesteads to be had in Southern Utah. The family moved to Egnar, CO and rented a few acres for pinto beans.
The prairie dogs were so thick, they just about ruined the crop; they did not have many beans that summer.
Mildred and Dee went to Peele school that winter. The Crittenden family moved the following summer to Horsehead, UT and homesteaded. It was here that Mildred met Marion.
Mildred was about fifteen when the family returned to Tennessee. There had been an agreement between her dad and his younger brother that one of them would stay on the home place and take care of their mother. Her uncle had died at age 47, and they went back to Tennessee.
Her grandmother lived nearly two years. It was a great experience for Mildred to go to Tennessee, and she was able to go to high school, completing the tenth grade.
After her return to Utah, she and Marion were married on June 11, 1936. Carl was born in 1937 followed by twin daughters, Ione and Ilene. Carl was 16-months-old when the twins were born, which gave her very little experience in child care. Those were great years and among her fondest memories.
Mildred and Marion took time to play with their family. They especially enjoyed the many picnics to the canyons with neighbors and swimming in Bluff, UT.
By the time the three kids were in school, Mildred felt lonely every time the kids left for school.
In 1949, Mildred had another son, Glenn. The highlight of 2-year-old Glenn’s day was when Carl, Ione and Ilene would come home from school. He loved to meet the school bus. They liked to play and just be together before it was time to do chores.
Mildred’s thoughts were, “Things can’t be better than this: having two sons and two daughters.”
During 1949 and 1950, Eastland came into existence to provide a better school system for the community. Electricity had been brought to the area by the REA. The Lockerby one-room schoolhouse was moved to Eastland, where grades one through six were taught.
During the late 1950’s and into the 1970’s, Mildred enjoyed snow skiing on Blue Mountain and other places. The winters were great to have a place to ski, and she took advantage of going.
Mildred and Marion went to the mountain every time the ski lift was open. They also went to some of the larger ski areas in Utah and Colorado, to the Tetons in Montana and Sun Valley in Idaho.
In 1963, Lake Powell started filling and several trips were made down the Colorado River. After the lake filled, they would go several times every summer to explore the canyons, water ski and play in the water.
In the 1970’s, Mildred and Marion decided snowmobiling looked like it would be a fun and interesting winter sport. They used to get together with neighbors and friends to take lunches, and spend most of the day playing on the Blue Mountain.
These times were highlights in their lives and really enjoyed. Marion and Carl went to Yellowstone one winter for a few days and rode for miles through the park on their snowmobiles. They had a great time.
After Marion passed away in 2008, Mildred moved to Farmington, NM. She lived there with her daughter, Ilene, until her recent passing. She was the survivor of three broken hips.
Mildred’s final resting place will be at Eastland in Mountain View Cemetery.
She is preceded in death by husband, Marion; daughter, Ione Miller Slavin; and grandson, Blane Slavin.
She is survived by her sons, Carl (Sue), Glenn (Pattie), Ilene (Dick) and a multitude of nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.
“It is very important for us to know what we believe. I like to read God’s Word for it is the source of truth. All scripture is great to live by. This particular scripture is really a comforting one.
“‘Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in hearts and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’ –Matthew 11:28.”