Our beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Cleo Thorpe Bishop, 89, passed away on November 16, 2010, following a series of strokes. She was born May 9, 1921, in Springville (now Mapleton), Utah, to Herbert Gerald Thorpe and Juliette Fullmer Thorpe, the fifth of seven children. She graduated from Springville High School in 1939. She married Frank Bishop on August 25, 1943, just before Frank was sent to Germany during World War II. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple. While Dad was overseas, Mom bought a farm at the mouth of Hobble Creek Canyon, where they lived and raised eight children.
Mom accomplished many things during her lifetime. She made her own laundry soap; she canned fruits and vegetables; she churned butter, sewed, quilted, crocheted tablecloths and knitted lovely sweaters and gloves. She grew beautiful roses, peonies and delphiniums. Mom doggedly worked to become computer proficient. She spent long hours doing extractions and genealogy work on the computer, and took great pride in having learned a “modern” skill. Mom was a fierce competitor at Scrabble and could beat her sons and daughters regularly well into her eighties.
Although our mother did not complete her college degree, she loved learning. She instilled a passion for study and a desire for education in her children and grandchildren. In order to focus on education, mom would not allow a television in our home until all of her children had graduated from high school. Mom also memorized Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson poems while doing laundry on an old wringer washing machine. She also began learning yoga, and could do head stands and shoulder stands into her seventies. She walked daily, in rain or snow, until her first stroke at 86. She hiked Timpanogos yearly, first with friends, later with her children and grandchildren. She climbed to the top of Timpanogos at age 74 and 75, and to Emerald Lake at age 77. Mom was a healthy eater; as she always told us, “When you’re green inside, you’re clean inside,” and “The whiter the bread, the sooner you’re dead.” She lived a long life, a tribute to the dedicated way she cared for her body.
Mom was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She had great faith in her Savior, Jesus Christ. Mom spoke often of answers to prayers and revelation she received from dreams. She loved temple work, and served as a temple worker. She also worked for many years in the Primary and Relief Society. Because Mom’s mother became a widow at a young age, Mom had a tender heart for single mothers and gave generously.
She is preceded in death by her beloved companion, Frank Bishop, and survived by her sister, Lela Rae Black, and eight children: Ann (John) Jacobs; Bonnie (Will) Jacobs; Avery (Akiko) Bishop; Clark (Nora) Bishop; Gerald (Kayleen) Bishop; Wally (Denise) Bishop; Barbara (Brent) Pace; Mary (Jeff) Price; as well as 32 grandchildren and 44 living great-grandchildren.
The family appreciates the loving attendance offered by the staff at Canyon Breeze Senior Living Center and the expert, gentle hospice staff. We are especially grateful for her ward family, and the many dedicated home teachers, bishops and Relief Society sisters who provided service to Mom for many years. The funeral services will be held Saturday, November 20, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel, 1965 E. Canyon Road, Springville, Utah. Family and friends may call Friday evening from 6-8 at Wheeler Mortuary, 211 E. 200 S. and at 10:00 a.m. before the funeral services at the chapel.
2010 has been a great year. We spent the last night of 2010 with friends, eating, playing games, dancing and ringing in the new year. We had a lot of fun. As we experience all of these "lasts" for us it makes me a little sad. We have made great friends here in Michigan. We have had some really good and some really bad experiences here. Nothing I would change though. It's crazy to think that next year we'll be in Ohio making new memories with hopefully some more friends. We look forward to our new adventure and the opportunity those experiences will have to bring us closer as a family. Some of our family's new years resolutions have to do with helping and supporting each other with all of the changes that lie ahead of us, so here's looking forward to 2011.
Opening presents.
We had babysitters down in the basement with the kid's and they had a little party down there as well. Olivia came up and found the kisses in a bowl and was happy.
Today was my sweet boys birthday. I can't believe he is 7. He told me today, "guess what mom, next year I'll be 8 and I'll get baptized!" Logan is a pretty mellow guy. He's easy to please and he's such a joy to have in our family. He has a thirst for knowledge and is always surprising me with what he knows and has learned. He's a little math whizz and loves to read. We just love this little boy.
