Martha Hoopes, 89, passes away at home

DOWNEY - Martha Dennis Hoopes, a quilter, seamstress and member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died at her home in Downey on July 4. She was 89.Hoopes was born Feb. 14, 1920 in Provo, Utah to John Thomas and Zina Christeen Harris Furner Dennis. She was born 25 years to the day after her oldest sister, Merrilla. She helped her mother run a boarding house after the death of her father at age 9. She graduated from high school and seminary in Provo. She met Kenneth A. Hoopes in 1938 while he was attending BYU, and they were married Sept. 11, 1940 in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple. Together they had four children. The family moved to Downey in 1953. Hoopes was the great niece of the Prophet Joseph Smith - founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - through the lineage of his brother, Hyrum Smith, that was martyred with his prophet brother in the Carthage Jail in 1844 by an angry mob. Hoopes served in many capacities in the church's auxiliary, including the Primary and Relief Societies and in Sunday school. She also sang in many church choirs and performed in stage plays. She is survived by her daughters, Carole (Carl) D'Amico and Mary (Randall) Christine Redding; son, Kenneth (Isabel) James; 10 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter. She was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Kenneth Hoopes, on June 6; son, Dennis Lyle Hoopes; and one grandchild, Carl David Borup. She was all predeceased by all eight of her siblings: Merrilla Worthington, Zina May Bird, Vera Furner, Pearl Irene Forsey, Sarah Rachel Clark, Ann Adalaide Jaussi, John Doran Dennis and William Harris Dennis. A viewing will take place today from 9:30-10:45 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 12425 Orizaba Ave., in Downey. Funeral services will immediately follow. Interment will take place at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier. Downey Zrelak Family Mortuary is handling the services.

********** Published: July 10, 2009 - Volume 8 - Issue 12