Obituary: Licon, Gloria Cook
Age 92
She had just turned 92.
She will be deeply missed here on earth.
She was afflicted by Alzheimer’s disease, and although her mind was affected by this condition, her gentleness and capacity to love remained intact.
Gloria was born in Taylor, Idaho, on January 8, 1923, to Stephen Joshua and Clara (Doty) Cook.
She grew up in Taylor, ID and graduated from Shelly High School.
She married Vern Ellis in 1940.
During this marriage, she had 4 children.
After 19 years, Gloria and Vern divorced.
In 1962, she met Michael Daniel Licon at an LDS Church dance for single parents.
Michael was a widower, and the father of four children.
Michael and Gloria were married in the Salt Lake temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon) on April 16, 1962.
During their life together they lived in California and Utah, and made their final move to Spokane Valley, WA in 1992.
Their large combined family grew even larger with the births of Tony and Maria.
Mike and Gloria raised two grandchildren (Candy and Johnny) as their own children.
Additionally, they welcomed three foster sons for a few years.
She was a near-perfect mother, rearing her children with firmness and discipline, which was always done in a loving and respectful manner.
Her love and kindness were so great, that every child and grandchild in this family believed themselves to be her personal favorite.
Her greatest joys were in her relationships with the many people she loved, and she was constantly engaged in caring for someone else, impressing upon her children the importance of serving others.
She loved serving in the LDS Church, in many capacities, including Relief Society President and Primary President.
Her favorite church service, however, was leading the congregational singing and teaching children to sing.
So many beautiful adjectives could be used to describe her wonderful soul, but her strongest characteristic was LOVE.
Gloria loved everyone she encountered; people felt that love, and in turn, they loved her back.
She taught that the remedy for being melancholy was to find a way to uplift another person.
Gloria loved baking fabulous apple pies, and giving them as gifts and as a symbol of her love.
Gloria was multi-talented and highly competent.
She sang, played the piano, made quilts and clothing, knew how to remodel a house, and was a great cook and gardener.
Gloria was superbly intelligent, and people called her a “walking encyclopedia.”
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband (Michael Licon) and her many siblings, with the exception of her sister, Delila Olsen.
She was also predeceased by her children Steven, Andrea, and Brent Ellis.
Gloria is survived by her children Deanna (Ben) Setter, Tim (Suzanne) Ellis, Vera (Don) Meadows, Gloria (Larry) Hughes, Daniel (Suzie) Licon, Michael James Licon, Tony (Louise) Licon, Maria (David) Coppersmith-Buschman, Candace (Nick Edman) Larsen, and Jonathan Ellis.
She is also survived by dozens of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and three great-great- granddaughters.
The funeral service will be held on Friday, January 23, at 1 pm at the LDS Church located at 14111 East 16th Ave., Veradale, WA.
There will be a viewing at 12 noon at the church, just prior to the funeral service.
Interment will be at the Pines Cemetery, 1402 S. Pines, Spokane Valley, WA.
The family wishes to thank the staff members at Pine Ridge Alzheimer’s Special Care Center, for the loving, attentive care that they gave.
Rather than send flowers, please take an opportunity to do something kind for another person, and “pay it forward” in honor of Gloria.
“In as much as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
— Matthew 25:40.
Well done, Gloria.
We’ll see you on the other side.