Gloria Deane Iverson Mechling

Gloria Deane Iverson Mechling, was born on October 27, 1928, on the kitchen table of the family home in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Josephine Leonora Hansen Iverson and Emanuel Nicoli Iverson. She was a blonde, blue-eyed girl born to Norwegian immigrants, and she remained blonde her entire life. Gloria left mortality on May 7, 2021, due to causes incident to age, in Murray, Utah.

The Iverson family home stood on Salt Lake County property that had been part of the Brigham Young Forest Farm. The Iverson siblings were Hope (Simar), Grace (Holdaway), LeGrand, Reed, Beverly (Bush), and Joyce (Bussio). In her personal history, Gloria wrote of the devotion of her parents to family and of the siblings towards each other and parents. To illustrate: Reed bought roller skates for Gloria; Grace tailored a winter coat to fit Gloria; Hope bought Gloria's wedding dress and trousseau items. And the list could continue.

Gloria was an excellent student and graduated from South High School at the age of sixteen. She and the Iverson siblings all worked part-time after school to help their parents. Following high school graduation Gloria was hired by S.H. Kress, a large variety store in downtown Salt Lake City. She worked at the jewelry counter for a week but was then promoted to assistant cashier and, finally, head bookkeeper. Those responsibilities were a credit to a bright and motivated employee who was very adept with figures. Gloria worked at Kress until shortly after her marriage.

Following WWII , soldier/railroader Vern L. Mechling returned home from the European Theater, along with hundreds of thousands of The Greatest Generation, that name made famous by the Tom Brokaw book. Vern and Gloria met while roller-skating one evening and had a whirlwind courtship. Six weeks later they were married, on July 20, 1946. Gloria was still 17 years old, so her parents had to sign for the marriage license.

In the Post-War era, there were scarcities of vehicles and appliances. In their early marriage they had no car and no washing machine. With the arrival of their first baby, Gloria was still doing laundry, including diapers, on a washboard!

Five children were welcomed with love to the Mechling family: Julie (husband Jerry Sagendorf), Pocatello, Idaho; Arlene (husband deceased, Keith Talbot), Magna, Utah; Joanne (husband Gregg Sainsbury), West Jordan, Utah; Dan (Shannon), Murray, Utah; and Gary (Peggy), Clinton, Utah.

18 grandchildren blessed Vern and Gloria's lives, also 43 great grandchildren.

Vern and Gloria moved to their Saunders Street home in 1955 and resided there for the rest of their married lives. They witnessed the small City of Murray grow from a country environment to a business and professional hub of the Salt Lake Valley.

Gloria was an involved mother, serving as secretary of the PTA, room mother many times over, and helping Vern when he coached Little League baseball. The Mechling and Iverson families were music lovers, so the Mechling children all had music lessons. Dan and Gary played silver trumpets. The girls enjoyed piano lessons under the loving guidance of Beaulah Paxman, a Saunders Street neighbor. The old Iverson upright player piano served the family well!

Vern and Gloria loved to travel. They visited all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, and the Panama Canal Zone. With friends they flew to Scandinavia and cruised to the individual countries to be inspired by the land of the Iverson ancestors.

One subject cannot be omitted, and that is the devotion of Gloria and Vern to the Utah Jazz!

Gloria was first and foremost a devoted wife and mother. Her children will tell you on good authority, from their experience, that she was the best mother on the planet! To Vern, his wife was his “Glory,” the one to whom he was sealed for time and eternity in 2006. Gloria was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She had faith in and devotion to Jesus Christ. She taught her children, in her words, to “Say your prayers and brush your teeth!”

A viewing for family and friends will be held on Tuesday, May 11, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, 4760 S. State, Murray. Graveside services will be conducted by Bishop Tyler Jessop, of Hillcrest Ward, at 2:30 p.m. at Wasatch Lawn Cemetery, 3401 S. Highland Drive, Salt Lake City. Although services will be brief, please feel free to bring a lawn chair, if desired.