Mary Violet DeMott Millward

Mary Violet DeMott Millward, age 94, passed away Monday morning, Feb. 19, 2007, at her daughter's home in Kuna, Idaho. Mary was born May 14, 1912, in Burton, Idaho, to Orsen Bergen DeMott and Eliza Newell Rowberry DeMott.

Mary was an identical twin to Edith Jensen. These two sisters spent many interesting and happy days in their early years on the Wood's Livestock Ranch near Hamer, Idaho. Their father was the ranch foreman and their mother tended a large garden and cooked meals for the cowboys.

Mary began high school at Madison High in Rexburg, Idaho. As part of the freshman class officers, she was the reporter. She completed her high school education graduating from Toole High School in Toole, Utah, in 1930. It was in Utah that she met her future husband, James Gwynne Millward. Mary studied to be a nurse and finished nurses school in Idaho Falls, Idaho, at the Latter-day Saint Hospital. In 1934, she married James in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple. They were married for 61 years.

They began their married life in a rather unconventional way. A few weeks after their marriage, J.G. left to serve a mission in the northwestern states. While he dedicated two years to this missionary service, Mary worked as a nurse in Libby, Mont. She recalls the many loggers that came to the hospital with injuries. It was in Montana that she purchased their first new car for $500.

Upon being reunited, Mary and J.G. resumed their married life in Idaho Falls, Idaho, where two sons were born, Joseph DeMott Millward and James Bergen Millward. They then moved to Parker, Idaho, where they established a grocery store. The store was originally located in an old log structure that was kept warm by a pot-bellied stove. J.G. was industrious and built a new cinderblock building that housed the store and meat lockers on the ground level with the family quarters located on the second level. In Parker, two more children joined the family, Edith Ann Millward and Anthony Curtis Millward.

In 1953, Mary and J.G. decided to move to the Columbia Basin of Washington State. A new irrigation project was bringing water to the arid land and opportunity awaited them. Again Mary worked as a nurse in the Moses Lake hospital until J.G. opened a little grocery store. From the opening of the first Millward's Market through their expansions into a meat processing facility, until their retirement in 1976, Mary worked alongside J.G. Mary was the best stocker, checker, meat wrapper, order taker and companion that J.G. could have had. She was the ultimate partner.

During those busy years of raising their four children, Mary was active in her church. She was Relief Society president, Blazer Scout leader and church organist. She also taught piano lessons for many years. She was well known and respected in the community of Warden, where she volunteered her time to organize the Red Cross blood drives.

She loved to garden and boasted a "weed free" garden. Canning the bounties of her garden and available fruit was a labor of love for her. The bottles of peaches, pears, pickles and juices were promptly given away to her children and friends. Quilting was another way that Mary produced beautiful and useful covers for each of her children, grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. Many weddings and baby births were celebrated by her presenting one of her handmade quilts.

In 1996, Mary moved to Boise to live with her daughter. A stroke had made her unable to live alone. She became an integral part of Ann's family and was fondly called Grama by all that entered the home. She continued to bless the lives of her children with her unselfish, giving character.

Mary leaves a legacy of service, faith, music, laughter, unselfishness and love. The family would like to thank Life's Doors Hospice and the many friends that brought food during her short illness.

Mary was preceded in death by her youngest son, Anthony Curtis Millward; husband, J.G. Millward; brothers, Jospeh DeMott and Clyde DeMott; and sisters Amila Walters and Lyda Hillman. Mary is survived by her sister Edith Jensen (Rexburg, Idaho), sons, Joseph D. Millward (Phoenix, Ariz.), James B. Millward (Boise,Idaho) and daughter Edith Ann Millward McGregor (Kuna, Idaho).

Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 21, at the Kuna Second Ward LDS Chapel, 224 E. Avalon Street, Kuna, Idaho. Viewing will be held from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. prior to the services. A graveside service will be held Feb. 22, at 11 a.m. in the Warden Cemetery, in Warden. Services are under the direction of Zeyer Funeral Chapel, Nampa, Idaho.