Melva Cleone Hortin

“I’ll go to the hospital if you promise I get to come home.” was Mom’s request on Thursday.  At the hospital in Park City, Utah, on the evening of Friday May 10, 2024, Cleone Richins Hortin was able to return home.  In her new home we can’t call her on the phone, stop by for a homemade cookie, chug an ice-cold Coke, or grab a handful of Swedish Fish from the jar.  But we will always be connected through love and that will feel like home.

Melva Cleone was born on May 19^, 1938, in Henefer, Utah to Dale Wilmer and Melva Foster Richins.  She was the second of five children.  Her older sister Marium preceded her in death, younger siblings Dalene, Alvin and Margie were all able to make the trip to the hospital to say goodbye and I love you one more time before Cleone passed.  

Cleone attended school in Coalville, Utah.  After graduation from North Summit High School, Cleone left the quiet of Henefer and moved to Salt Lake City.  She enjoyed living at the Beehive Home and using her organizational skills working at Freed Finance.  

During a weekend home, Cleone attended the Fisherman’s Dance in Coalville and met an “older” gentleman, John Hortin.  He was ten years her senior, but after a short romance, they were married November 20, 1959, in the Salt Lake Temple.  After their marriage, they settled in Wanship and began a family.

With John away for work, Cleone was at home with their four children, Brenda, Russell, Lyle and Shawn.  Family was always a priority for John and Cleone.  There were many happy memories growing up in a small town.  The holidays were always filled with homemade treats and gifts wrapped in white butcher paper.

When their youngest Shawn started kindergarten, Cleone went to work in the Assessors Office for Summit County where she worked until her retirement.  Her ability to organize, plan and schedule were remarkable.  Even when working full-time, her home was always immaculate, home cooked meals were the routine, and a load of wash could still be found hanging on the line.  Friday morning at 7 am she was having Georgia do her hair. 

After retirement, work was replaced with Monday Morning Ladies Bowling, tending grandchildren and finally great-grandchildren.  She never missed a birthday or wedding anniversary, and before digital clocks you could count on a call to remind you to change your clocks every fall and spring.

John and Cleone made a great team.  They placed their priorities on family and enjoyed life-long friendships.  When John passed in 2023, Cleone felt his loss daily.   She is now with him again and we can almost hear him say “Come on Cleone, let’s go home.”

You leave behind a family who will be forever grateful for the examples you set.  We your family, Brenda, Russ (Sue), Lyle (Christa), Shawn (RaeShel), your grandchildren and great-grandchildren will work to carry on the lessons we have been taught by working hard, always saying Love you, serving others and taking good care of each other.  We’ll try and get together one and a while, but can’t guarantee that we’ll eat at 1 o’clock!