Helen Hanes Murtha

Helen Hanes Murtha

Loving Wife, Mom, Grandma, Great-Grandma, Sister, and Friend

April 8, 1938 - November 8, 2020

Helen Hanes Murtha was a great woman who loved life and always made time to enjoy the company of the people around her. 

She was born and raised in Salt Lake City and lived there all her life, where she was raised in a home with her parents and grandparents.  She loved her family and raised five children with her husband, David Joseph Murtha. She met David at a dance, and they continued dancing together throughout their lives. 

She attended beauty school and enjoyed her work as a beautician working in various salons and continuing to share her skills from home with family and friends.  She worked hard as an employee for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for many years. Helen was a longtime member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers-Desert Rose Camp.  She was also involved in the PTA and held many church callings; she especially loved working in the Primary.  She was a talented seamstress and artist and enjoyed doing these things for others as well. She would show up with a bag full of supplies and loved doing craft projects with her grandchildren. She was a breast cancer survivor.   

Helen returned to her heavenly home on a Sunday morning to be reunited with David; a grandson Jamison Murtha Cottam; as well as her parents Gordon McKelly Hanes and Ruth Nichols.

She is survived by her five children: Marie Cottam (Wayne), Lynn Hanes Murtha,  Melissa Clark (Jeff), Laureen Menzl (Adrian), KelliAnn Ablla (Opiew); thirteen grandchildren: Malynne Cottam, Brianna Cottam, Chandler Cottam (Karalyn), Jayna Cottam Parkllan (Nolan) and great-granddaughter Adelaide, Jordan Clark, Courtney Clark, Evan Clark, Taylor Clark, Malakai Ablla, Jiyromey Ablla, Isaiah Ablla, Ariet Ablla and Isaac Ablla; and her beloved sister Marilyn Larsen.

She will be greatly missed.

The family expresses special thanks to our sister, KelliAnn, for her loving care.

Funeral services will be held Friday, November 13, 2020, 12:00 noon at McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 South Redwood Road, where a viewing will precede services from 11:00-11:45 a.m. Interment, Utah Veterans Memorial Park.

For those wanting to observe the funeral services on line please go to https://atsu.zoom.us/j/93028633101?pwd=SVRwSCtOdlUzUkVlb0txb2FReGRJdz09

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