Dorothy Louise Allinson

On February 1, 2023, Dorothy Louise Allinson passed away at the age of 91, surrounded by her children at the Seasons of Santaquin Assisted Living Center.  She was born June 9, 1931 in Eureka, Utah, the first of three children to Herman and Althea Ekker.  She married Ned C. Allinson on December 31, 1948 in Eureka, Utah (sealed in the Oquirrh Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on June 18, 2015).

Dorothy lived with her parents on the Ekker homestead (Christensens) at the base of the Sheeprock Mountains in Juab County. She was homeschooled by her mother and grew up helping her parents on their ranch, frequently visiting uncles, aunts, and cousins on their homesteads scattered among the sagebrush and cedars at the mouths of the various canyons of the Sheeprocks.  When she was in third grade, she moved into Eureka with her mother and little sister so she could further her education in the schools.  Her dad continued to ranch, bought his father’s homestead, and built a cabin in Hard to Beat Canyon.  Dorothy spent her youth between Eureka and the ranch.

Dorothy and Ned lived in Eureka for their entire marriage, except for a short time in Hunter, while Ned worked at the Tooele Army Depot.  Dorothy hated it so much that Ned quit his job so they could move back to Eureka to raise their family.  After Ned’s passing, she continued to enjoy Eureka until she required nursing assistance.  She cherished Eureka and her many friends there, but she always called the Sheeprocks her home.  Whenever family visited her at the care center, she would ask if they had been out to the cabin and how she would give anything to go “out home” again.   

Dorothy was a homemaker most of her life.  She enjoyed canning seasonal fruits and vegetables for many years.  She always had jars of chili sauce, pickled beets and dilly beans on the table.  She never missed an opportunity to support her children in all their activities.  She hauled her four boys to every baseball game and practice throughout Juab and Utah counties and was always their biggest cheerleader.  Dorothy and Ned would gather up their mothers and take them to all the games to watch their grandchildren play. Dorothy was petrified of the water herself and drove her children to daily swimming lessons in Payson to make sure they enjoyed the water and were confident swimmers.   She loved sports, played softball and loved bowling.  After her family was raised, she worked in the Eureka Post Office for several years until her retirement. 

Dorothy loved being outside.  Her favorite activity was going with family “out west” to have a picnic under a cedar tree.  Then, off she’d go, wandering the hillsides looking for arrowheads.  She loved animals and said there was nothing like grabbing a young calf by the head and pulling it up tightly against her face. 

She was a pure example of Christ-like service throughout her life and cared for her parents and her mother-in-law throughout their lives and especially in their later years.  She often invited widows and others into her home, and she provided many meals, especially around the holidays.  She was active in various social and service organizations in Eureka and continuously offered her love and support to others.  Her children's’ friends all called her their “second Mom” and she loved everyone unconditionally.

Dorothy’s life was not always easy but it was the life she chose, and she made every day count.  She liked a simple life spent with family and friends.  She loved to walk and was still walking over five miles a day until age 82, when her feet betrayed her heart and mind and would no longer allow her to do so.  During the hard times, she never complained.  She always put others first, asking nothing for herself.  Her younger sister Jackie died when she was only 19 and her brother Lowell died when he was only 30.  She often spoke of them and we knew how much she missed them.

Dorothy was the last surviving member of her’s and Ned’s generation. She is survived by her daughter Launa Jones of Riverton; son Bob (Carol) Allinson of Santaquin; son Randy (Angie) Allinson of Goshen; son Chad (Karen) of Eureka; as well as 16 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her husband Ned, parents Herman and Althea, sister Jackie, and brother Lowell.  She was also preceded in death by her oldest son Ned S. Allinson, son-in-law Glen Jones, two daughters-in-law Susan and Margaret Allinson, and a grandson Robert L. Allinson.

A viewing will be held at Brown Family Mortuary, 66 S. 300 E., Santaquin, on Friday, February 10, 2023, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm; and at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 70 E. Main Street, Eureka, Utah, on Saturday, February 11, from 10:00 to 10:45 am, prior to funeral services at that location at 11:00 am.  Interment will follow in the Eureka City Cemetery.  

We want to thank Richard and the staff at the Seasons of Santaquin Assisted Living Center, and the Aspen Ridge Hospice nurses for their care and devotion to Dorothy.  There are angels among us and our family will be forever grateful.