Mildred Helen MacMeekin
October 26, 1919 — June 8, 2016
Mildred Helen Pettebone MacMeekin, passed away Wednesday, June 8, 2016.
Born October 26, 1919, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, to Willis John Pettebone and Mildred Helen Williams Pettebone, Mildred lived through world events ranging from Prohibition to the Moon Landing and into the Digital Age. She was always excited to learn of advances both technologically and socially.
The daughter of a school teacher and bright student, she graduated high school at the age of sixteen, and attended Nesbit Memorial Hospital’s nursing program. Graduating four years later with a degree as a Registered Nurse, she was at the top of her class.
She worked as a nurse until she married on August 24, 1942, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She wore a simple black dress. Her husband, Irwin Coolbaugh MacMeekin (“Mac”) proceeded her in death on October 24, 2000.
After marrying Mac, she worked at an upscale baby clothing store where customers would frequently have her select entire wardrobes for their babies. When her children came along, she stayed home to raise them. In 1960, she started working at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center as an Ob nurse, having relocated to Utah in 1957. She then became the Supervisor over OB and the Nursery, where she purchased the hospital’s first sun lamp for infants suffering from jaundice, and where she introduced Pampers to the Nursery. Her next career move, was as Supervisor over Pediatrics, followed by undertaking the large-scale project of starting the Discharge Planning Program at Utah Valley still in operation today.
She loved to paint, crochet, and do needlepoint. She would read at least one book every day as long as her eyes permitted. When her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were young, she would spend hours playing with them: making paper hats, running toy cars over bed sheets, and singing them songs she had first heard in the 1940s.
She is survived by her children: Virginia MacMeekin Cloward and David (Earlene) MacMeekin; her grandchildren: Kathryn (Ryan) Morgenegg, Sara Cloward, Heather (Lyle) Egbert, Jane Cloward, Scott MacMeekin, and Debra Cloward; and by her great-grandchildren: Josh Mikesell, Jordynne Mikesell, Faith Morgenegg, Sierra Ainge, Weston Cloward, Suzie Egbert, Ryan Cloward, Rebecca Egbert, and Caleb Egbert. She was proceeded in death by her husband, her parents, and her sisters Shirley Begany and Sara Jane Pettebone.
At Mildred’s request, there will be no viewing or services.