Elton Brown Pitcher was born 29 March 1906 in Smithfield, Cache, Utah, to John William and Mary Clarissa Thornley Pitcher. He was the fourth son and seventh child born in that union. He was greeted by his older siblings: Margaret Rebecca, Henry Cyril, John Harvey, Phoebe Clarissa, Lilla Mozell and Willie DeConn. His family would later be joined by Melvin Bernard, Bessie Bernice, Vaudice Elva, Valden Thornley, and Bertha.

He had a beautiful tenor voice and loved to sing. His family remembers fondly of listening to him sing while he worked in the fields or in church. He and his sister, Vaudice were asked to sing duets in church when a new hymn would come out. Vaudice tells of them introducing the hymn, "Carry On," which has a very high melody line. She was always grateful that she had the alto part on Carry On. She also remembers how much she loved to hear her older brother sing. His children, too, always wished they had their father's gift for singing.

Vaudice also recalls how devastated the Pitcher Family was when Brown and his Siblings learned that he would not be unable to serve a mission. He had heart problems and was unable to accept a call. Although physically challenged at times, he still pulled his weight on the family farm and worked for many years.

Perhaps his kind and gentle spirit led him to his sweetheart, Mary Fife. Mary was born in Riverdale, Weber, Utah on 10 October 1912. She was the daughter of Joseph Adam and Clara Jensen Fife. Her family moved from the Ogden area to Trenton when she was about three. Mary was just 8 or 9 years old when her mother took sick and was taken to Budge Hospital where she passed away on 10 January 1912. Mary was able to see her mother once while she was in the hospital; and she and her sister, Martha, stood by her bed and sang the primary song, "I have Two Little Hands."

After her Mother's death, Mary's family moved to Dayton, Idaho and finally on to Preston. When Mary started her sophomore year in high school, she had a sick spell. She had a high fever and had the flu really bad. She was delirious for a while. Her father and Aunt Cindy took her to a lot of doctors and they diagnosed her as having Parkinson's Disease. Her shaking got worse, but the medication they gave her helped. She was still active in the ward and went to dances. This is where she met Brown Pitcher.

They knew their lives might have some physical challenges, but Brown told Mary, "this life isn't everything and we will have eternity." They were married 24 November 1937 in the Logan Temple after a short courtship. They lived in Cornish, Utah in two rooms of the Pitcher Family Home. It was while living there that all five of their children were born: Pauline, Carol, Arminta (Minnie), Jerry Brown and Wendell Leon (Lonny). Brown's mother helped them all she could because Mary's sickness became worse as time went on and the shaking got worse with each child.

Brown and Mary's children remember their childhood as a happy time. They remember hard work, spending summers out thinning and hoeing beets, but they remember the wonderful times too. Brown and Mary loved their little family. Mary could harmonize and play the old organ in the Pitcher Home, and she and Brown spent many hours singing together and later enjoying this activity with their children. They were very special and faithful parents. Their children recall kneeling next to Mary's bed while Brown administered to her. They also remember their father giving them blessings.

On 4 May 1956, Brown passed away leaving Mary with five children between the ages of 16 and 11. Because of her illness, Mary was not able to keep her family with her for very long after his death. The children went to live with various Pitcher cousins and Mary went to live with the Fife's. Her condition continued to worsen until she went to a nursing home. She passed away on 24 Sep 1959.

While Brown and Mary's time on Earth was short, they left a lasting legacy of faithfulness to their family. They taught them to be loving, kind and compassionate to others, to exercise patience during times of adversity and to always see beyond this life. Each family member knows that this life isn't everything, and they will have eternity.

Elton Brown and Mary Fife Pitcher are buried in the Smithfield Cemetery. Their two sons, Jerry and Lonny, lie next to them.

Obituary

E.B. Pitcher, 50, Local Dairyman, Claimed by Death

Cornish - Elton Brown Pitcher, 50, prominent north Cache dairy farmer and church worker, died at the family home Friday afternoon after a lingering illness.

He was born in Smithfield, March 29, 1906, a son of John William and Mary Thornley Pitcher. He moved to Cornish as a child with his parents and spent his entire life there.

Mr. Pitcher was a high priest in the Benson L.D.S. Stake, former member of Cornish ward Bishop, had served in the Sunday School Superintendency and as a Sunday School and MIA teacher. He had been active in Scouting and recently received his 20-year service award.

He was vice president of the Cornish Farm Bureau.

He was married to Mary Fife November 24,1937, in the Logan L.D.S. Temple.

Surviving are his widow; two sons, Larry & Leon (Jerry Brown and Wendell Leon aka Lonny), three daughters, Pauline, Carol and Arminta, Cornish; five brothers, Harvey, Bp. Valden T. and DeCon Pitcher, Cornish; H. Cyril and Melvin, Lewiston; six sisters, Mrs. Margaret Petersen, Cornish; Mrs. Golden (Pheobe) Boman, Mrs. Lewis (Vaudice) Boman, Lewiston; Mrs. Frank (Bessie) Last, Richmond; Mrs. Milton (Mozell) Boman, Quincy, Washington; Mrs. Melvin (Bertha) Greaves, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Funeral services will be conducted Monday at 2:00 p.m. in the Cornish LDS Ward Chapel by Bp. Valden T. Pitcher.

Friends may call at the family home in Cornish Sunday evening and Monday until the time of services. Burial will be in Smithfield City Cemetery