Emma Elona Gardner Hillyard, 83, formerly of Afton, died of Pneumonia Monday May 21, 1964 at Godfrey's Foothill Retreat, a nursing home in Brigham City, Utah, where she had been a resident since February 9, 1984, following a stroke at her home in Manti, Utah, on February 4, 1983.
Funeral services were held Friday, May 25, 1984 at Manti, Utah, with a viewing Saturday May 26, 1984 at the Afton LDS Third-Fourth Ward. Interment followed in the family plot at the Auburn Cemetery.
She was born August 2, 1900 at Afton Wyoming, the fourth child and first daughter of the twelve children of Brigham Ozro Gardner and Emma Eunice Michaelson.
She married Enoch Hillyard of Auburn Wyoming, on June 9, 1920 in the Logan LDS Temple, Logan, Utah. They were the parents of 15 children, 13 of whom died in infancy.
Enoch and Elona made their home in Auburn.
Elona was Postmaster at Auburn for 25 years. They moved to Manti, Utah in Oct 1976.
Elona kept active until her stroke by helping Max and beth Call in the operation of their newspaper, the Manti-Ephriam Messenger-Enterprise.
Elona was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she served in various leadership positions. she served as a church organist nearly continuously since age 12.
She graduated with honors from Utah State University in 1958 with a BS degree in elementary education. She taught school for seven years in the Star Valley School District No. 19 until her retirement in 1965. She had also previously taught school in the valley form 1917 to 1920, after graduation from Star Valley High School.
She is survived by one daughter Mrs Max (Beth) Call, Manti; two brothers Lloyd Gardner, Logan, Utah and Orrin Gardner, Hazelton, Idaho, two sisters Mrs Elno (Laura) Draney Afton and Mrs John (Bonita) Hopkins, College Station, Texas, 12 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren]
She was preceded in death by one daughter Bardella H. Barrus Call and her husband.

Hillyard, Emma Elona Gardner (21 May 1984)Star Valley Independent

Emma Elona GARDNERis the daughter of Brigham Ozro GARDNER and Emma Eunice MICHAELSON
Emma Elona GARDNER married Enoch HILLYARD 9 Jun 1920 in Logan, Cache, Utah