Marla Ann Mitchell Surenok-Smith, 60, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, passed away Wednesday, May 23, 2018, following a courageous 4-year battle with metastatic breast cancer in the home of her cousins Sue and Lynn Chadwick in Ammon, Idaho.
She was born on August 31, 1957, in Oakland, California. Marla was the first-born daughter of Gloria Graham Steffen and Clark Mitchell “Mick” Fernandez. Five years later she was joined by a sister, Christine. Later in life Marla and Chris were able to meet and spend time with their half-sister, Lonae Swickard.
Marla grew up in Oakland, attending elementary and graduating from high school there. She joined the LDS Church in Idaho when she was 20 years old and served a full-time mission in the Charlotte, North Carolina Mission (deaf program) from November 1981 to May 1983. Marla was a woman of great faith and love for her Father in Heaven, serving in whatever capacity she could.
She attended BYU in Provo, Utah after her mission, and went on to pursue a career as a professional American Sign Language interpreter. Although she was hearing, the deaf community fascinated her ever since she began working at a bakery in Oakland that had a deaf clientele.
In August of 1994, Marla married Michael Surenok in the Oakland LDS Temple. They began their married life in Manteca, California and three years later a daughter, Danielle Marie, completed their family circle. Although their marriage ended a few years later, Marla continued to live in Manteca and raise her daughter as a single mother until marrying Douglas Smith in July of 2017, and moving to Idaho Falls three months later. Marla and Douglas served in the mission field together and were reunited 35 years later.
Marla loved to serve and help others. Even in the middle of cancer treatments herself, she volunteered to take meals to those she felt were in need. She also loved animals, especially dogs and had two rescue dogs, Atticus and Jasmine. They were Marla's constant companions and she adored them.
She also enjoyed sewing, making crafts, collecting seashells, beach glass and antiques. She loved to go to "Sue's Barn" in Manteca and help with the sales there. She knew all about each piece and enjoyed talking about them. Her favorite place in the whole world was Paradise Park in Santa Cruz, California. Her great grandparents had a cabin there and it remained in the family after their passing. Each year she would go there with her daughter and other family members to reminisce about their childhood in "the Park".
Her greatest desire was to be able to watch her daughter, Danielle, marry her sweetheart, Kenny Bradfield, in the Logan temple and she was able to just 12 days before her passing.
An angel on earth, she has now returned to her rightful home with the God she loved, served, and sought to be reunited with. Her mortal wings of kindness and love enveloped all she knew during her 60 years among us. Now, free from the ugly pain of a terminal illness, her wings have only grown stronger. During difficult days when all seems forlorn there will come a peace. Unexplained, it will come and drape itself across your shoulders like a warm summer’s ocean breeze.
Marla is survived by her husband, Douglas H. Smith of Idaho Falls; daughter, Danielle (Kenny) Bradfield, of Preston, Idaho; and sisters: Christine Mitchell and Lonae Swickard.
She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents.
Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m., Saturday, June 2, 2018, at the 12th Street LDS Church, 1660 12th Street, Idaho Falls. The family will receive friends from 10:30 – 11:45 a.m., Saturday prior to the service at the church. Interment will follow the services at the Ammon Cemetery, Ammon, Idaho. A Celebration of Life will be held in Manteca at a future date. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.coltrinmortuary.com
She was born on August 31, 1957, in Oakland, California. Marla was the first-born daughter of Gloria Graham Steffen and Clark Mitchell “Mick” Fernandez. Five years later she was joined by a sister, Christine. Later in life Marla and Chris were able to meet and spend time with their half-sister, Lonae Swickard.
Marla grew up in Oakland, attending elementary and graduating from high school there. She joined the LDS Church in Idaho when she was 20 years old and served a full-time mission in the Charlotte, North Carolina Mission (deaf program) from November 1981 to May 1983. Marla was a woman of great faith and love for her Father in Heaven, serving in whatever capacity she could.
She attended BYU in Provo, Utah after her mission, and went on to pursue a career as a professional American Sign Language interpreter. Although she was hearing, the deaf community fascinated her ever since she began working at a bakery in Oakland that had a deaf clientele.
In August of 1994, Marla married Michael Surenok in the Oakland LDS Temple. They began their married life in Manteca, California and three years later a daughter, Danielle Marie, completed their family circle. Although their marriage ended a few years later, Marla continued to live in Manteca and raise her daughter as a single mother until marrying Douglas Smith in July of 2017, and moving to Idaho Falls three months later. Marla and Douglas served in the mission field together and were reunited 35 years later.
Marla loved to serve and help others. Even in the middle of cancer treatments herself, she volunteered to take meals to those she felt were in need. She also loved animals, especially dogs and had two rescue dogs, Atticus and Jasmine. They were Marla's constant companions and she adored them.
She also enjoyed sewing, making crafts, collecting seashells, beach glass and antiques. She loved to go to "Sue's Barn" in Manteca and help with the sales there. She knew all about each piece and enjoyed talking about them. Her favorite place in the whole world was Paradise Park in Santa Cruz, California. Her great grandparents had a cabin there and it remained in the family after their passing. Each year she would go there with her daughter and other family members to reminisce about their childhood in "the Park".
Her greatest desire was to be able to watch her daughter, Danielle, marry her sweetheart, Kenny Bradfield, in the Logan temple and she was able to just 12 days before her passing.
An angel on earth, she has now returned to her rightful home with the God she loved, served, and sought to be reunited with. Her mortal wings of kindness and love enveloped all she knew during her 60 years among us. Now, free from the ugly pain of a terminal illness, her wings have only grown stronger. During difficult days when all seems forlorn there will come a peace. Unexplained, it will come and drape itself across your shoulders like a warm summer’s ocean breeze.
Marla is survived by her husband, Douglas H. Smith of Idaho Falls; daughter, Danielle (Kenny) Bradfield, of Preston, Idaho; and sisters: Christine Mitchell and Lonae Swickard.
She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents.
Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m., Saturday, June 2, 2018, at the 12th Street LDS Church, 1660 12th Street, Idaho Falls. The family will receive friends from 10:30 – 11:45 a.m., Saturday prior to the service at the church. Interment will follow the services at the Ammon Cemetery, Ammon, Idaho. A Celebration of Life will be held in Manteca at a future date. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.coltrinmortuary.com
Marla Ann Mitchell Surenok-Smith, 60, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, passed away Wednesday, May 23, 2018, following a courageous 4-year battle with metastatic breast cancer in the home of her cousins Sue and Lynn Chadwick in Ammon, Idaho.
She was born on August 31, 1957, in Oakland, California. Marla was the first-born daughter of Gloria Graham Steffen and Clark Mitchell “Mick” Fernandez. Five years later she was joined by a sister, Christine. Later in life Marla and Chris were able to meet and spend time with their half-sister, Lonae Swickard.
Marla grew up in Oakland, attending elementary and graduating from high school there. She joined the LDS Church in Idaho when she was 20 years old and served a full-time mission in the Charlotte, North Carolina Mission (deaf program) from November 1981 to May 1983. Marla was a woman of great faith and love for her Father in Heaven, serving in whatever capacity she could.
She attended BYU in Provo, Utah after her mission, and went on to pursue a career as a professional American Sign Language interpreter. Although she was hearing, the deaf community fascinated her ever since she began working at a bakery in Oakland that had a deaf clientele.
In August of 1994, Marla married Michael Surenok in the Oakland LDS Temple. They began their married life in Manteca, California and three years later a daughter, Danielle Marie, completed their family circle. Although their marriage ended a few years later, Marla continued to live in Manteca and raise her daughter as a single mother until marrying Douglas Smith in July of 2017, and moving to Idaho Falls three months later. Marla and Douglas served in the mission field together and were reunited 35 years later.
Marla loved to serve and help others. Even in the middle of cancer treatments herself, she volunteered to take meals to those she felt were in need. She also loved animals, especially dogs and had two rescue dogs, Atticus and Jasmine. They were Marla's constant companions and she adored them.
She also enjoyed sewing, making crafts, collecting seashells, beach glass and antiques. She loved to go to "Sue's Barn" in Manteca and help with the sales there. She knew all about each piece and enjoyed talking about them. Her favorite place in the whole world was Paradise Park in Santa Cruz, California. Her great grandparents had a cabin there and it remained in the family after their passing. Each year she would go there with her daughter and other family members to reminisce about their childhood in "the Park".
Her greatest desire was to be able to watch her daughter, Danielle, marry her sweetheart, Kenny Bradfield, in the Logan temple and she was able to just 12 days before her passing.
An angel on earth, she has now returned to her rightful home with the God she loved, served, and sought to be reunited with. Her mortal wings of kindness and love enveloped all she knew during her 60 years among us. Now, free from the ugly pain of a terminal illness, her wings have only grown stronger. During difficult days when all seems forlorn there will come a peace. Unexplained, it will come and drape itself across your shoulders like a warm summer’s ocean breeze.
Marla is survived by her husband, Douglas H. Smith of Idaho Falls; daughter, Danielle (Kenny) Bradfield, of Preston, Idaho; and sisters: Christine Mitchell and Lonae Swickard.
She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents.
Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m., Saturday, June 2, 2018, at the 12th Street LDS Church, 1660 12th Street, Idaho Falls. The family will receive friends from 10:30 – 11:45 a.m., Saturday prior to the service at the church. Interment will follow the services at the Ammon Cemetery, Ammon, Idaho. A Celebration of Life will be held in Manteca at a future date. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.coltrinmortuary.com
She was born on August 31, 1957, in Oakland, California. Marla was the first-born daughter of Gloria Graham Steffen and Clark Mitchell “Mick” Fernandez. Five years later she was joined by a sister, Christine. Later in life Marla and Chris were able to meet and spend time with their half-sister, Lonae Swickard.
Marla grew up in Oakland, attending elementary and graduating from high school there. She joined the LDS Church in Idaho when she was 20 years old and served a full-time mission in the Charlotte, North Carolina Mission (deaf program) from November 1981 to May 1983. Marla was a woman of great faith and love for her Father in Heaven, serving in whatever capacity she could.
She attended BYU in Provo, Utah after her mission, and went on to pursue a career as a professional American Sign Language interpreter. Although she was hearing, the deaf community fascinated her ever since she began working at a bakery in Oakland that had a deaf clientele.
In August of 1994, Marla married Michael Surenok in the Oakland LDS Temple. They began their married life in Manteca, California and three years later a daughter, Danielle Marie, completed their family circle. Although their marriage ended a few years later, Marla continued to live in Manteca and raise her daughter as a single mother until marrying Douglas Smith in July of 2017, and moving to Idaho Falls three months later. Marla and Douglas served in the mission field together and were reunited 35 years later.
Marla loved to serve and help others. Even in the middle of cancer treatments herself, she volunteered to take meals to those she felt were in need. She also loved animals, especially dogs and had two rescue dogs, Atticus and Jasmine. They were Marla's constant companions and she adored them.
She also enjoyed sewing, making crafts, collecting seashells, beach glass and antiques. She loved to go to "Sue's Barn" in Manteca and help with the sales there. She knew all about each piece and enjoyed talking about them. Her favorite place in the whole world was Paradise Park in Santa Cruz, California. Her great grandparents had a cabin there and it remained in the family after their passing. Each year she would go there with her daughter and other family members to reminisce about their childhood in "the Park".
Her greatest desire was to be able to watch her daughter, Danielle, marry her sweetheart, Kenny Bradfield, in the Logan temple and she was able to just 12 days before her passing.
An angel on earth, she has now returned to her rightful home with the God she loved, served, and sought to be reunited with. Her mortal wings of kindness and love enveloped all she knew during her 60 years among us. Now, free from the ugly pain of a terminal illness, her wings have only grown stronger. During difficult days when all seems forlorn there will come a peace. Unexplained, it will come and drape itself across your shoulders like a warm summer’s ocean breeze.
Marla is survived by her husband, Douglas H. Smith of Idaho Falls; daughter, Danielle (Kenny) Bradfield, of Preston, Idaho; and sisters: Christine Mitchell and Lonae Swickard.
She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents.
Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m., Saturday, June 2, 2018, at the 12th Street LDS Church, 1660 12th Street, Idaho Falls. The family will receive friends from 10:30 – 11:45 a.m., Saturday prior to the service at the church. Interment will follow the services at the Ammon Cemetery, Ammon, Idaho. A Celebration of Life will be held in Manteca at a future date. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.coltrinmortuary.com
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