Joan Ricks Edginton
Joan was born to Eva Myrberg Ricks and John Allen Ricks on April 14, 1930, 2 years to the day after her older brother Alan’s birthday. Her younger brother, Reed, was born on October 6, 1933. Sadly, Alan and Reed both died in infancy, and Joan was raised as an only child.
Luckily, Joan was happy to hang out with her large clan of Myrberg cousins, and they were like the siblings she never knew.
Joan attended Oquirrh Elementary, Bryant Junior High, West High, and graduated from South High School. She was known as “Ricketts” by her many friends. As a teenager, she loved to write poetry, dance, and watch movies. She idolized Audrey Hepburn, and much to her mother’s dismay, she chopped off her long, gorgeous locks to look more like her beloved Audrey.
Joan met her husband, Don Edginton, at her workplace. They married on September 27, 1951, and had 3 children: Brian, Karin, and Stacy. They loved a life spent in nature, camping, fishing, hiking, and gazing at the night’s stars.
Joan flourished as a stay-at-home mom, and her cooking skills were amazing (except for her kidney stew!). When the kids took their homemade lunches to school, many other students tried to trade or buy the mouth-watering contents of their lunch boxes.
Joan bottled the many vegetables she grew in her garden as well as fruits, jellies, jams, and pickles. She won several ribbons when she submitted her goods to the Utah State Fair. While vacationing in her summer home on the Oregon coast, she bottled albacore, clams, crabmeat, and wild blackberries. She loved that her family could “live off the land” in one of her favorite places. Joan and Don were often joined on these trips by their best friends, Bill and Colleen.
Joan was also a gifted and skilled seamstress, quilter, and crocheter. She sewed clothing and doll clothes for the neighbors, her kids’ school clothes, and one year she was hired to sew the uniforms for the U of U football cheerleaders.
When Joan’s kids grew up, she worked at a fabric store and served as the store manager for many years. (This provided a great discount to purchase more fabric for new sewing projects.) When her husband passed away in 1985, she decided to travel with friends and her sister-in-law, which she truly enjoyed. She also loved sunflowers, bowling, reading, and gambling trips to Wendover.
Joan always claimed she was spoiled. She spoke her mind and lived her life as she saw fit. She was kind, loving, and generous as well.
Joan passed away on May 15th due to complications from a stroke. She is preceded in death by her husband, Don; her grandchildren, Chris, Dustin, and Dylan; and her great- grandson, Dustin Jr. She is survived by her children and many beloved grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.