There will be a live stream of the Funeral Service on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. Just go to www.walkersanderson.com main page and click live webcast. If you aren't able to watch it live the stream will go on Mary Ellen's obituary page the next day to be able to watch at your convenience. Anyone attending please adhere to safe social distancing and we ask you to wear a mask ______________________________________________________________________________________ Mary Ellen Giles Kitchen, age 81, of Murray, passed away peacefully after a period of declining health on Saturday, October 31, 2020 at the Seasons of Santaquin Assisted Living Facility in Santaquin, Utah. Mary Ellen was born November 11, 1938 in Bridgeland, Duchesne County, Utah to James Don Giles and Ellen Flora Manning. She later moved with her family to Myton, Utah and attended Myton Elementary, Roosevelt Junior High, and Union High School, graduating in 1957. Mary Ellen was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in many callings. After graduating from high school she worked at Huish Drug Store then First Security Bank and continued working until her first child was born. From then she dedicated her time to taking care of children, keeping up the house, and attending church. Our Mom loved to read and to write letters and cards to family and friends. She was a wonderful mother and expressed unconditional love and support as we grew up and eventually had our own families. She loved her grandchildren and sent countless letters and cards commemorating birthdays, special events, or just to stay in touch. If you sent Grandma a letter, you could count on a letter in return. She had a gift for making each of her children and grandchildren feel special and loved. She was an avid recipe and cookbook collector. She loved a good mystery whether it was a book or watching a mystery on television. She was a quiet and reserved person, but at the same time she had a way of getting her point across and was fiercely loyal and dedicated in supporting her family and serving in church callings. As times changed she embraced the new technologies of email and then cell phone calls and texting to stay in communication with her family and friends. She married J Kent Brighton on November 5, 1958 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. They were later divorced. She married Norman Ray Kitchen, January 11, 1980. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Provo LDS Temple. Mary Ellen and Norman lived in Provo for 24 years and they were very happy together. They took frequent walks around the neighborhood, and they enjoyed many rides together as they drove through out Utah Valley so Norman could show her the most recent landscape grading jobs he had completed. She worked diligently all those years in keeping Norman's calendar for landscape grading jobs and appointments with his many tax clients each tax season. She is survived by her seven children and eight stepchildren. Her children are Marlene McGrath, Murray; Jeanne (Bryan) Smith, Tridell; Janet (Bart) Purser, Murray; Sherry (Ben) Lemmon, Santaquin; Neil (Shannon) Brighton, Spring, TX; Allen (Trina) Brighton, West Valley; David (Karee) Brighton, Lehi. Her stepchildren are Sharleen (Dale) Rosenlund, Olathe, KS; Gary (Debra) Kitchen, Spanish Fork; LaDawn (Ron) Walker, West Jordan; Gordon (Amanda) Kitchen, Vernal; Laurel (Troy) Collins, Interlachen, FL; Janette Kline, West Jordan; Nolan Kitchen, Kaysville; and Gwenn (John) Humphrey, Fresno, CA. Mary Ellen is also survived by her brother, Paul Giles, Murray, as well as 30 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Norman, by her parents, and by her brother Gerald Giles. Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, November 4, 2020. The funeral is private due to Covid-19. A public viewing will be held from 10:00-11:00AM at the Walker Sanderson Funeral Home, 646 East 800 North, Orem. There will be a live stream of the Funeral Service starting at 11:30 a.m. Interment will be in the East Lawn Memorial Hills Cemetery, Provo. Condolences may be shared at www.walkersanderson.com