Marla Farnsworth Wells

Marla Farnsworth Wells was born to Floyd Delwin and Marjorie Sutcliffe Farnsworth on October 1, 1955, in Murray, Utah. They moved back to Pocatello in 1958, and Marla graduated from Pocatello High School in 1973 with high honors. She attended ISU on a scholarship between her junior and senior years of high school and graduated from BYU in April, 1976 with a Bachelor's degree in Economics. She worked as a teaching assistant, and up graduation went to work for Prof. Merrill J. Bateman, Dean of the College Business, as his research assistant for Econometric price modeling in the lumber and sugar/cocoa markets. Marla met Brian Steven Wells through mutual friends at BYU. They went on their first date August 13, 1976, got engaged a week later, and were married October 1, 1976 on her 21 st birthday in the Provo, Utah LDS Temple. In 1981 they moved to Pocatello, where Marla worked at FMC in computer programming while Brian worked part time and studied Electronics at ISU. Upon his graduation Brian got a job at Tektronix in Beaverton, OR, and they moved to Tigard in February 1991 where they have resided ever since. Unable to have children, Marla turned her heart to her animals, especially their American Eskimo dogs. She became active in rescuing this breed of dogs and over the years fostered and adopted many. In April 2006 Marla developed Rheumatoid Arthritis and diabetes, suffered some strokes, and became legally blind. In April 2013 she had another stroke, and after trying to recuperate at home with the help of her husband and friends, her parents brought her to Pocatello to help her. Instead her health worsened, and she passed away here at a local care center on July 18, 2013. Marla loved to show visitors around Portland and the surrounding area. She liked to sew, and made big teddy bears with dresses for all her nieces and her ailing grandmother. She loved music, and taking piano lessons as a child for a few years, she continued to learn on her own, and eventually became an accomplished organist, also. She was ready and willing to help anyone in need and will be greatly missed by all her family and friends. Marla had a deep love and testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Her service in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints included Relief Society Education Counselor, Primary Pianist, and Ward Organist, which included playing for the ward choir. She especially loved playing in Primary for the children and seeing their enthusiasm for music. Marla and Brian also served in the Idaho Falls Temple when they lived in Pocatello, and she loved to attend the temple, even later when she was in so much pain. Marla was preceded in death by her grandparents and her baby brother, Jeffrey Taylor Farnsworth. She is survived by her husband, parents, and siblings: Sandra (Lynn) Watson, Eagle, ID; Alan Craig (Monika) and Steven Jay (Karen) of Pocatello; Scott Delwin (Lindsey) of Pullman, WA. She is also survived by nine nieces and nephews and four great-nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 29, 2013, at 11 a.m. at the Mink Creek LDS Ward Chapel, 8200 W. Portneuf Rd. A visitation will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 28, 2013, at Colonial Funeral Home, 2005 S. 4th Ave, and also one hour prior to the funeral service at the church. Burial will follow services at Restlawn Memorial Gardens.