Washington, Utah - Ida May Iverson Cox Niemoth Myers Candland, age 97, returned to her Heavenly Father Friday, March 15, 2013 at The Meadows, her home for the last 5 ½ years. She was able to stay active and was blessed to have less than two weeks down in bed. She was born October 24, 1915 in Washington, Utah to Walter Hyrum Iverson and Annie May Larson Iverson. She was the fifth of six children: Oral, Reid, Dott, Dell, (all preceded her in death) and youngest brother, Muriel (Betty) Iverson, who survives her. She married Rulon B. Cox and had five children: Walter Cox (Jeanenne), Dr. Mervyn Cox, DDS (deceased) (Sue), Deloa Cox Keenan (Michael - deceased), all of St. George, Utah, Mary Beth Cox (deceased) and Dr. Wendell Cox, DDS (Pam) of LaMesa, CA. They divorced. She later married and was sealed to her husband, R. Max Niemoth. His work took him to other areas of the U.S., and she was able to experience other places. When retirement time came, they chose to come back to Washington, Utah to help her parents. When he needed it, she brought her brother, Reid, from Idaho and helped him while he was in Coopers Rest Home. Ida May went through the sorrow of burying three husbands: R. Max Niemoth, Eugene Myers and Kay Candland.

She had a great love for the gospel of Jesus Christ and had a strong testimony of repentance and forgiveness. She served for eight years as a stake missionary in Salt Lake City, Utah, teaching many and preparing 22 people for their baptism. She also served as an ordinance worker in the St. George, Utah LDS Temple for 12 years. She served as Relief Society president in Brooklyn, NY and also in Washington, Utah. In Hollywood, CA she served as "work director" for the Relief Society. She served as Primary President in the Shivwits Indian Branch, and continued to have a strong love for the Lamanite people throughout her life. During her later years, she worked very diligently in the LDS Church extraction program, learning to work on a computer. At age 82, she was called to be over the (Ellis Island) extraction program for her ward in Washington, Utah. Under her stewardship, and with her hard work, her ward became number one helping her stake become one of the top three stakes in the entire church for the most amount of work accomplished.

Ida May started painting in her 60's and became a talented artist. She painted a lot of beautiful pictures, winning many awards at the Washington County Fair. Some of her paintings were given the top Sweepstakes" award, and went on to the Utah State Fair. She could also write poetry and arrange flowers. She was very skilled in sewing, knitting and crocheting. She was also a good cook. She loved gardening and had a garden until she moved to The Meadows. She enjoyed a long life due to her healthy eating habits. She had a talent for designing and drawing house plans and lived in eight different custom-built homes during her life time.

In her 30's, she attended and graduated from LDS Business College, learning many skills which helped her throughout the rest of her life. She worked for RKO movie office in SLC, did work as a bookkeeper and office machines operator. She also worked for a long time at Zions Bank. At present, her posterity consists of her 5 children, 24 grandchildren, 68 great-grandchildren and 40 great-great-grandchildren with more on the way. A special thank you to The Meadows and staff and to her dear friend, Earl Rees.

Funeral services will held Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. at the Metcalf Mortuary Chapel, 288 West St. George Blvd., St. George, Utah. A visitation will be held Saturday at 1:30 p.m. prior to services at Metcalf Mortuary. Interment will be at the Salt Lake City Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary, (435) 673-4221.