Effie W. Irish

Effie Irene Walker Irish passed away peacefully on October 9, 2025 in West Jordan, Utah, at the age of 94. Her husband, Glen Irish, preceded her in death by 7 days and 3 hours. Clearly, after almost 68 years of marriage, they did not want to be apart.

Effie was born May 20, 1931 in her grandmother’s home in Union, Utah, the oldest daughter of Ronald F. Walker and Amy A. Wardle Walker. She grew up in Union and graduated from Jordan High School in 1949.

Her first job was at a small mercantile store in Midvale. After that she worked as a telephone operator. She attended BYU for one year, then transferred to the University of Utah, where she graduated with a degree in Elementary Education. She taught a combined third and fourth grade class for one year at Copperton Elementary.

During her last term in college, she was introduced by a mutual friend to Glen Irish, and they were married on November 22, 1957 in the Salt Lake Temple. They built a house in Midvale, where they lived for 66 years and raised three children.

Effie had talent for a variety of needlework, including sewing, quilting, crocheting, knitting, needlepoint and cross-stitch. She loved spending time outdoors camping and hiking with her family. She was passionate about family history and also enjoyed volunteering at the Midvale Museum. Effie always had a story from the past to share with anyone willing to listen.

Her life was filled with many church activities. In 1954 she served in the East Central States Mission for the LDS church. Effie taught Sunday School, Primary and Relief Society, and served as a counselor in a Primary Presidency. She also served as ward librarian and visiting teacher.

Effie was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, siblings Donald, Charles, Stephen and Rela, her only son Roger G. Irish, a stillborn baby daughter, and a stillborn great-granddaughter. She is survived by two daughters, Rebecca Ipson (Mark), and Sarah Featherstone (Jayson), her cherished daughter-in-law Kim Irish, 14 grandchildren, 7 step-grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings LeRoy Walker and Pearl Russo (Tony).

The family wishes to thank the staff of Spring Gardens Senior Living, Canyons Hospice, and Sunridge Memory Care for their frequent and kind attention to Effie over the past few days and weeks as her health rapidly declined.

Services will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, October 16, 2025 at Goff Mortuary at 8090 South State Street in Midvale. A viewing will be held one hour prior to the services on Thursday at the mortuary from 9:45 to 10:45 am. Interment will be at Larkin Sunset Gardens in Sandy, Utah.