Afton Erickson

Afton Mary Brotherson Erickson, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, great great grandmother, sister, and friend, died August 21, 2014 in Taylorsville, Utah at the age of 97. She was born on November 25, 1916 in Scofield, Utah to Orson Hyde Brotherson and Mada Axelsen Brotherson. Afton looked back fondly on her childhood years, and loved to tell stories of her adventures, often on horseback, with her three brothers.
As a bright, strong young woman, Afton met a man named Claude Leonal Erickson, who carried her schoolbooks home for her one day, and made her feel like she was “walking on a cloud.” They married on October 12, 1933 when Afton was 16. During the early years of her marriage, Afton created a loving home for her children and developed her skills in the home arts. She was a proficient baker and seamstress who enjoyed creating clothing and beautiful artwork for her family.
Afton had the wonderful opportunity to travel and live abroad with some of her younger children and her husband (who worked for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building chapels around the world). From 1960 until Claude retired in 1976, they lived in New York, England, Scotland, Samoa, New Zealand, and Australia. Afton put her natural teaching skills to good use when she was asked to teach high school in Samoa, and she was able to help in the development of the school curriculum. Later, Claude and Afton served a mission together in Samoa and in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Through these travels, Afton met many wonderful people with whom she maintained friendships and careful correspondence for years to come.
In her retired years, Afton enjoyed the company of her family, yearly family reunions, visits to the family’s mountain cabin in Fairview, Utah, keeping a beautiful garden, and needlework, sewing and crafts.
Her greatest joy was in her family, and we are comforted to know that she is reunited with her Heavenly Father. The family would like to thank Legacy Village Memory Care in Taylorsville for their loving care of Afton for the past two years.
She is survived by her children Brad Erickson (Prissy), Judi Erickson, Eve Fernandez, Geneva (Gene) Lee, Virginia Hodge, April (Martin) Semper, Claudine (Keith) Barnett, and Michelle Erickson. She is preceded in death by her husband Claude and her son Boyd (Colleen) Erickson.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, September 8, 2014, at Lake Hills Memorial, 10055 South State Street, Sandy, UT 84070. Viewings will be held at Lake Hills Memorial from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday, September 7, and Monday morning prior to the service, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.