Venice Cottam Bird Obituary (1918

Venice Cottam Bird passed away peacefully Monday, January 19, 2015 at the age of 96. She was born in St. George, Utah on May 14, 1918 to Heber Cottam and Edith Brooks. After moving to Provo as a young girl, she attended Provo High and Brigham Young University. On September 11, 1940 Venice married J. Martell Bird, also of Provo, and enjoyed a full and active life with him until his death on January 31, 1987. Venice and Martell spent time in Chicago, Illinois; Little Rock, Arkansas; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; San Francisco, California; Portland, Oregon; Salt Lake City, Utah and Los Angeles, California before returning to Provo in 1975. A faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Venice left behind an amazing legacy of discipleship, both in the way she fulfilled Church callings and through a lifetime of simple, unheralded, Christian service. She and Martell served as Mission Presidents in Sydney, Australia; Brisbane, Australia; the Salt Lake Missionary Home and in Glasgow, Scotland/Belfast, Ireland. Thousands of missionaries were warmed by the gentle smile and lifted by the genuine love and support radiating from this remarkable little lady. Beyond the “official” service were the countless widows – some life-long friends, some women she had barely met – that she visited, read to, baked cookies for and sat with during their last months on earth. Venice was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers: Howard Rex Cottam and Earl Brooks Cottam. She is survived by two daughters: Beverly Ellen Schofield (Patrick B.) of Spanish Fork and Brenda Carole Ward (Stanley E.) of Provo, and two sons: James M. Bird (Faith Katherine Walbert) of Escondido, California and Thomas M. Bird (Shelly Griffin) of Shelley, Idaho. Venice left behind 27 grandchildren and, to date, 82 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 24, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at the Edgemont 9th Ward Chapel, 4300 North Canyon Road, Provo, Utah. Friends may call at the Berg Mortuary of Provo, 185 East Center Street, Friday, January 23 from 6-8:00 p.m. and at the church Saturday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. prior to services. Interment, East Lawn Memorial Hills. Condolences may be sent online at www.bergmortuary.com.