Ethella (Susie) Mitchell Tasso

Our exemplary mother and grandmother, Ethella (Susie) Mitchell Tasso passed away on Sunday, January 18, 2026 in Columbia, MD, surrounded by family and her favorite four-legged friends. Susie was 90.

Susie was born on April 3, 1935, in Salt Lake City, UT, to Ansdell Leonard and Gertrude Ethella Stewart Mitchell. The oldest of four children, Susie cherished growing up in the foothills of Centerville, UT, surrounded by orchards and fields. As a child, Susie took piano, organ, and voice lessons and performed with close friends at church functions and military bases and on the radio.

As a junior in high school, Susie was awarded the Ford Foundation scholarship, which allowed her early entrance to attend the University of Utah. Susie met her future husband, James (Jim) Peter Tasso, in an educational psychology class during her senior year of college. Susie transferred to Utah State to finish her bachelor's degree in home economics.

Susie and Jim were sealed for time and all eternity on March 15, 1957, in the Salt Lake Temple. Over the next 19 years, Susie and Jim had eight children and lived in Logan and Salt Lake City, Utah; Montpelier and Preston, Idaho; and Tucson, Arizona. In addition to caring for and loving her family, Susie continued to find time for music-singing in choirs, conducting choirs, and playing the piano and organ. Susie called music "frosting on the cake of life."

In September 1980, the family moved to Orem, UT. Susie worked as a special education teacher and teacher mentor for Alpine School District for 15 years. Upon retirement, Susie and Jim served in the California Oakland mission at the Oakland Temple Family History Center. After returning from their mission, Susie and Jim moved to St. George, UT, to escape the snow. After Jim's passing in 2014, Susie spent much of her time traveling to be with her children and grandchildren.

Susie was dedicated to family history and temple work. She had an unwavering testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her prayers seemed to have special access to the powers of heaven. In her own words, Susie's life had "its greatest meaning through the Gospel, Jim, and our children."

Susie is survived by seven children, Mark (Joey) Tasso, Laurie (Scott) Swain, Kent (Heidi Carey-Tasso) Tasso, Heidi Tasso, Jon (Jennifer) Tasso, Jamie (Jason) Lee, and Andrea Taylor; 19 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren (plus one on the way); her sister Laurel (Mel) Marcroft and sister-in-law Margo (Val) Mitchell.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Jim Tasso; son Eric Tasso; grandson Ryan Tasso; her parents; and her brothers, Val and Brian (Judy) Mitchell.

A viewing will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2026, from 10:30-11:30 am, followed by a service at 12 pm (noon) at Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 South Bluff Street, St. George, UT. Interment will follow at 1:30 at the Tonaquint Cemetery, 1777 South Dixie Drive, St. George, Utah.

Memorial donations may be made to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, UT.

Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 South Bluff Street, St. George, Utah. 435-673-2454.

Family and friends are invited to share their memories and condolences on Susie's online guestbook below.