Hall of Honors/Youth Ambassador Induction Ceremony and Reception

Join with us on Wednesday, August 5th at 7 pm at the Midvale Performing Arts Center, 695 W. Center St. for our annual Hall of Honors/Youth Ambassador Induction Ceremony and Reception. We will be honoring Gloria Johnson and Janet Moore as our 2015 Hall of Honors Inductees and introducing Merry Joseph, Jacqueline Lopez, Nityam Rathi, and Mary Ruff as our 2015-16 Youth Ambassadors. Before or after the Induction Ceremony please take some time to visit our Arts Show, which will be open from 4 p.m. - 9 a.m., and cast your ballot for the People’s Choice Award.

Gloria Ann Parker Johnson

Gloria Parker was born on 7th Avenue in Midvale, December 4, 1944, the 8th child of Edward Hyrum and Lottie Della Parker. Gloria was raised on Chapel Street where she attended Midvale Elementary, Midvale Jr. High, Jordan High School, and was in the first graduating class of Hillcrest High School in 1963. Gloria served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Copenhagen, Denmark in 1968.

Gloria married Barry Johnson on March 10, 1970, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Their first home was on Pioneer Street in Midvale. Together they raised five children: Everett, Stephanie, Barry, Colleen, and Patrick. The family moved back to Midvale in 1984, living originally on Wilson Street, and finally settling on Coolidge.

Gloria enjoyed working with the PTA of the Midvale Schools when her children were young and serving the members of her church congregation in various capacities in the Primary, Young Women, and Relief Society organizations. Gloria was an estimator for Gritton & Associates, Inc. for nearly 20 years and enjoyed her associations as a result.

In 2008, Gloria was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer of the blood. She endured two stem-cell transplants over the next six years and became a champion for those fighting for their life with various cancers. Gloria lost her fight with cancer on June 13, 2014, just 21 days after finding that her cancer had returned for a third time.

Cancer might have ended her life, but it did not prevent her from living it to the fullest. Gloria joined the Midvale Arts Volunteer Council in 2009 serving on the Concerts and Arts Show committees, was the volunteer coordinator, and secretary. She was voted as Volunteer of the Year 2013 for her hard work and dedication to bring the arts to the community she loved so much. In 2014, Gloria auditioned for her first theater production. She was cast as Juror 9 in “Twelve Angry Jurors” for the Midvale Arts Council. Auditioning for a show was one of the few items on her bucket list.

Undoubtedly the greatest delight in Gloria’s life were the times she spent her family. She counted her siblings as her closest friends in life. She enjoyed travelling with her husband, spending time with her five children and three in-laws: Debbie, Brad, and Kate. But perhaps her greatest joys at the end of her life were her five grandchildren: Ainsleigh, Lottie, Liam, Kelsey, and Ellie. Grandma Glo loved sleepovers, cooking, and crafts with her grandchildren. Hugs and kisses were never in short supply at Grandma Glo’s house. She loved much, laughed hard, and lived a plentiful life. Her spirit and smile are missed daily.

December 4, 1944 – June 13, 2014

Janet Bates Moore

In 1962 Janet moved to the Salt Lake Valley and attended West High School.  She married and had two beautiful daughters and soon found herself a single mother. The city seemed so large so she moved to Midvale in 1971 finding it a small town feel. There she met the love of her life Bill Moore. He also came with a wonderful package of four boys. Together they added two more beautiful girls to the already crowded house on Allen Street rounding the family to eight kids. Currently growing to 26 Grandchildren and 15 Great-Grandchildren.

The family business of Moore Janitorial was started with everyone included. Soon everyone had their jobs and if someone was sick there was always another Moore to fill in. The business is still currently in operation and employs their children, grandchildren and many more and now boasts 44 years keeping Midvale clean.

Tragedy struck the family in 1991 when they lost their 23-year-old son, throwing everyone into their own personal turmoil. There were no agencies or counselors to help the family at that time. One day sitting in the Midvale Park on a swing in her darkest hour, Janet swore that somehow she would find a way to be there for families in crisis and not let them be alone. The Midvale Boys & Girls Club was later built on the exact site of that swing in the park.

In 1998 she applied at the Boys & Girls Club. Janet was teacher, administrative assistant, accounts payable clerk, bus driver and all around counselor (and grandma) to hundreds of kids. In 2000 she saw an ad attached to the water bill looking for a victim advocates with the Midvale Police Department. She joined the department in 2000 and never looked back.  She spent thousands of hours with officers in the middle of the night helping victims in crisis, holding hands of rape victims in hospitals, getting victims of domestic violence to safe places, taking children to The Christmas Box House, helping families plan for funerals of loved ones and counseling families to survive their events.  She’s still going strong after 15 years, now serving as the Midvale Justice Court Victim Advocate where she helps the victims understand the court system and get justice and restitution.

In 2008, with the help of Chief Mason, the Midvale Suicide Coalition was formed.  The Boys & Girls Club provided a safe place for a support group to meet every Tuesday night for over four years. With the help of IMC Hospital and other advocates in the program, hundreds of families came and helped each other swim the waters of grief together and put their lives back on dry ground. When a meeting place was no longer available, Janet made herself available to meet personally with any family needing guidance.

She now tells everyone that she has kept that promise made in the park that day and given back to thousands. She doesn’t do it alone. She says she is a small part of an elite team who works together.   She makes sure everyone in the community knows of the services available in our community, how to access the Food Bank, free clinic, child care, free counseling and many others agencies in the Midvale area.

Janet Moore is still, at the young age of 68, not planning on going anywhere any time soon. Midvale truly needs the Victim Advocate Program and others like her, just ask any Police Officer in Midvale.