Jeanne Dorothy McArthur

Jeanne Dorothy Hatt McArthur died with a smile on her face early Sunday morning, April 10, 2016 at her home in Gilbert, Arizona. She was 90 years old.

Jeanne was born in Marion, Iowa on September 28, 1925 to Alexander Howie Hatt and Elizabeth Ellen “Lizzy” Tice. She was the youngest of 10 children. Reginald, Helen, Betty, Richard, Harry, Vincent, Thomas, John, and Mary were her siblings.

Her father died when she was young, so as a child she helped her mother who ran a laundry business from her home. She played a number of musical instruments, played in the school band, and was especially gifted at math.

She graduated from Marion High School in Iowa. As World War II drew to a close, she went to work for the Northern Pacific Railroad Company – making her way from Iowa, to Utah, and finally to San Francisco.

Then she took a job with Morrison Knutsen, an engineering firm, and shortly thereafter braved her way to the South Pacific island of Guam. It was there, that she met her future husband, Lloyd “Mac” Jerry McArthur, a military police criminal investigator. The two fell in love and married on the island.

From Guam, they moved with the military to the midwestern United States. In December of 1948 they had their first child, Cheryll Jeanne. Followed by Terry Lloyd “Skip” in April of 1950, and Robert Duvall in June of 1951.

In 1954, the family moved to Greenland. After two years, they moved to San Bernardino, California which would become her home for the next 45 years and where she and Mac would raise their family.  She continued in government service as a cryptoanalyst working with secret communications at Norton AFB until her retirement.

She joined the LDS church in 1973 and served in many callings. Among her favorites were doing missionary work, planning dinners and activities, and doing visiting teaching.

Jeanne and Mac traveled frequently especially after their children were grown. Among the highlights – attending the World’s Fairs, visiting Mexico, Alaska, Europe, and making frequent trips across the United States.  Jeanne spoke fondly of her LDS mission with Mac to the Chicago area in 1980.

Following Mac’s death and some personal health struggles, she moved to Gilbert, Arizona to be closer to family. She made wonderful friends and continued to have a busy social life.  She loved cultural events, donated to various charities, and enjoyed taking friends, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren “to lunch”.

She knitted countless hats, supported many missionaries, and sent thousands of cards for birthdays, anniversaries, and every holiday.  She was an avid letter writer and had an uncanny ability to remember everyone in her life with a cute card and her trademark $2 bill. She loved to cook and was famous for her potato salad and especially her “peanut butter balls.”

She outlived all her siblings and is preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd “Mac” Jerry McArthur; her daughter-in-law, Lynn McArthur; her son-in-law, Juan Mercado; and her great-grandson, Clayden Hammond.

Jeanne is survived by her daughter Cheryll Jeanne Mercado; her son Terry Lloyd “Skip” McArthur (Julie); and her son Dr. Robert Duvall McArthur (Elisa); and her grandchildren Heather, Kristina, Terry, Darce, Benjamin, Helen, Daniel, Elizabeth, Cambron, Rebecca, Samantha and Lisa and various nieces and nephews.  She also leaves behind 28 great-grandchildren.

Her viewing and funeral will be held on Saturday, April 16, 2016, at the LDS Chapel on 1483 North Driftwood Drive, Gilbert, Arizona 85234. Her viewing will start at 10 AM with the funeral beginning at 11 AM.

Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel.