Afton Bitton

Afton Bitton (aka Miss Bitton), legendary teacher, colleague, writer, wit, punster, good neighbor, dear friend (aka Aftie), Aunt and Great Aunt, passed away Monday, January 2nd at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center at the tender age of 93. Her family and friends thought she would live forever - memories of her will accomplish that fete. Afton was born August 21, 1923, in Ririe, Idaho, to Harry and Julia (Campbell) Bitton. Her parents raised their family of eight children, Afton was the seventh, on their SwanValley ranch a mile out of town. Her early memories were of ranch life, animals, school at Rainy Dell and family gatherings. Afton always knew what was going on in the family and town because everyone felt they could talk with her, and did. Afton was a listener, advisor andencourager. Time spent with Afton was a precious gift. She embodied Poet Mary Oliver's "Instructions for living a life. Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it." Afton summarized her growing up and grown up years-we must, however,remember Afton's caution: 'Never commit adulthood' - in excerpts from her bio in "Trumpeter's Dell". Afton wrote "Trumpeter's Dell", the robust historical, anecdotal and pictorial book of Swan Valley, and had it printed by Falls Printing, when she herself was in her 80's: As I have said, of my four diplomas, I prefer the little green felt-covered one from Rainey Dell in Swan Valley. These are my "degrees": Rainey Dell 1937-eighth grade; Idaho Falls High School 1941-twelfth grade; Utah State University 1946-B.S. in Journalism; Idaho State-Masters of Arts in English Literature 1970. I served as society editor and news reporter for the Post-Register for nearly three years then went into teaching. At Idaho Falls High School I advised Tri-Hi-Y, Youth Legislature, the Scholastic Team, the Spud Annual and the newspaper, among other things. I taught Journalism and numerous subjects in the English field until I retired in 1986 after 35 years in the classroom. I am pictured here ( photo ) with one of my brother Max's Welsh ponies. I really like horses and dogs, sheep, cattle-all animals tame and wild. Yes, I do "prefer hay bales to houses" and long views of crops extending into "the everlasting hills" to almost any other scope-or scoop. I am filled with awe whenever I run onto a field of wild flowers…. I have won several awards in my long life but it would have been immodest to dwell on them. My greatest honors have been to live with the People of Swan Valley-and of Idaho Falls and spend many enlightening hours with teenagers. Afton's siblings included: Hazel (Vernal Shurtliff), child Jeri; Lucille (Max Rudd); Wellington (Timmy), children Kenly and Greg; Max (Peggy) children Kathy, Jeff and Sally; Ruth (Chick Doe) children Jan and Steve; Dennis (Juanita) children Vernal, Ronald, and Foster; and Francis (Eleanor) children Hal, Doug, David, and Bruce. Peggy and Eleanor alone remain of Afton's generation; nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews abound. There will be a memorial gathering, The Burial of the Dead, Rite II, for Afton Saturday January 28, 2017 at 2:00 pm at St. Luke's Episcopal Church 270 North Placer, Idaho Falls with Pastor Susan Speir officiating. A Reception will follow. In Spring 2017, there will be The Committal of the Ashes for Afton, announcement to come later. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Soup Kitchen in Idaho Falls.

Graveside Services will be held