February 28, 1928 – August 30, 2018
Hand in hand with her Lord, Mouryne Landing Dini passed on to her eternal home… on August 30, 2018, a warm Nevada afternoon, as a dear voice read her favorite Psalm 121, “I will lift up mine eyes…”
Born on February 28, 1928, to Ralph and Cloma Burton in Salt Lake City, Utah, she joined her older sister Jeannette in their happy family. Soon thereafter they moved to Ashland, Oregon, where she spent her childhood years. From the time she was two, Mouryne would dance. As an avid dancer in her tap shoes and tutus, she became known as Ashland’s little Shirley Temple and performed at many community events, including the Ashland Shakespearean Festival. Mouryne was fervent in her love of music, playing the trumpet, the drums, and singing in the school choral groups. Through her love of the arts, she developed a poise that embodied this graceful and elegant woman. Mouryne did not JUST walk – she floated.
Mouryne graduated from Ashland High School with honors at the age of 16. During WWII, she worked for a short time at the nearby Camp White City Army base induction center. In 1945, Mouryne and her best friend Emily attended Hinneger Stephens Business College in Salt Lake City. Upon graduation, they moved to San Francisco where Mouryne was employed in a secretarial position.
Mouryne would return home to Ashland and in Nov. 1947, married Delbert T. Landing (Del), her long-time friend and Ashland school mate. With husband Del in the banking business, the Landing couple would reside and raise their two young girls, Sheryl and Lisa, in several Oregon communities including: Coos Bay, Klamath Falls, Medford, and the Portland area. While in Medford, Mouryne dedicated her days to the raising of the girls. She worked as the school secretary to be involved in their educational activities, and walked Sheryl to piano lessons and Lisa to dance class each week. She was an avid gardener, home decorator, outstanding cook and seamstress, making many of the girls’ clothes.
In 1963, husband Del took his banking skills and family to Nevada and soon thereafter would build their dream home on the southeast hills of Carson City, overlooking the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains to the west and Job’s Peak further south. From that favorite kitchen window view, Mouryne lovingly would design and bake theme birthday cakes for each daughter as well as sons-in-law and all five grandchildren. A family tradition started by Mouryne was an early morning call “singing happy birthday and let’s count how many years each has had” for each and every family member without fail each and every year! From Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, to Easter and Fourth of July celebrations, Mouryne would make that day special for everyone. That loving recognition of others was manifested throughout her career as well, with holiday decorations, cupcakes, birth announcement posters, many times prepared well into the night or early in the morning. Whether a co-worker or her large legislative staff, each and every person was special to Mouryne.
Mouryne would work as executive secretary for the Nevada Central Data Processing Division, and while there learned about the opportunity to work for the Nevada Legislature where she served with distinction. As Chief Clerk from 1973 to 1995, Mouryne would dutifully work under both Republican and Democratic leadership in a principled, professional, and non-partisan manner. After retirement in 1995, Mouryne received the Nevada Assembly Wall of Distinction Membership as the sixth inductee and first non-elected assembly member in 2007.
Mouryne’s many other accomplishments include: Beta Sigma Phi president, Eastern Star Worthy Matron, PEO chapter N member, Church choirs (50 yrs.), National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries (ASLCS), NCSL Executive Committee and ASLCS President. Additionally, Mouryne served for 11 years as a member of the Mason’s Manual Revision Commission, modernizing the parliamentary document of states’ legislative bodies.
Mouryne’s husband Del passed away on June 5, 1991. On October 21, 1995, Mouryne married Joseph E. Dini Jr., a widower and long-time speaker of the Nevada Assembly. Mouryne and Joe would spend most of their 19 married years in their Yerington home close to the Dini clan and utilize the Carson residence for visits and time with nearby daughters’ families.
After Joe’s passing, Mouryne maintained her primary residence in Yerington for a year, spending time with the bonds of Joe’s family, her many friends, Eastern Star, Red Hat Club, and Methodist Church acquaintances. In 2015, Mouryne moved back to her beloved residence overlooking Carson City to be closer to her daughters’ families.
In October 2016, Mouryne, with her cherished dog “Baxter”, chose to move into the Carson Plaza Independent Living Community where she would continue to meet new friends and participate in many group activities, including being an Ambassador for the Plaza community. Mouryne’s 2018 Fourth of July was blessed with a family reunion of all her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She is survived by: Jeanette Williams, (96 yrs. old – sister, Medford); Sheryl Landing Seaman, (Paul) Carson City – grandson Matthew Seaman, (Chrystal) Phoenix, AZ with great-grandchildren Hailey, Ella, Noah; granddaughter Kathryn Seaman St.Clair, (Edwin) Eugene, OR with great-grandchildren Emerson, Mackenna; Lisa Landing Menath, (Mike) Incline Village – grandsons LtC, Dr. Ryan Menath, (Nannette) Colorado Springs, CO with great-grandchildren Ryker, Brecken, Felicity; Jacob Menath, (Kristin) San Diego, CA with great-grandchildren Skyler, Tinley; Scott Menath, (Ashley) Reno, NV with great-grandchildren Stetson, Shepherd; and the many nieces, nephews of the Landing family; stepsons Jay Dini, (Kathy), George Dini, (Gretchen), David Dini, (Karen), Mike Dini, (Rob), and numerous step grandchildren and step great-grandchildren in the Dini family.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, September 22, 2018, at 2pm at First Presbyterian Church, 306 Musser Street, Carson City, NV.
A family burial ceremony will be held in late October at the family burial site in Ashland, Oregon.
If you would like to donate in Mouryne’s memory, please do so to: First Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, 306 W. Musser, Carson City, NV 89703 or Community United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 109, Yerington NV 89447.
