Read Time: 4 minutes
Michelle Ashton was the kind of woman who left a mark wherever she went, whether it was decorating a wedding or crafting something special for a person in need. She spent her life turning ordinary moments into extraordinary memories, using her creativity to bring joy to others. There was something about the way she approached life—full of laughter, a bit of sarcasm, but always enthusiastic.
“You couldn't help but be drawn to her warmth and her fire. She was everyone’s best friend, and it was impossible not to feel her love,” says her daughter, McKell Gubler.
Living in the small town of Gunnison, Utah, Michelle thrived on being part of a tight-knit community. She loved knowing everyone, seeing familiar faces at the store or at the local football game. It gave her a sense of belonging, a feeling that followed her throughout her young life.
The summer she was 39 years old, Michelle started feeling unwell and eventually began throwing up blood. She was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Surgery and treatment followed, with rounds of radiation and chemo. It seemed she would be fine, but two years later, the cancer returned. This time, it was everywhere.
Those last months were a whirlwind. There was anger, sadness, and gratitude, too. Michelle’s humor never left her, though—even in the hardest moments. “She was a real rainbow of emotions,” McKell says. "I’m glad she didn’t hide her feelings because it’s important to remember our emotions are a part of us. You don’t need to protect people you love from who you are or how you are feeling.”
“I saw the nurses take care of her, and I knew that’s what I wanted to be. I wanted to pay the love and care she received forward.”
—McKell Gubler
Michelle’s family stood by her through it all. They made trips to the beach and spent nights together soaking up every second. “We could just live in the moment,” McKell remembers.
Michelle’s time being treated at Huntsman Cancer Institute made a lasting impact on her family. Her nurses became a source of comfort and hope. It was in those moments that McKell found her own calling. “I saw the nurses take care of her, and I knew that’s what I wanted to be,” she says. “I wanted to pay the love and care she received forward.”
McKell and two of her brothers, Gaven and Conner, went on to work at Huntsman Cancer Institute, walking the same halls and caring for patients like their mother. “I love being in a place where my mom was,” McKell explains. “It’s meaningful because of how she was treated. Now, I get to improve the lives of patients, as well as staff.”
As director of outpatient nursing services, McKell oversees clinics and infusion areas, working to improve access to care for those who need it most. She’s seen how far cancer treatment has come. Surgeries have become less invasive, recovery times are quicker, and places like the Wellness and Integrative Health Center now exist.
McKell is passionate about the future and expanding access to care through initiatives such as the Huntsman Cancer Institute location in Vineyard, Utah, so people don’t have to travel as far for treatment—something that would have meant the world to her family. “Just having an extra hour a day is precious for people,” says McKell. “We were from a town that had no stoplights. I know firsthand how difficult and intimidating the travel can be. If we can decrease that burden, it will be better for patients and their families.”
“I hope she would be proud. She was so excited when I told her I wanted to be a nurse...I think she would have loved seeing three of her kids dedicating their lives to helping others.”
—McKell Gubler
Michelle used to say, “Remember what you’ve been given and give without remembering.” It was a mantra she lived by, giving her time, her love, and her attention without expecting anything in return. That’s her legacy—a life filled with love, service, and a spirit that continues to inspire. Though she’s gone, her light lives on in the hearts of those she touched and in the work McKell does every day.
“I hope she would be proud,” McKell reflects. “She was so excited when I told her I wanted to be a nurse. I didn’t anticipate my career going this way, but I think she would have loved seeing three of her kids dedicating their lives to helping others, thriving in our fields, and fulfilling our passion.”