Introduction

Personal History

Lucretia’s Addendum

Lucretia As a Cook

Oregon Journal

Eastern States Journal

Europe Trip Journal

Lucretia’s Second Bypass
Surgery Journal

Funeral Service

Photo Gallery

Lucretia's Addendum

October 31, 1979

After I finished my personal history two years ago I decided that was enough history, but since that time so much has happened to us that I think I should go back and recall a few things to keep things current.

 Everything went along pretty normally until September 25, 1978.  On this day about 4 o’clock in the afternoon we were notified of our son, Don’s, death on the jet airline that crashed over San Diego, killing 147 persons.  Don had made his home in Sacramento for about five years and was making a routine flight to San Diego for the Federal Bureau of Roads to audit the company books when the accident occurred.  We immediately made plans to go to Sacramento to be with Maureen and family.  We left the following morning with Mr. and Mrs. Lazelle Stucki, Maureen’s parents from Santa Clara.  We did not make it all the way to California, but stopped outside of Reno Nevada for the night and went on to Sacramento the next morning.  Such a sad day for Maureen and five children.  They had recovered Don’s body, but would not release it to the family.  After a few days we convinced Maureen that she could hold a memorial service without the body and she went ahead with the plans.  She arranged a beautiful service.  She had a picture of Don enlarged.  The day of the service they placed this picture on an easel and banked the flowers around it.  His Stake President from West Virginia had flown out and was the principle speaker.  Don had been a Branch President and a Bishop for nine years in Charleston, West Virginia.  All of the girls (his five sisters) had flown in and Harl was there.  After the service the Relief Society served a delicious dinner at Maureen’s home.  Early next morning we left for Cedar City.  The body had been released and flown to Cedar City by the airline P.S.A.

 On a beautiful golden October day we burried Don in the family plot.  We held a short graveside service.  His boy friends and brothers in law were the pall bearers.  A chorus from the Second Ward sang “Oh, My Father.”  Prayer by Elroy Stucki, a brother in law.

Eulogy by Anne Judd -- a sister.

Talk by Craig Jones, a friend.

Song by Bert Carpenter -- “Going Home.”

Dedication of grave, Hal Hansen, brother in law.

Don’s death was so hard on Theron.  He could not seem to accept it.  Great sobs would shake his body and he could not seem to control his emotions.  He went down hill fast during the winter and early spring.  Maureen chose a beautiful stone marker which was installed in early spring.  I know that Don and Charles are together and I am sure that they are about their Father’s business.

 In February I suffered a second heart attack.  On February 14 I went to bed for three months.  Theron perked up and took care of my needs.  Early in May I was just beginning to get around the house a bit when Theron started to show signs of stress.  It got so he could hardly move about the house and he became disoriented most of the time.  We had Dr. David Brown examine and treat him, but on May 25 they entered him in the L.D.S. Hospital for testing.  After a week of tests they (Dr. Erickson and Dr. Jacobson) reported that he had excess fluid on the brain causing pressure.  They recommended brain surgery to put in a shunt to relieve the pressure.  This was done on June 15th.  Anne brought us to Salt Lake and stayed with me until after the operation.  The first night after the operation he tried to get out of bed and pulled out his cathater and the IV’s, and infection set in.  He was in intensive care for ten days.  After that he seemed to improve and we took him home to Cedar about July 1.  From this time on he seemed to make steady improvement.

 In August the family started to gather.  First Judy and Randy and family came and then Kay and Richard and famly arrived.  On August 9th Marie, Hal and family and Susan and Kenny and family came.  Maureen and family came on August 10th in time for the first activity.  The children had decided to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary, which occurred May 29th while Dad was in the LDS Hospital.

 Anne and Harl had made arrangements to hire the SUSC school bus.  It arrived at our door at 9 a.m. and we all loaded on.  Anne and Harl were our guides for a tour and we visited all the places of interest in our lives in Cedar City:

Cedar Motel where we stayed our first night in Cedar and which caught fire during the night.

Will Jones home where we lived three months in the upstairs apartment.

Hospital where Kay, Judy, and Susan were born.

Second Ward church where we had gone to church for 41 years and where dad was bishop.

Schools -- Elementary, Jr. High, High School and college where all the children attended.

Dad’s office in the Science Department.  We walked through the campus and saw the site of the old Larson home just south of the campus where we lived for three years.

Then we traveled out to the site of our old corrals, the garden site by Sam Gentry’s where the interstate went through, our present garden site where everyone stopped for a cold drink at the pump well.

Observatory site being built in Dad’s memory, etc.  Then back home.

 At 2 p.m. we met at the Town and Country Restaurant where Dad and I hosted a family dinner.  Anne had worked out a Bingo program where everyone read short incidents from our lives.  They presented us with a beautiful crystal wedding bell and Family Tree which Kay had beautifully embroidered.  We then changed to casual clothes and all went to the cabin for the afternoon and evening.  We lunched on chipped ham on buns, potato salad, fruit salad, potato chips and soft drinks.  The young ones played in the creek and hunted fossils while we visited before a lovely fire.  We held a Sing Along with Randy accompanying on guitar.  Some of the family stayed at the cabin all night.  The rest of us went to town.  On August 11 we held a slide review at the college where we reviewed all the slides we had taken of the family through the years.

 Mostly we prepared for the Open Housse to be held that evening at the church.  The girls decorated the Relief Society room with family pictures and things showing family activities.  About 35 friends and neighbors called.  We moved Daddy’s recliner chair to the church and he sat in that to receive guests.  He got pretty tired, but managed to stay the two hours.  The sons in law had a ball putting together open faced sandwiches.  The grandcildren did the serving and did a good job.  Richard took pictures of all the activities.  It was a wonderful evening for us.  The family stayed for about a week and we had some good visits.  Daddy seemed to be stimulated and enjoyed the activities.  I was afraid when they all left he would have a bad letdown, but he seemed to be recovering nicely.  In the meantime, Jennine had announced her engagement to Keenan Hart and plans were set for the wedding on September 14th.

 Around the first of September Dad took a turn for the worse, and overnight slipped back to the same conditions he faced before his operation.  We gave up plans to go to the temple.  I tried to get him to the reception, but he only stayed a few minutes and then I had to take him home.  Jeannine had a beautiful wedding reception with more people attending than I had ever seen.  The line reached to the sidewalk and never let up from 7 to 11.

 After this, Daddy got steadily worse.  On September 17th we put him in the Cedar City Hospital.  They sent him home on the 29th or 30th.  He went back on October 1.  On October 6 the doctors decided to send him back to the LDS Hospital.  He came home for nine days, but he was so helpless I could not manage him.  We traveled by ambulance to Salt Lake on October 15.

 On October 17th they operated and removed the shut which had malfunctioned and become infected.  He has had a long slow recovery.  He is so weak.  They take him to therapy twice a day but it wears him out each time.

 November 1, 1979

The doctor thinks perhaps we can take Dad home to Marie’s for a couple of weeks.  Then if he is still improving we will go to Cedar for three months to build up his strength for the next operation.

 November 4, 1979

We took Theron to Marie’s today.  For the first week he seemed to improve.  Marie and I had him walking to the bathroom and once he even walked to the dining room and ate his meal at the table.  Then, overnight, he took a turn for the worse and went downhill until we had to admit him to the hospital on my birthday, November 17th.

 Since then, many teams of doctors have worked on him trying to find some other problem that could be making him so ill.  Nothing has showed up.  I spent Thanksgiving in the hospital with Theron.  I go down to Salt Lake on the bus every morning at 7:30.  From downtown Salt Lake I catch the bus to the hospital.  It is poor service and sometimes I have to wait over an hour in the cold.  I did buy me a pair of boots to keep my feet warm and that helped.

 Sunday, November 25

Marie offered to spend the day at the hospital and let me stay home.  So I got to go to Sunday School and Sacrament meeting -- the first time in many weeks.

 November 26

The doctors spent some time explaining to me that they had done all they could for Theron.  Now I guess all we can do is take him home and try to make him comfortable.  They may do a prostate to make him more comfortable.

 November 28

Dr. Lee (Ernest Lee’s son) did the operation on Daddy.  They found two large stones in his bladder which had probably given him trouble through the years.  I hope this makes him more comfortable when we take him home.  We are trying to buy a hospital bed and a wheel chair for him.  They are very expensive.

 It is very cold weather these days. Ten degrees was the high yesterday.  Will be glad when cold weather is over.

 December 1

Theron is failing.  He chokes on all food, even his liquids.  Doctors say they have done all they can do.  Will release him Monday.  By ambucar to Marie’s.

 December 7

From Marie’s to Cedar City by Mortuary Station wagon, accompanied by body being transported from Bountiful.  People said, “How could you stand it?”  That did not bother me.  After all, it was someone’s loved one.  But I was sick all the way home.  I guess it was tension and strain.  I had arranged to buy a hospital bed from Bob Hansen pharmacy and Harl had installed it in our bedroom.  This helped a great deal in taking care of Theron’s needs.

 Only once (on Christmas Day) did we try to get Theron out of bed.  Harl and the grandson in law got him into the wheel chair and we wheeled him into the living room where we had a lovely fire in the fireplace.  He stayed for about five minutes and then wanted to go back to bed.  This was his last attempt to get up.  He grew steadily weaker.  His limbs were stiff except for his right arm.  He could move it and would rub his hand through his now snow white hair.  Most of the time I stood by his bed and held or rubbed his hand.  He would beg to have us rub his feet and legs.  He became so thin that it was just skin drawn over his bones and we worked constantly to keep him from breaking out with pressure sores.  We kept him lying on a lamb skin and I made him booties of lambs wool to keep his ankles and heels from getting sores.  His speech was gone and he choked on even a sip of water.  Nights were particularly hard as he could not sleep and we could not make him comfortable.

 Finally Dr David Brown came and after seeing him said he would recommend Demeral to ease his suffering.  Harl would come every night about 10 o’clock and help me get daddy ready.  We would possition him on his right side  I would give him his shot of Demeral and a Valium sleeping pill.  We would adjust the covers and the restraint so he could not pull the covers off, put a hot water bottle at his feet, and most of the time he would rest easy until about 6 a.m.  We left a small light burning and the TV turned on low to give him a sense of not being alone.

 Daddy was so patient in all his suffering and complained very little.  Of course, his voice was affected and he could not make his wants known.  We tried to anticipate what he needed, like a drink or food.  We kept him warm, dry and clean, but there was not much we could do for him.  I sat at his side, rubbed his head or just held his hand to let him know I was there.  This went on until March 16.  At 10 pm he started what I thought were convulsions.  I called Harl.  He came and stayed until midnight.  We decided to call the ambulance and take him to the hospital.  I called the children and reported.  Marie came to be with me.  We stayed at the hospital all day and thought he seemed a little better.  Marie thought he recognized that she was there.

 I went to the hospital about 7 a.m. and knew that he had worsened during the night.  I called the nurses and Dr. Scott Brown, who was in the hospital.  He passed away peacefully a few minutes later, March 18, 1980.

 Everyone was so good and considerate.  The family all came except Judy.  She was in the hospital.  Quinn Patrick was born on March 18, 1980 by Cesarian Section.  We buried Theron on March 22, and the heavens wept.  It snowed a blizzard all day long with large white flakes falling softly.  I wished it could of been a nice day.  But Brother Shirley wrote a poem about it saying it was his ticker tape welcome in the realm above.  This made me feel a little better.  David also mentioned that he had never seen the cemetery more beautiful or peaceful looking.  The services were lovely and very fitting for Theron’s life of service.

 One small incident occurred.  Marie lingered to take a picture of the casket and noticed that they had dug the grave in the wrong spot.  We contacted the cemetery people and they made the correction before night fall.  I felt bad about the situation until someone mentioned that they could just see Theron chuckling and telling Don that they could not even get him planted in the right spot.  Sometimes a chuckle helps to ease the pain -- at least temporarily.

 Aunt Leda, Theron’s only living sister came to the funeral.  Their son, Roger, drove them down but insisted that they go right back, so we had very little time to visit.  Robert and Gene Toolson and wives, Eloise and LuJean came.  Barbara and Morris Thurston also attended.

 Kay, Richard and Marie stayed with me for a few days, and with Anne and Harl we took care of as many details as we could.  Later, Harl took me to meet with the attorney to settle legal matters.  Harl was named executor of Daddy’s will.  There are so many things to take care of.

 Since Judy could not come to the funeral and felt so bad I decided to go back to visit with her as soon as I could get things organized.  I rode with Anne and Harl when they went to April Conference in Salt Lake, and on April 7th I flew to Chicago.  I found everything well at Judy’s home.  Judy was home from the hospital and Quinn was a big healthy baby.  I stayed three weeks with them and then went on to Philadelphia to visit Richard and Kay.  I was much relieved to find what a nice area Randy and Judy live in.  It is a suburb of Chicago and very much in the country.  Nearly all the houses have about five acres of ground and trees surrounding their homes.  They are only about a block and a half from their church and only slightly farther to a shopping mall.  Their home is lovely -- large and comfortable (and expensive).

 I stayed with Richard and Kay for ten days.  Richard had just been sustained as bishop of their ward and was busy getting oriented and organized.  I helped Kay do two of her big catering jobs and wondered how she managed alone.  I visited one day at Eliza’s school, went one day to Valley Forge and spent one afternoon at the lovely Longwood Gardens.  They were breathtakingly lovely.  The tulips and pansies were spectacular, as were the fountains.

I had a very pleasant flight home on May 6.  I had been gone for a month and things were needing attention.  I hired Tom Lyman to rototill my lot and got about half of it planted to garden.  The south strip which Theron had ploughed up to plant tomatoes was more than I could take care of.  I hoed the weeds out and leveled it as best I could.  Harl came up one night and finished leveling it so that I could put turf down.  It was delivered about dark, and Harl and Eric laid it for me that same night.  Next morning I had the prettiest lawn you ever saw, and it has been a joy to look at all summer.  I planted 33 Eutin red roses in a hedge along the south side, backed by Tams.  By next year it will be a beauty spot to gladen the eyes.

 Kay and Eliza arrived the first week in June and stayed for 8 weeks.  Kay attended SUSC summer session, working on an Elementary Education certificate.  Eliza attended art classes and water ballet and spent a great deal of time at the new Jr. High Pool.  Kay hired Robert Brown to give her riding lessons which was the summer highlight for her.

 Kay and I took Eliza and Retta and spent a nice weekend at the cabin.  It is so beautiful up there.  We also had some nice get togethers with the family while Judy and Randy and family were here for a few days.  We also had a few hectic moments when the sewer clogged up and backed up water in the basement.  The plumber got it unplugged.

 Susan and her girls came and spent a day and night and we all got together for dinner on the back lawn.  LuAnne, Eric and Alec lived at our house during April and May.  They are building a new home and trying to cut corners while doing it.  I really enjoyed their company.  When Kay went home we drove my car up and I attended the Cooley Reunion and the World Conference on Records for five days.  Then David drove my car home for me.

 So now I am alone and having health problems.  I had such bad abdominal pains for a week that I finally broke down and spent a few days in the hospital.  They made some tests and decided I had 3 ulcers in my stomach, a bladder full of gall stones, and a tumor polyp that they were concerned about.  I will go into the hospital again tomorrow to have it removed and analyzed.

 September

Dr. Gaisford removed the tumor from my stomach.  It was about the size of a lemon.  He went in through the mouth and cut it in pieces and brought it up.  I stayed in the hospital three days.  They found the tumer to be malignant, but thought they had removed all of it.

 Dr. Lappe’ and Dr. Brown thought I should go to Salt Lake and have a test for my heart.  I wanted to stay in Cedar until after the dedication of the observatory, which was set for Sept. 26.  They wanted to have it on Daddy’s birthday (Sept 28th), but there were conflicts.  The dedication was a nice affair.  Maureen and family came and Hal and Marie and family.  All of Anne’s family was there, and Susan, who was expecting a baby any minute, came up the next day.  They honored Theron and family in both the dedicatory prayer and the talks.  We were very proud that this fine observatory was named in Theron’s honor.

 September 27

I went with Anne and Harl to Salt Lake and entered the LDS Hospital on Theron’s birthday -- Sept. 28.  On Monday I had the dye test and found that all four coronary arteries were almost completely clogged.  Dr. Lappe’ recommended immediate surgery and it was set up for Oct. 1.  I entered the hospital at 11 a.m.  Nurses and doctors made exams and took notes.  Had a chest Xray this evening.  Just rest tonight.  I went in for the operation at 7 a.m., October 1st.  From this point on I remember nothing for one month except what Marie tells me.  I know that I was in intensive care for several days.  When I came out of the anesthesia I had an incision from my neck to my navel.  This is where they opened my chest to get at my heart.  There was also an open incidion from my left groin down the inside of my leg to my ankle.  This is where they took the artery to do the bypasses.  These incisions were very sore.  I could not raise my arms, turn on my side, or get out of bed.  I was under sedation all of the time.  I don’t remember the doctors or nurses or anyone who visited.  Marie was very faithful and came every day and she reported some things.  They made five bypasses and the operation went very well.  It took the doctors five hours.  It was Dr. Kent who did the operating.

 Harold, Frank, and Helen and spouses vissited, but I do not remember much.  Brother and Sister Summerhays came with a girl from Londondery Ireland, but it is very vague.  They brought me a lovely floral arrangement.

 After two weeks Marie took me to her home and I spent the next month with her.  She and the whole family were very good to me.  It was an extremely slow and painful recovery.  At the end of this period I could get out of bed without help and walk around the house.  I did walk outside on good days for a few minutes to the corner and back.  Mostly I sat on the back patio in the sunshine.  Darrel Parsons and wife came to visit one evening.

 About this time Hal found out that he had to enter the hospital for an operation on his esophagus and a hiatel hernia.  He was going in on November 17,

 November 15

Charles and Lourie were married in the Salt lake Temple.  Their wedding breakfast was in the Beehive House.  Marie thought I could stand this activity, so she took me to it.  Charles was married by Elder Ned Winder.  It was a lovely ceremony and the breakfast was very elegant.  They had a reception in Granger that night and went to Cedar the next morning.  Marie said she would drive me home.  We called for Maureen in Orem and drove down to Cedar.  Marie and Maureen helped Anne get ready for their reception with many friends who called to wish them well.  I looked in for a few minutes to say I had seen the line and to congratulate them.

 Marie and Maureen went home the next morning and I was alone at home once more.  Neighbors and friends were very good to me.  The Relief Society, visiting teachers, home teacher, bishopric, and Eldro Rigby and the Applegates were especially attentive.  Food was brought in by the family and many friends.  I manged fine, but the days were long and lonesome, especially the evenings.

 As Christmas approached I tried to decide that I would make it as normal as posssible.  I invited the family to come to Brunch as they had for so many years.  We had a nice time, and it was not as hard as I imagined it would be.  I could look back on the many happy Christmases we had shared with each other.  I am grateful for the many happy memories I have.  If I can just forgt the last few months of pain, and I am trying to do so.

 Susan and family came up on New Years.  We had a good visit.  I had cooked a good dinner at noon and was just waiting for them when LaVell and Leona walked in.  We hurriedly set up a card table and they enjoyed dinner with us.  While Susan and Kenny were here they got a phone call saying that their house had been burglarized.  Ken rushed back.  Burglars had kicked in the front door.  As they entered it set off the burglar alarm, scaring them off before the police arrived.  They could find nothing missing.  Only a broken front door.

 About the first of February I rode to Las Vegas with Keenan who was going down for a three-day school visit.  I had a good visit with Susan and the family.  Keenan drove my car down.

 On February 19, 1981 Val, Randy’s only brother was married.  Randy and family all flew home for the activities.  They had so few days at home that they could not come to Cedar, so I went up and visited with the family at the reception in Bountiful.  I stayed with Maureen in Orem, traveling up on the bus.  Judy and Marie came down and spent one afternoon with us.  We had a good visit and it did us all good.

I started my “Writing My Personal History” class on January 1st.  There were 26 signed up to take it.  I have felt quite rewarded in giving it.  All of them have started their writing and gathering of materials.  There are about six who are nearing completion.  This makes me happy.  I am helping my neighbor Leta Cowley to record hers on tape.  I knew she would never get it written.  This way it can be transcribed later and made into a written journal.

 In February I was called to have my stomach scoped again.  Dr. Gaisford found three new growths which he removed and sent to Boston for analyzing.  The report came back that they were malignant.  So now they want me to go to Salt Lake for more operations.  I have procrastinated my trip to the Northwest to see Harold, Helen, and Frank too long.  I am determined to go.  Harold’s cancer is growing again and Frank has been in the hospital for over two weeks with a heart attack.  I’m afraid I have left it too long now.  Anyway, I have asked for a three week reprieve.  I am going to fly up March 11th and spend a few days with each of them.  Then I will come back March 25 and go into the LDS Hospital for a gall bladder operation.  While they have me opened they wil do an exploratory operation on my stomach.  If the cancer has penetrated the stomach walls and into my lymph nodes there is nothing they can do for me.  If it has not, they will operated and take out a section (up to 80 percent) of my stomach.  Time will tell.

 Today in Sacrament Meeting we had the primary program, “Families are Eternal.”  It was a very good program and done exceptionally well.  The singing was especially well prepared.

 March 10, 1981

Leaving by bus for Salt Lake City.  Left money with Jeannine to get a red rose for Theron’s grave.  It will be a year on March 18th since he died.  I stayed with Marie for a night and left at 9:35 a.m. for Seattle on a Republic Plane.  From Seattle I flew back to Yakima.  The flight was very beautiful.  It was clear and we could see the ground most of the time.  I was amazed when we crossed the Rockie at how rugged and wild they are.  I had just finished reading Sacajawea, the story of the Lewis and Clark expedition to the Pacific, and I wondered how they could have charted their course through this rugged country.  When we got close to Seattle I could see five snow-covered peaks rising to view.  I identified Mt. Ranier and Mt. Hood, but was not sure of the others.

 Helen and Darley met me at Yakima and we drove to Sunnyside where I stayed a few days.  Helen has a lovely new home they just moved into.  They were preparing to landscape and put in the lawn.  The next day we took a part of a frozen beef up to Othello where their son lives.  Met his wife and four lovely children.  Steve has bought a hundred acre farm.  Sixty acres are in asparagus and 40 in alfalfa.  This country is really developing.  New farms everywhere.  I almost wished I were young again and could take up a homestead.

 We went to a High Priest banquet on Friday.  They had the young men and women of the ward serve it and everyone was supposed to leave a generous tip for them.  They were trying to raise money for a temple trip to Seattle for baptisms.  They raised about $50.00.

 Sunday after church we drove over to Harold’s in Hood River.  Helen and Darley stayed over for a day.  We saw Harold’s films every night.  I traveled for thousands of miles and saw interesting places in the Holy Land, Tonga, India, Egypt, etc. and still did not get to see all of them.  Harold seemed some better and was planning a trip to China for next fall.  I’m not sure that he can make it.  Helen says she will not let him go alone and if he goes, she and Darley will go with them.

 It was beautiful weather in Oregon and the flowering trees were all coming in bloom.  We drove up to the old orchard where we worked 30 years ago.  It has changed a lot.  The cabin is gone and a beautiful home has been built in its place.  We drove around and noticed the many changes that had taken place in the valley, as well as the town.  I noticed the most change across the Columbia River.  Where there used to be just a few cabins there are now lovely homes built right to the top of the hill.  Harold said there was a church and good congregation of Mormons living there.

 On Thursday we drove to Walla Walla, Washington to Frank’s home.  Harold and Ina stayed for two days and we had good visits together.  Frank is recovering from his heart attack in a good manner.  He is able to be up most of the day, but rests a lot.  He has quit his smoking and looks much better to me.  He is not nearly as nervous as he used to be.  We drove all around Walla Walla and saw the beautiful farm land.  Hundreds of acres of wheat, asparagus, and lucerne.  It is especially fabulous viewing it from the air.  If I were younger I think I would try to homestead a hundred or so.  I guess I still have farming running in my veins.

 I came home on United from Pendleton on March 25th.  I entered LDS Hospital on March 26.  It was crowded.  I had to sleep in the hall for the first night.  I was operated on March 27.  They took out my gall bladder and did an exploratory operation on my stomach.  They did not find anything unusual in my stomach.  It was a very unpleasant stay in the hospital and I was glad to come home in eight days.  Anne and Harl were up to conferece and I rode home with them.  I was very tired when I got home, but suffered no ill effects.  I more or less laid around and recovered.  Everyone thinks it is marvelous how I recovered.  It seems to me that I have not done all the Lord wants me to do and he is keeping me here to finish my job.  People must consider me recovered for I have had four lessons to give this month.  I am glad I can be useful.

 In May I went to the cannery and helped can turkey.  I bought a case of it for my storage.  The last week in May was hard for me.  It was our 52nd wedding anniversary, then it was Memorial Day, and then graduation.  All of this brought back many memories.  Maureen and Melissa came down for memorial Day.  The graves looked relly pretty.  We had some fresh flowers and some silk arrangements.  Our cemetery lot needs some work done on it, but I don’t know how to go about getting it done.

 June was a hot dry month, making the weeds grow faster and the lawns needing to be mowed oftener.  I have hired Retta to mow my lawns and I trim them.  I try to weed one to two hours each morning while it is cool and again in the evening after the sun goes down.  So far I am keeping up pretty good.

 The last week in June I went down to visit Susan and family.  Sister Applegate had her breast removed for cancer.  She has been going to Vegas for the past five weeks for radium treatments.  I rode down with her.  I helped Susan bottle tomatoes out of her garden and did pickled beets, also out of her garden.  This is the first year that they have had a garden and they are delighted with it.  They have had peas, lettuce, potatoes, summer squash, cucumbers, onions and tomatoes.  I tried out Kenny’s pool.  It is fabulous.  They have a warm water deal.  Jets of warm water shoot out and jets of air bubbles agitate the small pool.  It is called a Jakusi and it is fantastic.  The three oldest girls can really use the pool.  They can swim and dive quite well, and spend quite a bit of time in the water.

 July 8, 1981

Went to the hospital for another stomach scope.  They found more growths and took 3 biopsy samples to send in for testing.  I will get a report in two weeks.  Each time I have a test it seems to affect me more and I feel miserable for two or three days.  I gave a talk to the primary children on July 5 about Ireland.  They are studying the different countries of the world.

 July 12, 1981

The bishopric called tonight and asked if I would take the Cultural Refinement lessons in Relief Society.  Also, they want me to teach another section of Personal History in Sunday School to the young married couples.

 July 15, 1981

I have been going to the temple each week.  I can go down with Ron Larsen in his van and do two names and it is not too hard.  We pay him $2 each for the ride.  Today they had a cloud burst and it rained 1 ½ inches in 45 minutes.  It is the first time I have ever seen the temple leak.  The electricity went off and the cooling system.  It was sure hot in the session.  Reminds us that it used to be this hot all the time before they installed the cooling system.

 July 16, 1981

I started my volunteer work with the Shakespere Festival.  I will be selling seats again this year. (Memorial Seats as a fund-raiser)

 September 22, 1981

Got a good report from the doctor.  All the reports came back with a negative mark.  That means that there is no malignancy even if there are growths.  I do have to work with the ulcers in my stomaach.  They flair up every now and then.

 Hal and Marie and Julie and Curtis came down today.  Hal put in a new wash basin and cupboard to hold it and put two new insides in the toilets.  They had both been leaking badly.  I feel that I am spending more money than I should, but these repairs need to be made to keep the home up.

 July 24, 1981

Went to Ward breakfast.  Then Marie and children and I went to the pioneer meeting and the parade.  After the parade, Hal said he would take me to the mountain.  It was a good chance for me.  We packed a lunch and took Retta with us.  The mountain looks good.  The cabin needs work done.  We found where the mice were getting in.  It will take a carpenter to fix it.

 July 30, 1981

Retta, Anne and I went up to clean the cabin.  I have never seen so many mouse tracks and dead mice.  I guess we cleaned out 20 at least.  It took a lot of cleaning.  I brought down everything I could wash.  Anne took Retta and her friends to the cabin Monday afternoon.  They stayed overnight.

 August 5, 1981

Found a bird in my fireplace.  It had come down the chimney and was sure making a struggle to get out.  I finally called Harl and he came and caught it and turned it loose.

 August 12, 1981

Went to the temple today.  I have been going every Wednesday with Ron Larsen.  He takes his van and we do two sessions.  Today Carolyn Lyman went through for her endowment.  She will be married on Friday.  She is going to have her reception at Leta Cowley’s home.

 August 14, 1981

Spent the most of the day helping Leta get ready for the wedding.  Cleaned the driveway and patio, trimmed lawn edges and pulled weeds.  Looks stormy -- hope they will not be driven indoors.

 August 15

Have tickets for B.B.C. filming at Shakespeare.  It was most interesting.  They brought their professional actors and filmed excerpts in our outdoor theater.  They say it is the most authentic Shakespeare theater in the world.  We were rained out about 3:30 p.m.

 August 19-26

Attended two sessions of the temple both days.  On the 19th we had overflow sessions.  Enterprise stake was there 500 strong.  The 26th was not quite as big.  I sure get tired doing two sessions, but it is hardly worth going down to St. George for one session when gasoline is so expensive.

 August 27

This week finishes the Shakespeare Festival.  Everyone is so tired.  I hope it does not grow any bigger.  It seems to me that it is like having a tiger by the tail -- you can’t let it go and you can’t quite swing it.  Fred offered to pay my way if I would go with them to England, but I told him I would just be a burden to them.  I know I could not keep up with a group of young people on tour.

 September 6

Changed schedules at church.  We now have the afternoon schedule.  I do not like it as well as the morning schedule, but I guess we will get used to it.

 Sept 9

Went to the temple this morning.  It is easier for me as I am not tired when I start out.  It takes 8 hours to go down for 2 sessions and that is about all I can do.  It is a joy to work in the temple, but I cannot deny that it is tiring.  I put Harold’s name on the prayer list.  He is bad again and in the hospital.  This cancer has filled his lungs and he fights for every breath he takes.

 September 13

Gary Graff spoke in sacrament meeting today on Chastity.  It was a pretty strong and straight forward talk, and I suppose it was needed, although I think the ones who needed it most were not there.

 Sept. 20

Today was the day I gave my lesson in Relief Society.  I was a little disappointed in the results.  I can say I stuck right to the lesson material, but the response was not as good as I hoped.’

 September 21

The past week I have dug and divided all my Iris.  They were so matted and grown together that it was quite an undertaking.  I have spoken to go to Salt Lake with Harl.  He was going on Friday.  He called last night and said his meeting had been upped to Thursday.  I am still going because it will save me a $20 bus fare.  I will go and visit Maureen for a day and then go up to Marie’s for Ronnie’s farewell.

 September 22

Chere Ami club tonight at Zina Rigby’s.

 September 23

Arrived at Maureen’s about 8 o’clock p.m.  Maureen had gone to a show with her sister, Deanna.  It was Maureen’s wedding anniversary and she was so depressed.  I’m glad I decided to come as it helped her through a difficult time.  It is three years since Don was killed, and the hurt is still very real.  I took her to lunch on Thursday and we had a good visit.  She drove me to Marie’s on Friday afternoon.  I was able to help Marie with a dinner party for Ron and his friends before the Homecoming dancr.

 September 27

Ron’s farewell testimonial.  It was a good meeting.  Each family member expressed themselves and did very well.  After church Marie had prepared a buffet for family and out of town friends.  There were about 30 there.  In the afternoon they were holding an open house for Ron’s friends and neighbors.  I came home on the 4 o’clock bus.  It was a good day.  Ron goes in the mission home on October 1.

 September 28

Daddy’s birthday.  I took flowers to the cemetery.  I had some beautiful dahlias and roses and they made  a beautifu bouquet for him.  This is the seson of the year that he loved most.  I miss him so much!

 October 2

Rode to Salt Lake with the Applegates.  We thought there would be a missionary reunion, but they did not hold one this year.  We met the Tanners from Denver and had a Chinese dinner with them.  After dinner we sat in the parking lot in our car and visited about Ireland for a couple of hours.  It was very good and relaxing for all of us.

 October 8

Went to visit Charlotte Cane at the nursing home.  She seemed to be somewhat better in spirits.  Teressa Larsen had twin girls born today.

 October 10

Kay’s birthday today.  I called her on the phone.  All is well with them.  Florence is visiting until Christmas.

 October 11

Stake Conference.  Last night there was a special meeting for all adults.  Brother Burke Peterson of the Presiding Bishopric was the general authority visitor.  His message was to love people into the church.  He said it was impossible to force people into the church, they had to be led by love and example.  The general meeting on Sunday was along the same line.

 October 16-October 30, 1981

Between these dates, Lucretia took a BYU trip to Israel and the Middle East.  She had a wonderful trip and recorded the events of each day in a journal, which is in the possession of her daughter, Susan Ence.  Since I did not feel it gave particular insight into Lucretia’s life, I did not transcribe the full text.

 December 19, 1981

Got a frantic call from Susan that she needed my help.  She was trying to ward off a miscarriage and the doctor had ordered her to bed for a couple of weeks.  She had been working real hard to get ready for an open house for Ken’s office force.  She had decorated the house and a beautiful 12 foot Christmas tree and prepared food.  Analise had come down on Wednesday and served it for her, but she could only stay until Sunday.  I hurried and made an appointment for tithing settlement, delivered my gifts and left at 5 a.m. Sunday morning.  I stayed eight days and then joined the tour for the Rose Parade.  Susan and Ken had a fabulous Christmas.  I never saw such piles of gifts as were under her tree.  It was hard for me to handle the children, especially the baby.  She is a large baby and had to be lifted all the time.  I hope I was of some help to them.  I really tried to please them.  At least I could get meals and keep the washing done up.  I made bread and several batches of sweet rolls and cheese balls to take to the neighbors for Christmas.

 I joined the Beacon Tour Sunday at Las Vegas headed for the Rose Bowl Parade.  The tour is over half young teenagers.  Both Roundy and Steeles had their families with them and other young folks from the Rexburg area.  We finally got away from Las Vegas at 3 p.m. and headed for Calico Ghost Town.  We spent an hour there and then headed for Capistrano Inn.  We held a sacrament service in Mr. Roundy’s room.  It was very nice and well conducted.  We did not arrive until about 8 o’clock.  We had a lovely motel room.  The beds were super!  However, we had not found a place to eat.  Phylis is on crutches so we could not go out foraging, so we just snacked and went to bed.  Ditto in the morning.

 We left at 7:30 for the San Diego Zoo.  It is such a marvelous zoo.  It is lush and clean and the animals are so well cared for.  We took an observation train around 80% of the zoo.  Then we walked to the monkey areas and the birds.  There were some beautiful birds and some cute and active monkeys.

 After leaving the zoo we headed for Sea World.  There were 8 shows scheduled.  We got in five of them.  We got Phyllis a wheel chair and I pushed her to each of the pavillions.  We felt like we got the most important ones.  We liked the dolphin show, the Sparkletts Water Fantasy, and Shamu the Whale best of all.  We left at 4:30 and drove to our motel.  We found a coffee shop and had a good dinner.  Showered and to bed.  Our motel was the Catamaran Hotel in San Diego.

December 29, 1981

We left the hotel at 7:30 headed for Knotts Berry Farm.  Arrived at 10 a.m.  Tickets were $9.95 for adults, $8.95 for children.  This allowed you to go on any of the rides.  We got Phyllis a wheel chair and I pushed her around to watch all the rides.  We went to a couple of the shows and indulged in Mrs, Knotts famous chicken dinner.  We stood in line (or I did) for an hour.  The cost was $5.95 plus $1 for the tip.  It was a good dinner.  Then we boarded the bus and left for the Queen Mary.  All of us except Phyllis took a tour of the ship.  She could not make it up all the stairs, so went directly to her room.  I thought I would never make it through.  The ship was so big and we went up millions of stairs from the lowest engine room to the crows next on top of the ship.  It was very interesting, but I was exhausted.  We ate in our room and went to bed.  The rooms were very comfortable and roomy.  I guess you would say luxurious.

 December 30, 1981

We left at 8 a.m. for Universal City and a tram tour of the studio.  We got attacked by a whale, blown up, drowned in the Red Sea, drowned in a flash flood, and run over by a train -- to say nothing of struggling through an avalanche in a tunnel of ice.  Then we were taken into the studio and shown how they made the special effects.  Then we had a couple of hours free time and I pushed Phyllis around the park and we got a bowl of soup.  Home to our hotel, the Sheraton Anaheim.  We will be here two nights.  It is in within walking distance of Disneyland.

 December 31, 1981

Phyllis decied since she had already been to Disneyland that she would spend the day with her niece, who lived close by.  So I went with Lucille to Disneyland.  We spent the full day taking in all the shows.  The lines were long and it was tiring, but we made it to most of the important ones.  We even took in the Matterhorn, though I don’t know how I ever endured it.  Never again!  The ones we enjoyed most were “It’s a Small World,” The Tiki House, which was all done by birds, The Pirates of the Carribean, and The African Saphire.  We left the park about 5:00 p.m. and retired early.

 January 1, 1982

Left early for the Parade.  It had rained during the night and was drizzling when we left.  After we arrived at the parade site we had quite a long walk to reach the Grandstand.  It was hard on Phyllis and I wished I had my wheel chair.  After we got to the stands it was quite a feat to get Phyllis up in the grandstand.  Finally, with the help of all the ushers and the rest of us directing we finally succeeded.  It had stopped raining and although it was cloudy part of the time, the sun did come out once in a while to warm and cheer us.  The parade was good, but I decided I would rather view it on TV sitting in a comfortable chair at home.

 We were so disgusted with the garbage that was scattered around and left by people.  I don’t know how the city could ever clean up the mess.  It was disgraceful.  As soon as we could get out of the parking lot we started for home.  We stayed in Las Vegas that night.  Most of the group went on a walking tour of the Strip, but Phyllis and I went to bed after I had check with Susan and found that she was doing okay.  Next morning we left for home and arrived about 1:00 p.m., along with a good snow storm.  We were worried about the bus going on, but they made it to Salt Lake okay and on home to Rexburg the next day.  We met some lovely people and had a good time.

 February 13, 1982

Long space inbetween times.  I have had another heart attack and been in the hospital for several days and recuperating at home for quite a spell.  I am feeling pretty good but have no energy.  The doctor said I was to give up some activity and lay low for a while.

 February 21, 1982

I went to church today.  Meetings were good, but I was very tired when I came home.

 February 22, 1982

Finished my Homecraft Project and turned it in.  My eyes are getting too poor to do fine embroicery any more.

 February 29, 1982

Sent a $100 contribution to SUSC for Theron’s scholarship fund.  I don’t know what to do about it.  I and my immediate family are really the only ones to contribute and the children are doing pretty well just keeping their heads above water themselves.

 February 29, 1982

Gave my lesson in Relief Society today.  It was on Uraguay.  I thought it was an interesting lesson and fun to give.

 March 15, 1982

Went to Daughters of the Utah Pioneers meeeting today.  It was about early Mormon schools and it brought back memories of my teaching days 55 years ago.  I spent 2 years in a two room school teaching four grades and with a pot bellied stove for warmth and outside plumbing.  Tonight I am invited to Wanda and Lynn Broadbent’s for a dinner party.

 I have been down again with 2 attacks of inner ear infection.  It really clobbers me and is so hard to doctor.

 March 26, 1982

I am giving a book review at Claire Jones today for the special interest group.  There were 15 ladies there and they all seemed to enjoy it.  I gave the book “Bread and Milk and Other Stories” by Ileen Gibbons Crump.  It was stories of her grandmother’s life in Kanab and Orderville.

 March 25, 1982

Wendell Whitiker from Downey called me today.  He and his wife were passing through Cedar City on a tour to Arizona and California.  They stopped for a lunch break and he remembered that I lived hre and called me.  I wish he could have visited me.

 March 28, 1982

I gave the lesson on Pakistan today in Relief Society.  I have worried and stewed over it for a month wondering how I could make it interesting.  They seemed to enjoy it and were most attentive.

 At the last moment as I was going out th door I happened to think that I had a beautiful Sari tht I had brought back from Figi.  There are many Indians and Pakistanis who live there.  I took it with me and at the end of the lesson demonstrted how it was put on.  It is just a 7 ½ yard piece of mterial, but it takes a bit of doing to make a dress of it without even a safety pin to hold it together.  The ladies were interested.

 March 30, 1982

The month certainly went out like a lion.  We had wind and snow and blizzard weather for several days.

 April 1, 1982

I went to the college and helped address 15,000 Shakespeare brochures.

 April 2, 1982

Listened to General Conference all day.  There is a new rule on missionary service.  The boys only serve for 18 months, the same as the Sisters and the couples.  This is to relieve the financial pressure on parents.  It costs so much now a days to keep a missionary in the field.  This will mean that Marvin, Ron, and Jim will come home six months early.

 It was a good conference.  I especially enjoyed Mark E. Peterson and LeGrand Richards and Howard W. Hunter  Also Brother Simpson gave an excellent talk on divorce.

 April 3, 1982

Another good day of confernce.  I was saddened to see how frail our leaders are health wise.  President Kimball and President Tanner bore their testimonies.  Took only a minute and was so hard for thm.  They have to be helped wherever they move.  I am afraid their days of activity are over.

 April 6, 1982

Relief Society work day today.  They introduced the Pursuit of Excellence program and challenged us to accept it.

 April 13, 1982

Had our club Birthday Party at Hilda Parry’s, a nice dinner.  I enjoyed visiting.

 April 20, 1982

Had a phone call from Dorthy Sipson.  She said she had a chance to come up and visit for a few hours.  I invited Wanda and Genevive to come and prepared a little lunch for them.  We really enjoyed visiting and decided we should get together more often.

 April 25, 1982

My lesson today on Nigeria and Ghana seemed to go well.  Many people came up after the lesson to say they had enjoyed it.  I plan to go to Salt Lake tomorrow with Anne.  She is going up to take care of Jeannine and new baby girl, born on the morning of May 27.  All is well.

 April 26, 1982

Just before I left for Salt Lake LaVell, my brother, called from California.  He had been talking to Harold and seemed to think it was the wind-down for Harold.  He said Harold would like to see his brothers and sisters once more before his death.  LaVell was going u and begged me to go.  Helen and Frank could also come.  So I decided to try.  I made a reservation on the plane as soon as I arrived in Salt Lake and left Thursday morning.  Helen and Darley met me in Pasco and took me home to Sunnyside.  We left Saturday morning, intending to only stay one day.  But Harold was so pleased and begged us to stay, so we stayed three days.  In the meantime, Frank has had a coronary and they had rushed him to Portland to the hospital.  We drove down to see him on Sunday.  He seemed pretty good, but they were making tests and suggesting heart bypass surgery the next week.  LaVell said he would stay to see Phyllis through the anxiety of an operation.  I went home on Tuesday.  I could feel another bout of infected inner ear coming on and did not want to be away from home.  It is a good thing I came.  I got as far as Marie’s before it hit me.  The next day I had a chance to ride down with Jeannine and Keenan and I was glad to get home and not be a burden on someone else.

 I think our visit was helpful to Harold.  Ina said he had not felt so good for months,  His mind is clear and he could reminisce the old times with any of us.  He is very thin and the cancer has gone to the bones of his legs and he is in excruciating pain all the time.

 Since I have come home Ina called  and said that LaVell had helped her get Harold to the doctor and he had put casts on his legs to keep them from breaking and he was bedfast all the time.

 Frank had his operation and seems to be getting along fabulously well.  He called me on the 29th and he was home in Walla Walla.  That is a much faster recovery than I had.  I guess being eleven years younger helps.

 August 13, 1982

It has been a long time since I have written in my journal and much has happened.  One reason I have not written is becausse I have felt so rotten.  I have had several bouts with inner ear infection, a case of kidney infection, stomach scope, etc.  But I am feeling better again.

 Harold passed away.  I went up to the funeral.  Had an exciting time on the plane -- I passed out for some unknown reason and caused the stewardess a lot of concern.  The pilot advised me not to travel alone any more.  Ina is taking Harold’s death very well.  She will be very lonesome, but is going to remain in Oregon.

 On the first week of July, Randy and Judy and family arrived.  Their car broke down the day they arrived and was put in the garage for repaiars (over $600.00).  This cut out a trip to Las Vegas to see Susan and family, which was disappointing.  But there was no way we could crowd eight people in my little Volkswagon.  We had a nice visit with Judy and family and they enjoyed the new city swimming pool every day while here.  As soon as the car was repaired they headed for Bountiful where they had a Snake River trip planned with Randy’s brother in law.

 Hal, Marie, Julie and Curtis came down in July and Hal spent a day on the mountain trying to mouse-proof the cabin.  I sure appreciate Hal and all he does for me.  Susan’s baby was born July 10th -- a boy!  He was born C-section and Susan had to stay 6 days in the hospital.  I was suppossed to go down and help with the family, but was in bed with a kidney infection so Sister Ence went down.  I went down July 30th to be there when they blessed the baby.  They gave him the name of Kenneth Robert Ence.  All the relatives gathered after church for dinner.  There were over 30 there and Susan had prepared a nice dinner for them.  The baby is darling and good most of the time.  I stayed for two weeks to help Susan.  She is still quite weak from loss of blood.  Kenny was going on a scout trip for five days and Susan wanted me to stay for company.

 On the 9th, Kay, Richard and family (plus 2 French girls) came for a day and night visit.  They had a great time in the pool and taking in the sights of Las Vegas.

 March 7, 1983

I have not written in my book for a long time.  Most of the time I was just too miserable to care.  I will try now to recal a few things that happened.

 Kay and family came back from California and stayed a week with us.  We had a good visit and a few nice dinners on the lawn with the rest of the family joining us.  The two French girls were interesting, but different.  The thing they liked best was the food.  They were intrigued with baseball and TV.

 In September of 1982 I was called by the Stake President to work in the Extraction Program.  I hope I can learn to do it and that my healh will permit it.

 In October I had another heart ttack.  They took me to the hospital and did a great amount of testing and consulting.  After 8 days they sent me home.  They said I have an aneurysm on my aorta.  It is in such a condition that it was inoperable.  Their advice was to live as normally as I could but as carefully as I could.  They said that when the aneruysm breaks that would be it.

 I decided to try and go back to extraction.  I had missed two weeks of the training.  I finished and started extracting.  I found it easier than the training.  We are working on Old English records and they are very interesting.  The parish record I have now runs from 1740 to 1812.  I have extracted over 2,000 names from it.

 I also changed lessons in Relief Society.  I now teach the Spiritual Living Lesson and Joanna Brown has the Cultural Refinement.  It works out better for me.  I am now preparing a book review for club and the special interest group of our ward.  There always seems to be something to keep me busy, but I am glad that I can be useful to someone.

 June 19, 1983

I have not recorded for a long time due to many things.  After recovering from my heart attack, which was a long slow process, I finally got to feeling pretty good.  I was able to take care of my work, lessons and extraction progrm.  Then I found I had a bad hernia in my lower abdomen which needed attention.  The doctor said it would probably take a week to take care of it.  So I went to the hospital.  They found it to be worse than they thought, but performed a successful operation.  I left the hospital in a week and went back in 3 days to have the stitches removed.  I found I had contracted surgical infection in my navel.  It took them five weeks to cear it up and it was a painful and messy job.  I had to be taken to the clinic every day to have it drained, cleaned, and re-packed.  It was anything but pleasant, but I am finally on my feet again, able to go to extraction and be about my business.

 But I really got a low blow today.  I have known for some time that I could not keep up this large home and lot.  So I had put my name on Bob Gardner’s list for the next opening they had to rent one of their apartments.  I did not think it would come up for a year or more.  Well today I heard that Sarah Mitchell had died, leaving her apartment vacant.  I guess I will have to make up my mind to move.  I so hate to give up this home that I have lived in for 41 years with all its memories.  But I’m sure for the good of everyone it is what I should do.  Oh me, Oh my!

 June 24, 1983

Well, I had to make the hardest decision of my life today -- to give up my home and move into a small apaartment, but I know that it is to the best interest of everyone concerned.  I have prayed and inquired and the answer comes back loud and clear that this is the move I should make.  But there are so many memories and sentiments attached to a home of 44 years that are hard to leave behind.  Thank goodness most of them are happy memories.

 June 30  - July 15, 1983

Mother was feeling well enough that she signed up to go on the Hanks Temple Tour.  They started their trip at Disneyland, then visited the temples up the west coast through Oregon, Washington, and into Canada.  They traveled east to the Cardston Temple, then down through Montana and across to Yellowstone, then down to the Idaho Falls Temple, and ended at the Jordan River Temple.  Mother seemed to tolerate the trip well.  The full account can be found in her journal in possession of Susan Ence.

 July 19 to August 1, 1983

I has taken me three weeks to move.  Retta has helped me so much.  We have packed and unpacked hundreds of boxes, everything we could carry in the VW.  It is surprising how much you can collect in 44 years.  I even found 6 or 7 boxes of Judy’s, Kay’s, and Don’s books and school trophies that I didn’t know I had.  After I got everything moved that I could move, Harl and Charles came and moved the furniture.  I am vry comfortabe in the apartent.  I have enough of my belongings around me to mke me feel at home.  I gave all the excess beds, bedding and storage away to the grandchildren.  Jeannine especially appreciated the load we took to her.  She was most grateful for the lawnmower and trimmer.  It makes taking care of the lot so much easier.  I gave daddy’s tools to David and Charles.  There were enough to make a chest full for each of them.  Anne took the green chair and high chair and crib, Susan took the brass bed of Grandma Ashcrofts and the Springs and mattress which was almost new.  I am glad I could give these things to my family who can use them.  Oh, and Hal wanted the electric generator to use at his cabin.  It was a terrific job to move but thanks to Anne and Harl and everyone else who helped, we got it taken care of in good order.

 August 2, 1983

When I came home from extraction today I found Helen and Darley waiting on my doorstep.  What a surprise!  They stayed overnight with me and we had such a good visit.

 August 11, 1983

Barbara and Morris Thurston called and spent about 2 hours with me.  They were on their way to Canada.

 August 17, 1983

Went into the hospital for another stomach scope.  They are such miserable things, but necessary as a check up.

 August 21, 1983

Susan, Kenny, and family stopped on their way home from Provo and visited for a couple of hours.  They had been to a dental convention.  They have such a lovely motor home.  It would be fun to vacation in such luxury.  I had a real bad night with my heart.  I could not find anything to relieve it.  I guess it is all the pressure I have felt lately.

 February 20, 1984

I haven’t written in my journal for such a long time, and so much has taken place that I cannot hope to catch up.  I will mention a few things.  This fall I decided it would be easier for me to go East and visit the girls than for them to come with their failies.  So on November 22 I flew back to Washington D.C.  Stephen and Kay met me and we drove back to Philadelphia.  I spent three weeks with them and we had a good visit.  On Thanksgiving they had invited a Vietnamese family to enjoy it with them.  We all rode the train into downtown Philly and watched the parade ushering in the Christmas season.  This is the oldest continuous parade in the USA and it was lovely.  They had 45 bands from all across the US and floats, etc.  It was raining lightly, but not enough to spoil the parade.  We hurried home to our turkey dinner (cooking while we were gone) and what a good feast it was.  Richard and Kay are both such fabulous cooks!

 Kay was sick and out of shool for a week, but when she felt better we took a day off and visited in the Amish country in Western Pennsylvania.  It was so interesting to see the way they live, and their beautiful quilts -- hundreds of them on display and for sale.  I was interested in their clothing and their huge long clothes lines full of washing blowing in the breeze.  I even bought some old fashioned candle holders for my Christmas tree.

 Another day we and the neighborhood went on a Christmas tree hunt.  We cooked chili, hot chocolate, sweet rolls and cupcakes for everyone.  We went up into the hills where we cut (and paid for) 22 trees and brougt them down for decorating.

 I decided to go AmTrack from Rosemont to Chicago.  I left at 6 p.m. and arrived at 9 a.m.  I hired a sleeper, but slept very little.  It was too noisy and rough for good sleeping.  Randy met me in Chicago and put me on a train to Naperville where Judy met me.  I spent three weeks with Judy and hopefully helped her a little in her busy schedule.  We did one interesting thing with the Grubbs family.  We visited a nursing home and sang Christmas carols to them.  There were 12 children and 5 adults.  Some of the residents really seemed to enjoy it.  They clapped and sang along with us.  Others were too far gone to know what was going on.

 It was so bitter cold in Chicago that I don’t know how people cope with it.  It was 27 degrees below zero with a chill factor of 81 below zero.  Not just for one day, but for weeks.  I could hardly breathe outside whenever I poked my nose outside.  I went down to the big shopping mall one afternoon where Judy’s ward choir and orchestra sang the Messiah.  Judy was first violin.  It was good.

 Another night the whole family were invited to a friend’s house and we had a lovely dinner cooked over oil -- chicken, beef, hard rolls, salads and all kinds of relishes and sauces.  The Johansens.  One night we went to the adult ward party and on Christmas day to a special Christmas service,  We had a lovely Christmas and I left for home at 3 p.m. on Christmas Day.

 It was terribly stormy when I arrived in Salt Lake City and it was after 10 p.m. when I got out of the airport.  I don’t know what I would have done if Charles and Lourie had not met me there and taken me to their home.  I rode to Cedar with them the next day.  I was very tired and oh so glad to be home.

 I am now back in my regular schedule for Extraction four afternoons a week for four hours each day, one day at the temple with two sessions, Relief Society lesson, visiting teaching, Daughters of the Utah Pioneers (I have given two programs), special interest, and some college events.

 I did get out to the ground breaking at the college for the special events center.  It will cost 6 million dollars and be the largest building South of Provo, seating 5,000 people.  At night, Phyllis and I went to the banquet celebrating Founder’s Day.  It was very good but very long.  I was really tired.  Kem Gardner was the speaker at the ground breaking and Dr. G. Homer Durham at the banquet.  At the banquet they unveiled a picture of J. Reuben Clark Jr, the first President of the College.  It is to hang in their Hall of Fame.  Eventualy they hope to have all of the Presidents’ pictures.

 Today Anne and LuAnne and I picked Susan up at the bus depot and headed for Salt Lake City.  We were going to a sister’s reunion in Salt Lake.  Kay and Judy were flying in from the East.  We picked up Maureen and headed for the Marriott Hotel in downtown Salt lake City,  What a happy reunion we had.  We had not all been together since the summer of 1979 when we celebrated our fifty years Golden Wedding.

 It was stormy and cold, but we had a fabulous, fantastic time just sitting together and visiting and sharing experiences and encouraging and building each other up.  We ate in some especially nice places and the food was very good.  We had lunch at Hotel Utah, a quick meal at a soup and bagel shop in the Crossroads Mall, a fine dinner at Anabelles, and a Sunday Brunch at the Cherish Restaurant.

 We hated to break up and go home, but finally did when we had to rush Susan to the plane.  We hope we can meet again before I’m called home.  It was an inspiration to me and I am so proud of the family and the lives they are leading.  They are such a joy and blessing to me.

 Later part of May, 1984

Decided I would spend my extra airplane ticket to go visit my folks in Washington and Oregon.  Helen and Kathy met me at Pasco and we drove to Sunnyside.  I had a really good visit with Helen, Ina and Frank.  We did not do anything fabulos, but just got in some good hours of visiting and re-living olden times.  Frank seemed much better.  Ist is marvelous how quickly he recovered from his heart operation.  Phyllis is planning to open a fabric store in June, and they were deep into plans.  Phyllis will be real good at this sort of thing and she can give such good advice for tailoring and sewing of all kinds.  I asked Frank what he was going to do and he said, “I will carry the money from the store to the bank!”

 Darley, Richard and Steve had just completed a half million dollar project in Matawy where Steve lives and owns an asparagus farm.  They had built a large processing plant to process asparagus.  It was a badly needed project as farmers had to truck their produce every day to Sunnyside, a fifty mile trip through mountainous roads.  It looks like it will be a good help to the farmers.  After the asparagus season is over they plan to process carrots, making for a longer running season.  They had about 20 persons on the belts with the facilities to increase about four times that amount.  They had a large refrigeration room where they held the asparagus until it was shipped out in refrigerated trucks.  The day I was there there was a huge truck being loaded for Philadelphia.  That is a long way to haul asparagus to sell fresh in the stores.  The asparagus that is not top grade is sold to the factories for canning.

 June 28, 1984

I caught the early bus to Salt Lake City for the Parsons reunion.  I spent two days at the genealogy library trying to do a little check up on the Cooley line.  I rode the bus into Salt Lake from Marie’s.  Genealogy is slow work.  The microfiche is printed so small that my eyes could hardly take it.  Also the T.I.B. cards.  I felt that I did accomplish a few things, but I need more time.  On June 30 we had the Parsons Reunin at Cherry Hill Park.  It was a good group there -- over a hundred I’m sure.  There were 33 from the Henry Parsons line.  This was the most of any line.  We had a good report from our genealogist, Mr. Bloxom and had a large packet of completed pedigrees and family group sheets.  The officers and teachers were retained for another year.  They have done a good job.

 Marie and Hal brought me home on July 1st.  Hal scraped and oiled the cabin and repaired the door for me.  Curtis cut up all the scrap wood and old posts and cleaned up around the cabin.  It surely looked good when they got through.  Marie, Julie and I cleaned inside and washed all the dishes and pots and pans and cleaned the stove.  We could not get the gas turned on and had to eat cold food the first day, but after three trips to town and a new crescent wrench we finally got it hooked up.  It was so beautiful on the mountain.  I could have stayed a week, but we came down Tuesday night to get ready for the 4th of July.  Curtis and Julie fired crackers at the church parking lot.

 July 4, 1984

Attended the parade at 9 a.m.  Then Marie and Hal left for home. And I started preparations for the Petersons, who were to arrive the next day.

 July 6, 1984

Petersons arrived about 4 p.m.  Settled them in the Rodeway Inn.  After a dinner at home they had a swim and watched TV.  I’m afraid they have become completely addicted since they bought their new TV at Christmas.

 Friday I took a noon lunch to the park and at night we took a picnic to Kolob.  They wnted to go to Zion, but it was so hot and so far away.  Saturday we loaded everyone in the two cars and spent the day at the cabin.  We cooked wieners and marshmallows over the open fire, hiked, and played in the creek.  It was a fun day with a swim to cool off at the pool.  They invited Eric and his boys to join us and had a great time.  Sunday before churh I had a turkey dinner ready for them.  After church they came here and changed clothes and left for Provo where they were going to leave Kristin for a week of Youth Conference at BYU.  They left for home Tuesday morning.  I called them on Saturday and they had arrived in good shape and all was well.  Kristin will ride home with a friend and family.

 Sunday, July 15, 1984

Called Kay today.  It is a month today since Andrew Bradford was born.  Kay had been to the doctor for her checkup and the doctor said everything was fine with her and the baby.  We are so glad.  Stephen had just received his mission call Saturday to the Montreal, Canada Mission.  He enters the MTC on September 13.  We are all thrilled over this call.  He will be able to use his French skills in this mission, and it is a beautiful place to be located.

 September 2, 1984

Traveled to Orem to hear Craig report his mission to the Dominican Republic.  Craig gave a good report.  It was a humble and emotion-packed report.  I’m sure he must have been a very good missionary.  He told of the country’s depressed conditions and how hard it was to accept these conditions and then the joy he felt when he found these humble people ready to accept the gospel and the hardships they had to contend with when they did accept it.

 Later that evening he showed us his slides he had taken.  The Dominican Republic is where Columbus first landed and where he spent his last days.  He is burried there.

 Life goes on about the same.  I spend my days caring for my needs, doing the Extraction program, going to the temple each week, studying for my teaching assignments, and visiting teaching.  My days are full and I am content.

 September 28, 1984

Had a visit from 4 Irish Saints -- Janet Potts, a girl who gave me such good support in the YW organization while I was in Ireland and her girl friend, May Nickols (Janke), her mother, and another Miss Finlay.  They were here to attend General Conference.  They had lunch with me and we spent about 3 hours talking about friends in Ireland and experiences we had had there.  I was hapy to learn that many of the old faithful members were still faithful and that the economy was picking up.  Brother Lowry, the new Stake President, was doing a good job and the stake was prospering.

 Last week I had eight skin cancers removed by Dr. Duke, a dermatologist.  They were painful, but seem to be healing.  Three were on my face, and five on my neck and scalp.

 September 29, 1984

Attened churchwide Women’s Conference.  It was very inspirational.  All of the leaders of the Women’s organizations spoke and bore strong testimonies of the gospel and encouraged the YW of the church to stand strong in the faith.

 October 18, 1984

Marie and Julie came to visit with me over the weekend and while the men were deer hunting we had such a good visit.  Friday night we went to the SUSC drama of “Harvey.”  It is a delightful play and was so well done.  The boy who played the part of Elwood P. Dowd did a perfect job and the supporting cast was very good.

 Saturday I took Marie to the SUSC Ladies Faculty Brunch and sent Julie and Retta to get their lunch at the Pizza Hut.  When we came home at noon and had nothing better to do we decided to drive to Dixie and see how the other half of the world lives.  We drove to Green Valley, the new project which is building up into a huge community.  Then we drove through Clearwater, a smaller subdivision and on to Bloomington.  I have never seen so many beautiful homes and country clubs and restaurants.  It was a revealing trip for me.  They are building 50 tennis courts in Green Valley and several golf clubs are already in use.

 That night we visited with Anne and Harl while the girls were at the movie.  Marie had to leave for home Sunday after church to be ready for work the next day.

 August 10, 1989

Family History Report

 Lucretia Ashcroft -- approaching 83 years of age.

7 children -- 2 boys, 5 girls.  Both boys are deceased.

31 grandchildren

31 great grandchildren, as of today.  One more on the way.

21 family members have filled missions.

9 plus 3 spouses of grandchildren have graduaated from college so far.

8 grandchildren are attending college at present time

Judy’s oldest son, Randy Jr., has just been awarded the coveted Ezra Taft Benson four year all expense paid scholarship to BYU.  He also won a $2,000 National Merit Scholarship for science.

83 family members.

 August 13, 1989

Rode to Salt Lake with Anne and Jeannine to attend Curtis’s mission report.  He gave a good report.  Many family members were there to hear his report.  Thirty five of us met at Marie and Hal’s home after church and enjoyed a lovely lunch and visited as long as they could stay.  Lynette’s homecoming will be in 2 weeks.

 August 27, 1984

Again rode to Orem with Anne and Sharon to attend Lynette’s report of her mission to Spain.  She reported a good mission of contacts made, but of a humble try to spead the gospel.  She had some of her missionary companions at her report and they helped her with her program with songs sung in Spanish.

 The following letter was written after her second open-heart surgery in 1986

March 25, 1986

Dear Family,

Now that I am close to being at home again (I am at Anne’s) if I can control my trembling I will try and write a report.  I am getting stronger every day.  They have taken me off of all medication except for one pill and my nausea is getting better.  I still have some trouble with speaking, but it is getting better.  It seems they must have damaged my vocal chords when they put all the tubes down my throat.  The doctor says it may clear up in time and I think it is better.

 This has been a bitter ordeal, and many times I have wished I could have avoided it and just slipped quietly away, but I guess it was not to be.  Aunt Leda asked if I had any warning that it was coming.  No!  I had felt very good up to the day it occurred.  The doctor said that the tour had nothing to do with bringing it on.  I think I stood it as well as anyone who went.  I was tired when I got home and it seemed to get worse each day.  But I went to Relief Society that morning and then to Extraction.  But I was not there long when I knew something was wrong.  I could not get my breath, and it was very painful.  I barely made it the half block home and called Anne.  By the time they arrived all we could think of was to get me to the hospital.  They did what they could for me in Cedar and then sent me to Salt Lake via Life Line Helicopter.  They gave me an angiogram and found that two of my first bypasses had ceased to function.  They said it was either do a bypass or I would be an invalid the rest of my life.  So it has been done, and I am paying for it.

 I am having a hard time getting my emotions under control, especially during the long hours of the night when I cannot sleep.  But as soon as I can, I will go to my own apartment.  Sharon and I are going up tomorrow and I am going to supervise her cleaning the apartment, putting Christmas things away and unpacking my suitcase.

 Everyone has been so good to me and I am so grateful for all the kindness and caring.  I know the Lord has blessed me in answer to all the prayers that were offered in my behalf, and the wonderful priesthood blessings I had.  I have much to be thankful for.  I am not out of the woods yet, but I am getting close to the edge.

 Love to each of you!