Beginning Mother's story in her own words, it is appropriate to remember her utter unselfishness, her ability to converse on any subject, and her lifelong thirst for learning.
I, Lovisa Hammond, was born October 11, 1904, in Providence, Utah, in the house at Second South and Second East, the only daughter of Horace and Salina Tibbitts Hammond. My childhood, in many respects, was filled with enjoyable experiences.
I walked at eight months and was a tomboy by nature and environment. Mother never looked for me on the ground; I was either up in a tree, climbing the rafters in the barn, riding something, or roaming the hills.
I used to visit my grandparents, George and Mary Tibbitts, and my playmate on these occasions was my mother's sister, Veda, who was just two years older than I. We used to tease an old Rhode Island red rooster who chased us down to the house. We became very good runners. Greta Tibbitts, a cousin who lived just through the block, would get out her mother's tin tub and we would float in it down the "big ditch," which ran in front of Greta's house.
My primary school experience started in September of 1909 and my teachers were: 1st, Maggie Baer (Hansen); 2nd, Chloe Pridy (Stewart); 3rd, Virginia Leatham; 5th, Mrs. Obrey (Oldham); 6th, Joseph Campbell; and 7th, A. E. Allen.
When I was in the fifth grade, a story I wrote was chosen to be read by me at the Eight Grade Commencement Exercises. For a time I thought that I would become a writer.
My high school was begun at Brigham Young College (BYC) in Logan and then two years at South Cache in Hyrum, Utah. I finished high school in three years. The second year I was vice-president of the class and a reporter for the "Clarion," the school newspaper. I was cheerleader in my second and third years and our uniforms were whatever we wore to school.
I was editor of the year book and a member of the debate team for two years. The morning of the State Debate at Oneida, I awoke with mumps. Connie Peterson took my place. I remember being broken-hearted that they did not win.
I worked for Henry Gessell in his combination grocery, candy, and ice cream parlor on Saturdays, Sundays, and during the summer. That summer I took 10 off-campus hours in preparation for college classes. By the end of my first year at BYC 1922-23, I had completed 59 hours of college credit.
I had the leading role in a play and Reuben Law played the leading man. He later became the president of the College of Hawaii. We were good friends. I also danced in the school performance of "Hits."
I went ice skating for pleasure, and participated in many sports played mostly by boys. I liked softball and was good at riding greased pigs. The Crimson Club (all male membership) asked me to join and I felt honored.
I walked to the college each morning along the railroad tracks between Providence and Logan (in the dark most of the time), and walked back in the dark at night. I usually carried an egg salad sandwich for lunch. I received my teaching certificate in 1923 at BYC.
My first memory of flower appreciation was when I roamed the hills searching for bluebells, Indian paintbrush, cowslips, violets, and buttercups.
I still love the smell of sagebrush. My mother taught me that sagebrush tea was beneficial to the hair. I gathered this pungent, tangy, smelly, miserable weed; carried it home and steeped it; and forthwith soaked my hair. I don't know what my hair would have been without this treatment, but I always wished there might have been something more powerful for growing luxurious hair than sagebrush tea.
Father was away some of the time in the rock quarry and Mother and Aunt Emma Hammond sang duets and told stories about the Valley. Laughter came easily and singing was one of Mother's gifts. We in turn, carried these old ballads that were a part of each evening into our own homes.
My mother read stories to us as well. I still feel the thrill of hearing Tomy Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, and The Merchant of Venice. Mother had only an 8th grade education. Surely love, interest, and desire more than compensated for any lack of formal schooling.
A Scotch collie dog was a beloved possession of our family. He chased away coyotes who stole our chickens at night.
Watching the horses, wild ones that my father broke or taught to be manageable, were wonderful experiences. I can still see them racing about. My father, being a gentle handler of horses, was very impatient with people who mistreated animals. He never made me learn to milk cows because I was afraid of them.
Maybe it was because I was an only girl, but I didn't learn to ride or enjoy horses like my father. Both Mother and Father placed high value on getting an education. Maybe my father thought I would neglect my lessons if I learned to ride.
Brother Thomas Stirland lived just below our place and he grew the first tulips in Providence. He also grew the finest trees in our valley. He planted a row of tulips in front of his house and one day when I was coming home from school, I was swinging on the maple trees in front of the tulips. As I swung from tree to tree, he cam out shouting. I ran as fast as I could and lucky for me, my father was home. He came to meet Mr. Stirland. My father said to him, "Whatever it is you have to say, you settle with me; don't yell at my daughter." I was forever grateful.
Out of the goodness of his heart, because I was never much help, I went with my father on some of his rock quarry trips up Providence Canyon. I gathered only flowers. I learned to respect and marvel at father's kindness and patience with horses and at his extreme strength and endurance. The only word of swearing I ever heard my father use was, "damn the luck."
Coming home hungry, I thought new potatoes boiled with their jackets on, and round steak with milk gravy was about the best food I ever tasted. For dessert, pudding or bottled fruit were the most frequent dishes. Cake batter baked over apples, plums, prunes, or apricots was a great delight.
Mother was always very helpful with neighbors who came to sew and visit. Her quilting club was a source of great enjoyment to the granddaughters who were allowed to sit under the quilt as long as they did not bump the quilt, making the ladies stick their fingers with needles.
Whenever Marg Nielson came to quilt, Mother would call up and say, "Tell Nina and Claire that Mrs. Nielson is here," and in the twinkling of an eye the girls would hop on their bikes and rush over to Mother's to sit under the quilt and enjoy the colorful, humorous stories with proper, or improper expletives.
Firm discipline was as sure as the sun rising, from bother Mother and Father. But, there was never any doubt that either of them would do anything in their power to help us. No sacrifice was ever too great where the good of their children was concerned.
Our parent also told us we represented a very special family so we'd better measure up! We did, about half the time, but our sweet mother said everyone is entitled to a few mistakes--or misjudgments--as she use to call them, "Just try not to make the same mistake twice." She also said, "Always walk as if you have someplace important to go--head up, sparkle in your eyes, and moving right along."
When we lived on the hill, we walked five blocks to school; but mostly we ran. At night, on the rare occasions when there was a silent movie in the old pavilion with Lavinia Frank playing the piano music, we walked down to see the movie and back. Those old shows were continued each week. They always left the leading actor or actress in some dire condition where we just had to get back next week to see if the hero got out of the snake-infested pool, or if the dynamite blast went off before they got across the bridge. We were surely conditioned in fear, but we must have liked it. Now I cannot stand an Alfred Hitchcock or Edgar Allen Poe picture. Maybe I had enough when I was young.
I think early training in running has been of great value. Roaming the hills and climbing the mountains made catching the streetcar each morning during my high school an easy task. We had six blocks to run to catch the streetcar, and I could do this in five minutes. Sister Beard used to walk out to the street just to see if I really got on the streetcar. I only missed it once, and then I walked the seven miles home after school.
When I was 12 years old my parents sold to Jule Kraus the house which my father had built on the hill, and we moved to the house down the lane on First East, where my parents lived the rest of their lives.
Youth was a wonderful time. Problems did not seem so great; everything seemed like a new adventure. The new house was so infested with bedbugs that we lived in tents until Jim Thorpe plastered all the rooms and coal oil was poured over all the floorboards to kill the bugs.
As far as I can remember Papa moved down off the hill and nearer into town so Mother would not have to climb the hill each time she wanted to go to town or to church. Papa said Mother had a "heart problem," so to make it easier for Mother, the children were given specific instructions to be sure their share of work was completed before they left the house.
How Papa knew Mother's heart was bad we did not know, but it is interesting that she died in her sleep at the age of 72 from a heart attack.
Mother and Papa drank tea and when Claire stayed with them she wanted tea, too; so, Mother gave her a little cup of mostly milk and very little tea. Grandpa Maughan drank tea also, but he did it a little differently. Each morning he would say, "Mother, I've got a headache; I must have a cup of tea." She was prepared for this "headache" and already had the tea on the table.
[Owen told these experiences]
Father loved horses so much and wanted his sons to love and appreciate them, too. One day when I was helping Father curry and care for his horses I became pinned between the two horses (more than a ton each of horse flesh). I tried to push one horse over, to no avail. I yelled for help. Father came, and with one slap on the horse's rum the horse moved over and I was free. Father said, "Owen, you do not push horses; you push cows!"
Datus and I used to go down to the unloading dock of the Sugar Factory where the lime rock was unloaded by hand. Father had been to the rock quarry, loaded the rock, driven it down, and was now ready to unload it.
He was grateful for our help. After it was unloaded, Father asked me to take the team and wagons home. I don't remember what happened to Father and Datus, but as I started home with the team, I dropped one of the reins, and the horses began to run. Soon it began to resemble some of the scenes from the silent movies. I jumped down on the center tongue of the wagon and then out on one of the horses and tried to stop the team, but with no success. As I came past the old blacksmith shop, some of the men who had heard the runaway, came out and stopped the horses. I was quite severely reprimanded for climbing out on the horse's back as I could have been killed.
Another vivid memory I have is of riding to the rock quarry with Father, leaving at 2 a.m. I would sleep in the wagon bed on the way up, waking only when the horses stopped or something unusual happened; when we arrived at the rock quarry, my job was to help Father break up the rock and load the five tons of rock into the wagon. This was a terribly hard job.
Father never had a son who took an interest in horses. This is strange considering how much they meant to him.
Myron Frederick, a much younger man, came to Father for fatherly advice, counsel and love. Father spent many hours of many days with Myron who appreciated the rare judgment, encouragement, and insight Father had in helping solve his problems. All his life Myron praised Father for changing his life, giving him something to live for, and a goal and purpose in life. He especially thanked Father for teaching him how to treat his wife and family. Myron had never known compassion or tender love and caring--all he had grown up with were harsh words and fighting. Myron said he dreaded to think of what his life might have been if Father had not helped and guided him.
When I was 14 years of age, I began teaching kindergarten in Sunday School with Lucy Frederick (Jensen). I also taught in Primary and participated in every play put on by the ward for four years. They gave me the leading role in all but one, and in that one I had the comedy part, which was a lot of fun. Leo Higgins directed these plays along with George Pickett and Walt and Dave Fuhriman. I was recreation leader or director for four years, dance director for three years and also was a member of the recreation committee. During this time I studied with W. ). Robinson, General Church Director of Recreation and Dance. He also taught opera and music at the BYC.
I taught First Grade at Providence School 1923-24, after having received my teaching certificate from BYC. I had 50 students and taught half-day sessions, 25 students in each session, far a salary of $600.00 per year.
On June 25, 1924, I married Ernest Baxter Maughan in the Logan Temple. We were both only 19. We lived in Wellsville the first year and a half. While Ernest worked in his father's store and went to school, I worked in the store and did substitute teaching. I taught Sunday School and MIA and took the lead in two MIA plays in Wellsville.
I had my tonsils and adenoid tissue removed by Dr. T. B. Budge in the spring of 1925. We bought our first car, a Ford, in October 1925, and our first child, Nina, was born November 9, 1925, in Wellsville. Dr. W. O. Christensen was the doctor officiating. Mrs. Bailey lived with us for two weeks to care for the baby and me. I still remember the joy of cuddling that little bundle up to me.
What a thrill to become a mother! We named her Nina in honor of my mother, Salina. Ernest thought Salina would be too much, so he compromised with "Nina." She was blessed by her father. The house where we lived had none of the modern conveniences. It was also the home in which Claire was born.
When Nina was six weeks old, we moved to Amalga where Ernest had begun to teach and preside as principal of the two-room school. He also acted as janitor.
Ernest served as ward clerk and taught Sunday School and MIA. I enjoyed teaching the adult Sunday School class, playing in the ward plays and being in charge of the recreation of the ward.
When I did substitute teaching in Amalga, I took Nina out to the school and played ball with the children at recess.
Each summer we lived the Ernest's folks while Ernest went to college at the Utah State Agricultural College (USAC); I worked in the store and helped care for the Maughan household. Mother and Father Hammond would have liked to have tended Nina so I could continue my education; but, I was unable to work that out. We enjoyed Amalga and her people. Some are still close friends.
On June 1, 1928, we moved back to Wellsville where Claire was born June 9, 1928. Sister Miller helped out for a few days, then Amy Pickett came and stayed for three weeks.
Complications with the birth resulted in childbed fever two days after Claire was born and caused a loss of milk. I was ill for some time with a high fever. Claire was a bottle-fed baby right from the start. She was a very tiny, but good baby.
We moved to Logan (Second East and Fourth South) in 1928 and lived there the year Ernest began teaching.
We the moved to Providence in 1929 and lived in the house owned by Bertha Bitters and now occupied by Gretta Theurer. We bought our second car, another Ford, that same year.
The Theurers bought the house in April 1930, and we returned to Logan, moving again to the house on Second East and Fourth South.
The twins, named Datus Hammond and Donna, were born August 3, 1930. During the delivery, Donna sustained a brain hemorrhage and when the twins were three weeks old, I contracted spinal meningitis. Donna became ill with meningitis, and was left with brain damage and severe convulsions for the remainder of her life.
She attended school until the 6th grade in the Providence Elementary School, but, was not able to progress and learn, so she stayed home from the age of 10 until she was 26. She became lonely, however, having no association with people her own age. On August 7, 1956, we took her to the American Fork Training School where she could have more social interaction. Another advantage was that the school was served by the young doctors at the University of Utah Medical School who thought they might have some new experimental drugs that could help her.
Ernest and I, then later George and I, often took lunch or punch and cookies down to Donna and her friends. We took her on picnics and rides up to the mountains. She came home periodically for dental work and visits; neighbors, friends, and relatives would come to visit her.
On April 7, 1973, Donna died of heart failure. She had been sick for some time, but she died suddenly and peacefully in the Hospital at American Fork. Loyal Hall, who owned Hall Mortuary had his son in American Fork Trainingt School at this time, and, when Donna died, he insisted on providing a beautiful casket and all the mortician services free of charge. Burial was April 10, 1973, in the Providence Cemetery. She was a tender, sweet soul and is at peace with no more of this earth's suffering and sorrow. She made life happy for her friends, who loved her dearly.
During the time I was so very ill with meningitis, Mother took the twins. Ernest's folks took Nina and Claire. Dr. Christensen, Dr. Hayward, and Dr. McGee all helped with my illness. Two of my friends contracted meningitis at this time and died. I remember when my father and Ernest laid their hands upon my head to administer to me and of the release from pain that came whil they were still giving me the blessing.
I remained unconscious for five days. When I did regain consciousness, I could see very little and the pain in my eyes was extreme. Later Dr. Budge said the blood vessels of my eyes were engorged with blood that same as when death occurs. I have had eye trouble ever since that time.
For five years I could not see to read; then gradually my sight improved. Getting well was a long process; I could not ask for what I wanted, I had to point; I could not spell. Ernest would pray every night that I could become normal again, and that my mind would recover.
We moved to 380 North and Second West and we bought a new washer and had a furnace in the basement. Ernest would come home from teaching school and wash almost every night and would dry the clothes by the furnace in the basement. Since Donna was ill most of the time and Datus some of the time (he contracted erysipelas and pneumonia when he was only a year old!) there was a great deal of washing to do.
Sarah Baxter lived with us for two years and came to help during the third year. Sister Roundy, a neighbor, also helped occasionally with the washing, and her daughter, Miriam, helped with the babies. My mother took Claire, who was only two years old, to live with them a great deal of the time.
Donna was ill from birth, and the doctor prescribed drops of alcohol to be given in her milk daily. It was during prohibition and the police had to deliver the bottles of alcohol to the house.
Nina went to kindergarten at the Whittier School in September when she was four. This was an excellent school. Her teacher was Mrs. Jones.
In September when Nina was five she started school at Providence, even though we lived in Logan. Ernest, who taught in a Providence school, took her with him. Sometimes she would stay overnight with Mother and Father.
In July 1932 we moved to Providence and for two years lived in Lola and Jesse Jensen's house while they were in Twin Falls. During this time Ernest made only $801.00 per year. It was the time of the depression and Darvel (my brother) loaned us enough money to buy Ernest a suit and shoes. It took us five years to pay it back. Ernest was president of the elder's quorum and did such a good job that in 1935 he was asked to be bishop of the ward.
We had moved across the street and lived for two years in the home where Norman Stauffer now lives. In both these places there were big garden spaces and fruit trees and small fruit which was a great help in sustaining the family food supply. Ricky Stauffer was a great help and her daughter, Roma, came to help tend the children. Dyrene and Jean Tibbitts also helped tend the children. They charged $0.10 a sitting.
In September of 1936 we moved to the old Campbell home at Second West and First South in Providence; then in the summer of 1937 we built our own home at 175 South Main Street. We bought the lot for $300.00. Darvel loaned us $100.00 and we were home owners.
Robert Blazer was the contractor. The original plan called for a full cement basement; 32'x28' floor space on the main floor; two bedrooms, one study, bathroom, kitchen, and living room, costing $2800. Later we put in a stairway, completed the upstairs, plastered half of the basement, put in a furnace and water heater, and added a carport.
Merrill Hammond was born on December 29, 1939, and since we had had no children for nine and a half years, we particularly enjoyed Merrill. I think his grandfather enjoyed him the most. Papa held him every day until his death five months following Merrill's birth.
Every summer while he was Bishop, Ernest would make arrangements for all the widows, orphans, disabled, or otherwise incapacitated people to have a 10-day vacation wherein they would visit temples and points of interest along the way.
In 1948 while we were on a trip to the Northwest on such a temple excursion, Nina and Claire painted the kitchen, hall, and bathroom. They bought a new electric stove and transported the old coal-burning stove down to the shed. With the help of their boyfriends, they installed a 220-volt line into the house, and installed the electric stove and water heater. It was all completed when we returned home.
Later Nina, while she was the Public Health Nurse in North Cache County, helped renovate the bathroom with new tile and linoleum and installed a carpet for the back bedroom.
Ernest served as Bishop for 12 years and also served as Mayor of Providence. It was during the time Ernest was Mayor that he was instrumental in getting water piped out to the cemetery, March 8, 1949. He also organized the Cache County Mayors Association, which still is very active in helping make improvements in the Valley.
When my health improved, I began working in the Church again, first as the Gleaner leader, then as president of the MIA with Phebe Robinson and Wanda Matthews as counselors. I also served on the MIA stake board and was a stake board visiting teaching leader in Relief Society. I was a counselor to Sister Ada Morrell on the Relief Society stake board, and when the stake was divided in 1946, I became president of the Mt. Logan Stake Relief Society, with Winifred Allen and Mae Jenkins as my counselors, and Ella O. Davis, secretary. I served for seven years. Mother, as well as Ernest's good family, helped care for Donna while I held these positions.
Ernest was released as Bishop of Providence Second Ward on July 20, 1947; and because of Donna's increasing problems, I also asked to be released. In June 1952 I began teaching the theology lessons in Relief Society and served as MIA president with Elaine Carpenter and Alain Bitters and Elizabeth Campbell as counselors. Then I was a teacher in Sunday School for young married adults.
I have served in County PTA and Providence PTA organizations and as president of the Providence Literary Club four times. I helped with mental health and Polio drives and served on the Board of the County Mental Health Association; was Chairman of the County Cancer Drive, and won the State Public Speaking contest in the Farm Bureau Association of Utah, which earned an all-expense paid trip for Ernest and me to Yellowstone National Park for a week. I enjoyed doing substitute teaching throughout the county for many years.
I have enjoyed doing research on my genealogy line and helped to collect money for a marker for Great-grandfather Hammond and helped pay for continued work on the Hammond genealogical research.
Our children have been our greatest source of joy, inspiration, and help.
Nina graduated as an RN from the University of Utah/Salt Lake LDS Hospital. She served as Cache County Nurse and received a $2900 scholarship to the University of Michigan to do further study in public health. She was queen of the Gold and Green Ball in Detroit while she was there.
She married Stanley Peter Marsh on May 23, 1951. They live at 2486 36th Street, Los Alamos, New Mexico, where Stan is a physicist with the Los Alamos National Laboratory. They have five children: David, James, Dianne (Sally), Janet Claire, and Kate. Nina has held positions in almost all the Church organizations and particularly enjoyed her work as organist and pianist before their little branch could afford an organ.
Claire graduated from USAC in education and the Institute of Religion at Logan on a scholarship from Union Pacific. She served on a mission to the Eastern States during 1949-1951, afterward finishing her college classes at the University of Utah and receiving a teaching certificate in 1952.
She and W. Lynn Richards were married in the Logan Temple on September 12, 1951. They moved to Salt Lake City where Lynn studied to obtain an MD degree. They moved to the Deseret Mortuary where Lynn took night calls and also served as ward clerk while going to school. Claire worked in the pharmacy department as a secretary, taught at Granite High School, and worked in the Stake MIA.
Later they moved to Ogden where Lynn did his internship at St. Benedict's Hospital. They moved to Bountiful and Lynn finished his training in Ogden in anesthesiology. Claire and Lynn have worked many years in the Church. They have six children: Randall, Todd, Scott, Mark, Paul, and Joy Claire.
Datus graduated from the University of Utah, receiving an MS degree in education. He spent three years in the Service in Korea. He taught in Sunday School in Providence and in 1970 became the Sunday School Superintendent in Bountiful.
He married Patricia Critchlow (daughter of Apostle Critchlow) in the Salt Lake Temple on December 28, 1954. Their three children Teri, Dennis, and Tracy are all living in Bountiful. Datus pursued a teaching career. He was the Principal at Centerville Junior High School when he died in 1980. Pat has been active in church work, being president of Relief Society and a member of the General Primary Board.
Merrill attended the USU for three years; when Ernest died, he went to work for Thiokol in Brigham City in 1961. He married Barbara Pizza on June 20, 1964, and they have three children: Marianne, Michael George, and Mark. Merrill graduated with a BA degree from the University of Utah and presently is President of the Valley Oil Company of Salt Lake City.
He and Barbara live at 1402 Valley Ridge Drive, Sandy, Utah. Barbara graduated with a BA degree from the University of Utah and taught home economics in the Granite High School for several years. She currently runs a busy home and enjoys volunteer work for the Alta View Hospital, Football League, and other athletic programs in which her son participates.
On October 6, 1961, Ernest died of a heart attack while we were in Salt Lake City attending the UEA convention for teachers. He was buried October 19, 1961, in the Providence City Cemetery. There were several thousand people at the mortuary who came to pay their respects to him, to me, and to our family. He had contributed greatly to his family, his church, and his community during his lifetime.
The children did all they could possibly do to make life as pleasant as possible for me in Ernest's absence.
The Superintendent of Cache County Schools, Oral Balam (currently the new Temple President of Logan Temple), and the principals of the County schools did all they could to give me employment. I did substitute teaching throughout the county as I had been doing for many years; but now even more employment was given to me. I had no financial worries. Ernest had left $10,000 in life insurance which Lynn was using and paying me 6% interest. I also had Social Security benefits and Social Security benefits for Donna, which gave me sufficient funds to live peacefully.
I continued to work in the ward and stake and helped with my grandchildren when needed. Merrill helped at home. He was the only one left at home when Ernest left and Merrill tried to be of every help to me. When he moved to Salt Lake City, it was a difficult time for me, but again, the other children helped almost daily by phone and with visits. I appreciated this so much. Claire, especially, shared the burdens of my life at this time by her constant help.
In 1962 I was operated on in the LDS Hospital. It took a long time to recover for this operation. Nina coma home to nurse me, leaving her family for some time. I appreciated her coming.
Claire has been especially helpful in helping me with Donna's visits and care; and when Nina and Stan came home, they always did something special for Donna. Datus has brought Dennis and has come to visit us often. We appreciated this tenderness to us. Datus and Pat and family came to visit us occasionally, and their daughters Teri and Tracy always took over the dishwashing after dinner. We appreciated this very much. Merrill and Barbara and family came too, and we appreciate them and love them and appreciate their love for us.
Both Nina and Claire have been most tender and loving of daughters and I am most grateful for them and for their husbands.
In the spring of 1966 I had the basement remodeled. It cost $2,225.00 I used $1000 of Ernest's insurance money to help pay for the cost. I paid the rest out of my school earnings.
In October 1965, I bought a used Pontiac car for $1,250. I paid cash for the car using the savings I had built up in KeyStone Investment Co. and from my school earnings.
In September 1965 I was called to be a temple officiator and on September 10, 1965, I was set apart by A. George Raymond, President of the Logan Temple. I enjoyed this work and the tremendous people there with whom I worked.
On October 14, 1966, as I went into the timple to get a book I had forgotten, President Raymond asked me to step into his office. He asked me to go to Soda Springs with him to get some soda water for a temple fall social they were having. He had the Bluebird cafe put up a chicken box lunch to eat at Soda Springs. He told me of his family, his father and mother, and his early life in Star Valley. Several dates follwed at Maddox in Brigham City and in Providence.
On the fourth date he asked me to become his wife and the new matron of the Logan Temple. This proposal was on the lawn in our back yard under a full moon.
In a few days, we visited all my children to acquaint them with the proposal. They all approved. I was worried about giving up our home where the children had come so often and it meant much to me, but Datus said, "Mother, home is where you are!" So that settled it.
We were married in the Logan Temple on November 23, 1966. Brother Evan O. Darley performed the ceremony. Datus Maughan and Jack Raymond were the witnesses. We had a wedding dinner at the Bluebird where Merrill was the Master of Ceremonies and Stan sang and Sharon gave a lovely tribute to both of us.
The next day was Thanksgiving Day and we came home to Providence and had dinner with our family. Nina and Claire prepared the dinner. It was a dinner never to be forgotten. (Claire and Nina called up Aunt Verna Sorenson to ask her how to prepare some of their mother's favorite dishes. Aunt Verna helped as best she could, but the girls toyed with the idea of calling their mother for further clarification; however, Aunt Verna threatened them within an inch of their lives if they disturbed Lovisa and George on their honeymoon.)
On December 12, 1966, I was given a blessing and set apart by President David O. McKay, who was eating an apple when we entered his office. He tenderly, peacefully gave me a most wonderful blessing, with George accompanying him.
Earlier, President David O. McKay had greeted us in his office in the Hotel Utah, and although he had difficulty, he rose to his feet and shook hands and gave me directions and advice. He called for his wife to come to meet us, but she was asleep. President McKay said, "I'll tell her what she missed." That was an experience I'll never forget.
The experience of being a matron of the Temple was a tremendous one. I had great responsibility every day, but George gave constant help, encouragement, and counsel. I met people from all over the world. I learned to be aware of their needs and how best to help them. Because of the example of great love and concern which George gave to those who came, he helped me to develop the ability to love each individual who entered the temple and especially the dedicated officiators.
For all those great experiences and blessings, I was most grateful to my Heavenly Father and to my husband, George. He was tender, loving, and kind in every way. Gratitude and thanksgiving were mine for these tremendous blessings.
We were blessed in our home because we enjoyed each other and our temple work. George read to me! The sisters I worked with, especially Sister Rex, were most helpful. All the sisters were cooperative and obedient to every call I made upon them. I appreciated this. Talking to the brides was especially challenging; but, God blessed me daily to say what he wanted me to say to these young girls.
We were called to speak in many places all over the Valley. Again, God blessed me. George took all these responsibilities in stride with no comment or fuss, and this helped me to be calm and less nervous.
On November 3, 1968, George retired as Temple President, and I as matron of the Temple. President Tanner asked us to remain in the Temple Home until February, but on January 15, 1969, we moved to the Canyon Village Apartments. This was a pleasant place. The Logan River ran right by our back yard, with large river willows and birch trees all around. We had time there to adjust to the change in our lives. We stayed on as officiators and George did sealings and performed many marriages by request.
On October 17, 1969, we moved back to Providence. We replaced the tiling in the bathroom and put in new fixtures; we carpeted the upstairs and wallpapered the front room and the bathroom. We bought a new sofa and new beds. With five double beds in our home, we hoped to be able to accommodate all our children when they came home.
George taught the High Priests and he and I taught the adult Sunday School class. We were asked to speak at many Sacrament services and special meetings. George also went home teaching and spoke at many funerals. He was almost always asked to speak at the services of the officiators who passed away. He performed marriages by request in the Logan Temple until it was closed for renovation in October 1976.
To be married to George had many advantages. We prayed together night and morning and said special prayers as we needed special blessings and help from God. He pronounced a husband's blessing upon me when my health wasn't as good as I would have liked, and I needed those extra blessings.
We had fun cooking together. George did the cooking and I washed the dishes. It was great! He made things taste so good. He bottled fruit each fall and that also tasted very special. George was so good to my family. George was especially tender to Donna, and I appreciated that. It was a blessing to know George and his family. What a privilege to live with this great man. He tried to help me in every way possible. My most profound thanks went to him for reading to me. He helped me with my lessons and read the scriptures to me, also many books and other things. I thank God for George.
We have had the privilege of having five grandchildren go on missions: David to Austria, James to Oregon, Randy to England, Todd to the Swiss-French, Mission and Tracy to Argentina. It was our hope that all our grandsons could take advantage of the great blessing of serving the Lord in the mission field. To be so near the Lord is a tremendous experience for anyone. But, God bless all our grandchildren in whatever endeavors they attempt.
On November 4, 1973, we had all my children to a Thanksgiving dinner. Stan had been invited to speak at a USU Physics Department seminar, so while they were here, we wanted to hold a family gathering. It was a joyous occasion. All of our living children and all but five of our grandchildren were present. Uncle Datus and Emily and Marilyn and Carol came to visit, and pictures were taken by Marilyn and Stan.
The next day Dr. Hugh Hammond hospitalized me for a phlebitis condition in my left leg. I had cut it in an accident while harvesting our apples and it had been giving me a great deal of pain. I was laid up for months, but it finally healed, and I had no further trouble with it.
On June 11, 1974, I was operated on for an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta. Lynn was asked by Dr. Hugh Hammond to suggest the surgeon for the operation, and he suggested Dr. Russell Nelson. Dr. Nelson did the surgery with Gunn McQuarrie as anesthesiologist. Lynn checked in on the surgery several times to see if all was going well, and to report to George who was waiting. George and President Rex had given me a blessing before I went to the hospital. I was grateful for the Priesthood power and blessings.
George stayed with me four days, then Nina came and stayed with me four days. On the eighth day I was released from the hospital and Theron Bringhurst came down in his air-conditioned Lincoln Continental to take us home. I wasn't sure I was going to make it home; my bed really looked good to me. I appreciated Brother Bringhurst's kindness and Nina's generous giving of her time and energy to come and help me and, also George's help. Nina stayed until the 22nd, when she had to go home.
George took over my care until the 30th of June when he came down with the mumps. He was very sick. Bishop Richard Baker and our home teacher, Harold Wallace, gave him a blessing.
Dr. Hugh Hammond, came every day, sometimes three times a day to help George, who was in bed for two weeks. Neighbors, friends, and the Relief Society sisters came and helped and brought food so that we could get along without too much difficulty. The Lord helped me so that I could help take care of George during this time.
It took George a month to get his strength back and be able to go back and act as officiator. He performed several marriages before the month was up, but each time he came home exhausted.
Robbie and her children mowed the lawn during this time and Cliff and Gladys Anderson and their son David helped to mow and keep the lawn watered. Claire and Lynn graciously gave George and Nina the hospitality of their home while I was in the hospital. Lynn, Claire, Datus, Pat, Merrill, and Barbara came to see me while I was in the hospital, for which I was most grateful. Sharon came and brought flowers that flourished for years. We appreciated this very much.
When Jim, Nina's son, attended USU on a track scholarship, he lived at the LDS Fraternity House and came over frequently to help and to eat. After he served a mission to the Oregon Mission, he returnede to Utah State and completed his education. He lived with us some of this time and we have experienced much joy and grew close to both him and his wife, Jan Baugh Marsh. They were most kind and helpful to us.
I am humbly grateful for our family gatherings, for all the effort and love that went into that rewarding project. Please, may I encourage you to continue a family organization and get together to uplift, to sustain, to encourage, and to build up each other. God bless you all, I'm so proud of all of you.
Study the scriptures daily.
Rejoice in the words of the Lord.
Learn His will.
Keep His commandments.
How do we gain eternal life, which is life with our Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ? By repentance, living the gospel, accepting baptism, living by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God, and enduring to the end in righteousness.
May 17, 1984, Katy was married. George performed the ceremony. That was the last wedding ceremony that he performed before he became ill.
On June 1 they took George to the hospital for heart problems. Because of his condition, he was transferred to Sunshine Terrace, where he ended his days.
My health became poor and Nina and Stan invited me to come to live with them in New Mexico on July 1st until I had recovered enough to go back home.
[end of Lovisa H.M. Raymond's writing, continued by Nina]
Stan and I enjoyed Mother's company for the next six month, during which time Mother was well enough to attend the Oratorio of the Messiah at Christmas in Santa Fe and enjoy many other pleasurable experiences. Our home was large enough that Mother had her own bedroom and adjoining bath away from the main living area, so she could have peace and contentment. Our children came at Thanksgiving and Christmas and helped care for her.
Then on February 1, Mother felt she could no longer breathe at the 7400 foot altitude of Los Alamos, and she asked if we would take her back to Utah. She stayed at Claire's for several weeks until the Providence Retirement Home was finished. She became their first guest. Her grandfather had helped build this structure, originally a rock church. After three weeks, she needed more skilled nursing care than the staff at this home could give, and we took her to the Bennion Care Center, where after three months she died with pneumonia. Claire and Merrill and Jim and Dave visited her often and took her to their homes. The day before she died, Jim stopped to she her and she said, "Jim, take me home." Jim wasn't too sure this was a good idea, since Mother seemed to have no strength, but the nurse said, "Whatever your Gramma wants, you do," so he carried her out to his car, took her to his home, and fixed a grilled cheese sandwich that she had asked for. She took a couple of bites, and then wanted to go back to the Care Center. That night she joined Dad Maughan and Christ, whom I'm sure she knew on a first-name basis.
She died on May 21, 1985. Her funeral was held in the Providence Second Ward Chapel and was attended by 600 people. Her children and grandchildren sang and played musical instruments and honored her with tributes of a life of service, love, and unselfish caring for neighbors, family, and friends. Her home was always a wonderful place to visit.