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Marie Savoy's mother

My Mother, 4 May 1925 - 27 August 2015 by Marie Savoy My mother was born Edna Marie Wright in Charlotte, NC on 4 May 1925. She was the 5 th of eight children born to her parents. She was quiet and shy until you got to know her. She grew up around family and so family was very important to her. My mother learned the value of work from her mother. While my grandmother raised children, she also worked long shifts in one of the cotton mills in Charlotte; maintained a huge garden of vegetables and flowers; and took her children to the Methodist church on Sundays. My grandmother taught my mother to cook and sew. In high school, my mother said she would stitch a skirt at night after her studies and then wear the new skirt to school the next day. Mother said her older sister always liked to borrow her clothes (this aunt was too busy with boys). This aunt said she even liked supper best when it was my mother’s turn to cook…hummm, boys. My mother went to school and loved to learn. Her favorite s...
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Ken Rogerson's mother

A memory of my mother, Louise Lawrence Rogerson Ken Rogerson, May 2020 When I was about 14 years old (pre-internet, pre-cell phone, pre-GPS, etc. etc.) I had an older friend who could drive. One summer night, we were out – driving around, getting ice cream (maybe or maybe not toilet papering someone’s home) and just having a good time. It was 1 am. I didn’t have a curfew, but I was NEVER out this late without agreeing with my parent’s beforehand that I would be. I hadn’t done this. I thought, “No big deal. I’m safe. Mark is a good driver. All will be fine.” And it was. I got home just before 3 am. I tiptoed into the house hoping to slip into my bedroom unnoticed. My mom was sitting in the living room. I thought my life was over. I thought she would be angry. I thought I would be grounded. But she just stood up, kissed me on the forehead and said, “I’m so happy you are home and safe.” Then she went to bed. The next day, my father was a bit angrier than my mom. During our discussion abou...
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Stephanie Santistevan-Swett

My great great great grandmother, Maren Marthine Halseth, was such a strong woman of faith. She joined the church in Norway at the age of 17. She then came to the U.S. by herself, against the will of her parents, leaving her entire family behind. She crossed the plains, settled in Salt Lake, married my great great great grandfather and had 12 children (10 girls and 2 boys)! I can't imagine the faith it took to leave her family behind and travel to a country where she didn't speak the language or know a single person. Eventually, her father and siblings joined the church and came to Salt Lake as well. Her story is a beautiful example of faith and sacrifice.
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Laura Hennessee's 4th great-grandfather

William Grady William Grady is my 4th great-grandfather. He was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in 1817, the son of Irish immigrants. He lived in a number of places including Baltimore, Philadelphia, Virginia, and eventually settling in Montgomery County, Maryland. He was a school teacher in his early adulthood and then became the county surveyor in Maryland. That was an elected position. He also served one term as a Maryland Delegate.  In 1839, he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was well acquainted with the Prophet Joseph Smith, Orson and Parley P. Pratt, Lorenzo Snow and others. It is unknown the specifics, but he was not able to emigrate to Zion. He continued to try to live the life as a Latter-day Saint, serving as an Elder, and presiding over a branch. At his death, his obituary (published in the Deseret News in 1906), stated that "notwithstanding he had much opposition to contend with, even in his own family doing all in their power to hinde...
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Mary Ross' grandmother

My Grandmother--Helen Laurene Baldwin Rose (1918-2013) For this activity, I zoomed with my mom, Helen Diane DeShazo Rose, since we are apart during social distancing. Mom chose four short stories to recount about her mother, Helen Laurene Rose. (My middle name is Helen after grandma and mom.)  I loved listening to mom talk. She would laugh as she remembered the telling of these stories from her mother. It was also special to reminisce in May, as Grandma Rose was born May 14th and it's a time when we remember all mothers. Little Girl Stories Let's start with the library. Well, you know that mother loved to read and she loved books. She claims that she fell in love with the library when she was six years old.  There was a hole in the hedge behind her house. She climbed through that hole and there was the library. When she went in, the librarian said she could come in if she washed her hands and was always very good.  Mother loved going back to the library. She loved telling...
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Terry Brixius' mother

This story is about my mom Nellie Scalf. I am a convert to the church and my mom was pretty upset when I joined the church. She initially blamed Bill for “making” me join the church. He told her, “You don't know your daughter very well if you think I could make her join the church.” This happened just after we converted to the church. Several years passed and we went to visit my parents on a trip with our firstborn son. We told my parents what time we expected to arrive home. When we got home, the phone was ringing. Bill got to the phone and found out it was my mother. She was nearly in tears and said, “When you left, you took something with you.” Wow! That was really eye-opening for me. I never realized that she could feel the Spirit when we were at her home and then realize it left with us. My parents never did join the church in this life, but I know they softened from their initial reactions. Their temple work and that of my older sister are done along with many other ancestors...
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Doris Slutsky

Henry Fayette Ferrin was born 10 March 1837 to Joseph Merrill and Chloe Paddock Ferrin in Dorset, Bennington, Vermont. In 1840 the family had settled in Watertown along with other cousins from New England. Mary E. Frazier was born 11 June 1837 to Thomas Jefferson and Angeline Bailey Frazier in Ticonderoga, Essex, New York. They married 8 October 1857 in St. Paul, Minnesota. After attending the Watertown public schools, Henry succeeded his father in the marble/stone cutting business at age 16. Local histories named this the oldest stone business under one management in New York state. "The premises occupied are large and commodious and a full force of marble cutters, sawyers and polishers are busy at all time. Mr. Ferrin is enterprising, progressive, and well merits the success he has achieved.” An undated business card of his stated, "H. J. Ferrin's Marble Works, #2 White's Block Public Square, American and Italian Marble Monuments and Tomb Tables.” One undated and un...
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