Bringing happiness to others always uppermost in mind of “Em” Ezell 

July 7, 1982, Southern Idaho Magazine. By Swede Hanson 

Emrys Ezell says he is retired. 

A multitude of friends say he is not. They concur that he may not be doing his work of 47 years anymore, but no one, they contend, can do so much for so many and claim to be retired. 

Combining talent with his desire to please and help others, Em has brought a lot of happiness to a lot of people since returning to Malad 15 years ago from California. 

He and his wife, Hazel, have lived for 10 years at 55 S. 180 E. and it was here that Maladians became aware of Em’s proficiency at getting things done when he transformed an old, broken down house into a model home of attractiveness with every imaginable convenience. After buying the property for $750, Em invested $6,000 more in materials and then completely renovated the old structure himself with the exceptions of spraying the ceiling and laying the carpet. Nor has the outside of the home been overlooked as it is surrounded with a large lawn, flowers, and bushes enhanced with a wishing well, decorative bird replicas, wrought-iron light pole, miniature windmill, and lodgepole pine fence. Their efforts have earned Em and Hazel “Yard of the Month” honors in the community’s beautification program. 

Son of Hart and Martha Ezell, Em was born in Malad, June 10, 1903, attended school here until the end of his sophomore year in high school, and then decided to quit and go to California. When he told his father of his decision, Mr. Ezell, who owned a blacksmith shop here, informed his son that he expected him back home soon. The statement was a challenge to the 18-year-old boy who vowed to himself that he would make “a go of it.”  

Settles in Van Nuys 

Leaving Malad on Jan. 6, 1922, Em went to the San Fernando Valley of California and settled in Van Nuys. He applied for work with Joe Bailey, a plumber employing a crew of 10, and was informed that he could start at $2.00 per day and would be raised every three months until he reached $5.00 a day. Em, accepted and the apprentice plumber began a career that lasted 47 years without a lay-off. 

After Mr. Bailey’s death, Em, now a journeyman plumber, spent two years with another plumbing contractor before joining the firm of Clarence N. Fox and spending 39 years there. He was married at age 21 to Lucille Maloy who died a year after their marriage. Six years later, Mabel Kimsey became his wife and they were married 30 years until her death in 1961. 

Getting Along With Children 

Em recalls that he wasn’t in the plumbing trade very long before learning that getting along with the children was essential if jobs in homes were to go along smoothly. “If the kids liked you, mom and dad liked you and were helpful. That meant a lot because our work frequently interfered with the normal routine of a home and the cooperation of the family made things a lot easier.” 

Em’s still getting along great with the young ones because anytime their bikes break down they head for Em’s house where he does a skillful and workmanlike repair job. And the same monetary policy applies here as with everything he does-no charge. 

The ability to take practically any old, discarded item and turn it into something useful brings many pleasant surprises to his friends. Taking time out from mowing the lawns of widows in his neighborhood, Em fashions coat hangers, boot jacks, door knockers, ash trays, and shoe scrapers from horseshoes. Novelties made from discarded farm equipment are also among his favorites with seats from rakes being a specialty. Fisherman buddies receive sets of electric shockers to bring worms to the surface of the ground. 

Age 79 and a recent heart operation that required three bypasses, implanting a new valve and pacemaker do not appear to have slowed Em down in his life of productivity. Gracing friends’ homes and yards are Em-built picket fences, light fixtures, plastic watering sprinklers, gun cabinets, chime sets, gates, sheds, planter boxes, and many other useful items. 

If Mentioned, It’s Done 

When the need for something is mentioned in Em’s presence, it usually soon appears. One couple refers to their home as “Em’s place” because he has done so many things to make it more liveable and enjoyable. Not wanting Em to overwork himself, some hesitate to talk about anything they need because they know he’s very likely to go about providing it. 

Adding onto his home, a young man was looking at a tough job in leveling the ground for the project when along came Em to volunteer his help and the job was done quickly and expertly. 

Em has been known to get overly zealous in his projects occasionally, such as the time he was building a gun cabinet to be presented to a friend as a gift and sawed off two fingers. Took a little longer than usual for the cabinet to be built but it was finished. 

When the courteous and friendly man takes time out from making the gifts to show his love, Em and his buddy Walt Jones go fishing. Here’s where Em’s shrewdness shows as he points out that in this partnership Walt provides the lunch, vehicle and gas while Em furnishes the worms. “Walt doesn’t know I’m buying the worms for a reduced price,” he grins. 

One of the regular recipient’s of Em’s thoughtfulness is his wife, Hazel, who will return from shopping and often find a vase of cut flowers, beautifully arranged and adding to the decor of the living room. 

(Picture of Em. Caption says: Emrys Ezell, a modern day Good Samaritan pictured in front of his Malad home.)