Loyal Mathias Hess 

(as told by himself) 

This is the story of my life as I remember it.  Some of the dates may not be exact, but are very close. 

I was born on 29 April 1900 at Farmington, Utah to Mary Alice Ufy and Joseph Lancaster Hess.  My parents were just visiting someone at Farmington when I was born. Their home was in Plymouth, Utah. 

I was the seventh of ten children, seven being boys and three girls. 

Joseph W. Hess 10 December 1887 

James Archie Hess 17 October 1889 

Ervin Hess 28 November 1891 

Merle Hess 20 April 1894 

Marvel Alice Hess 5 May 1896 

Lavern Hess 3 May 1898 

Loyal Mathias Hess 29 April 1900 

Evan Hess 7 May 1902 

Iria Isabella Hess 25 May 1905 

Kenneth Hess 24 September 1908 

My paternal grandfather, John W. Hess was a polygamist, having seven wives.  His second wife, Emily Card, was my grandmother.  My maternal grandparents were James and Isabella Ann Cowley Udy. 

I received my education at Plymouth, Utah and Brigham City, Utah. 

The first thing I remember well was when the railroad was being built to Malad, Idaho from Ogden, Utah about 1905.  It was being built about two and a half to three miles on the west side of Plymouth.  How I remember this so well was because they had Chinese men cooking for the construction crew.  These Chinese men would come to Plymouth to buy groceries at the country store.  We had an apple orchard south of our house and they would come to our place to get apples.  I would help them pick the apples and they would give me a sack of candy.  The candy looked like raspberries.  It was a rare treat to get store bought candy. 

On May 29, 1907 our family went to the Logan Temple for my parents to receive their own endowments and have us children sealed to them for time and all eternity.  Of course, we had to wear all white clothing in the temple and I had to wear a pair of Phoebe Nish’s bloomers, which I didn’t want to do.  (wear girls’ bloomers?) I remember we children running alongside the wagon gathering wild flowers as we traveled to and from Logan. 

When I was about seven years old my father worked on the Cutler Dam in Bear River Canyon.  I would get up around 4:00 Monday morning and ride with my father on the pony over to the dam site, then I would bring the pony home.  Then on Saturday afternoon, I would ride the pony back over to the dam and pick up my father and bring him home so he could be with us on Sunday. 

Along about this same time, Plymouth Ward was building a meeting house (LDS church).  It was completed in 1908.  It was a rock building built from the rocks from the hills northeast of Plymouth.  After it was completed some school classes were held in the basement since the schoolhouse was overcrowded. 

On 6 June 1908 after I became eight years old, I was baptized in the Udy Springs by Peter Peterson and confirmed by A.E. Zundel. 

I well remember the first car that came to Plymouth.  My Uncle John W. Hess (we called him Johnette) bought it in about 1909 or 1910.  We could see the dust of him coming miles away, so we kids would run down to the corner to meet him, then we would run alongside his car.  When we would stop, he would get out, brush the dust off himself and say “Golly, boys, I made it from Garland in 45 minutes.” (A distance of ten miles).  We were allowed to look but not touch the car. 

My father was a farmer,  owning land at North Fielding, Plymouth and north of Plymouth.  Of course, there was always plenty of work to do on the farm.  We raised pigs, chickens, horses, and milked cows.  We always raised a garden as well.  Being the youngest boy of the family, it was my duty to do the odd jobs and in the summer take the cows out to the field after they had been milked in the morning, herd them all day, then bring them home in the evening so they could be milked again.  Sometimes my brother Merle, who was five years older than me, would go with me but we would take the pony then.  He always put me on behind him, then he would lay back on me until I fell off the horse.  He would help me back up, promising he wouldn’t do it again but, of course, it was the same old thing over and over.  I was always happy when I got to go with the older boys, even though they were always playing tricks on me.  They would go out at night and hunt sparrows in the barn and they usually took me with them so I could hold the lantern. 

As I got a little older, it was my job to help get the horses ready for my dad and brothers so they could go and work, then I stayed and helped my mother with chores around the house and with the garden.  I guess this was the beginning of my love for gardening. 

Even with all the work and no conveniences, the families still had time to visit and have fun.  Many evenings my folks would load us children in the wagon and go to the neighbors or relatives to spend the evening, or they would come to our house.  The parents would visit and we kids would play games, pop popcorn and eat apples.  I wonder now how the adults put up with all the noise of us kids. 

Early one fall my father and mother went to Farmington, Utah, after a load of fruit.  They took Iva and myself with them.  We stayed with my Uncle John Fred and Aunt Nell Udy Hess.  It was the first time I had seen electric lights.  They even had them in their barns.  I went out with cousin Jesse to milk the cows, and while he was milking I almost wore the switches out turning the lights on and off.  We spent a few days there visiting, picking peaches and apples and getting them loaded in the wagon.  It was a long trip by wagon, 75 miles one way.  Mother would bottle the peaches and the apples were stored in the cellar for the winter.  We always had to get a pan of apples up from the cellar to have for something during the evening. 

My father, Thomas Archibald, and Dan Archibald bought a horse power thresher in partnership.  They would hook 6 teams of horses to it and they would go around a circle to create the power to operate the thresher.  Later they bought a steam thresher and did custom threshing, traveling as far north as head of Malad and out to Pocatello Valley.  Sometimes it would snow before they were finished. 

I had two brothers younger than I but Evan died when only 5 months old and Kenneth when he was only three years old, leaving me the youngest boy of the family.  It was my job to stay around home and take care of the pigs, chickens, and in the summertime the garden.  I also did odd jobs for my mother as she had poor health.  She had dropsy and was not able to get around very well or do much work, so I became close to her.   

I graduated from the eighth grade in May 1914, and my mother died 11 June 1914, leaving very much a vacant spot in our lives. 

In the fall of that year I started high school.  I attended Box Elder high at Brigham City, Utah.  I boarded with my Uncle John W. Hess, being without a mother and my first time away from home.  I was a mighty lonesome and homesick boy.  Every time I heard the train whistle I got a lump in my throat that I could not swallow.  That was how I traveled from home to school.  I would board the train Friday night for home and then ride it back on Monday morning.  We didn’t have a car and this was the main way to get anywhere.  My second year I boarded with my Uncle Jedd Hess because his home was close to the high school.  I attended for two and a half years.  Times got tough and I had to quit school to go home and help out on the farm. 

About 1915 my father bought a pool hall in Ogden, Utah and moved down there, leaving Lavern, Iva and myself at home.  Brother Joseph was married to Esther L. Jones on 2 April 1913; Ervin married Zella Agnes Nish on 24 May 1911; Marvel married LeRay Pierson on 8 October 1914 and Merle and Archie were both in the Army. 

On 29 January 1917, my father married Minnie Nickeran Greenwalt in Malad, Idaho.  She had two daughters, Vera and Verna Greenwalt, both younger than my sister Iva.  They moved back to Plymouth and stayed about two years, then moved back to Ogden.  Minnie did not like it on the farm.  There was too much work to do and she was used to city life.  Sister Iva went with them.  Lavern married Virgil Nish on 21 March 1917.  So I was left alone to run the farm and live in the big house with rooms alone.  I had a very good friend and neighbor, Ruth Marshel, who would come over occasionally and clean the house and cook a meal for me.  The house was too big for me so I rented two rooms out, one to Parley and Vilate Haws and Archibald and then to Robert and Cassie Nish. 

My father would come up during harvest time, stay awhile to give me a helping hand.  One morning he said he would fix breakfast while I took care of the horses.  Well, he made hot cakes .  I think he used flour and water, then cooked them.  They sure made good cartwheels, but not good for eating.  I told him he better leave the cooking to me from then on. 

In 1916 I bought my first car, a 1914 Ford brass radiator open car.  It didn’t have a heater, of course.  We didn’t need one because we never drove the cars in the winter.  There were no oiled roads and far too much snow anyway.  When the first snow came we would put the car in the garage or shed, prop it up on blocks, so it was off the tires, then leave it until spring.  In the winter we traveled by bobsled pulled by a team of horses.  The bobsled was a wagon box with sleigh runners put on for winter and wheels for spring, summer and fall. 

In the winter we would travel to the towns close around in the sleighs to play basketball and dance.  There was always a sleigh full of people.  We usually had so much snow that the fences were covered over.  We went over to Clarkston every winter, sometimes we would stay all night. 

On October 25, 1929 I married Lily Sylvester in Brigham City, Utah.  We spent a couple of days in Ogden for our honeymoon.  When we came home we moved into one large room of a house I sold.  We bought a Monarch coal range, kitchen cabinet, round table and six chairs.  I had my own bed and a wash stand that belonged to my mother.  We didn’t start out with much, not like the luxuries of today. 

I was plowing beets for a Japanese farmer at Riverside, Utah. After beet harvest was over there wasn’t much work to be had for the winter months.  Usually several men would take their teams and go to the canyon to get wood for our fuel. 

This was the year of the big stock market crash and the beginning of the depression.   

A little over a year later on 5 November 1930, our first child, a son, Darel L. Hess.  It was about 2:00 in the morning, after the election.  I was a judge of the election and didn’t get home until after midnight, so there was a lot of rushing and excitement taking place. 

Just a few days over a year later on 21 November 1931, our second child was born, a daughter, Iris Lee Hess.  She was born without the aid of a doctor,just a midwife by the name of Mrs. Janet Steed.  Then, 16 months later on 17 March 1933, our third child was born, a son we named Ferris J. Hess.  This was a very cold morning.  I was working on a new bridge being built over the Malad River, south of Plymouth. This was also an exciting and tense morning.  Our neighbor who had given birth to a baby girl several days before was having a struggle for her life and the doctor was running back and forth between her and my wife.  Lucille Marshal Haws passed away later in the day. 

We were very crowded living in one room with three children.  In May of that year, we moved into two rooms of the Smith home.  Work was getting harder to find.  I worked for farmers in the hay and on the combine and for sheepmen. 

In September, 1934, my cousin Horace Udy asked me if we would move into their home at the Udy Springs resort for the winter and watch over it for them.  They were moving to Salt Lake City which sounded very good to me.  There would be no rent to pay and they furnished a cow, chickens, three pigs and the feed for them.  This supplied our milk, eggs and meat.  It was an open winter, no snow, so we could travel in our car all winter. 

We didn’t have much money that winter.  My brother in law and I trapped muskrats and sold their pelts.  Before Christmas we had 8 muskrats and 2 badger hides to sell, which netted $13.00 a piece.  That was our Christmas money, somewhat different than now.  1934 was the first year we had a Christmas but we have had one ever since.  We had an enjoyable winter though.  We had chili suppers, ice cream parties, played cards and enjoyed the radio. 

One day Cliff and I walked down to the flume over the canal about a mile away.  We shot down icicles with a .22 rifle, carried them home in a gunny sack so our wives could make ice cream. 

In April 1935, we moved back to Plymouth into Marvel and Roy’s house which they were renting.  I worked for different farmers during harvest and haying.  Then, in the fall, we picked apples and worked on the potatoes.  I received part pay in wheat and potatoes.  This was still the depression and one was lucky to get a job and when we did, it was for $1.00 a day.  You had to bring your own lunch. 

Late in the summer of 1935 my brother, Joseph (Jode), who was living in Malad, Idaho, came to visit us.  He told me that he could give me a job for a while, perhaps not all winter.  I went to Malad and started doing carpenter for work for $15.00 a week.  I came home on the weekends.  Cousin Horace wanted us to come back and live at the springs again for the winter, so I moved my family there and continued working in Malad.  About the 1st of Novembe Jode decided he had work enough for all winter.  On November 6th we left the springs and moved to Malad into the basement of Jode’s house.  We livedthere for a few months, then moved into two rooms of the Daniels Estate house. 

In the fall of 1937 my three brothers Jode, Ervin, Merle, and myself went to California to visit our sister Lavern, who was dying of cancer.  Our three sisters all lived in and around California so we had a good reunion, even under the circumstances. 

In May 1939 the three sisters made a trip back to Plymouth and Malad for a visit.  A bed was made in the back seat of the car for Lavern and that was how they traveled.  Lavern passed away 18 October 1939 so we traveled to California for the funeral.  There were three cars loaded with brothers, sisters in laws, brother in laws and cousins. 

After returning home we moved into a three room modern apartment.  It was while living there that I quit smoking.  I was working up at the head of Malad and didn’t feel good. I had run out of cigarettes so I decided that was the time to give up my smoking and so I did. 

One day in June of 1940 a real estate agent, Thomas D. Evans, came to me and said he had a house I should buy.  It needed a lot of work done on it to make it liveable but since I was a carpenter it would be just the thing for me and my family.  The terms were to pay $1200 by paying $12 a month for the first year, then $15 a month until it was paid for.  We had to pay half of the taxes for that year which was only $18.22.  Our share was $9.11.  We bought it and started work on it.  We lowered the ceilings, put plumbing in, plastered the walls, put new windows in and painted and papered the walls.  We then moved in on the 14th of September with a lot of work still to be done.  We worked on it for quite a while, but after a lot of hard work we had a modern and comfortable home. 

World War II broke out and then things began to boom. 

On November 10, 1944 my sister, Marvel, died.  We made plans to go to her funeral.  Gas was rationed so we decided to go to California by train.  At every car they would tell us to go to the next car, this one is full.  After several attempts, the train was ready to pull out.  Finally they let us get on with standing room only.  The cars were loaded with service boys going to different bases and wives and children going to see their husbands and fathers.  There were six of us in our group and we didn’t see each other until we got to Oakland.  We were in several different cars. 

In 1944 I went into business by myself, doing carpentry and cement work.  I managed alone until my boys were old enough to help me. 

In July 1946, we took our family and accompanied the Frank Thomas and Floyd Hess family to Yellowstone National Park for a week.  This was our first vacation as a family. 

In the fall of 1946, with the help of Frank Thomas and Ben Stuart, with a team of horses, we dug a basement under our house.  Then we put in a coal furnace, which greatly improved our home. 

In 1947, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints started a new program-the Adult Aaronic Group, which was to help the inactive adult members become active and I was one of those. 

Chauncey Sorenson and Ernest Horsley were the leaders.  They soon had a group of 12-15 men and their partners.  Class was held in conjunction with M.I.A.  They had many socials, dances and get-togethers.  I was soon given a position as counselor in the M.I.A. with Joseph Ward as President and Vern Smith as the other counselor. 

I was ordained an Elder on 14th of December 1947 by S.L. Smith.  On the 20th of January, 1948, with my wife and children, we went to the Logan Temple to receive our endowments and have our children sealed to us for time and all eternity.  There were eight families from Malad 3rd Ward that went the same day.  They were Dave Lusk, Merlin Hughes, Curtis Thomas, Morris Stuart, Neil Thorpe, Harold Doutre, Ed Doutre and my family.  This was a joyous and spiritual occasion. 

In 1949, I was made President of the 5th Quorum of Elders with LaMar Thomas and Raymond Evans as counselors, with Wayne Archibald as secretary.  Soon after, the stake decided to build a new building to serve as the Stake Building and as the Third Ward meeting chapel.  I was appointed to the building committee along with Hubert Gleed, Jesse Hughes, Dave Lusk, Lawrence Budge and Colin J. Sweeten.  We visited many ward chapels in surrounding towns getting ideas. 

There were many projects set up to raise money for the building fund.  The Elers Quorum served a turkey dinner with all the trimmings for $5 a plate.  A lot of preparation and hard work went along with it.  Our wives gave us their support in preparing and serving it.  Despite a really bad wintery night, it proved a success.  We raised $1600 for the building fund. 

While I was serving as Elders Quorum, I had a privilege that doesn’t often occur and very few have it.  I was attending a solemn assembly held in the Priesthood room on the upper floor of the Logan Temple.  Those who were invited were the Stake Presidency, High Councilmen, Bishops, and Presidents of the Melchizedek Quorums.  The General Authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints administered to and passed the sacrament.  It was the most spiritual meeting. 

In May 1949, our eldest son, Darrel graduated from high school.  He worked with me in the carpenter business.  Then in May, 1950, our daughter, Iris Lee, graduated from high school and on 14 June, 1950 she married Harvey R. Wood in the Logan Temple.  After returning from their honeymoon, they moved to Tremonton, Utah.  When she moved her belongings out of the house it left a lump in my throat that was hard to swallow.  That fall, Darrel enlisted in the U.S. Navy and left for the Great Lakes training base on the 5th of January, 1951.  This was another time I had a lump in my throat.  It was rather lonesome with two of our children leaving home so close together.  Ferris was still home and he graduated in May, 1951, then stayed and worked with me.  He married Sharon Thomas on the 15th of October 1952. 

In the summer of 1953, we poured the foundation of a home for Ferris and Sharon, then he and I built it.  It was just across the street from us.  They, with their son, Greg moved in with us while it was being built. 

On the 17th of April, 1954, Darrel married Erlene Eudora Oliver, at West Point, Virginia.  They came out here to Idaho for their honeymoon. 

On October 20, 1954, my brother Archie died.  He was brought to Plymouth, Utah to be buried.   

On May 10, 1955, my wife and I boarded the train in Ogden, Utah for Detroit, Michigan to pick up a new 1955 Plymouth Sedan.  It was turquoise blue with a white top.  We then drove on to Rickmond, Virginia to visit Darel & Erlene.  In Ohio we were stopped by an officer checking drivers licenses.  This was the first time I had ever been stopped by an officer since I started driving in 1916.  We visited the Nation’s Capitol and many interesting places in Virginia.  This was the beginning of our travels. 

When I returned home, I went into a partnership with my nephew, Melvin Hess in building and contracting.  During the summer and fall I worked at Loa, Utah on a dam with my nephew, Marion Hess who had contracted to build it. 

In January, 1956 we moved to the Boise, Idaho area where we subcontracted the cement work from Marion Hess on Highway 44.  We got an apartment at Star, Idaho, west of Boise.  The day we left Malad, it was below zero and the roads were icy and slick.  Emmett Kent drove the big truck loaded with what furniture we would need.  Sharon was in their car with two children and Lily and I were in our car.  Both cars were fully loaded full and it was a miserable trip.  After we got settled we quite enjoyed it.  On weekends, we toured the valley.  This was the first time I had ever seen hop fields. 

After the job was finished sometime in August, Melvin, Bertha and their two girls, Cheryl & Wendy, Lily and I went up through northern Idaho and into Canada.  We ferried across the Koatene’s Bay and then down through Spokane, Washington and back to Boise.  When we got to Boise, we headed back to Malad. 

In October of 1958 we moved back to Boise since we had another contract to do cement work on another highway in that area.  We lived in a motel just on the west end of Boise. 

We came home for the Christmas holiday but returned to Boise when we received word that my brother Jode was very ill.  He passed away on the 4th of January of 1959. 

We finished the job at Boise the first part of May and moved back to Malad on the 30th of May.  Ferris, Sharon, Iris Lee, Harvey, Lily and I left for Richmond, Virginia.  We attended Darrel’s graduation from the University of Richmond.  We went in Harvey’s and Iris Lee’s station wagon.  It was a long, tiresome trip, but we saw a lot of country and interesting things.  The car expense was $118.98, which we all shared. 

On June 22, 1959, sister Iva died.  The three brothers, and our wives, drove to Oakland, California for the funeral.  Marion and Lois flew down. 

On the 1st of July, 1960, Darrel, Erlene, daughter Cynthia, Erlene’s brother, Philip, and his wife Nettie Lee, came from Virginia.  Lily and I joined them and went to Oakland, California.  We traveled down the coast highway to Los Angeles.  There were mountains on one side and an ocean on the other.  We went to Disneyland and other points of interest.  We spent a few days with Lily’s sister, Leah and her family.  Then Darrel and their group left for home, going the southern route.  Lily and I took the bus back home. 

In December of 1961 Lily and I boarded the train in Ogden, Utah for Richmond, Virginia to spend Christmas with Darrel, Erlene and the girls.  While we were there, we drove to New York City leaving Richmond at 11:30pm and arriving in New York City at 7:30 am.  We visited the Rockefeller Center with its huge Christmas tree, Times Square and took a bus tour of the city. 

On June 22, 1962, Darrel, Erlene, Cynthia and Lori and Erlene’s two nieces, Gwen and Nancy Walton came to Idaho.  Lily and I joined them and traveled to Seattle to the World’s Fair.  Word was the motels were all filled, so we took a tent, sleeping bags, air mattresses and things to cook with.  This was quite an experience.  The air mattress had a slow leak, so by morning, we were on the rocks.  One night we camped at the foot of Mt. Rainier by the river.  It was cold!.  As we traveled over Mr. Rainier the rotary snow plow was making the road wider.  Of course, we stopped and I had a snowball fight with the girls.  These girls were not used to seeing snow, so were really fascinated by it. 

In 1963, Darrel and his family left Virginia on Christmas day and rode the train to Ogden, Utah.  Lily and I met them there and brought them home to Malad.  They spent a few days visiting and enjoyed the snow.  We loaded the car with cases of fruit and vegetables Lily had canned, my electric saw and some tools, our suitcases and left on the 30th of December for Virginia, taking the southern route.  After leaving Salt Lake City we didn’t see any more snow until New Year’s morning at Meridian, Mississippi.  They had had a freak snow storm the night before.  There were cars, trucks and buses all over, off the road.  We had our snow tires on and loaded really heavy, so we had no trouble going through. 

We spent three months inVirginia, visiting, sight seeing and doing some carpenter work.  We did some remodeling for Darrel and Erlene, remodeling a kitchen for Erlene’s sister also. 

On Friday before Easter, Darrel, Erlene, Lily and I took off for a week.  We went to Florida, Spent two days in Miami with a niece and family.  We also visited Hialeah Race Track, Parrot Jungle, Orchid Jungle and Alligator Farm.  We then drove through Key West as far as we could go in a car.  Florida is a beautiful state, especially the orange groves which were so beautiful and fragrant. 

We left the first part of April to return home so we could be home in time to file our income taxes. 

After returning home, I gave up carpenter work to Melvin and Ferris and I started managing Hess Lumber Yard for my nephews-brother Jode’s sons.  The lumber yard was started by Jode.  After his death, the four boys took it over.  It was located at 385 N 400 W.  A few years later, we moved it down into the building which formerly housed the Malad Lumber Co. 

In 1967 Lily and I went by to Virginia and, with Darrel, Erlene and the girls, drove up the East Coast to Quebec, Canada, then over to Montreal to the World Fair.  We took a boat ride on the St. Lawrence river around the Thousand Islands and visited Niagara Falls. 

In 1968 we spent Christmas in Virginia with Darrel and his family. 

In June of 1970 Darrel, Erlene and the girls flew to Salt Lake City, where we met them and in our car went to California.  We visited Ken and Leah Foster and their family.  We went to Disneyland, then traveled up to San Francisco, then through the Redwoods into Oregon.  We went home on the 2nd of July.  Our grandchildren (Ferris and Sharon’s children) met us to inform me that my garden had frozen and that Aunt Ester, Jodi’s wife, had passed away. 

In 1971, Lily and I went with Ferris, Sharon, Kim, Teresa and Todd in the pickup truck down through the Grand Canyon to Flagstaff, Arizona.  There was an Indian Pow Wow there, so we couldn’t find a place to stay.  We all ended up sleeping in the pickup.  We were sort of glad when morning came.  We drove on to Tucson, Arizona to Lil’s brother Dale.  Then Darrel, Erlene and the girls came in from Virginia the next day which was the 4th of July.  Dale and Georgia had a big home with a swimming pool in the backyard.  This was good because there were eleven of us and seven of Dale’s.  There were beds all over the place, but they made everyone welcome.  They barbecued steaks for everyone that night.  The next day, Ferris, Sharon, and their family left for SanDiego, California to visit their son Greg, who was stationed there in the U.S. Navy.  Lily and I left with Darrel and their family for Mexico.  We visited Mazaton, Mexico, Taxco and Acapulco.  This was an amazing trip.  I had never seen such poverty and really didn’t know it existed.  We saw farmers carrying hay on their backs to their donkeys, women doing laundry in streams, men carrying cement in buckets up ladders to build the pyramids, silver mines and ornate cathedrals. 

On July 6, 1974 tragedy struck our family.  Our grandson, Douglas L. Wood, son of Harvey and Iris Lee, was on an outing at Bear lake.  He dove into the water and hit his head.  He was rushed to the hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah where he was confined for six months.  He was left paralyzed from his waist down with only partial use of his arms and hands.  It was hard to bear as he was a young man, only 18 years old. 

Darrel and his family (a special event of the year) were here from Virginia.  After the news we had to cancel the steak fry and went to Salt Lake to see our grandson. 

At Christmas time, I took my first airplane ride.  We got tickets for our flight to Virginia.  I wasn’t quite sure I wanted to fly.  I was rather nervous until we got into the air.  Then I thought it was wonderful.  We spent the holidays with Darrel, Erlene and their family. 

In June of 1974, Ferris, Sharon and their children drove us to Bozeman, Montana where we met Darrel and their family.  Then Lily and I accompanied them and went onto Spokane, Washington to the World’s Fair.  Ferris and his family returned home. Darrel had a broken ankle and was in a cast above his knee.  When we got to the Fair we rented a wheelchair and all of us had a turn wheeling him around the grounds. 

In July, 1975, we traveled to Oakland, California with Ferris, Sharon, and their family to attend the wedding of their son, Greg to Robin Speidel.  Kim and a girlfriend, Sherrie Stayner, rode with Lili and me in our car.  Kim did most of the driving.  Ferris, Sharon, Teresa and Todd rode in their car. 

At Christmas time we flew back to Virginia to spend the holidays with Darrel, Erlene and their girls. 

In April, 1976, I retired from the Lumber Yard.  I had only been off about a month when Wayne Kent, the new manager, got sick and I went back to work for a while.  Even when he came back to work, I helped out when they needed someone.  I usually worked two or three days a week. 

In the summer, I had no trouble keeping busy because I had a big back yard where I planted a garden for us and our families.  Each year it seemed I planted more.  One year I planted yams and another year I planted celery. I liked to try different things.  I delighted in raising a garden.  This is my big hobby, with bowling being my other big hobby.  Most of my enjoyment came when my family was around me.  We took many rides with Ferris, Sharon and their family throughout the country, went on picnics and to ball games and reunions.  I also enjoyed working with my sons because there were never any arguments.  Of course, this was something that didn’t take place in our home, except little kid arguments. 

Our children and families have been a joy to us.  We have had a few heartaches, but the joys have outweighed the sorrows.  We have a family we are proud of. 

In 1976, Marion, Melvin, Richard, Orvil and Ferris and I went to Oregon for salmon fishing.  We caught 12 salmon, and I caught 6 of them.  They all laughed at me because I visited around more than the others and I still caught the most salmon. 

December 23, 1976, about 8:00 pm, Darrel, Erlene and the girls came in from Virginia to spend Christmas with us.  They sure did surprise us.  Lil had been putting in late hours at the drug store because they were moving into the new store.  We didn’t have a Christmas tree-the first year this happened since 1934.  So, of course, the next day I took the girls and got a tree and they decorated it. This was the first Christmas they had spent at our house. 

On January 14, 1977, I had a cataract operation on my right eye.  I had what they called an implant, where they sew the contact lens in.  It was very successful.  I got along exceptionally well and had real good vision in that eye. 

Just after Memorial Day 1978, Lily and I went back to Virginia to attend Cynthia’s graduation from high school.  This time we decided we had more time than money and we took a Greyhound Bus.  It cost us $218-half the cost of plane fare.  It took us three days and two nights to get there.  On the way home it was three nights and two days. It sure was tiresome. 

On June 7, 1978 Cynthia graduated from high school and on the 9th of June I baptized and confirmed her as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  She came back to Idaho with us on the bus so she could attend Ricks College, now known as BYU-I. 

I have always been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in the MIA and superintendent of the Sunday School while living in Plymouth.  Then I became inactive for about 20 years.  In 1946 I became active again in the church and since have served in the MIA Presidency, Elders Quorum President, Financial Ward Clerk, Superintendent of the Sunday School, home teacher and in December, 1978 I received a call to be an officiator in the Logan Temple.  I was set apart on 13 February 1979, by President Pugmire. 

Since 1969, Melvin, Bertha, Lily and I have spent Labor Day weekend together.  The first year we went to Bryce and Zion National Parks.  We have been to Moab, Lake Powell, Aspen, Colorado, Mt. Rushmore, Jackson, Wyoming and Salt Lake to the Utah State Fair and Blackfoot to the Idaho State Fair. 

It sounds like I have done a lot of playing around but I have done a lot of hard work in my day.  I have put in a lot of long hours in building my career.  I have done plumbing, wiring, papering, painting, brick laying, plastering, and laid linoleum when I first started in the business.  We built a house in which we did all of the above.  When the government stepped in, you had to have a license to do any of it.  Then we had to subcontract out to those with a license.  Before you could cover what you had done, an inspector had to come and inspect it.  It usually caused delays in the building. 

The only thing we had to hire to be done on our house, was to have a switch box installed and the furnace installed.  With the help of my wife and sons, we built everything else. 

At the close of the winter in 1969, our coal furnace quit, so we converted to an electric furnace which was more economical and cleaner.  My son, Ferris, helped me install the electric furnace. 

On March 30, 1979, Loyal’s life came suddenly to an end but he was active to the end. 

He was a hard worker, full of ambition and was one who gave a full day’s work for a day’s pay.  He was a good husband, father and grandpa.  He was a kind, gentle, and loving person. 

He glorified in being with, and doing things with, his family.