Milton McRae, born 1888
husband of Hattie Josephine Williams
father of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, born 1920
grandfather of Lillian Marlene Keller Omerza, born 1946
Milton McRae was born at St. David, Cochise County, Arizona, May 8, 1888. He was the seventh son and tenth child of Joseph and Maria [muh-RYE-uh] Taylor McRae.
When he was just a baby, his mother made a trip to Utah by train to visit her old home and see some of her old friends and relatives. His sister, Mary Jane “Mamie”, went along to be baby-tender and also his brother Charles went as he wasn’t very well at this time. They stayed from November until March of the next year. A good deal of the sister’s time was spent in taking care of him.
At the age of five, Milton and his brothers, Parley and Orson, went with their parents to Salt Lake City to purchase a home, as the Pioneers had been released from their Arizona Mission and his father thought his family would have more advantages there. They also planned to stay for the Dedication of the Salt Lake Temple. Before the purchase of the home was completed, word was received of the serious illness of his brother Charles who was ill with Typhoid Fever, so the family returned home.
Milton was baptized the day before his eighth birthday, on May 7th, by Winfred Moody and confirmed by Samuel Claridge.
When he was twelve years of age, his mother passed away and he went to live with his sisters Annie Goodman and Mary Jane McGuire. He also lived with his brother Charles.
His schooling commenced at Thatcher, Arizona. He didn’t have the opportunity for much education as he made his home from place to place, with different relatives.
His boyhood friends were not very happy as he missed the love and the guidance of his dear mother.
On November 8, 1909, he received his endowments in the Salt Lake Temple and the following day left on a Mission for the Western States. He filled an honorable Mission and returned January 4, 1911 to Thatcher, Arizona, where he stayed with his brother Charles.
It was here at Thatcher that he met and married Hattie Josephine Williams, daughter of George W. and Harriet Thurston Williams on September 25, 1912; they were married by Andrew Kimball.
They went to Bisbee to live where he worked as a miner for some time. Later they moved to Mesa, Arizona where three children were born: Eleanor Margaret on January 25, 1918 (who died October 28th); Dorothy Evelyn on January 19, 1920; and Melba Corrine, August 23, 1922.
Finding it hard to seek employment and with his wife being ill a good deal of the time, the family decided to return to Thatcher where his wife could be cared for by her mother. It was here on May 31, 1924 that their son Milton Lamar was born. When he was four days old, his dear mother passed away leaving a very sad family. Confused, and not knowing just what to do for the best good of the children, Milton took the advice of his family and returned to Bisbee to work in the mines again.
Dorothy went to live with her Aunt and Uncle, Mary Jane “Aunt Mamie” and John McGuire, of Pomerene, Arizona. Melba was taken to the home of her Uncle and Aunt, John and Pearl McRae of St. David, her father’s eldest brother, where she lived for sometime and then went to live at the home of her Aunt “Mamie” and Uncle John McGuire and made this her permanent home. Dorothy went to Thatcher to live with her Grandma Williams. Lamar, being very frail and not expected to live, was cared for and nursed by Mrs. Ketura Baker of Thatcher, Arizona who saved his life by her faith and tender care. He lived with her until her death and will always be remembered as a mother to him. She was only a friend of the family, but was willing to give service to others.
After working in Bisbee for sometime, Milton returned to the Gila Valley where he was caretaker at the Gila Valley Milling Company at Safford. He worked here for two years as night-watchman.
After the Mother’s death, the family had never enjoyed the companionship of each other until on December 17, 1939 when Melba had her father and brother come to live in Mesa, Arizona, where the three of them made a home. It was the first time they had lived together since the Mother’s death. A very happy home was had here, at this time, through the efforts of his daughter Melba. She not only took a mother’s place in this under-taking, but financed the family as well. Melba always had a great love for her Father and missed his companionship throughout her life time.
On December 4, 1945, Milton married Roxie Judd of Pomerene, Arizona in the Arizona Temple. They continued to live at Mesa where they did endowment work in the Temple. He also assisted with the baptismal work, acting as Witness many times. He was very faithful in attending to his Church duties and had a strong testimony of the Gospel. He was a great reader and many hours were spent studying Church literature.
In the fall of 1949, he suffered with an infection in his toe. It grew worse until finally the leg had to be amputated. It seemed as though after the amputation he lost his desire to live and he hated to be a burden on any one.
On February 20, 1951, he passed away at his home in Mesa, Arizona. He was buried the 22nd of February in the Thatcher Cemetery.
This history is taken from "The McRae Clan" a legal size genealogy book with blue cover bearing the image of a bagpipe player wearing a kilt, compiled by Florette McGuire and Annie McGuire McDowell.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
Joseph & Maria McRae family 1900 Census
Joseph McRae [son of Alexander McRae & Eunice Fitzgerald], born 1838
husband of Maria Taylor McRae [daughter of George Edward Grove Taylor & Ann Wicks], born 1845
parents of Milton McRae, born 1888
grandparents of Dorothy Evenlyn McRae Keller, born 1920
great grandparents of Lillian Marlene Keller Omerza, born 1946
Above is the 1900 US Census for Thatcher Village, Graham County, Arizona Territory. Left click to enlarge, right click to save.
Joseph McRae is listed as head of household (though his name is spelled incorrectly according to our records). Birthdate listed as March 1838, matching our family records. He and Maria were married for 38 years according to the census, also in line with family records stating their marriage date as March 4, 1862. Joseph's birthplace is given as Missouri, his father's Kentucky, and mother's North Carolina [this is reversed from our records with Alexander from North Carolina and Eunice from Kentucky]. Joseph's occupation is listed as blacksmith. It is recorded that he is able to read and write and speak English, and he own's a mortgaged home.
Maria's birthdate is given as January 1845, consistent with our family records. She is the mother of ten children, with eight living (Eunice Ann and George Edwin living until 1863 and 1884 respectively). Maria and both her parents birthplaces are given as England and she is noted being able to read, write, and speak English (consistent with our knowledge that she taught her children and others while living in St. David from 1878-1879; despite only attending a few weeks of school herself while in England).
Nymphus C. is listed next, birthday September 1879, age 20 and single. Born in Arizona, his occupation is given as farm laborer, able to read, write, and speak English.
Next is Mary J. (in fact older than Nymphus), birthday May 1876, age 24 and single. Born in Utah, also listed as a farm laborer, able to read, write and speak English.
Then Parley T., born January 1882, age 18 and single. Born in Arizona, no occupation, not listed as attending school, but able to read, write and speak English.
After Parley is Orson, born October 1884, age 15. Born in Arizona and attended school two months (that year?). Able to read, write and speak English.
Last is Milton, born May 1888, age 12. Born in Arizona, he attended school seven months, and was able to read, write, and speak English.
By 1900, the oldest three living children of Joseph & Maria were married with children of their own. All three lived with their spouses and children in St. David, AZ; though Joseph Alexander, the oldest, was in fact serving a mission in Colorado/Western States Mission in 1900. After serving two years, he was called to replace the outgoing mission president and was joined by his wife and children.
This census was taken the 18th of June, 1900, and Maria only lived another ten months. Family records indicate that Joseph was living in St. David at the time of Maria's death in April 1901, and unable to attend the funeral due to storms which had washed out the railroad tracks.
Note: Joseph's second wife, Augusta and their three boys: Joseph Hyrum, William August, and Daniel Clarence, were also living in Thatcher at the time of this 1900 Census. I am still looking for that record.
husband of Maria Taylor McRae [daughter of George Edward Grove Taylor & Ann Wicks], born 1845
parents of Milton McRae, born 1888
grandparents of Dorothy Evenlyn McRae Keller, born 1920
great grandparents of Lillian Marlene Keller Omerza, born 1946
Above is the 1900 US Census for Thatcher Village, Graham County, Arizona Territory. Left click to enlarge, right click to save.
Joseph McRae is listed as head of household (though his name is spelled incorrectly according to our records). Birthdate listed as March 1838, matching our family records. He and Maria were married for 38 years according to the census, also in line with family records stating their marriage date as March 4, 1862. Joseph's birthplace is given as Missouri, his father's Kentucky, and mother's North Carolina [this is reversed from our records with Alexander from North Carolina and Eunice from Kentucky]. Joseph's occupation is listed as blacksmith. It is recorded that he is able to read and write and speak English, and he own's a mortgaged home.
Maria's birthdate is given as January 1845, consistent with our family records. She is the mother of ten children, with eight living (Eunice Ann and George Edwin living until 1863 and 1884 respectively). Maria and both her parents birthplaces are given as England and she is noted being able to read, write, and speak English (consistent with our knowledge that she taught her children and others while living in St. David from 1878-1879; despite only attending a few weeks of school herself while in England).
Nymphus C. is listed next, birthday September 1879, age 20 and single. Born in Arizona, his occupation is given as farm laborer, able to read, write, and speak English.
Next is Mary J. (in fact older than Nymphus), birthday May 1876, age 24 and single. Born in Utah, also listed as a farm laborer, able to read, write and speak English.
Then Parley T., born January 1882, age 18 and single. Born in Arizona, no occupation, not listed as attending school, but able to read, write and speak English.
After Parley is Orson, born October 1884, age 15. Born in Arizona and attended school two months (that year?). Able to read, write and speak English.
Last is Milton, born May 1888, age 12. Born in Arizona, he attended school seven months, and was able to read, write, and speak English.
By 1900, the oldest three living children of Joseph & Maria were married with children of their own. All three lived with their spouses and children in St. David, AZ; though Joseph Alexander, the oldest, was in fact serving a mission in Colorado/Western States Mission in 1900. After serving two years, he was called to replace the outgoing mission president and was joined by his wife and children.
This census was taken the 18th of June, 1900, and Maria only lived another ten months. Family records indicate that Joseph was living in St. David at the time of Maria's death in April 1901, and unable to attend the funeral due to storms which had washed out the railroad tracks.
Note: Joseph's second wife, Augusta and their three boys: Joseph Hyrum, William August, and Daniel Clarence, were also living in Thatcher at the time of this 1900 Census. I am still looking for that record.
Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, final installment
Not very long after we returned from our trip, we decided to put our house up or sale. The house sold after only five days. We really were not ready for this, so we put our possessions in storage and went up to Sheila’s cabin in Strawberry. With Larry’s help we bought a home on Antelope Dr. and behind the fire station. This is one of the best moves we ever made. The people in the Church made us feel welcome and we were happy.
We were involved in the community. I volunteered in the Isabel Hunt Public Library and also helped at the school. It was not long before Ralph started helping at the Senior Center and he loved it. He is a people person and soon made many friends, it was great to know that we were where we belonged.
We were involved in the community. I volunteered in the Isabel Hunt Public Library and also helped at the school. It was not long before Ralph started helping at the Senior Center and he loved it. He is a people person and soon made many friends, it was great to know that we were where we belonged.
Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, twentieth installment
Early Friday morning we took a train to Italy. Words cannot describe the beauty we saw after leaving Bern. High, high snowcapped mountains towering up and valleys far below the train, so neat and picturesque. Very often there were waterfalls plummeting down for thousands of feet. It was absolutely breath taking. There were a great many tunnels because of the high mountains and the train was without power -no lights and no heat. Things are not perfect all of the time. All of the sudden we were in Italy and it was so different. There was no longer such neatness and pride. We did see the vegetable gardens in every yard.
We changed trains in Milan and had trouble finding a seat. We soon changed trains to go to Naples. We sat in a compartment with a woman, two young men and a pretty Italian girl. She spoke English and said she was a student at the University of Milan studying English and French. She was on her way to Florence to do some interpreting. This girl could be a model or movie star - very attractive and so nice. Before she got off the train she found out we had no Italian money to buy food. She gave us enough to buy lunch. I was very impressed with her kindness.
On Saturday morning in Naples through the hotel, we hired a driver and car to take us to Pompeii. The driver’s name was Mike and he was Ethiopian. By phone he helped us to make a reservation at a hotel in Rome. Pompeii ruins are unbelievable - such a vast area. To think this city was buried for two thousand years before excavation began. Some of the paintings on the walls and tile floors are still in good condition.
As you go by train to and from Rome to Naples, you can see part of the old aqueduct which bought water to the city thousand of years ago. We were so interested to see crops raised in Italy - one of which is sunflowers. Fields and fields of them which I would like to know why.
After getting settled in the hotel in Rome about 3:00 PM, we took a bus to see St. Peters Cathedral. The huge square was jammed with people and there was no chance of getting in. That was one place Ralph wanted me to see - oh well. We went part way back and got off the bus to see the old Coliseum which was fascinating to see. I was surprised that it was not an arena as I had expected, but was full of small enclosures or rooms. There were so many old, old ruins on the same street.
I wish we could longer here but must leave tomorrow. I know Ralph has enjoyed this part as it brought back so many memories for him. We had more walking than I am able to do.
The next day we went out to catch a bus to go to the airport. Here came another bus and Ralph said he would find if it was going to the airport (Leonardo de Vinci). When he stepped on the bus to ask, the bus took off with him on it. Here I stood with all the luggage and all alone. What was I to do? After quite a while he came back and said he threatened the driver if he didn’t let him off.
While we were on the plane, homeward bound, a paper was passed around for us to state what articles we had purchased in Europe. When we landed at Kennedy airport, we had to pass through customs. Ralph had moved a distance and a man came up and asked me where he was. When he came back, we were told that we would not go through customs but could leave immediately. We took a plane and were back in Phoenix. It was good to be home, even though we had a wonderful trip.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, final installment
We changed trains in Milan and had trouble finding a seat. We soon changed trains to go to Naples. We sat in a compartment with a woman, two young men and a pretty Italian girl. She spoke English and said she was a student at the University of Milan studying English and French. She was on her way to Florence to do some interpreting. This girl could be a model or movie star - very attractive and so nice. Before she got off the train she found out we had no Italian money to buy food. She gave us enough to buy lunch. I was very impressed with her kindness.
On Saturday morning in Naples through the hotel, we hired a driver and car to take us to Pompeii. The driver’s name was Mike and he was Ethiopian. By phone he helped us to make a reservation at a hotel in Rome. Pompeii ruins are unbelievable - such a vast area. To think this city was buried for two thousand years before excavation began. Some of the paintings on the walls and tile floors are still in good condition.
As you go by train to and from Rome to Naples, you can see part of the old aqueduct which bought water to the city thousand of years ago. We were so interested to see crops raised in Italy - one of which is sunflowers. Fields and fields of them which I would like to know why.
After getting settled in the hotel in Rome about 3:00 PM, we took a bus to see St. Peters Cathedral. The huge square was jammed with people and there was no chance of getting in. That was one place Ralph wanted me to see - oh well. We went part way back and got off the bus to see the old Coliseum which was fascinating to see. I was surprised that it was not an arena as I had expected, but was full of small enclosures or rooms. There were so many old, old ruins on the same street.
I wish we could longer here but must leave tomorrow. I know Ralph has enjoyed this part as it brought back so many memories for him. We had more walking than I am able to do.
The next day we went out to catch a bus to go to the airport. Here came another bus and Ralph said he would find if it was going to the airport (Leonardo de Vinci). When he stepped on the bus to ask, the bus took off with him on it. Here I stood with all the luggage and all alone. What was I to do? After quite a while he came back and said he threatened the driver if he didn’t let him off.
While we were on the plane, homeward bound, a paper was passed around for us to state what articles we had purchased in Europe. When we landed at Kennedy airport, we had to pass through customs. Ralph had moved a distance and a man came up and asked me where he was. When he came back, we were told that we would not go through customs but could leave immediately. We took a plane and were back in Phoenix. It was good to be home, even though we had a wonderful trip.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, final installment
Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, nineteenth installment
I don’t believe I mentioned that we had a Eurorail pass to ride on the train from France to Italy (1st class). On Monday afternoon we left Paris to go to Germany. We stayed the night in a hotel at the Train Station in Cologne. Across the street was an ancient cathedral, hundreds of years old. We went from Cologne to Koblenz for a cruise down the Rhine River. We were so delighted with the boat ride and we met many interesting people. While waiting for the boat we talked to a young man from Iowa. We had lunch together and it was good to talk to someone from home. There are many old fortresses built on the hills along the river. There were grape vineyards on the sides of the hills also. We saw many castles following the river.
There is great deal of commercial traffic on this river, large barges and towns every few miles. How glad we are that we had this experience. We got off the boat in Weisbaden and took the train the Basel Switzerland. At the train station we shared a taxi with a U.S. girl who spoke German and she helped us find a hotel. Thank goodness for Americans who help each other. She is a Stanford University student studying in Berlin.
About noon on Wednesday (26) we took a train to Lucerne. We are so glad we have these train passes. Our biggest problem is changing the money when we go into another country. We checked into a cheap hotel in Lucerne and I mean cheap. No elevator and we were on the third floor. The beds were terrible and the pillows were huge. Our room was right above the street and there were loud noises until all hours. We survived.
On Thursday morning we took the train to Alpnachstad and rode up the mountain to a height of about 7000 feet. It was so cold and there was a lot of snow but the scenery was out of this world. There were wild flowers all along the way and we could see for miles most of the time. I know now what people mean about the beauty of the Alps. Switzerland is such a clean country and people take pride in this. No litter, no weeds and flowers everywhere. The farm houses and barns are in one building, so animals are safe in the winter. There are flower boxes full of geraniums in the front of every house.
After a boat ride back to the city on Lake Lucerne, we took a train to Bern. Of all the places we’ve been except Scotland, I like Switzerland the best. The people are industrious and take a lot of pride in their country.
In the evening we took a train to see the Swiss Temple. After walking too far in the wrong direction, we found it and it is very nice. We were too late to see inside.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, twentieth installment
There is great deal of commercial traffic on this river, large barges and towns every few miles. How glad we are that we had this experience. We got off the boat in Weisbaden and took the train the Basel Switzerland. At the train station we shared a taxi with a U.S. girl who spoke German and she helped us find a hotel. Thank goodness for Americans who help each other. She is a Stanford University student studying in Berlin.
About noon on Wednesday (26) we took a train to Lucerne. We are so glad we have these train passes. Our biggest problem is changing the money when we go into another country. We checked into a cheap hotel in Lucerne and I mean cheap. No elevator and we were on the third floor. The beds were terrible and the pillows were huge. Our room was right above the street and there were loud noises until all hours. We survived.
On Thursday morning we took the train to Alpnachstad and rode up the mountain to a height of about 7000 feet. It was so cold and there was a lot of snow but the scenery was out of this world. There were wild flowers all along the way and we could see for miles most of the time. I know now what people mean about the beauty of the Alps. Switzerland is such a clean country and people take pride in this. No litter, no weeds and flowers everywhere. The farm houses and barns are in one building, so animals are safe in the winter. There are flower boxes full of geraniums in the front of every house.
After a boat ride back to the city on Lake Lucerne, we took a train to Bern. Of all the places we’ve been except Scotland, I like Switzerland the best. The people are industrious and take a lot of pride in their country.
In the evening we took a train to see the Swiss Temple. After walking too far in the wrong direction, we found it and it is very nice. We were too late to see inside.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, twentieth installment
Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, eighteenth installment
We took an early morning train back to London. I would like to mention about all the wild flowers and cultivated ones in Scotland. So many roses and every other kind you could imagine on the side of the train track. There was lupine blooming - not the small kind we have at home but plants two feet high and gorgeous colors of purples, lavender, pink and white. It was a fairy land. On June 20, we went to the Tower of London in the morning and saw the crowned jewels. I don’t think I’ve walked so much for a long time. Ralph asked one of the guards if those articles were really gold. He said, “Well if they aren’t, we are really in trouble.” When we left the Tower, we were walking along the street, John took Rhett to cross the street. Without looking Barry started across too, right in front of a speeding car. If I hadn’t called him back, he would have been hit.
In the afternoon we went to the British Museum - what great place. There were displays dating from prehistoric times (first century AD) Medieval times. There was money, utensils, jewelry, pottery, mosaics and time pieces.
The next day we went to Buckingham Palace to see all the ceremonies there. There was really a big crowd as there is everywhere in London. In the afternoon John went to take care of their travel plans and the rest of went to Madam Tussaud’s wax museum. There were many wax figures but not many movie stars. On the 19th we parted with John and family. They are going back to the US, and we took a boat from Dover to Calais. Ralph was not feeling good and I went to find something to eat. Everything was in French (naturally) so I went back to the hotel and we ate apples and peanuts which we had on hand. We weren’t very hungry anyway which was a good thing.
Before we went to bed we prayed that we would be able to find someone who would help us. The first people we saw were four missionaries. I told them they were an answer to our prayer and they were taking the same train that we were booked on. They were on their way to a Sunday meeting. Two of them were Elder Clawson from Idaho and Elder Clements from Scottsdale. They were so sweet to us.
About noon, June 23, we rode through the French countryside, headed for Paris. There were green fields many trees and cattle scattered here and there.
It was fascinating that the trees we saw were in straight rows. I commented on this and Ralph reminded me that this area had been bombed and trees had to be replanted. A simple thing but I realized what some of these went through. The train tracks went through the back yards where we saw many vegetable gardens and fruit trees.
Now for Paris - as a city, the streets were quite dirty. It was unnerving to be in a city where few people spoke English. We picked out a hotel listed in the train station. We got a taxi to take us to the hotel. He drove around, making us think he didn’t know where the hotel was. We found out that we were two blocks from the train station to the hotel, but we paid more than that.
That evening we went to a show at the Moulin Rouge which was very entertaining. Monday we met a large group who were on a BYU tour and we missed Sacrament meeting with them. Our second contact with church people.
Monday morning we took a bus tour of Paris. This is quite a city - so many things I had heard about and read about. The Seine River flows right through the city and is very picturesque. In spite of problems, we were glad we came here. It has rained on us every day for the last week. Umbrellas come in handy.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, nineteenth installment
In the afternoon we went to the British Museum - what great place. There were displays dating from prehistoric times (first century AD) Medieval times. There was money, utensils, jewelry, pottery, mosaics and time pieces.
The next day we went to Buckingham Palace to see all the ceremonies there. There was really a big crowd as there is everywhere in London. In the afternoon John went to take care of their travel plans and the rest of went to Madam Tussaud’s wax museum. There were many wax figures but not many movie stars. On the 19th we parted with John and family. They are going back to the US, and we took a boat from Dover to Calais. Ralph was not feeling good and I went to find something to eat. Everything was in French (naturally) so I went back to the hotel and we ate apples and peanuts which we had on hand. We weren’t very hungry anyway which was a good thing.
Before we went to bed we prayed that we would be able to find someone who would help us. The first people we saw were four missionaries. I told them they were an answer to our prayer and they were taking the same train that we were booked on. They were on their way to a Sunday meeting. Two of them were Elder Clawson from Idaho and Elder Clements from Scottsdale. They were so sweet to us.
About noon, June 23, we rode through the French countryside, headed for Paris. There were green fields many trees and cattle scattered here and there.
It was fascinating that the trees we saw were in straight rows. I commented on this and Ralph reminded me that this area had been bombed and trees had to be replanted. A simple thing but I realized what some of these went through. The train tracks went through the back yards where we saw many vegetable gardens and fruit trees.
Now for Paris - as a city, the streets were quite dirty. It was unnerving to be in a city where few people spoke English. We picked out a hotel listed in the train station. We got a taxi to take us to the hotel. He drove around, making us think he didn’t know where the hotel was. We found out that we were two blocks from the train station to the hotel, but we paid more than that.
That evening we went to a show at the Moulin Rouge which was very entertaining. Monday we met a large group who were on a BYU tour and we missed Sacrament meeting with them. Our second contact with church people.
Monday morning we took a bus tour of Paris. This is quite a city - so many things I had heard about and read about. The Seine River flows right through the city and is very picturesque. In spite of problems, we were glad we came here. It has rained on us every day for the last week. Umbrellas come in handy.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, nineteenth installment
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, seventeenth installment
On 7 July Danielle Gardner called to tell me that Gean Lunt (my cousin) had passed away. Later in the day, Reed and Colleen came unexpectedly. What a wonderful surprise! They were here for her brother’s wedding. Later I had a nice visit with Reed - I got the feeling that he is not too happy and I’m sure he regrets that they have not had a family.
I am getting used to having my mouth closed, although it is difficult to communicate. I am trying to tolerate it and am happy that I will be wired shut only two more weeks. One good thing has happened; I have lost about twenty pounds. That makes me very happy.
25 July is a day I have awaited for quite a while. The wires were removed from my mouth and I am free. It will gradually be open but I will keep working on it. In honor of this occasion, Sheila invited us to their home for dinner. I took one bite of the delicious food and found I just couldn’t chew. It hurt too much.
On 25 August we had a party for Larry’s birthday at Sheila’s and things went well. He is so good for Sheila and they have a lovely family.
John is working in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He was very excited about this as it meant there would be no more traveling, because he hated leaving his family a lot. They all went to his new location and lived in an American Compound there. As the people in that country observe the Sabbath on Friday, they did also. They met in different homes and the most unique thing about this is that Barry and Holly were baptized in the Red Sea. What an unusual experience. They said the whole group would hide what was going on because a Christian baptism was strictly forbidden. They would have to tell you the great experiences they had which were very unusual. The children loved their life there.
When John was ready to go to Saudi, he said they were sending us tickets to meet them in London for their first summer vacation. I never thought this would happen to me. A few months before we were to leave, Ralph and I walked good distances every evening to ready ourselves for what was ahead. I also put forth a real effort to lose some weight so I would have more endurance
I contacted a travel agency in Maryvale and through them, John made arrangements for us to meet them in London. We left Phoenix on June 12th and flew TWA to London. I need to say that I would never go TWA again. We were supposedly given a choice of Smoking and non-Smoking section. Despite our preference we sat across from a chain smoker on the long flight. I will say now that the same thing happened on our return flight. I found out then that I do not sleep much on the plane.
It was a Wednesday when we got into London and the next day we rode a bus around London to see the sights. Busses have precedence over all other vehicles and we had a wild ride on the upper level.
We met John and family at the Euston Train Station. We had a long train ride by sleeper to Inverness, Scotland. What a beautiful country! John rented a van and we drove to Loch Ness and looked for the monster. There were a lot of tourists at the Visitor’s Center and I think most of them are Americans.
We registered at a Bed and Breakfast home. After breakfast we set off to go to church. We met some lovely Saints, though few in number, they are faithful. They made us feel welcome but it was difficult to understand everything. I was very happy to be there. In the afternoon we started toward Eilean Donan (castle with the name McRae over the main door.) Ralph noticed an old cemetery on our way and we stopped there. There were mostly McRae markers which were very old. My relatives must have lived here for hundreds of years.
This land is full of large lakes (called Lochs) one after another. We arrived at Eilean Donan at closing time, so found a place to stay and will return tomorrow.
On 17 June we returned to the castle. Only two large rooms have been restored, which were so unique. I could feel that I was where my ancestors had trod. I cannot describe the beauty of Scotland, green, green.
We were told that rain was predicted and it was right. It misted and rained softly all day and did the wind blow. The ferry boat took us to the Isle of Skye and we drove to Dunvegan Castle. It was very impressive but quite up-to-date, compared with Eilean Donan. It didn’t give the same feeling at all.
When we left, Rhett and I were walking together and he wanted to go down to the boat dock . . . When we were ready to go, he was nowhere in sight. He finally showed up and he said “I lost myself’. Children can say funny things.
We stayed in a nice home and got a good sleep and had a good breakfast. We will go back to Inverness today and see the same beautiful countryside again. So much water, mountains and green. I would like to stay here forever. We stopped at Eilean Donan again for one more look. I hated to leave as I can certainly feel that my ancestors roamed this land and lived and died here.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, eighteenth installment
I am getting used to having my mouth closed, although it is difficult to communicate. I am trying to tolerate it and am happy that I will be wired shut only two more weeks. One good thing has happened; I have lost about twenty pounds. That makes me very happy.
25 July is a day I have awaited for quite a while. The wires were removed from my mouth and I am free. It will gradually be open but I will keep working on it. In honor of this occasion, Sheila invited us to their home for dinner. I took one bite of the delicious food and found I just couldn’t chew. It hurt too much.
On 25 August we had a party for Larry’s birthday at Sheila’s and things went well. He is so good for Sheila and they have a lovely family.
John is working in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He was very excited about this as it meant there would be no more traveling, because he hated leaving his family a lot. They all went to his new location and lived in an American Compound there. As the people in that country observe the Sabbath on Friday, they did also. They met in different homes and the most unique thing about this is that Barry and Holly were baptized in the Red Sea. What an unusual experience. They said the whole group would hide what was going on because a Christian baptism was strictly forbidden. They would have to tell you the great experiences they had which were very unusual. The children loved their life there.
When John was ready to go to Saudi, he said they were sending us tickets to meet them in London for their first summer vacation. I never thought this would happen to me. A few months before we were to leave, Ralph and I walked good distances every evening to ready ourselves for what was ahead. I also put forth a real effort to lose some weight so I would have more endurance
I contacted a travel agency in Maryvale and through them, John made arrangements for us to meet them in London. We left Phoenix on June 12th and flew TWA to London. I need to say that I would never go TWA again. We were supposedly given a choice of Smoking and non-Smoking section. Despite our preference we sat across from a chain smoker on the long flight. I will say now that the same thing happened on our return flight. I found out then that I do not sleep much on the plane.
It was a Wednesday when we got into London and the next day we rode a bus around London to see the sights. Busses have precedence over all other vehicles and we had a wild ride on the upper level.
We met John and family at the Euston Train Station. We had a long train ride by sleeper to Inverness, Scotland. What a beautiful country! John rented a van and we drove to Loch Ness and looked for the monster. There were a lot of tourists at the Visitor’s Center and I think most of them are Americans.
We registered at a Bed and Breakfast home. After breakfast we set off to go to church. We met some lovely Saints, though few in number, they are faithful. They made us feel welcome but it was difficult to understand everything. I was very happy to be there. In the afternoon we started toward Eilean Donan (castle with the name McRae over the main door.) Ralph noticed an old cemetery on our way and we stopped there. There were mostly McRae markers which were very old. My relatives must have lived here for hundreds of years.
This land is full of large lakes (called Lochs) one after another. We arrived at Eilean Donan at closing time, so found a place to stay and will return tomorrow.
On 17 June we returned to the castle. Only two large rooms have been restored, which were so unique. I could feel that I was where my ancestors had trod. I cannot describe the beauty of Scotland, green, green.
We were told that rain was predicted and it was right. It misted and rained softly all day and did the wind blow. The ferry boat took us to the Isle of Skye and we drove to Dunvegan Castle. It was very impressive but quite up-to-date, compared with Eilean Donan. It didn’t give the same feeling at all.
When we left, Rhett and I were walking together and he wanted to go down to the boat dock . . . When we were ready to go, he was nowhere in sight. He finally showed up and he said “I lost myself’. Children can say funny things.
We stayed in a nice home and got a good sleep and had a good breakfast. We will go back to Inverness today and see the same beautiful countryside again. So much water, mountains and green. I would like to stay here forever. We stopped at Eilean Donan again for one more look. I hated to leave as I can certainly feel that my ancestors roamed this land and lived and died here.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, eighteenth installment
Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, sixteenth installment
On Wednesday, 7 March I gave my Relief Society lesson on the Law of Consecration. I have certainly found that if I fast that day the Lord really blesses me with the right thoughts and words to say. Every time I have been I have received that help. Giving these Spiritual Living lessons has added to my testimony. How thankful I am for this wonderful church and the knowledge of why we are here.
On 17 March Sheila and I went to the airport and met John who had been to Canada and stayed overnight with Ralph in Seattle. John was here for a few hours and we went to Sheila’s. Later we went out for Mexican food and met Marlene and family there. What a lovely visit and how great to be with John again. He is a choice son indeed. We just wished his family had been there.
On 24 March Ralph and I went to visit with Sarah and John. Oh, how I needed to get away for a short rest. They met us at Cherry Creek at 10:00 and we left our car on the north side. The water was quite high and very swift. They have a Japanese young man staying with them. John took us to some Indian ruins while we were there and it was most interesting. How we hated to leave and come home again.
On 7 May 1979 Ralph took me to the airport and I flew to Greenville arriving at 6:15. He had to work, so couldn’t make the trip with me. It was great to see John’s family again. LaDonna is so sweet and I really love her like a daughter. The children are darling and Brook (the baby) is precious. Rhett is a real handful but they are good intelligent parents. Rhett goes to preschool kindergarten every Tuesday and Thursday, which is good for him and his mother.
On 11 May we took off for a camping trip in the mountains, which I said I would rather do than anything. Just over the line into North Carolina we visited the home of Carl Sandberg. The home wasn’t too elaborate but very comfortable.
We traveled on the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Smokey Mountains. What a beautiful drive! We stayed at a place called Smokemont and it was so pretty. The Dogwood trees were still in bloom and petals from the blossoms were falling like snow.
We went to Columbia to visit LaDonna’s parents. They are lovely people and were so nice to me. They think so much of John, I couldn’t help liking them. Tawanna (LaDonna’s sister) was expecting her baby soon. Her husband, Dennis, impressed me very much and I am glad to see them happy.
LaDonna took me to a clothing store on 14 May and I bought a blouse and pants suit. It was good to increase my wardrobe. I am enjoying the children - being a grandmother is so special.
On 16 May John left for Saudi Arabia. It was hard to see him go. LaDonna will have a lot of responsibility to be able to make that long trip with the children, but she is strong.
On 11 June Ralph wanted me to help him put the camper on the truck. While he was backing the truck, the camper started falling. I was between the truck and the garage and the large jack hit me in the jaw. On the way to the hospital, we stopped at Morgan Hank’s house and he and Ralph gave me a blessing. X-rays showed that my jaw was fractured. After a couple of hours, Dr. Ward came and took twenty stitches in my neck and I was admitted to the hospital. I wasn’t in much pain except when I tried to swallow. Marlene, Sheila and Donna came to see about me and when they came, Ralph had to go home. He was physically sick about what had happened and was so worried.
The next day I had surgery to wire my jaw and teeth together so it could heal. I was careful not to eat or drink anything after the designated time so that the surgery could be completed as scheduled. I was taken to ‘holding’ for surgery at about noon and at 2:00 the doctor told me they couldn’t do the surgery until the next day because there was no anesthesiologist. Of course I was disappointed, but what could I do? On 13 June the surgery was completed and I hated to think of facing the next six weeks. I know the Lord blessed me with the strength to endure. Ralph felt bad about this accident but I’m glad it was me and not him. The nurses were so nice to me took good care. They said most broken jaw patients were the result of a fight or a motorcycle accident.
The next day I went home from the hospital about noon and took the water pik for cleaning my teeth. It was quite an experience to drink all my food. Thank goodness for blenders.
My children have been very good to me Sheila let all of them know and son, Ralph called while I was in the hospital. Paulette was in the hospital with another tubal pregnancy. Sheila and Ralphie sent flowers. Girls from work sent a planter. I didn’t realize I had so many dear friends. The best thing is when I go back to work I will not have to answer the phone. It will be hard to drink my food but I’ll survive. Maybe I will lose some weight.
The following Sunday I sneaked into church and sat in the back. I didn’t want to talk to anyone, but Morgan came down from the stand to speak to me. Two days later the doctor took the stitches out. I will go back in five weeks and get my wires off. That evening Ralph and I went to the airport to turn in Grandma’s ticket. As we were walking around, Dr. Ward called “hello” to us from a distance and said he liked my smile. Thank goodness for friendly people who make you feel good.
On 20 June Marlene brought Nikki and Marnee over to help me for a couple of days. They were good company and very helpful. They are intelligent, attractive girls and I am very proud of them.
Two days later we went to visit Sarah and John at Cherry Creek. We picked up Marlene and had a nice drive. Paul is such a sweet boy and I enjoy having Jason and Stefani around too. It was nice to be up in the hills again and they made us feel so welcome. We went swimming and had such fun. Sarah dug up a complete Indian bowl, which is beautiful. Marlene and I agreed it was a lovely day.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, seventeenth installment
On 17 March Sheila and I went to the airport and met John who had been to Canada and stayed overnight with Ralph in Seattle. John was here for a few hours and we went to Sheila’s. Later we went out for Mexican food and met Marlene and family there. What a lovely visit and how great to be with John again. He is a choice son indeed. We just wished his family had been there.
On 24 March Ralph and I went to visit with Sarah and John. Oh, how I needed to get away for a short rest. They met us at Cherry Creek at 10:00 and we left our car on the north side. The water was quite high and very swift. They have a Japanese young man staying with them. John took us to some Indian ruins while we were there and it was most interesting. How we hated to leave and come home again.
On 7 May 1979 Ralph took me to the airport and I flew to Greenville arriving at 6:15. He had to work, so couldn’t make the trip with me. It was great to see John’s family again. LaDonna is so sweet and I really love her like a daughter. The children are darling and Brook (the baby) is precious. Rhett is a real handful but they are good intelligent parents. Rhett goes to preschool kindergarten every Tuesday and Thursday, which is good for him and his mother.
On 11 May we took off for a camping trip in the mountains, which I said I would rather do than anything. Just over the line into North Carolina we visited the home of Carl Sandberg. The home wasn’t too elaborate but very comfortable.
We traveled on the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Smokey Mountains. What a beautiful drive! We stayed at a place called Smokemont and it was so pretty. The Dogwood trees were still in bloom and petals from the blossoms were falling like snow.
We went to Columbia to visit LaDonna’s parents. They are lovely people and were so nice to me. They think so much of John, I couldn’t help liking them. Tawanna (LaDonna’s sister) was expecting her baby soon. Her husband, Dennis, impressed me very much and I am glad to see them happy.
LaDonna took me to a clothing store on 14 May and I bought a blouse and pants suit. It was good to increase my wardrobe. I am enjoying the children - being a grandmother is so special.
On 16 May John left for Saudi Arabia. It was hard to see him go. LaDonna will have a lot of responsibility to be able to make that long trip with the children, but she is strong.
On 11 June Ralph wanted me to help him put the camper on the truck. While he was backing the truck, the camper started falling. I was between the truck and the garage and the large jack hit me in the jaw. On the way to the hospital, we stopped at Morgan Hank’s house and he and Ralph gave me a blessing. X-rays showed that my jaw was fractured. After a couple of hours, Dr. Ward came and took twenty stitches in my neck and I was admitted to the hospital. I wasn’t in much pain except when I tried to swallow. Marlene, Sheila and Donna came to see about me and when they came, Ralph had to go home. He was physically sick about what had happened and was so worried.
The next day I had surgery to wire my jaw and teeth together so it could heal. I was careful not to eat or drink anything after the designated time so that the surgery could be completed as scheduled. I was taken to ‘holding’ for surgery at about noon and at 2:00 the doctor told me they couldn’t do the surgery until the next day because there was no anesthesiologist. Of course I was disappointed, but what could I do? On 13 June the surgery was completed and I hated to think of facing the next six weeks. I know the Lord blessed me with the strength to endure. Ralph felt bad about this accident but I’m glad it was me and not him. The nurses were so nice to me took good care. They said most broken jaw patients were the result of a fight or a motorcycle accident.
The next day I went home from the hospital about noon and took the water pik for cleaning my teeth. It was quite an experience to drink all my food. Thank goodness for blenders.
My children have been very good to me Sheila let all of them know and son, Ralph called while I was in the hospital. Paulette was in the hospital with another tubal pregnancy. Sheila and Ralphie sent flowers. Girls from work sent a planter. I didn’t realize I had so many dear friends. The best thing is when I go back to work I will not have to answer the phone. It will be hard to drink my food but I’ll survive. Maybe I will lose some weight.
The following Sunday I sneaked into church and sat in the back. I didn’t want to talk to anyone, but Morgan came down from the stand to speak to me. Two days later the doctor took the stitches out. I will go back in five weeks and get my wires off. That evening Ralph and I went to the airport to turn in Grandma’s ticket. As we were walking around, Dr. Ward called “hello” to us from a distance and said he liked my smile. Thank goodness for friendly people who make you feel good.
On 20 June Marlene brought Nikki and Marnee over to help me for a couple of days. They were good company and very helpful. They are intelligent, attractive girls and I am very proud of them.
Two days later we went to visit Sarah and John at Cherry Creek. We picked up Marlene and had a nice drive. Paul is such a sweet boy and I enjoy having Jason and Stefani around too. It was nice to be up in the hills again and they made us feel so welcome. We went swimming and had such fun. Sarah dug up a complete Indian bowl, which is beautiful. Marlene and I agreed it was a lovely day.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, seventeenth installment
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Life story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, fifteenth installment
My dear father-in-law passed away on 5 May 1972 and was buried in Phoenix. We missed him very much and he was one of my favorite people. Six months before his passing he was baptized a member of the church, which made us all very happy. My mother-in-law passed away on 20 August 1987 and was buried beside her husband.
I am going back to October 1978 when I was working at the Auto License Department in Phoenix. At that time I was having personal problems and felt the need to get away by myself for a few days. I went to Lakeside and rented a motel room. For some reason my mind went back to my youth and I remembered much of the persecution I suffered and the unhappiness and it was very real again. I realize that I brought a lot of this on myself because I lacked a sense of humor and took everything too seriously.
I wonder now how I made it through that period and how I turned out to be a normal person. The memories are still very painful. I realize how much the Lord loves me and has blessed me. I did survive and hopefully I can use this as a lesson in being more kind to others and be more understanding. I am so glad that this insecurity has not been passed on to my children. They are all responsible, independent people and I love them so much.
On Saturday, 3 March 1979 we had the McRae Reunion in Mesa and it was good to see relatives again. Both Melba and Lamar were there for the first time. It would be decided in the business meeting whether to discontinue the reunion or not. Two of my girls spoke up and I was very proud of them. After the discussion not one person was against continuing and Marlene was elected the new president. She chose Florette and Keith as her counselors. Then there was some background on Scotland, including slides, music and dances which were excellent.
My cousin, Annie McDowell, who lost her husband during the week, told me how much she loved me. All of those things I should have been saying to her. That is so sweet of that dear cousin.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, sixteenth installment
I am going back to October 1978 when I was working at the Auto License Department in Phoenix. At that time I was having personal problems and felt the need to get away by myself for a few days. I went to Lakeside and rented a motel room. For some reason my mind went back to my youth and I remembered much of the persecution I suffered and the unhappiness and it was very real again. I realize that I brought a lot of this on myself because I lacked a sense of humor and took everything too seriously.
I wonder now how I made it through that period and how I turned out to be a normal person. The memories are still very painful. I realize how much the Lord loves me and has blessed me. I did survive and hopefully I can use this as a lesson in being more kind to others and be more understanding. I am so glad that this insecurity has not been passed on to my children. They are all responsible, independent people and I love them so much.
On Saturday, 3 March 1979 we had the McRae Reunion in Mesa and it was good to see relatives again. Both Melba and Lamar were there for the first time. It would be decided in the business meeting whether to discontinue the reunion or not. Two of my girls spoke up and I was very proud of them. After the discussion not one person was against continuing and Marlene was elected the new president. She chose Florette and Keith as her counselors. Then there was some background on Scotland, including slides, music and dances which were excellent.
My cousin, Annie McDowell, who lost her husband during the week, told me how much she loved me. All of those things I should have been saying to her. That is so sweet of that dear cousin.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, sixteenth installment
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, fourteenth installment
It is time now to talk about our wonderful grandchildren. We are so proud of every one of them. I will not give birthdates as they are available for those interested.
Marlene and Jay have children, Nikki Sue, Marnee Lorain, Jason, Stefani Jo, Paul Melvin, Max Tyler, James and Mandi.
John and LaDonna have Rhett Forrest, Barry Rockford, Holly Lillian and Brook English.
Reed and Colleen have Alice Irene and Molly Johanna.
Sheila and Larry have Kristie Deanna, Tina Michelle, Sharon Carlene, Terri Suzanne and Michael Scott.
Ralph and Paulette have Sean (as mentioned before).
Link: Life story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, fifteenth installment
Marlene and Jay have children, Nikki Sue, Marnee Lorain, Jason, Stefani Jo, Paul Melvin, Max Tyler, James and Mandi.
John and LaDonna have Rhett Forrest, Barry Rockford, Holly Lillian and Brook English.
Reed and Colleen have Alice Irene and Molly Johanna.
Sheila and Larry have Kristie Deanna, Tina Michelle, Sharon Carlene, Terri Suzanne and Michael Scott.
Ralph and Paulette have Sean (as mentioned before).
Link: Life story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, fifteenth installment
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, thirteenth installment
John had graduated from high school and Reed also one year later. Reed was quite rebellious at school but the amazing thing is that he has had more education than any of the others. He fell in love with a girl named Colleen Clifford who was determined to get a good education. This inspired Reed to do the same.
After John returned from his mission he enlisted in the army as he would be drafted in any case. He was first stationed in Louisiana and then transferred to South Carolina. There he met LaDonna Yandle and has lived in South Carolina ever since. They were married in the Mesa Temple, just as Marlene had done.
Later Sheila met and fell in love with Larry McCrery. He did not appear to be Mormon material but when he told me that he was born in Independence, Missouri, I knew that someday he would belong to the church. That came true and he has proved to be a genuine person. The whole family learned to love and admire Larry.
I need to start at the beginning and speak of the mates my children chose. I could not have chosen better than they did. I love these men and women very much because they have made my children very happy and have given us such wonderful grandchildren. How blessed we have been in this regard.
Jay’s mother was raised in Thatcher as I was and her maiden name was Ora Carpenter. I knew her family quite well and went to school with one of her brothers. The Yandles were real Southerners and it was a pleasure always to be around them.
Our son, Ralph married a girl named Paulette Ochoa. She had been married before and had one son, Sean, who was adopted by Ralph and took the Keller name. Paulette has proved to be a great wife for Ralph and has been interested in getting a good education and she is CPA, as our son, John, who graduated from the University of South Carolina. Paulette received her degree from ASU West. Ralph became a carpenter and has done very well in that vocation.
Sarah had a problem with drugs for a while as did Reed and Ralph. That problem was so prevalent everywhere. She met and married a man named John Sowers and they have been very happy together. He is a teacher at Central Arizona College in the Journalism department. Sarah decided that she wanted to become a teacher also and is at present teaching in the Coolidge Elementary School. She teaches the children of transient workers and has taken a course in Spanish.
Donna took nurses training at Phoenix High School. She has been employed at St. Joseph’s Hospital since she had her training. She recently (about two or three years ago) married a man named Ron Riley. They bought a lovely little home in Glendale and are doing very well. One thing that has made us very happy is that all of our children are with the mates they started with. I guess we taught them something right.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, fourteenth installment
After John returned from his mission he enlisted in the army as he would be drafted in any case. He was first stationed in Louisiana and then transferred to South Carolina. There he met LaDonna Yandle and has lived in South Carolina ever since. They were married in the Mesa Temple, just as Marlene had done.
Later Sheila met and fell in love with Larry McCrery. He did not appear to be Mormon material but when he told me that he was born in Independence, Missouri, I knew that someday he would belong to the church. That came true and he has proved to be a genuine person. The whole family learned to love and admire Larry.
I need to start at the beginning and speak of the mates my children chose. I could not have chosen better than they did. I love these men and women very much because they have made my children very happy and have given us such wonderful grandchildren. How blessed we have been in this regard.
Jay’s mother was raised in Thatcher as I was and her maiden name was Ora Carpenter. I knew her family quite well and went to school with one of her brothers. The Yandles were real Southerners and it was a pleasure always to be around them.
Our son, Ralph married a girl named Paulette Ochoa. She had been married before and had one son, Sean, who was adopted by Ralph and took the Keller name. Paulette has proved to be a great wife for Ralph and has been interested in getting a good education and she is CPA, as our son, John, who graduated from the University of South Carolina. Paulette received her degree from ASU West. Ralph became a carpenter and has done very well in that vocation.
Sarah had a problem with drugs for a while as did Reed and Ralph. That problem was so prevalent everywhere. She met and married a man named John Sowers and they have been very happy together. He is a teacher at Central Arizona College in the Journalism department. Sarah decided that she wanted to become a teacher also and is at present teaching in the Coolidge Elementary School. She teaches the children of transient workers and has taken a course in Spanish.
Donna took nurses training at Phoenix High School. She has been employed at St. Joseph’s Hospital since she had her training. She recently (about two or three years ago) married a man named Ron Riley. They bought a lovely little home in Glendale and are doing very well. One thing that has made us very happy is that all of our children are with the mates they started with. I guess we taught them something right.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, fourteenth installment
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, twelfth installment
Although Ralph and I were separated for a while, things were fine between us and we loved each other a great deal. I want to say now that my mother-in-law was very upset with me at one time because I had so many children so close together. She felt I was putting too much responsibility on her son. We were not on good terms for quite a while, but Ralph made me realize that I must try harder as she was his mother and that would never change. If you want someone else to change, you must work on yourself first. After I tried harder we got to be better friends. About having so many children, I do not remember my husband ever complaining. We both did the best we could and were thankful that Heavenly Father gave us this wonderful family.
Donna was our baby of course and all of the others showed their love for her. I mentioned that Reed had some trouble in school, but it turned out that he went further in school than any of the others. He got his Master of Fine Arts degree and hoped to teach art, but it didn’t work out that way.
After Marlene graduated from high school, we moved back to Phoenix. I left five of the kids with Marlene for a few days and Sheila and I went to Phoenix to look for a house. We found a home in Maryvale on the west side and lived in that house for about 21 years. We moved in August to hot Phoenix but we survived. Marlene wanted to go to BYU and had some room mates from San Diego. She seemed to be doing well and said nothing negative when she came home for Christmas. After she went back she wrote and said she was having trouble with the cold weather and wanted to come home. She enrolled at Phoenix College and met Jay Omerza, and they were later married.
Our son, John, was called to go on a mission to Uruguay and Paraguay in the Fall of 1967 and was first sent to the MTC to learn Spanish. He wrote that the teaching of Spanish was very concentrated and they were not allowed to speak any English after the first two weeks. He said that after he had been there for a short while, he was called upon to give a prayer in English. Because of the acceleration of learning, he could not do it. This was quite an experience for a young man. He filled an honorable mission and returned home on Christmas Eve of 1969.
Looking back I sometimes wonder if things would have been a lot different if we had stayed in California. Some of the children were greatly influenced by their peers and it was difficult for us as parents. I won’t go into detail but they turned out to be independent and upright citizens. We were very active in the church and happy. I recall that I had promised my boys that I would take them on a fishing outing to Oak Creek Canyon. For this reason I did not attend testimony meeting in our ward the first Sunday after we moved. I learned that Marlene had gone to the meeting and bore her testimony. It must have been very impressive. One of the Bishopric came the next week and asked if I would be the Young Women’s President. This all happened on the strength of Marlene’s testimony.
I held this position for three years and had some wonderful experiences. The people I worked with were super and we had a great group of girls. At this time our Bishop was Raymond Kellis, first counselor, Robert Fleming and second counselor was Carwin Rogers, who was in charge of MIA. I was very happy here and watching my children grow to be good men and women.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, thirteenth installment
Donna was our baby of course and all of the others showed their love for her. I mentioned that Reed had some trouble in school, but it turned out that he went further in school than any of the others. He got his Master of Fine Arts degree and hoped to teach art, but it didn’t work out that way.
After Marlene graduated from high school, we moved back to Phoenix. I left five of the kids with Marlene for a few days and Sheila and I went to Phoenix to look for a house. We found a home in Maryvale on the west side and lived in that house for about 21 years. We moved in August to hot Phoenix but we survived. Marlene wanted to go to BYU and had some room mates from San Diego. She seemed to be doing well and said nothing negative when she came home for Christmas. After she went back she wrote and said she was having trouble with the cold weather and wanted to come home. She enrolled at Phoenix College and met Jay Omerza, and they were later married.
Our son, John, was called to go on a mission to Uruguay and Paraguay in the Fall of 1967 and was first sent to the MTC to learn Spanish. He wrote that the teaching of Spanish was very concentrated and they were not allowed to speak any English after the first two weeks. He said that after he had been there for a short while, he was called upon to give a prayer in English. Because of the acceleration of learning, he could not do it. This was quite an experience for a young man. He filled an honorable mission and returned home on Christmas Eve of 1969.
Looking back I sometimes wonder if things would have been a lot different if we had stayed in California. Some of the children were greatly influenced by their peers and it was difficult for us as parents. I won’t go into detail but they turned out to be independent and upright citizens. We were very active in the church and happy. I recall that I had promised my boys that I would take them on a fishing outing to Oak Creek Canyon. For this reason I did not attend testimony meeting in our ward the first Sunday after we moved. I learned that Marlene had gone to the meeting and bore her testimony. It must have been very impressive. One of the Bishopric came the next week and asked if I would be the Young Women’s President. This all happened on the strength of Marlene’s testimony.
I held this position for three years and had some wonderful experiences. The people I worked with were super and we had a great group of girls. At this time our Bishop was Raymond Kellis, first counselor, Robert Fleming and second counselor was Carwin Rogers, who was in charge of MIA. I was very happy here and watching my children grow to be good men and women.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, thirteenth installment
Monday, August 4, 2008
Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, eleventh installment
The house where we were living in Lomita Village was just too small for our big family. Imagine nine people with only one bathroom. It was a nightmare for me! We finally traded houses with a friend and family who lived in La Mesa. This was a large home with three bathrooms. When time came to make the trade, Ralph was in the hospital after having hernia surgery. It was up to me to make this move with my seven children and it was a big task. It seemed to me that the church always helped people who were moving but I was given no help. At that time I felt like we were on the outside looking in where the ward was concerned. I hired a mover and we got the job done. After we were in the new house, it was getting dark and suddenly there was no electricity. No beds had been made and I was beside myself, not knowing where to turn. Then I remembered that I had a cousin (an electrician) who might help. He came and found there was a control box just inside the front door which had once been enclosed in a closet. One of my children had noticed this and had pulled the switch. On my!
Here I will digress a little and tell about my feelings about the church here. Since I had always been used to being expected to have a job in the ward, I was not asked to do anything but take care of my family. I felt that I was not wanted and didn’t care if I went to church or not. All of my life I had been active and I was devastated. One night I had a dream and a friend, Leora Jay, came to me and told me that if I did not bear my testimony I would lose it. When we moved to La Mesa Ward, I became very involved and was happy once again. I taught Primary and had several other positions while in that area. I recall that at one time I was my son Ralph’s Sunday School teacher and I thought things were going well. One day he told me that he wished I was not his teacher. I was shocked and asked him why. He said, “Because you pick on me”. I realized that what he said was true and I asked to be released from that job. Our children can surely teach us a lot.
We made many wonderful friends while in this home - one family being the Clegg family. They had a daughter Sheila’s age and they were great friends. When a new church building was being planned, they asked even the children to use their talents to raise money for the building. Sr. Clegg had planted sweet peas along her fence and they were really thriving and beautiful. Veva Jean and Sheila went into Casa de Oro and sold bunches of sweet peas, which helped greatly with the building fund.
We lived in the same house for about seven years and helped to fund the building of two new church buildings. As can be seen, the church was a total part of our lives and we were happy. When a new building was dedicated in El Cajon, Marlene was singing in the choir and they sang ‘The Spirit of God like a Fire is Burning.” It was the most thrilling experience. There was not just the choir singing, but angels were singing with them. Our Stake President was crying out loud and we all shed tears while we heard those angels. What a testimony that the church was true and that God was accepting our efforts.
Some of the delights of living in the San Diego area were the many cultural advantages, total involvement in church activities, and close relationship with friends and relatives. Aunt Minnie’s family and Aunt Jessie’s family have been very important in my life. Since I was raised in a small town, it was wonderful to take advantage of the cultural and social opportunities that were there for us. There was Balboa Park, the beach, and the mountains not far away.
One summer while the children were out of school, we took our tent and all the equipment we needed and spent a few days near Mt. Palomar. Ralph took us and helped get everything in order. We kept the truck and the boys slept in the back under some trees. Early in the morning the raccoons and squirrels threw pine cones at them and they thought that was great. The girls slept in the tent and we all had so much fun. We spent some time learning about the huge telescope at Mt. Palomar.
Marlene had been taking piano lessons while in Ajo from Thelma Allen. It was easy to see that she loved music and would sit at the piano all day if she could. Since she was the oldest child, her mother needed her help and thus she learned to be a good mother, which served her well in her future life. I asked the piano teacher how I could tell if the other children had musical talent. Thus all of my children were given piano lessons and some of them took advantage of this.
The children did well in school and seemed to have many good friends. When John was old enough to leave Primary, he didn’t want to go into M.I.A. The next year when it was time for Reed to leave Primary, he couldn’t make the change soon enough. I could see then that each one of my children were definitely individuals and each had their own personality. Sarah was a smart little girl and had me fooled a lot of the time. She had sticky fingers but overcame this habit later on.
Reed was not too happy in school because he didn’t like to be told what to do. When he was a freshman in high school, Ralph went back to Phoenix to work for his dad. It was a necessary move and he came home on weekends as often as he could. I spent a lot of time trying to be father and mother. I was alone with the children one year, which was difficult for me and the next year Marlene was a senior in high school and I just couldn’t bear to make her leave all of her friends at that time. Her music was so important to her and when she was 14 she was Ward Organist.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, twelfth installment
Here I will digress a little and tell about my feelings about the church here. Since I had always been used to being expected to have a job in the ward, I was not asked to do anything but take care of my family. I felt that I was not wanted and didn’t care if I went to church or not. All of my life I had been active and I was devastated. One night I had a dream and a friend, Leora Jay, came to me and told me that if I did not bear my testimony I would lose it. When we moved to La Mesa Ward, I became very involved and was happy once again. I taught Primary and had several other positions while in that area. I recall that at one time I was my son Ralph’s Sunday School teacher and I thought things were going well. One day he told me that he wished I was not his teacher. I was shocked and asked him why. He said, “Because you pick on me”. I realized that what he said was true and I asked to be released from that job. Our children can surely teach us a lot.
We made many wonderful friends while in this home - one family being the Clegg family. They had a daughter Sheila’s age and they were great friends. When a new church building was being planned, they asked even the children to use their talents to raise money for the building. Sr. Clegg had planted sweet peas along her fence and they were really thriving and beautiful. Veva Jean and Sheila went into Casa de Oro and sold bunches of sweet peas, which helped greatly with the building fund.
We lived in the same house for about seven years and helped to fund the building of two new church buildings. As can be seen, the church was a total part of our lives and we were happy. When a new building was dedicated in El Cajon, Marlene was singing in the choir and they sang ‘The Spirit of God like a Fire is Burning.” It was the most thrilling experience. There was not just the choir singing, but angels were singing with them. Our Stake President was crying out loud and we all shed tears while we heard those angels. What a testimony that the church was true and that God was accepting our efforts.
Some of the delights of living in the San Diego area were the many cultural advantages, total involvement in church activities, and close relationship with friends and relatives. Aunt Minnie’s family and Aunt Jessie’s family have been very important in my life. Since I was raised in a small town, it was wonderful to take advantage of the cultural and social opportunities that were there for us. There was Balboa Park, the beach, and the mountains not far away.
One summer while the children were out of school, we took our tent and all the equipment we needed and spent a few days near Mt. Palomar. Ralph took us and helped get everything in order. We kept the truck and the boys slept in the back under some trees. Early in the morning the raccoons and squirrels threw pine cones at them and they thought that was great. The girls slept in the tent and we all had so much fun. We spent some time learning about the huge telescope at Mt. Palomar.
Marlene had been taking piano lessons while in Ajo from Thelma Allen. It was easy to see that she loved music and would sit at the piano all day if she could. Since she was the oldest child, her mother needed her help and thus she learned to be a good mother, which served her well in her future life. I asked the piano teacher how I could tell if the other children had musical talent. Thus all of my children were given piano lessons and some of them took advantage of this.
The children did well in school and seemed to have many good friends. When John was old enough to leave Primary, he didn’t want to go into M.I.A. The next year when it was time for Reed to leave Primary, he couldn’t make the change soon enough. I could see then that each one of my children were definitely individuals and each had their own personality. Sarah was a smart little girl and had me fooled a lot of the time. She had sticky fingers but overcame this habit later on.
Reed was not too happy in school because he didn’t like to be told what to do. When he was a freshman in high school, Ralph went back to Phoenix to work for his dad. It was a necessary move and he came home on weekends as often as he could. I spent a lot of time trying to be father and mother. I was alone with the children one year, which was difficult for me and the next year Marlene was a senior in high school and I just couldn’t bear to make her leave all of her friends at that time. Her music was so important to her and when she was 14 she was Ward Organist.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, twelfth installment
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, tenth installment
Sheila Rae was born on 5 June 1951 and we were so proud of our two sons and two daughters. Another son, Ralph Eugene was born on 18 July 1952. When we found we had another boy, my husband wanted to name him Ralph. I said, “Won’t that be a little confusing?” He said, “To who”, so our third son was named Ralph Eugene.
When I found that I was going to have another child, I was overwhelmed and felt like I couldn’t do this again so soon. I wrote to my Aunt Delia Winsor (who had fourteen children) and told her how I felt. She sympathized with me and said that she had felt the same way many times, but found each one was a blessing in disguise. During this time I was in the temple one day and was aware of an elderly woman seated beside me. I looked at her hands and they were just like my Grandma’s hands and I knew Grandma was very close to me. I knew that everything would be all right. Sarah Ann was born on 3 September 1954 and really has proved to be a blessing in disguise.
Our last girl, Donna Leah (named for a dear, beautiful cousin who had died of tuberculosis) was born on 29 December 1955. I knew after she was born that mentally and emotionally I could not bring another child into the world. We took steps to make sure there would be no more offspring. I know now that we loved our children very much, in spite of the fact that it was a big responsibility.
Before Sarah came into our lives, I had an appointment with the doctor for a checkup. In Ajo all medical facilities were owned by Phelps Dodge. Sheila had a bad cold at the time so I took her along. After examination, the doctor asked if she had ever had Rheumatic Fever and I said not that I was aware of. There was to be a Crippled Children’s Clinic in the near future and he suggested that she be examined there. It was discovered that she had heart problems - a constriction of the aorta and a valve which didn’t close when she was born. This meant that any infection could be very risky. When Donna was ten days old, we moved to San Diego where Ralph found employment. He preceded me and some of the children and found housing for us in Lomita Village. We found a good Pediatrician and placed Sheila in his care. She would need to have surgery later when she was at least ten years old.
Things went well and we were happy in our new location. Marlene, John and Reed were enrolled in school (Reed being in the second grade). John was playing with a neighbor boy one day and he hit a golf ball with a club and it hit John squarely in the left eye. We found an excellent optomist who said that no permanent damage was done. John told me recently that he had always had some trouble with that eye and his peripheral vision was not as good as it should be. To get back to Reed, his 2nd grade teacher sent a note home one day that we should have his eyes examined. We took him to this same doctor and told me he was amazed that Reed had learned anything in school as his vision was very impaired. He prescribed glasses for our little boy.
I felt so guilty that I had not known about his problem and wrote a note to that teacher, thanking her for her concern. When we returned to get the glasses, the doctor said that I should notice his reaction when he saw the neighborhood while he wore the glasses. He said he would see things that he didn’t know were there. This was true and thereafter, he was never without his glasses. Thank goodness for caring teachers.
Sheila entered Kindergarten at the age of five and she was not very happy to leave home for school. One day when she did not show up at school, I searched and found her hiding in the alley behind our house - she was miserable at school. This was taken care of and when she was in first grade (remember I still had three little ones at home) it was decided that she should have the surgery soon. The evidence of the problem was nose bleeds in the night and shortness of breath. In the winter of 1957, her daddy and I took her to the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles for her surgery. Grandma Keller stayed with the other six while I spent about a week while Sheila was in the hospital.
After the surgery before I went into the room to see her, they told me she would be almost in a coma as they had to bring her temperature down to slow her heart rate. When I walked into that room, she was in an oxygen tent and fighting to get out. There was no need for alarm as she was very active. They tried to feed her cooked liver for nourishment. She was wearing a red gown and fighting with the nurses about eating the liver. Her face was almost as red as her gown. Was she ever a spunky little girl! Her daddy came to take us home and it was good to be back with my family again. I have often laughed about Grandma Keller. As I remember, she preferred children she could read to rather than babies. When we came home, she was gone within a half hour.
Two months after the surgery we returned for the surgeon to check her over. Her blood pressure was absolutely normal, which the doctor said was amazing. She did very well from that time on. She was out of school for a while and a teacher was sent several days a week for her to be home taught. The Lord really blessed us to have our family whole again.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, eleventh installment
When I found that I was going to have another child, I was overwhelmed and felt like I couldn’t do this again so soon. I wrote to my Aunt Delia Winsor (who had fourteen children) and told her how I felt. She sympathized with me and said that she had felt the same way many times, but found each one was a blessing in disguise. During this time I was in the temple one day and was aware of an elderly woman seated beside me. I looked at her hands and they were just like my Grandma’s hands and I knew Grandma was very close to me. I knew that everything would be all right. Sarah Ann was born on 3 September 1954 and really has proved to be a blessing in disguise.
Our last girl, Donna Leah (named for a dear, beautiful cousin who had died of tuberculosis) was born on 29 December 1955. I knew after she was born that mentally and emotionally I could not bring another child into the world. We took steps to make sure there would be no more offspring. I know now that we loved our children very much, in spite of the fact that it was a big responsibility.
Before Sarah came into our lives, I had an appointment with the doctor for a checkup. In Ajo all medical facilities were owned by Phelps Dodge. Sheila had a bad cold at the time so I took her along. After examination, the doctor asked if she had ever had Rheumatic Fever and I said not that I was aware of. There was to be a Crippled Children’s Clinic in the near future and he suggested that she be examined there. It was discovered that she had heart problems - a constriction of the aorta and a valve which didn’t close when she was born. This meant that any infection could be very risky. When Donna was ten days old, we moved to San Diego where Ralph found employment. He preceded me and some of the children and found housing for us in Lomita Village. We found a good Pediatrician and placed Sheila in his care. She would need to have surgery later when she was at least ten years old.
Things went well and we were happy in our new location. Marlene, John and Reed were enrolled in school (Reed being in the second grade). John was playing with a neighbor boy one day and he hit a golf ball with a club and it hit John squarely in the left eye. We found an excellent optomist who said that no permanent damage was done. John told me recently that he had always had some trouble with that eye and his peripheral vision was not as good as it should be. To get back to Reed, his 2nd grade teacher sent a note home one day that we should have his eyes examined. We took him to this same doctor and told me he was amazed that Reed had learned anything in school as his vision was very impaired. He prescribed glasses for our little boy.
I felt so guilty that I had not known about his problem and wrote a note to that teacher, thanking her for her concern. When we returned to get the glasses, the doctor said that I should notice his reaction when he saw the neighborhood while he wore the glasses. He said he would see things that he didn’t know were there. This was true and thereafter, he was never without his glasses. Thank goodness for caring teachers.
Sheila entered Kindergarten at the age of five and she was not very happy to leave home for school. One day when she did not show up at school, I searched and found her hiding in the alley behind our house - she was miserable at school. This was taken care of and when she was in first grade (remember I still had three little ones at home) it was decided that she should have the surgery soon. The evidence of the problem was nose bleeds in the night and shortness of breath. In the winter of 1957, her daddy and I took her to the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles for her surgery. Grandma Keller stayed with the other six while I spent about a week while Sheila was in the hospital.
After the surgery before I went into the room to see her, they told me she would be almost in a coma as they had to bring her temperature down to slow her heart rate. When I walked into that room, she was in an oxygen tent and fighting to get out. There was no need for alarm as she was very active. They tried to feed her cooked liver for nourishment. She was wearing a red gown and fighting with the nurses about eating the liver. Her face was almost as red as her gown. Was she ever a spunky little girl! Her daddy came to take us home and it was good to be back with my family again. I have often laughed about Grandma Keller. As I remember, she preferred children she could read to rather than babies. When we came home, she was gone within a half hour.
Two months after the surgery we returned for the surgeon to check her over. Her blood pressure was absolutely normal, which the doctor said was amazing. She did very well from that time on. She was out of school for a while and a teacher was sent several days a week for her to be home taught. The Lord really blessed us to have our family whole again.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, eleventh installment
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, ninth installment
Ralph and I lived with his parents for a while after we were married and then moved into an apartment that belonged to Grandma Renshaw. I began working at the OPA office during this time. Grandpa Keller had given Ralph a lot on 23rd St. and he was trying to build us a home. I continued to work until two months before Marlene was born. I worked because we were financially trying to be independent. Lillian Marlene was born on 24 July 1946 and by that time we were living in our own home. Marlene was very tiny when born, because I didn’t gain much weight during my pregnancy.
This little daughter was smart and hard to keep up with later on but she was a lot of company for her mother. John Patterson came along when Marlene was about two years old, and we were so proud of our new little boy. Before John was born, Ralph had quit smoking all on his own and I loved him even more for the effort he made. He was then worthy to bless John who was named for his grandfather, John Patterson Keller. At the time of his blessing a man came to see our new baby and said that if he was half the man his grandfather was, he would be great. Grandpa Keller was a wonderful man and I loved him with all my heart. By the way John was born on 6 September 1948 in St. Joseph’s Hospital.
We had built a house with two bedrooms, a double bed in one room and twin beds in the other. One busy afternoon I laid John on one of the twin beds and went on with my cleaning. When I came back into the room, he was laying on the other bed. Marlene was trying to be a little mother, so I knew I would have to be more watchful. The Cahills were living next door to us and had adopted a little boy named Mike, so Marlene had a playmate.
She was like her mother in some ways; she was quite a wanderer and inclined to leave home without saying anything to me. This happened several times and since we had no fence, I tried tying her to the clothesline, which gave her room to roam. One day I had to take extreme measures. We had a small suitcase so I put some of her things in this case and told her that she didn’t like her home I wanted her to leave. I put her out the front door and watched what she did. She sat on the curb a little distance away and started to cry. After a time I loved her and brought her back; I didn’t have any problem from then on.
John was a good baby, had some colic but did very well.
On 27 October 1948 Ralph and I with our children Marlene and John went to the temple and were sealed. This was something I had dreamed about all of my life and I was so proud that Ralph made himself worthy to take this step. I will always be grateful that the Lord made this possible.
Reed Francis was born on 16 October 1949 and grew so fast. Because he was not getting enough nourishment from just milk, I was told to start him on solid food when he was about a month old.
When Reed was a year old we moved to Ajo, as Ralph was Evan Mecham’s first employee. Ralph worked at his car dealership as a mechanic and later was in charge of the Parts Dept. Those were some of the happiest days of my life, in spite of the fact I had three little children and always had at least two jobs in the church. We had a great ward and it was like one big happy family. I got acquainted with my cousin, Ruth Winsor Weems and we learned to love each other a lot. While living in Ajo, our last four children were born.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, tenth installment
This little daughter was smart and hard to keep up with later on but she was a lot of company for her mother. John Patterson came along when Marlene was about two years old, and we were so proud of our new little boy. Before John was born, Ralph had quit smoking all on his own and I loved him even more for the effort he made. He was then worthy to bless John who was named for his grandfather, John Patterson Keller. At the time of his blessing a man came to see our new baby and said that if he was half the man his grandfather was, he would be great. Grandpa Keller was a wonderful man and I loved him with all my heart. By the way John was born on 6 September 1948 in St. Joseph’s Hospital.
We had built a house with two bedrooms, a double bed in one room and twin beds in the other. One busy afternoon I laid John on one of the twin beds and went on with my cleaning. When I came back into the room, he was laying on the other bed. Marlene was trying to be a little mother, so I knew I would have to be more watchful. The Cahills were living next door to us and had adopted a little boy named Mike, so Marlene had a playmate.
She was like her mother in some ways; she was quite a wanderer and inclined to leave home without saying anything to me. This happened several times and since we had no fence, I tried tying her to the clothesline, which gave her room to roam. One day I had to take extreme measures. We had a small suitcase so I put some of her things in this case and told her that she didn’t like her home I wanted her to leave. I put her out the front door and watched what she did. She sat on the curb a little distance away and started to cry. After a time I loved her and brought her back; I didn’t have any problem from then on.
John was a good baby, had some colic but did very well.
On 27 October 1948 Ralph and I with our children Marlene and John went to the temple and were sealed. This was something I had dreamed about all of my life and I was so proud that Ralph made himself worthy to take this step. I will always be grateful that the Lord made this possible.
Reed Francis was born on 16 October 1949 and grew so fast. Because he was not getting enough nourishment from just milk, I was told to start him on solid food when he was about a month old.
When Reed was a year old we moved to Ajo, as Ralph was Evan Mecham’s first employee. Ralph worked at his car dealership as a mechanic and later was in charge of the Parts Dept. Those were some of the happiest days of my life, in spite of the fact I had three little children and always had at least two jobs in the church. We had a great ward and it was like one big happy family. I got acquainted with my cousin, Ruth Winsor Weems and we learned to love each other a lot. While living in Ajo, our last four children were born.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, tenth installment
Friday, August 1, 2008
Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, eighth installment
In the early fall of 1944 I was in the music room for our company’s use and a young man came and we started a conversation. In spite of the fact that I was 24 years old, I was quite naive. He was very charming and good-looking and we started going together. One of my friends who worked in personnel told me one day that George was married. I kept seeing him anyway and he was very good company. I thought I was in love and could have made a serious mistake. Fortunately while I was on furlough, his wife came to visit him. He wrote me that we must end our relationship. Wanting to be honest, I wrote Ralph about this and told him that I was still the same girl I had been.
About this time Ralph wrote and told me that he had been married in 1941 and was still married to this girl. It was a shock to me but his father was working on getting an annulment as they had evidently never lived together. In many of his letters, he told me that he didn’t trust women and said that if I had not been a Mormon, he would not have written for so long to me.
When I went home on furlough, I had a chance a couple of times to go to the Keller home in Phoenix and visit with Ralph’s family. They were very gracious to me and it was so good to write and tell him that I had been in touch with his family. He got very excited when I told him about the visit and asked me to tell every little detail. I can’t recall if I met just his parents or if his sisters, Shirley and Louise were there also.
In March of 1945 I had a phone call from Ralph and he was at home finally in Phoenix. The next day I received a telegram from him telling me that we must somehow get together and meet each other. I had just had a furlough in January to visit my Grandma who was quite ill in California. I was lucky enough to get a short furlough about the last of March and met him in Phoenix. When we first met he didn’t seem to be what I expected, but the more we were together the more I realized that he was a fine man and really was in love with me. He had told me sometime ago that he had the bad habit of smoking and doubted if he could quit.
He spent about three months stationed at Santa Ana, California in rehabilitation hospital. The men who came back from overseas brought a lot of problems home with them and had to learn to be civilians again. On 30 June I wrote him from San Diego that I was there because of Grandma’s serious illness. I managed to see him for a couple of days and we met in Lynwood at the home of his Aunt Mary. It was wonderful to be with him again and to know that I was also in love with him. We had written for such a long time and really knew a lot about each other. We spent one day in Los Angeles and I remember that we went boat riding in Westlake Park. In reading over his letters I remembered that he proposed to me on the streets of Los Angeles.
He had a hard time deciding whether he was ready to take on the responsibility of marriage. He was like a yo-yo about this for a while. He made up his mind because he sent my rings to me through the mail. When I put that engagement ring on my finger I was sure that this would last for a lifetime and beyond. The WAC’s had a rule that if a husband was discharged from the service, the wife could get out too. Again I was lucky to get another furlough in September. I went back to Phoenix again and we were married on 4 September 1945 in his parents’ home by Bishop Blaine Alexander. As I had no one who could do anything for me, Ralph’s mother gave us a reception.
We had two days together and then I had to return to Ft. Knox once again. I can remember nothing about our honeymoon, other than the fact that I was very happy. I knew that I had married the man God intended for me to have. I went to Camp Beale in California for my release from the army. While I was there I received a telegram that Grandma had passed away in Santee, California, where my Aunt Jessie lived. I hurried back to Phoenix and Ralph and I went to her funeral in Thatcher. This was one of the most difficult times of my life because I had been with her so seldom when she was ill. She gave me so much love and good advice during my life and I will cherish her memory until we meet again.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, ninth installment
About this time Ralph wrote and told me that he had been married in 1941 and was still married to this girl. It was a shock to me but his father was working on getting an annulment as they had evidently never lived together. In many of his letters, he told me that he didn’t trust women and said that if I had not been a Mormon, he would not have written for so long to me.
When I went home on furlough, I had a chance a couple of times to go to the Keller home in Phoenix and visit with Ralph’s family. They were very gracious to me and it was so good to write and tell him that I had been in touch with his family. He got very excited when I told him about the visit and asked me to tell every little detail. I can’t recall if I met just his parents or if his sisters, Shirley and Louise were there also.
In March of 1945 I had a phone call from Ralph and he was at home finally in Phoenix. The next day I received a telegram from him telling me that we must somehow get together and meet each other. I had just had a furlough in January to visit my Grandma who was quite ill in California. I was lucky enough to get a short furlough about the last of March and met him in Phoenix. When we first met he didn’t seem to be what I expected, but the more we were together the more I realized that he was a fine man and really was in love with me. He had told me sometime ago that he had the bad habit of smoking and doubted if he could quit.
He spent about three months stationed at Santa Ana, California in rehabilitation hospital. The men who came back from overseas brought a lot of problems home with them and had to learn to be civilians again. On 30 June I wrote him from San Diego that I was there because of Grandma’s serious illness. I managed to see him for a couple of days and we met in Lynwood at the home of his Aunt Mary. It was wonderful to be with him again and to know that I was also in love with him. We had written for such a long time and really knew a lot about each other. We spent one day in Los Angeles and I remember that we went boat riding in Westlake Park. In reading over his letters I remembered that he proposed to me on the streets of Los Angeles.
He had a hard time deciding whether he was ready to take on the responsibility of marriage. He was like a yo-yo about this for a while. He made up his mind because he sent my rings to me through the mail. When I put that engagement ring on my finger I was sure that this would last for a lifetime and beyond. The WAC’s had a rule that if a husband was discharged from the service, the wife could get out too. Again I was lucky to get another furlough in September. I went back to Phoenix again and we were married on 4 September 1945 in his parents’ home by Bishop Blaine Alexander. As I had no one who could do anything for me, Ralph’s mother gave us a reception.
We had two days together and then I had to return to Ft. Knox once again. I can remember nothing about our honeymoon, other than the fact that I was very happy. I knew that I had married the man God intended for me to have. I went to Camp Beale in California for my release from the army. While I was there I received a telegram that Grandma had passed away in Santee, California, where my Aunt Jessie lived. I hurried back to Phoenix and Ralph and I went to her funeral in Thatcher. This was one of the most difficult times of my life because I had been with her so seldom when she was ill. She gave me so much love and good advice during my life and I will cherish her memory until we meet again.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, ninth installment
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, seventh installment
My first assignment was to basic training at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. I traveled on a train and went through Salt Lake City. We were not allowed to go out of the depot. So my dream of seeing Salt Lake was dashed. As we went further east, I noticed how dark the buildings were, which had been white at one time. I had never seen what coal smoke could do before. Fort Des Moines was a pretty place I thought. So many trees, which we do not have in Arizona. The main purpose of basic training is to learn to do things the army way and be taught discipline. I hated this at first but gradually adjusted. We had inspection every Saturday and everything had to be spotless. On Friday evening we washed the windows and almost always it would rain during the night.
I recall one unique experience; we were told we would mess in the field (that means we would prepare a meal in the open). While we were out a terrific thunderstorm came up (it was in August) and we were soaked. We wore heavy socks and high-top shoes and my socks inside the shoes were soaking wet. Another experience was when we were lined up on the parade grounds and told to stand at attention. We were not supposed to move even our eyes and this happened right after we had received our shots for tetanus, typhoid, etc. While standing at attention in the hot sun girls would drop to the ground as a result of the shots. We were told not to look at them as someone would carry them off the field. I learned a lot that day.
After six weeks at Fort Des Moines, I was sent to Alpine, Texas to Clerical School. Our barracks was at a junior college facility which was vacant at the time. Alpine was a small town and there were three choices of something to do when we were free. We could either go to a movie (most of which I had already seen), go swimming, or go to the beer joint. I tried the beer once and wondered how anyone could drink such nasty stuff. So I went swimming or stayed in the barracks. During this time we were allowed to go by army truck to Carlsbad Caverns. There was so much to see there. While we were deep underground the lights were turned off and flashlights were gradually turned on. I had never experienced such darkness before.
After clerical school a great number of us were assigned to Fort Knox, Kentucky. This is where I spent the rest of my time in the WACS (Women’s Army Corps). I loved my life at Ft. Knox and made many dear friends. One person close to me was Eunice Hagerman. She was from Racine, Wisconsin and she became involved with a married officer, Frank Roig. She became pregnant and was sent home, of course. I went to visit her in Racine and saw her beautiful little boy. After the war he divorced his wife and they were married and had two more children. We corresponded for years and the last I heard from her, they were living in Florida.
All of this time I was corresponding with Ralph. After being in North Africa, he was sent to Italy, then Sicily and then Corsica. For some reason I saved all of the letters he wrote to me (160 letters) and have put them in albums for preservation. Of course there were no real attachments between us for a long time and I continued to attend dances and had dates with soldiers at Ft. Knox.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, eighth installment
I recall one unique experience; we were told we would mess in the field (that means we would prepare a meal in the open). While we were out a terrific thunderstorm came up (it was in August) and we were soaked. We wore heavy socks and high-top shoes and my socks inside the shoes were soaking wet. Another experience was when we were lined up on the parade grounds and told to stand at attention. We were not supposed to move even our eyes and this happened right after we had received our shots for tetanus, typhoid, etc. While standing at attention in the hot sun girls would drop to the ground as a result of the shots. We were told not to look at them as someone would carry them off the field. I learned a lot that day.
After six weeks at Fort Des Moines, I was sent to Alpine, Texas to Clerical School. Our barracks was at a junior college facility which was vacant at the time. Alpine was a small town and there were three choices of something to do when we were free. We could either go to a movie (most of which I had already seen), go swimming, or go to the beer joint. I tried the beer once and wondered how anyone could drink such nasty stuff. So I went swimming or stayed in the barracks. During this time we were allowed to go by army truck to Carlsbad Caverns. There was so much to see there. While we were deep underground the lights were turned off and flashlights were gradually turned on. I had never experienced such darkness before.
After clerical school a great number of us were assigned to Fort Knox, Kentucky. This is where I spent the rest of my time in the WACS (Women’s Army Corps). I loved my life at Ft. Knox and made many dear friends. One person close to me was Eunice Hagerman. She was from Racine, Wisconsin and she became involved with a married officer, Frank Roig. She became pregnant and was sent home, of course. I went to visit her in Racine and saw her beautiful little boy. After the war he divorced his wife and they were married and had two more children. We corresponded for years and the last I heard from her, they were living in Florida.
All of this time I was corresponding with Ralph. After being in North Africa, he was sent to Italy, then Sicily and then Corsica. For some reason I saved all of the letters he wrote to me (160 letters) and have put them in albums for preservation. Of course there were no real attachments between us for a long time and I continued to attend dances and had dates with soldiers at Ft. Knox.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, eighth installment
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, sixth installment
My first employment away from home was in Tucson in the Welfare Office. I was a file clerk and enjoyed living away from home for the first time in my life. I lived with some other women in the YWCA and walked to work every day. One of these women taught me to crochet which I still enjoy doing. The Welfare Offices covering the state held a convention in Nogales and I was able to attend. While we were there, we went to a bull fight. What a spectacle that was! I was amazed at the brutality; especially how the horses suffered.
In 1941 I was transferred to the Welfare Office in Phoenix and lived with Aunt Delia Winsor (my grandmother’s sister) and her two children, Ruth and Thurston. It was while living with them that I learned the basics of driving a car. My Grandma came to visit a few times and it was wonderful to see her. Later on she came to Phoenix and we rented a duplex on West Jefferson. It sure was like being home again. I loved my job as a clerk- typist. It was during this time that the attack on Pearl Harbor came. I will never forget that day. As President Roosevelt said, “It was a day that will live in infamy”.
Several of the boys I went to high school with died in the war that followed and it was a sad time for everyone. I remember all of the different planes which flew over Phoenix, as Luke Field and Williams Field were nearby. Young men from all over the country were training to be pilots at those bases.
I was working with a woman named Bea Dooley and we became good friends. Her brother had a good friend named Ralph Keller and she suggested I might like to write to him. She said he was a member of the church and she didn’t think he was writing to anyone special. In 1942 I felt that I needed to be more involved in the war effort so I moved to San Diego and lived with my cousin, Mildred Tenney Handy. I got a job working as a stenographer at Consolidated-Vultee Aircraft. My boss was Don Carlos Smith and he was good to work for. It was during this time that I started corresponding with Ralph. He was in England at first and then was sent to North Africa. We wrote to each other often and enjoyed our friendship. About five months or so later he told me that he loved me and this was my first experience of more than friendship. I was 22 years old and I guess I had lived a very sheltered life. It seemed to me that this was going to be a meaningful relationship and once again I wanted to be more involved in the war effort. In 1943 I joined the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, seventh installment
In 1941 I was transferred to the Welfare Office in Phoenix and lived with Aunt Delia Winsor (my grandmother’s sister) and her two children, Ruth and Thurston. It was while living with them that I learned the basics of driving a car. My Grandma came to visit a few times and it was wonderful to see her. Later on she came to Phoenix and we rented a duplex on West Jefferson. It sure was like being home again. I loved my job as a clerk- typist. It was during this time that the attack on Pearl Harbor came. I will never forget that day. As President Roosevelt said, “It was a day that will live in infamy”.
Several of the boys I went to high school with died in the war that followed and it was a sad time for everyone. I remember all of the different planes which flew over Phoenix, as Luke Field and Williams Field were nearby. Young men from all over the country were training to be pilots at those bases.
I was working with a woman named Bea Dooley and we became good friends. Her brother had a good friend named Ralph Keller and she suggested I might like to write to him. She said he was a member of the church and she didn’t think he was writing to anyone special. In 1942 I felt that I needed to be more involved in the war effort so I moved to San Diego and lived with my cousin, Mildred Tenney Handy. I got a job working as a stenographer at Consolidated-Vultee Aircraft. My boss was Don Carlos Smith and he was good to work for. It was during this time that I started corresponding with Ralph. He was in England at first and then was sent to North Africa. We wrote to each other often and enjoyed our friendship. About five months or so later he told me that he loved me and this was my first experience of more than friendship. I was 22 years old and I guess I had lived a very sheltered life. It seemed to me that this was going to be a meaningful relationship and once again I wanted to be more involved in the war effort. In 1943 I joined the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, seventh installment
Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, fifth installment
During the summer between my Junior and Senior year in high school, I went to San Diego to find a job for the summer. Aunt Minnie took me to the Employment Office and I was hired by a Chinese family who were moving to Los Angeles. To me they were very wealthy and I was to be their maid. I knew nothing about this sort of work but they were very patient with me. The following summer they wrote and asked me to take care of their children. They had three girls and one boy, who were adorable. I was as green as grass and on my evenings off I would take a street car to downtown Los Angeles by myself and go to a movie. Heavenly Father was surely watching out for me because I came to no harm.
That second summer I found they had a black maid. I had never been around blacks before and after a while she looked like everyone else to me. One evening she asked me to go to a party with her and I went. Thank goodness she watched out for me. I had a good time and no harm came to me.
I would like now to go back to my high school days. My favorite subjects were history and English; I also had an interest in drama and was in several plays in high school. When I was a freshman I got an A+ in English because I had an excellent teacher, Miss Skousen. During my later years I had a chance to work for Mr. Guitteau, our Superintendent. I learned a great deal at this time which helped me in future jobs.
Fortunately Gila Jr. College was located in Thatcher, so I completed all of my education in my home town. College was fun for me as I made many friends and I was much happier. All during this time, I worked for several people, doing house work, ironing, etc. Much was going on in the world at this time (1938-1940). Our English Literature teacher, Monroe Clark had strong attachments to France. Often during class he would say we were not going to talk about literature, but he would bring us up-to-date on conditions in Europe. He made the world situation very meaningful to us, for which I was grateful later. Another outstanding teacher was Wesley Taylor, and he made history a living thing. All of this took place in 1939, while the war with Germany was raging.
I recall one experience which taught me how much my Grandma loved me. One night late a group of kids decided to drive to Lakeside, where Elda Hansen lived. We arrived there late and stayed the night in the hotel. There were boys and girls in the car, but all were very well behaved. I felt so guilty that I had gone off without letting Grandma know where I was. I called her the next morning to let her know I was all right. She told me she knew she could trust me and I let that fact guide me in my future life.
A few days before graduation from college, the Institute class made a trip to the Graham Mountain and had a great time. After I returned home my lips broke out in one big scab because I was very sunburned. Grandma had made me a beautiful white lace dress for graduation which was trimmed with black velvet ribbons. Imagine how I looked with that dress and puffy lips. I was sure embarrassed.
After graduation I got a job working in the Court House in Safford with the Soil Conservation Service. I worked as a clerk and the boss was the man who had jilted my mother so many years before. He asked who my parents were and when I mentioned my mother, he said he had known her. I said to myself, “Yes, I guess you did”.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, sixth installment
That second summer I found they had a black maid. I had never been around blacks before and after a while she looked like everyone else to me. One evening she asked me to go to a party with her and I went. Thank goodness she watched out for me. I had a good time and no harm came to me.
I would like now to go back to my high school days. My favorite subjects were history and English; I also had an interest in drama and was in several plays in high school. When I was a freshman I got an A+ in English because I had an excellent teacher, Miss Skousen. During my later years I had a chance to work for Mr. Guitteau, our Superintendent. I learned a great deal at this time which helped me in future jobs.
Fortunately Gila Jr. College was located in Thatcher, so I completed all of my education in my home town. College was fun for me as I made many friends and I was much happier. All during this time, I worked for several people, doing house work, ironing, etc. Much was going on in the world at this time (1938-1940). Our English Literature teacher, Monroe Clark had strong attachments to France. Often during class he would say we were not going to talk about literature, but he would bring us up-to-date on conditions in Europe. He made the world situation very meaningful to us, for which I was grateful later. Another outstanding teacher was Wesley Taylor, and he made history a living thing. All of this took place in 1939, while the war with Germany was raging.
I recall one experience which taught me how much my Grandma loved me. One night late a group of kids decided to drive to Lakeside, where Elda Hansen lived. We arrived there late and stayed the night in the hotel. There were boys and girls in the car, but all were very well behaved. I felt so guilty that I had gone off without letting Grandma know where I was. I called her the next morning to let her know I was all right. She told me she knew she could trust me and I let that fact guide me in my future life.
A few days before graduation from college, the Institute class made a trip to the Graham Mountain and had a great time. After I returned home my lips broke out in one big scab because I was very sunburned. Grandma had made me a beautiful white lace dress for graduation which was trimmed with black velvet ribbons. Imagine how I looked with that dress and puffy lips. I was sure embarrassed.
After graduation I got a job working in the Court House in Safford with the Soil Conservation Service. I worked as a clerk and the boss was the man who had jilted my mother so many years before. He asked who my parents were and when I mentioned my mother, he said he had known her. I said to myself, “Yes, I guess you did”.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, sixth installment
Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, fourth installment
Uncle Bernard Williams married Ruth Eyring in 1929 and sometime later built a home near us in Thatcher. After they started having their family, I learned to love their children a great deal. I recall when I went to the Post Office or the store (about a block away) I nearly always took one of his little girls with me. Those were happy days.
Aunt Minnie Tenney and Aunt Cora Kemp lived in California with their families. When I was eight or nine years old, Grandma and I made a trip to visit them. My friendships with my cousins (especially the Tenneys) have lasted a lifetime. They were very kind to us and San Diego was a fascinating place to visit. We so loved going to the beach and playing in the water. We went to San Diego several times to visit. When we were there in 1935 my Uncle Clive Tenney (who loved doing things with his children) came home one day and said he had a special treat for us. He took us to the harbor and we watched the U.S. fleet come in. This was the most magnificent sight I will ever see; ship after ship for miles certainly portrayed the power of the U.S. Navy.
That same summer the World Exposition was held in Balboa Park. It is hard for me to describe what there was on display - I only know that I was dazzled. I must have become separated from the group because I was so fascinated by the sights that I wandered through the exit gates I had no money to get back in and didn’t know what to do. I must have been quite persuasive as I was able to convince the gatekeeper that I had been inside and must get back in. I was successful!
Most of the social life in my early years revolved around the church. It was a very memorable building, made of large stones and was a two-story structure. The first floor (basement) was almost entirely underground and there was always a peculiar odor there. I found out that there were bats living somewhere in the building but I don’t remember seeing any. The headquarters of the St. Joseph Stake were located in Thatcher and quarterly conferences were held in our building. We had quite a few distinguished visitors and I recall when Melvin J. Ballard would come. He was a marvelous speaker and held the attention of even the children.
Uncle Wallace, my mother’s oldest brother, lived in Safford with his family. He married a woman who had two children, Afton and Grant Freestone. They were later adopted and took the name of Williams. Grandma and I were so close to them and they were a great help to me when I was growing up.
My love of movies came from Grandma. She and I went whenever possible and I knew all of the main movie stars when I was young. When I was a Senior in high school, I ditched school with a bunch of kids and went to Safford to see “Lost Horizons”. We felt we had really done something exciting.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, fifth installment
Aunt Minnie Tenney and Aunt Cora Kemp lived in California with their families. When I was eight or nine years old, Grandma and I made a trip to visit them. My friendships with my cousins (especially the Tenneys) have lasted a lifetime. They were very kind to us and San Diego was a fascinating place to visit. We so loved going to the beach and playing in the water. We went to San Diego several times to visit. When we were there in 1935 my Uncle Clive Tenney (who loved doing things with his children) came home one day and said he had a special treat for us. He took us to the harbor and we watched the U.S. fleet come in. This was the most magnificent sight I will ever see; ship after ship for miles certainly portrayed the power of the U.S. Navy.
That same summer the World Exposition was held in Balboa Park. It is hard for me to describe what there was on display - I only know that I was dazzled. I must have become separated from the group because I was so fascinated by the sights that I wandered through the exit gates I had no money to get back in and didn’t know what to do. I must have been quite persuasive as I was able to convince the gatekeeper that I had been inside and must get back in. I was successful!
Most of the social life in my early years revolved around the church. It was a very memorable building, made of large stones and was a two-story structure. The first floor (basement) was almost entirely underground and there was always a peculiar odor there. I found out that there were bats living somewhere in the building but I don’t remember seeing any. The headquarters of the St. Joseph Stake were located in Thatcher and quarterly conferences were held in our building. We had quite a few distinguished visitors and I recall when Melvin J. Ballard would come. He was a marvelous speaker and held the attention of even the children.
Uncle Wallace, my mother’s oldest brother, lived in Safford with his family. He married a woman who had two children, Afton and Grant Freestone. They were later adopted and took the name of Williams. Grandma and I were so close to them and they were a great help to me when I was growing up.
My love of movies came from Grandma. She and I went whenever possible and I knew all of the main movie stars when I was young. When I was a Senior in high school, I ditched school with a bunch of kids and went to Safford to see “Lost Horizons”. We felt we had really done something exciting.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, fifth installment
Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, third installment
Grandma’s main source of income to make a living for my two uncles and myself was through sewing for others and doing hemstitching and making cloth-covered buttons. Uncle Bernard built a porch across the front of the house and it was a bright, cheerful place. Part of this porch was Grandma’s bedroom and the other part her sewing room. The hemstitching machine was not a quiet one and we always had a canary whose cage was on this porch. Whenever either machine was going, the bird was singing. It seems I can still hear the sweetness to this day.
Our house was situated on about two acres of land and there was a large barn with corral attached, on the opposite corner from the house. We had a cow and chickens when I was growing up. Uncle Bernard, who built a home on part of this land, was the milker, as the cow would not let a woman milk her. We had customers who bought milk and I was the delivery girl.
South of our home was the beautiful Graham Mountain. I got my love of mountain country from watching that mountain and going there whenever possible. We had a large cement step at the back of the house, and that is where I would sit and churn the butter regularly while I watched the mountain.
I recall when I was about eight years old, we had a family outing (nearly all of my mother’s brothers and sisters and their families) up in the mountain. We had fried chicken, fresh green beans, Dutch-oven biscuits, cold watermelon and other tasty food. There were games, stories by the adults and enough love for all of us. I often said in later years that if I had a choice. That is the one day I would like to live over again.
The town of Thatcher was unique in many ways and I am so thankful that I grew up in a small town, in spite of the problems I had, which were mostly of my own making. About a week before Christmas every year, it was the custom for a representative of each family in town to congregate at the Post Office. The Post Mistress would call out the names of those who had received packages and it made me feel like we were all one family. That is one of my fondest memories.
Across the street from us the Phillips family lived and Marjorie was one of my best friends. They had a huge front lawn and on summer evenings all the kids in the neighborhood would meet and play games like “Run Sheep Run, Hide and Seek”, and we had so much fun.
My first grade teacher was Edna Brimhall and she was also my early piano teacher. Our elementary school was built in the shape of a U and was a brick building. There was a large cement slab in addition to sidewalks around the school. I spent a lot of time roller skating by myself or with friends. As I recall there was only one elementary school teacher that I did not care for and that was a man. There must have been a personality conflict or maybe it was that my least favorite subject was arithmetic and that was his strong point. Our school principal was Harve Mangum and he was such a compassionate and understanding person. I would have had a more difficult time if it were not for him.
Another older man who was influential in my life (I never lived with my father) was Maurice Mickelson, who was a businessman in Thatcher. We had several conversations when I was young and he tried to point out some goals I should have and helped me with some of my problems. Another person who was very important all of my life was my sweet Uncle Oran. Shortly after I went to live with Grandma, he went on a mission to Missouri. I remember how we looked forward to his letters. There were very few letters when he didn’t mention me or specifically send his love to me. That meant so much to a lonely little girl.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, fourth installment
Our house was situated on about two acres of land and there was a large barn with corral attached, on the opposite corner from the house. We had a cow and chickens when I was growing up. Uncle Bernard, who built a home on part of this land, was the milker, as the cow would not let a woman milk her. We had customers who bought milk and I was the delivery girl.
South of our home was the beautiful Graham Mountain. I got my love of mountain country from watching that mountain and going there whenever possible. We had a large cement step at the back of the house, and that is where I would sit and churn the butter regularly while I watched the mountain.
I recall when I was about eight years old, we had a family outing (nearly all of my mother’s brothers and sisters and their families) up in the mountain. We had fried chicken, fresh green beans, Dutch-oven biscuits, cold watermelon and other tasty food. There were games, stories by the adults and enough love for all of us. I often said in later years that if I had a choice. That is the one day I would like to live over again.
The town of Thatcher was unique in many ways and I am so thankful that I grew up in a small town, in spite of the problems I had, which were mostly of my own making. About a week before Christmas every year, it was the custom for a representative of each family in town to congregate at the Post Office. The Post Mistress would call out the names of those who had received packages and it made me feel like we were all one family. That is one of my fondest memories.
Across the street from us the Phillips family lived and Marjorie was one of my best friends. They had a huge front lawn and on summer evenings all the kids in the neighborhood would meet and play games like “Run Sheep Run, Hide and Seek”, and we had so much fun.
My first grade teacher was Edna Brimhall and she was also my early piano teacher. Our elementary school was built in the shape of a U and was a brick building. There was a large cement slab in addition to sidewalks around the school. I spent a lot of time roller skating by myself or with friends. As I recall there was only one elementary school teacher that I did not care for and that was a man. There must have been a personality conflict or maybe it was that my least favorite subject was arithmetic and that was his strong point. Our school principal was Harve Mangum and he was such a compassionate and understanding person. I would have had a more difficult time if it were not for him.
Another older man who was influential in my life (I never lived with my father) was Maurice Mickelson, who was a businessman in Thatcher. We had several conversations when I was young and he tried to point out some goals I should have and helped me with some of my problems. Another person who was very important all of my life was my sweet Uncle Oran. Shortly after I went to live with Grandma, he went on a mission to Missouri. I remember how we looked forward to his letters. There were very few letters when he didn’t mention me or specifically send his love to me. That meant so much to a lonely little girl.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, fourth installment
Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, second installment
When Grandpa and Grandma Williams had four children, he was called to go on a mission to the Southern States and left his family for two years. He was supported financially by his father and while he was gone my Grandma learned to be a seamstress. This was fortunate for her as she was able to care for her family in this way after he died. I was always well dressed thanks to her efforts.
My father was a typical Scotsman, tall and of big build. My mother was short and she could stand under his outstretched arm. Mother was an excellent pianist and Grandma told me she was a good student. According to Grandma I am a lot like mother in many ways. I get my stubbornness from my father.
My home in Thatcher was across the street from the high school and close to the elementary school. I did quite well in school scholastically but did not get along very well with my peers. I didn’t have too many friends and had a somewhat unhappy childhood because of this.
During the summer when I was small, I went to Pomerene to stay with Aunt Mamie’s family where my sister was living. They had a wonderful, loving family and it was a lot of fun. I guess I had a funny temperament according to some of the stories I was told.
Uncle John was a farmer and one day he was plowing next to the onion rows to loosen the soil and make them grow better. I followed behind the plow and was pulling up the onions as we went. He told me to quit; he did not want them pulled up. As soon as he turned around, I started in again. When he saw what I was doing, he pulled a big limb off the tree and chased me into the house. My aunt protected me by letting me hide under the bed, but it was a good lesson for me. When Aunt Mamie finished her washing every week, she asked me to get a bucket and put the rinse water on the trees that were growing in the yard. My sister wanted to help and got another bucket to carry the water. I wanted to do this job by myself and told her to go away. Because she did not quit, I took a full bucket of water and poured on her. It seems I was always in trouble.
When I went to live in Thatcher, I got into the habit of running away. Grandma told me that they drained the canal two times looking for me. I’m sure I deserved to have problems with my own children. How could Grandma show so much love for someone so naughty?
The Latter-day Saint Church was very important in our lives and all of my ancestors were very faithful, staunch members of this faith. When I think of the sacrifices they made for their beliefs, it makes my faith stronger. I was baptized on 4 February 1928 in the baptismal font in the Stake Presidency office in Thatcher by Orson Tyler.
link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, third installment
My father was a typical Scotsman, tall and of big build. My mother was short and she could stand under his outstretched arm. Mother was an excellent pianist and Grandma told me she was a good student. According to Grandma I am a lot like mother in many ways. I get my stubbornness from my father.
My home in Thatcher was across the street from the high school and close to the elementary school. I did quite well in school scholastically but did not get along very well with my peers. I didn’t have too many friends and had a somewhat unhappy childhood because of this.
During the summer when I was small, I went to Pomerene to stay with Aunt Mamie’s family where my sister was living. They had a wonderful, loving family and it was a lot of fun. I guess I had a funny temperament according to some of the stories I was told.
Uncle John was a farmer and one day he was plowing next to the onion rows to loosen the soil and make them grow better. I followed behind the plow and was pulling up the onions as we went. He told me to quit; he did not want them pulled up. As soon as he turned around, I started in again. When he saw what I was doing, he pulled a big limb off the tree and chased me into the house. My aunt protected me by letting me hide under the bed, but it was a good lesson for me. When Aunt Mamie finished her washing every week, she asked me to get a bucket and put the rinse water on the trees that were growing in the yard. My sister wanted to help and got another bucket to carry the water. I wanted to do this job by myself and told her to go away. Because she did not quit, I took a full bucket of water and poured on her. It seems I was always in trouble.
When I went to live in Thatcher, I got into the habit of running away. Grandma told me that they drained the canal two times looking for me. I’m sure I deserved to have problems with my own children. How could Grandma show so much love for someone so naughty?
The Latter-day Saint Church was very important in our lives and all of my ancestors were very faithful, staunch members of this faith. When I think of the sacrifices they made for their beliefs, it makes my faith stronger. I was baptized on 4 February 1928 in the baptismal font in the Stake Presidency office in Thatcher by Orson Tyler.
link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, third installment
Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, first installment
My father’s family were sent by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to colonize in the state of Arizona and settled first near Lehi, a Mesa suburb. Later they settled permanently in St. David, southeast of Tucson, where my father was born on 8 May 1888. He was the youngest son of Joseph and Mariah Taylor McRae. His mother passed away when he was thirteen years old and he was raised by his sisters, Annie Goodman and Mamie McGuire. According to family stories, he was spoiled by these sisters and was never really able to take responsibility for supporting his family.
My grandmother, Harriet Thurston Williams, left Utah with her parents when she was six years old, to come to Arizona. Her family was also sent by the church to colonize in Arizona. They settled near what is now Pima. They had been in Arizona for about eight years when her father, Peter Franklin Thurston, was killed by some of Geronimo’s band. This left a large family in a destitute situation as their mother was not well. My grandmother was the oldest child and had to help earn a living for the family. She was about thirteen years old and did washing for others and pitched hay to keep the family together. She said her feet were in bad shape most of her life because she went barefoot or wore shoes which did not fit.
My mother, Hattie Josephine Williams was the oldest child in her family, the daughter of George W. and Harriet Thurston Williams. She was born in Pima on 22 January 1891. As my mother died when I was four years old, most of my knowledge of her came from my grandmother, with whom I lived after my mother’s death. She was a very intelligent, talented woman and attended the L.D.S. Academy in Thatcher after elementary school. She and my father, Milton McRae, were married on 25 September 1912 in Thatcher. I would like to mention that my mother was engaged to be married while she was fairly young, and was jilted by the man she loved very much. Evidently she was haunted all of her life by this.
My mother passed away on 4 June 1924 at the age of 32. She only lived a few days after the birth of my brother, Lamar, her fourth child. She had a daughter, Eleanor Margaret, who died before I was born and I have a sister, Melba Corrine, who is two years younger than I am. My father lived alone for many years after her death and finally married Roxie Judd on 4 December 1945 in Mesa. His health was never very good after his marriage and he died on 20 February 1951 in Mesa and was buried in Thatcher beside my mother.
Dorothy Evelyn McRae was born 19 January 1920 in Mesa. I was my mother and father’s second child. My sister, Melba Corrine was born on 23 August 1922 and my brother, Milton Lamar was born 31 May 1924 in Thatcher.
I know little about my younger years, except that when my sister was small we lived in Superior. I have a memory of being on the front step of the house where my mother was stringing green beans and I was punished for something I did. At least I remember being with her. Because of her poor health, I lived for a time with Aunt Mamie McGuire in Pomerene. I do recall my father coming to tell me that my mother had died. It did not impress me as I had not seen her for some time.
Aunt Mamie and Uncle John McGuire were very good to my sister and me but they could not care for both of us, so I went to live with my grandmother, Harriet Williams, in Thatcher. This was a most fortunate thing for me as she showed me much love and raised me to be a responsible person. There was a lot of happiness in her home and she still had two boys who were not yet married. My grandfather had died on 3 April 1913 in St. Johns. We had a difficult time financially but I was not aware of this as a young child.
link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, second installment
My grandmother, Harriet Thurston Williams, left Utah with her parents when she was six years old, to come to Arizona. Her family was also sent by the church to colonize in Arizona. They settled near what is now Pima. They had been in Arizona for about eight years when her father, Peter Franklin Thurston, was killed by some of Geronimo’s band. This left a large family in a destitute situation as their mother was not well. My grandmother was the oldest child and had to help earn a living for the family. She was about thirteen years old and did washing for others and pitched hay to keep the family together. She said her feet were in bad shape most of her life because she went barefoot or wore shoes which did not fit.
My mother, Hattie Josephine Williams was the oldest child in her family, the daughter of George W. and Harriet Thurston Williams. She was born in Pima on 22 January 1891. As my mother died when I was four years old, most of my knowledge of her came from my grandmother, with whom I lived after my mother’s death. She was a very intelligent, talented woman and attended the L.D.S. Academy in Thatcher after elementary school. She and my father, Milton McRae, were married on 25 September 1912 in Thatcher. I would like to mention that my mother was engaged to be married while she was fairly young, and was jilted by the man she loved very much. Evidently she was haunted all of her life by this.
My mother passed away on 4 June 1924 at the age of 32. She only lived a few days after the birth of my brother, Lamar, her fourth child. She had a daughter, Eleanor Margaret, who died before I was born and I have a sister, Melba Corrine, who is two years younger than I am. My father lived alone for many years after her death and finally married Roxie Judd on 4 December 1945 in Mesa. His health was never very good after his marriage and he died on 20 February 1951 in Mesa and was buried in Thatcher beside my mother.
Dorothy Evelyn McRae was born 19 January 1920 in Mesa. I was my mother and father’s second child. My sister, Melba Corrine was born on 23 August 1922 and my brother, Milton Lamar was born 31 May 1924 in Thatcher.
I know little about my younger years, except that when my sister was small we lived in Superior. I have a memory of being on the front step of the house where my mother was stringing green beans and I was punished for something I did. At least I remember being with her. Because of her poor health, I lived for a time with Aunt Mamie McGuire in Pomerene. I do recall my father coming to tell me that my mother had died. It did not impress me as I had not seen her for some time.
Aunt Mamie and Uncle John McGuire were very good to my sister and me but they could not care for both of us, so I went to live with my grandmother, Harriet Williams, in Thatcher. This was a most fortunate thing for me as she showed me much love and raised me to be a responsible person. There was a lot of happiness in her home and she still had two boys who were not yet married. My grandfather had died on 3 April 1913 in St. Johns. We had a difficult time financially but I was not aware of this as a young child.
link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, second installment
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