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Mrs. Diamonds

The Life Story

Of

Ida Perkins Watkins

100 Years of Faith, Family

and Love in Arizona

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Mrs. Diamonds

The Life Story

Of

Ida Perkins Watkins

100 Years of Faith, Familyand Love in Arizona

Compiled and Edited by

Cherry Jeanne Allen-Driscoll

great granddaughter of Ida

From the Writings of

Ida Perkins Watkins, Warner Watkins

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Copyright 2010

By

Jeanne Allen Stephenson Family Organization

Printed in the United States of America

By

Allen Press, Mesa, Arizona

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Table of Contents

Introduction 7

Preface 8

Our Family Motto 9

Chapter 1

Snowflake 10

Chapter 2

The SaltRiver Valley 16

Memories of The Strattons

21

Chapter 3

Marriage & Family 26

Chapter 4

A Second Decade of Marriage 30

Chapter 5

Half a Century Together 36

Chapter 5

More Than 70 Years Together 50

Chapter 7

Life Alone 61

Idas Patriarchal Blessings 67

Centuries of Recipes 70

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Introduction

A unique heritage is what Ida Perkins Watkins has proudly carried with her for more than100 years. She has written about it, she has nurtured a love of it and she has provided us all anexample of its eternal beauty. Mrs. Diamonds as her autobiography has affectionately been titled

is a reference to the spiritual heirlooms she has left to her posterity. She has continued the multi-generational tradition of recording her life and testimony for her descendants.

She was a granddaughter of the Kartchners, Strattons, Perkins and Hancocks; allfounding familys of the Little Colorado settlements in Arizona in 1878. The pioneers toSnowflake Arizona were no ordinary Mormon Pioneers. They had already made the treacherous track from Missouri to the Great Salt Lake. Their families were well into the process ofconverting the wild lands of Utah to homes of comfort for their families. One of the earliestmissionaries to the Little Colorado (Snowflake and surrounding towns) had written of the area asbeing an inhospitable and foreboding waste land . Nonetheless, these Snowflake settlersaccepted the calling by Brigham Young to move their families to the barrenness and hardships of the Little Colorado. James McClintock1, a noted historian, wrote of the early Little Colorado pioneers as Men and Woman born from Utah who moved into lands where the white man

theretofore had failed:but in the Little Colorado, Mormons set their stakes and with united effort, sooncleared the land, dug ditches and placed dams in unruly streams, all to the end thatfarms should smile where the desert had reigned. It all needed imagination andvision, something that very properly, may be called faith. It has been said thatfaith removes mountains. The faith that came with these pioneers was well backedand carried with it brawn and industry (McClintock p.3).

This area of Northern Arizona is nothing less than magical. The pink and red towers ofsurprising rocky shapes combined with a stark lack of green, open skies and the weighty presenceof the sun. These ancient rock formations juxtaposed with the winding canyons and theevergreens of the White Mountains. The land (or the drive) consistently makes my heart beat

stronger and stirs my soul2

. I cant think of a place in the world to compare it to. Anunderstanding of my ancestors part in the history of this land and this state is a treasure I holddear to my heart.

The purpose of this book is to memorialize the 100th birthday of our Grandma Watkins.Most of the content of this book is taken directly from Idas own autobiographies. The largebinder titled Faith Promoting Stories of Our Families which was lovingly compiled by Jeanne,Linda and Ida in 2000 has also provided much of the supplementary content. Where stories havebeen written more than once, we have tried to consolidate them, and events have been orderedchronologically as much as possible. Other than the consolidation, chronological ordering andother minor edits, the text is largely written as an autobiography by Ida herself.

- Cherry Allen-Driscoll

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1 James McClintock in his book Mormon Settlement in Arizona: A Record of Peaceful Conquest of the Desert

2 Shauna, I will never forget our drive from Logan.. you in the front seat with your guitar. We thought we were

so cool making up songs....why didnt we become rock stars?


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Preface

As a little girl in a pioneer town, Ida Perkins would tease her younger sister Marva.According to the oft-repeated story, Marva would implore Ida, Please, wont you play paper dollswith me? Finally, Ida would give in to the pleading of her little sister and say, Well, alright then.

I will be Mrs. Diamonds and you can be Mrs. Snotty Brown. That is the story of Ida Perkins Watkins, born in Snowflake, Arizona in 1910 that has been handed down, generation togeneration. All who know and love her smile and inwardly chuckle as we think how perfectly thislittle story captures her sense of humor something we all share.

However, the story of her life is a reminder of her spiritual legacy; Diamonds are forever justs as her spiritual legacy will be forever. She leaves us a multi-generation tradition ofreminding future generations that families are eternal.

Because of Grandmas many versions of her life history, we know that as a young girl sheloved her family and her pioneer heritage. She was faithful to her ideals and to her testimony andshe saw first-hand the sacrifices that her family made for their religious beliefs. She grew up in the early days of Arizonas statehood to marry a dashing Warner Watkins and was happy to

become the mother of seven children. She saw these children grow to adulthood, her childrensfamilies grow up, and then their families grow and even some of her great, great grandchildren.She has had the joy of seeing literally hundreds of her posterity come to earth and they, we, havehad the wonderful privilege of knowing and loving her personally.

One of Grandmas principal obsessions was keeping family history. The records that gointo this book transcend all stages of technology development. There are many, many pages ofhistory written in Grandmas own hand. As typewriters moved into personal ownership, she, too,moved to the typewriter and updated and created newer versions of her life history. Sheembraced computers when they finally made it into homes and made further versions andadditions to her life history. She loved to send and receive e-mail well into her 90s. If one of herposterity were traveling and happened to drop her an e-mail while in some exotic location, shewould effuse about how she had never before received an e-mail from such-and-such-a-place, and

would treat that e-mail as if it had some valuable stamp from a foreign country. She pioneered theuse of photo manipulation. Notice the photograph on page 31 where she carefully pasted inpictures of her two youngest children. She was an eager adopter of any technology that wouldhelp her in tell her family story.

This, I believe, has been the quest of Grandmas life. She dearly loves her family herroots and where she came from, her own experiences and life-lessons and the wonderfulextensions of her life through her posterity. Because of this love of life and her gratitude for herrich blessings, she has been compelled to record and preserve that which has been most beautifulto her, to express thanks to a loving Father in Heaven and she has wanted all of her posterity tofeel that same gratitude. I view each version of her life history and each of her admonitions to dofamily history work as a reconfirmation of that love and of her gratitude for her family and for herlife and as an expression of her knowledge of the eternal nature of families.

Seasoned by life, by love and by an indelible faith in an eternal home above, GrandmaWatkins passes on to her posterity a glimpse of what true wisdom might entail a love of God andof family, an uncompromising quest for righteousness and an unquenchable thirst to preserve that which is most beautiful, even life itself, for those that follow. For this we will all be eternallygrateful.

-- Craig Mitchell Allen

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Our Family Motto

How thankful we are for our many blessings. Our home has always been filled with loveand respect for one another. It was a place of refuge for all that needed food on shelter. We loveour family dearly. We love people. Dad and I have said many times how thankful we are for the

choice spirits the Lord sent to our home, to live and teach and enjoy. We both enjoy helpingothers and especially helping any who are down and need love and encouragement. Let's make,that our family motto. Be kind to each other in your homes. Love your children and count yourblessings each day.

Mom and Dad love all of you very much.

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Importance of keeping records. Jan 1, 1994

Today is a beautiful Sabbath day . We held our Wardconference, oh what a spiritual uplift we all enjoyed. Our Bishopchallenged each one of us to write in our journals daily for 15 days,

by then we would feel the importance of this assignment in our livesand in the lives of our families. Bishops talk was on record keeping.He told of a dream he had, he had left the earth and gone home tomeet the Savior He said as he stood before Him, He ask him for hisrecords, Bishop said he hung his low and said he had two little bookswith him. The Savior looked sad, and said you remember how closeyou came to a very severe accident on your corner, did you write thatdown? He said I was there and protected you. Many times I havehelped to protect you from harm while you were driving, Did you write that down? The Bishop said when he woke up and reviewedhis life , he realized the Lord had blessed him so many times, and today he was going to write in his journal and if the Lord would

leave him a little longer on the earth . Bishop then ask us to write inour Journals for 15 days, so I am going to try and do better, theLord has blessed us in so many ways.

I have been spending a lot of time on gathering dates to go on the computer and in my records. I know they are also veryimportant, I am so thankful for Warners dear Mother who has keptrecords, if she had not been obedient, I would not have anything on Warners brothers, I feel at times I have nearly worn out mywelcome, when I call and ask for dates, but I hope someday all of you will value things that are of great worth. Nephi keep records,and our dear Prophet Ezra Taft Benson has told us we will be heldaccountable for these things. That comes from a Prophet Of the

Lord. Please children all of you think about the things that are ofmost worth, not the worldly things, Mom and Dad loves all of youvery much,

Love Mom


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Chapter 1

Snowflake

was born October 18, 1910 in Snowflake, Arizona, a small town in northern Arizona. Ihave a wonderful heritage. My mother, Mabel Stratton was born in 1888 and raised inSnowflake, Arizona. She was the daughter of William Ellis and Minnie Kartchner

Stratton, early settlers in this small town. She was the oldest in her family of thirteen children.Five of her brothers and sisters died when they were very small. Two died the same day. They haddiphtheria. There were no doctors or medicine to take care of sickness like there is today. Mother

was a great homemaker and worked hard washed on 50 cents a day.My father was Jesse Nelson Perkins and he was born and raised in Taylor, Arizona, a

small town three miles from Snowflake. He was the son of Reuben Josiah and Eliza JaneHancock Perkins. When my father was a boy, he herded sheep in the hills for 25 cents a day. When 18 years old, he was called to go on a mission for the Church, serving in Kansas. Mymother wrote to him the entire time he was gone.

My father courted my mother by riding three miles on horseback down to Snowflakefrom Taylor. Sometimes Grandpa Stratton would let my mother and father borrow the white top

buggy pulled by a horse. If it was cold they wouldheat a big rock and put it in the bottom of the buggyto put their feet on and keep they warm.

In June 1908 my parents went to Salt LakeCity to be married in the temple, later returning to

Snowflake to make their home. They went, on ashort honeymoon to Catalina Island in California.My father worked hard trying to make a living forhis small family. My father owned a small piece ofland that he raised alfalfa on to feed to his cows andhorses.

My parents were very good. They loved theirfamily and their Heavenly Father. We were taught to pray, go to church and keep the Sabbath dayholy. We were truly a happy family.

My parents first moved into Grandpa andGrandma Strattons home and lived there about a year. In the meantime Uncle Frank and GrandpaPerkins were building a two room brick home formy parents to move in to, Aug 11, 1910, on myfathers birthday.

It was here on the hill in this little red brickhome where I was born October 18, 1910. Mymother being left with chores to do went out to milkthe cow. The cow was restless and would not stand

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Jesse Nelson Perkins and Mabel Stratton Perkins

Idas Parents

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still. Mother was nervous and frightened and after going back in the house began feeling bad.Her sister, Zella, kept staying with her so she would not be alone, as my father left that morningto go to Holbrook for another load of freight. Aunt Zella kept saying, Mabel I know youre notfeeling good, let me go and get mother. My mother finally consented but Aunt Zella was afraidto go way down the hill in the dark, so she went across the street and woke up Aunt Maggie to gether to go after Grandma Stratton. There were no lights or transportation, so Aunt Maggie starteddown the hill to get Grandma, then had to go way to the other end of town in the dark to getGrandma Ramsey, who was a Midwife.

By the time Grandma Stratton walked all the way up the hill in the dark, my mother wasvery sick and the baby ready. During all this excitement, the lamp went out. It was out of coaloil. Grandma ran outside and down the steps to the basement to get another lamp. By this time Iwas born and Grandma Ramsey had arrived. She helped take care of things then, which greatlyrelieved Grandma Stratton. I was premature about six weeks, but seemed to be alright.

Little did they know that Grandma Ramsey had attended earlier to another lady givingbirth to her baby and she had blood poisoning. My mother took blood poisoning in her legs whenI was about thirteen days old and a very severe pain hit her in her legs. She became very sickafter that and spent from October to January in bed and could not get up. They moved mymother into Grandma Strattons bedroom where Grandma could take care of her. At 4:00amThanksgiving morning, everyone awakened by someone shouting Fire! Fire! All the family ranto see what was burning. Grandma Stratton stayed close to my mothers bed as mother was allexcited wondering what was burning. It was the Snowflake Academy. It burned to the ground

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Snowflake, Arizona - Our HomeWhere I was born in 1910. Our faithful dog Sport Dad and Mom, Ida and Willa


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and nothing was saved. This cast a gloom over all the townspeople, this being Thanksgiving Day.Grandpa and Grandma Stratton worked over my mother all day as she was so very sick.Grandpa Stratton gave Mother a blessing and she began to feel better. Mother was in bed twomonths. My father and Grandpa Perkins named me. I was named Ida after a cousin of mymothers whom they liked very much.

In 1910, the year that I was born, the first automobile came to Snowflake. Everyone linedup on the sidewalk to see this. This car was an old black Oldsmobile driven by Walter McLaws.

This trip was from Holbrook to Snowflake. It had to be driven down a sandy wash part of theway. The roads were rough and poor. Snowflake was 28 miles from Holbrook. The old car hadno windows, just a windshield. It also had a clutch and brake. You would have to turn the crankround and round until it started. If a person was not real careful, the crank would flip back, andbreak his arm. What a contrast from the beautiful cars of today in 1985, with automaticeverything included on the cars this includes, among other things, power breaks, power steering,automatic window wipers, automatic windows, rolled up and down by the touch of a button. Wealso have beautiful plush seats, radios with speakers, tape recorders, telephones and evencomputers. What great progress has been made in this last century!

Our home was a very modest little home -- a two-story, two room home made of red brickthat my parents had built. This little red brick home was located in the south end of Snowflakeupon a hill, where the wind would blow and whistle around the house. There were only two

rooms; one upstairs where our beds were, and the basement where our kitchen was. Inorder to get to the kitchen we had to comeoutside, go down the steps and then downanother few steps into the basement wheremother did all our cooking. We cooked on a wood stove and had no electricity at first.The stove would take a lot of wood to keep itburning. Our beds were all upstairs andeach year we filled our mattresses with freshstraw.

Daddy had a nice barn in back of ourhouse where he kept his fine horses. Daddybuilt us a great swing in the barn. We wouldget on the hay loft and swing way out in thebarn. We had lots of fun playing in the barn.

When I was three years old, I climbed on the wheel of my fathers wagon and my father,not knowing I was there, started to drive on.The wagon wheel ran over me. My fatherran back and lifted it off from me. Laterwhen Daddy tried to lift the wheel he couldnot do it. I was not hurt too much.

Money was scarce and jobs not to befound. My father owned some line horses sohe started hauling freight from Holbrook toFort Apache to provide for his little family.This kept him from home a great deal and this left a lot of chores up to my mother todo. She worked hard milking the cows,feeding chickens and pigs, and cutting woodfor the cook stove to keep us warm. Motherwas not too happy to be left alone so much.

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She did not like being left alone so much, but thatwas all the work my father had.

From the time I was very small, wewere taught to pray and to share with others. As Igrew older, I was taught to work. We helpedMother make hominy, fill the mattress with cleanstraw, make mice meat, tromp hay. When I was

about four years old, my mother taught me anursery rhyme Ill never forget:

If a task is once begun,

Never leave it until its done,

Be the labor, great or small,

Do it well, or not at all.

Mother had none of the electricalconveniences we have today. Mother did all hercooking on an old wood stove. I have watchedmother make mince meat, hominy and delicious

homemade bread.Mother kept us girls busy going to the

wood pile to get chips to make a fire with. Our oldheavy cast irons were heated on the wood stove.We put a pot holder over the handle and start ourironing. We could only iron a piece or two beforeour iron would be cold and have to the heatedagain. Mother had an old White sewing machinewe would peddle with our feet.

Mother washed on the wash board. She hada washer with a stick on top and a stirrup lowenough to put your foot in. We were very small butwould put our foot in the stirrup and pull hard back on the stick and that would make the plungergo up and down to wash the clothes. We had to wring them by hand.

We used coal oil lamps to light our home. Every Saturday we would fill the coal oil lampsand clean the chimney.

We had no running water. We had to have our drinking water from Uncle Dane's (DarienKartchner) home located across the street. Willa and I would go across the street to Uncle Daneshome and together we would swing down on the pump handle to get a small stream of water to fillour little five pound buckets and carry back across the street to our home. In our drinking waterwe always had a big dipper to drink out of . We all used the same dipper. On Saturday nightmother would bring in a big size #3 wash tub so we could all get our bath for Sunday. We all usedthe same water. I was taught to work beside my mother and older sister, Willa, whom I love very

much. My daddy would hook up a horse to a six foot long wooden sled with a 50 gallon barrelon it. Willa and I were only seven and eight years old and would drive the old horse down to thecreek and stop in the creek and take our little five pound buckets and fill the barrel half full ofwater, turn the horse around and go up the hill home again. Oh how I hated to hear the noise oursled would make as the old horse pulled it over the rocks and gravel. We would use this water towash clothes in.

Each year, when the thrasher men would come to harvest our grain and wheat, we woulduse the clean straw to freshen up our mattresses. Oh how I hated to tromp hay. We always woredresses and the hay would itch and scratch our legs and arms up. Our pillows were filled withchicken feathers mother would save.

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Ida and Willa Perkins

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Our toilet was far from the house. In the daytime we didnt mind, but at night we hated togo out in the dark so we always brought in a slop jug and put it under the bed. In the morning wewould empty it. Guess who had to empty it?

We had no money and only one store to buy from with only a few things in it. We werehappy and always had plenty to eat. We did not seek for richer things. Our only transportationwas to walk unless someone gave us a ride in a wagon.

My father was a neat carpenter and always liked to build things. He also loved horses and

he treated them kindly. He raised his own horses and was proud of them. I remember them well.One he named Kate and we all loved her. Another was name Queen, and still another was namedJet and we all disliked her. She was a big black mare and very bossy. She would make the othersmove over if she wanted to eat hay. They all seemed to be afraid of her too. They always movedout of her way. When my Dad was a boy, he used to herd sheep. He would drive them over themountains by Salt River Canyon and bring them to Phoenix. He always rode horseback to travel.One day he brought us a little lamb home to take care of. Oh we little girls loved it and fed it onthe bottle. One time a skunk bit Daddy while he was sleeping in his tent and they had to bringhim to Phoenix to get rabies shots for him. This left his brother, Uncle Andrew, alone with thesheep. Uncle Andrew was very frightened. One time while he was camping in the mountains,they saw a man down the road which was very unusual. Then he quickly disappeared. They saidthere was no place for him to go. They thought it might have been one of the three Nephites.

In 1914 I was blessed to have another sweet sister, Marva, come to live with us. I lovedmy dear little sister, Marva, and I always tried to act big and brave and be her protector,especially after school when we would walk through Mexican town and they would throw rocksat us. I walked straight and big and dared anyone to throw a rock. If they had, I may have beenthe first to run, but I was glad they backed off. As I remember it, I wasnt too brave either, but just a big bluff. I used to tease Marva too, because she was younger. One time she went to ouroutside toilet and every time she started to come out, I threw a dirt clod at the door. She was sofrightened. I am so ashamed now because I dearly love her. She has been special to me all mylife. Being her older sister, I felt I should look after her and through the years this talented sisterhas been very close to me. In our later years we have lived side by side, right next door, for overtwenty-five years. I still guard her and never let anyone hurt my sister. When I go on trips for afew days, the first person I want to bring a special gift back to is my dear sister, Marva. All mylife, I have tried to brighten her life. She has so many special gifts I admire. She keeps aspotlessly clean home, plays the most beautiful music, and can direct any choir whenever she isasked to do so.

My Dad and Uncle Raymond had one of the first Ford cars in Snowflake. It had nowindshield, a clutch and crank on the outside. It was a 1914 or 1915 model. We were a happyfamily but had few of the conveniences we have today. We loved to parch corn, make homemadeice-cream and pull taffy candy. Daddy did all his farming with wagon and team.

I started my schooling when six years old in Snowflake. I remember the snow was deep.We could ride a sled pulled by horses to get to school. I think my first grade teacher was Mrs.Huelitt. Rufus Grandall taught us music. I had many friends.

Our fun time was playing Anti-I-Over, Run Sheep Run, Kick the Can, and other fungames. Often mother would make taffy candy and pull it for our treats, or parch us some cornand put butter and salt on it.

I was baptized on my birthday when I was eight years old. I was baptized in theSnowflake creek and the water was ice cold. As I grew older, I began to realize what a veryspecial day this was in my life.

In 1917 our neighbors, the Dewitts home burned down. Two children were burned upand two boys were badly burned and they brought them first to our home and then took them on to Holbrook. Oh how sad this made all of us. I had played with Genevieve, the girl that wasburned up.

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In 1918, World War I started with Germany. Many of our boys were sent to France wherethey were fighting. I remember crocheting around washcloths to send to the boys in the war inFrance. Some of the songs we would sing were: Johnny Get Your Gun, Over There, Say YourPrayers, For the Boys Over There, Ive a Letter from My Sweetheart. Many lives were lost.The President at that time was President Woodrow Wilson.

This same year a great flu epidemic hit the nation and again many lost their lives as therewas no known cure at that time.

Oh how I loved my parents and my one older sister, Willa. We played together so muchwhile we were growing up. How thankful I am for the rich heritage I have been blessed with andfor wonderful parents who loved the Lord and lived the gospel and tried to serve him and keep hiscommandments.

I am thankful for my happy memories of my childhood days. I had such good, dearparents who loved their family and loved their Heavenly Father. Peace and harmony were alwaysthere. There was never any quarrelling, selfishness, or profanity permitted in our home. We weretaught very young to pray, go to church and pay our tithing. I still have my tithing receipt for fivecents that I paid when I was eight years old. Never in my life do I remember seeing much money.Im not sure I knew what a quarter was.

In six more years, our little Red Brick home would be 100 years old. I just heard it burnt

to the ground this month, September 1992.

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Chapter 2

The Salt River Valley

n 1918 my mother was so unhappy living on the hill, she and Daddy came down to the valley to see if they could find a home here and some work for my Dad so he could behome more. They found a place in Chandler and later that same year they moved down

to the valley. After moving to the Salt River Valley, my father started farming on a 40 acre ranchhe bought from Mr. Sanders and it had a two story house on it. In 1931 when the depression hit,

he lost everything. They moved into the town of Chandler and my dad worked in the cotton-gin.In 1919 my dear Grandpa Perkins passed away. He lived in Clay Springs, Arizona. He

was a wonderful man. Many times as a child, I traveled to Clay Springs to see my dear Grandpaand Grandma Perkins. They lived in a little log cabin up amongst the pine trees. It was so quietand peaceful there. Our grandparents were so kind and gentle and lived a very simple life. Theywere loved by all.

I was in the third grade when we moved to Chandler. We had our school room in theannex of the Sahara Hotel, close to the big San Marcus Hotel and our beautiful outstanding areain the center of the town. It was also close to a park that made a complete circle. I received a pairof roller skates for Christmas and oh what fun I had skating round the park. I could skate pretty

good and make circles in one place when I wanted

to stop or whirl around. Often we played jackson the sidewalk when we werent skating.

I made many dear friends here. Onewas Geneva Sloan. She would often invite me togo to lunch with her. She always had a quarter tobuy her lunch with in Lukins Store, or she couldcharge it. My lunch did not always look so goodwith homemade bread and butter sandwiches andsometimes a Belle flower apple. Needless to say, Iwas always glad to go with my friend. She always treated me to a store bought cookie, which I thought was extra special. I never remember

buying my lunch. We lived three and a half miles fromChandler and Daddy bought us a little pony and anice buggy to drive to school in. We had to takehay and feed our pony at noon and water her. Ohhow I hated to harness her up though.

We had a clean cement canal runningnot too far from our home. We loved to goswimming in the canal. We were getting oldernow and hated to swim in our dresses so we made

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us some swimming suits out of gunny sacks. Ohhow they itched we first put them on. We wouldmake a run for the canal and jump in. They didnot itch so bad if they were wet. As we grew olderand still liked to swim, we coaxed Mother to sendus to Sears & Roebuck to buy us some blackcotton bathing suits. Here again we wereembarrassed as they clung so tight to our figurewhen we were wet. We again would make a maddash for cover as we did not want anyone to seeour skinny figures.

Uncle Andrew (My fathers brother) tried to throw me in one day, and the water was icecold. I was not ready to go in (all over). I wantedto go in a foot at a time. When he threw me in Igrabbed his leg. He had on a pretty new suit, wellhe came in too. Now I am sorry for what I did. It was hard to have enough money to buy suits inour day. He was a grown man too. But I didn't

think I'd pull him in too!One night my mother wanted me to go across the street to this ditch, and bring her a

bucket of water. I did not want to go - I was afraid of the dark, but Mother said I had to go - so Idid and I really hurried. When I just about got back to the house Willa had put on one ofMothers old black fur coats. She came around the corner of the house with that black coat overher head and all bent over and scared the living day lights out of me. All the neighbors heard mescreaming. We moved to another home 3.5 miles south of Chandler and again we had water falland ditch just like this one.

We wore cotton stockings even when I was a teenager, and held them up with a rubberband cut from a car inner tube. I wore flour sack bloomers that mother would make. We ownedone Sunday dress, two petticoats and one good pair of shoes. If our shoes wore out on thebottoms, we would put card board in, that didnt last too long and we would have to cut another.The children laugh and say Mother, how did you ever get anyone to marry you?

We had a real nice two story house only it would always have yellow jackets in the window, which I did not like. We walked sometimes three and a half miles to school. Whileliving here, I learned to hoe cotton and pick cotton. In 1922 we had a very special brother sent toour home. Oh how proud we were of him and how we spoiled our little brother, Lamar. When hewas old enough to say the blessing on the food, he would not let any of us girls have a turn. Onetime Daddy called on one of us girls and he cried and bawled so loud, Daddy put him in anotherroom. Then Mother and all of us girls cried and Daddy had to bring him back in and let him saythe blessing over again.

One night after supper, it was an old habit of mine to put my head down on the table andgo to sleep. It was always late when we had our bread and milk and I had played so hard, I was

[worn] out by night. Mother had told me to go up to bed, but I went to sleep at the table shewould leave me there. Well - I did go sound asleep at the table. All the family was up stairs inbed.

Remember, I am very freighted of the dark. I had walked in my sleep and gone out to theditch. I still remember hearing the water run over the head gate. In the meantime, my motherhad heard the kitchen door open she came down stairs to look for me. She found me standing outin the dark by the ditch. When she woke me up I ran like a deer to the house - scared to death. Itcured me; I never went to sleep at the table any more. I was the first one up to bed.

When I was about twelve years old, I went to Mutual and oh how big I thought I was. Ihad a few boyfriends and a time or tow I ditched Mutual to walk down the railroad track with

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The Swan Dive

Ida age 14, Irene age 16


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them. One time I got back to Mutual and everyone had gone home even by Dad. That waswhen I got in trouble so I didnt do that again. I didnt do anything wrong except not staying in

Mutual as I should. The boy I liked was not too church minded, so that iswhy we ditched. Our bishop was Henry L. Peterson. Our prophet was Heber JGrant. When I was fifteen, I started working for Mr. Goodrich, washingmilk bottles. I would have to get up at 4:00am and start my work, then fixbreakfast for Mr. Goodrich and his wife, who was deaf, quickly wash up themilk house and do the breakfast dishes. Then Mr. Goodrich would take me to school. At 4:00pm I would run home again and go to Mr. Goodrichs tostart washing bottles again, get their dinner and wash up everything. UsuallyI didnt get through until nine oclock at night. I received $5.00 a week andthought I was getting big pay.

When I was about fifteen, I took a few marcel lessons from a lady who worked in a beautyshop. I loved to curl hair.

As a teenager, I was quite a tom-boy. I loved the outdoors. One thing I hated to do wastromp hay when my Dad would go down to the field to haul hay up to the barn and store for thewinter. We always wore dresses then, even to tromp hay. Slacks or pants, or Levis were unheardof for girls. Oh how my legs itched and would sting and burn. The hay was so scratchy. Yes, I

had my share of picking cotton, hoeing weeds, milking cows. One day when Daddy insisted heneeded someone to ride the horse that would pull a low behind it while Dad guided the plow so hecould clean the ditch of weeds, I was elected. He kept saying, Make the horse go closer to theheadgate. I kicked her and she jumped over the headgate and me on her. I was so angry Iclimbed off and told my Dad, Get yourself some boys. Ill never ride that horse again. He knewI had had it and meant it too.

In 1925 I was blessed with another sweet sister. Her name was Norma. Little did weknow then the musical ability she possessed. Oh how I loved her. She was so pretty to everyone.She had big brown eyes and brown hair. She too, was blessed with many wonderful talents,especially in music. She can play any tune by ear. She has played for many orchestras and choirs,can play any tune in any key that a person wants to sing or dance by. She has always beenblessed with beautifully homes and furnished them in perfect dcor. She has excellent taste ineverything. She has never lived as close to me as my other sisters, but all threeare very special to all of us. I also love them very much.

One of my girl friends living near our home was Laviene Johnson. Herfather owned 360 peach trees. We like to go into the orchard and eat peaches buther father did not like us to pick them until they were really ripe, so Laviene andI had the idea to fill my baggy flour sack bloomers with peaches and go over onthe railroad tracks and eat them, which we did. One day Mother said, Ida, whatis all this dark stain in the legs of your bloomers? I finally had to confess andthat ended our peach treat.

We always would get together with the neighbor kids and play two deep, kick the can andanti I over. Oh what fun we had. We never had spending money but had fun with what we had.

I went to Chandler High School for three years. We had to wear uniforms to school white middies and blue skirts. My favorite subject was Sewing. It came quite natural for meand I was privileged to do tailoring in school while others were doing plain sewing. I tookSpanish, English, Biology and other subjects I did not like so well. I did not like to spend a lot oftime studying. I loved sports, baseball, basketball, and other activities. I did not do very good inschool because I hated to study. Yes, it was then I began to like some of the boys in school. Wegirls were not so fond of Chandler boys. We like the Mesa boys.

I was quite a tom-boy and liked to do things outdoors. One summer I worked for Mr.Norton sellers, who was the Chandler postmaster. I cleaned house and kept their children. This

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is the first time I had seen an electric fan. Oh how great to havea breeze blow that we did not have to make ourselves.

In my early teens, I seemed to be the leader when it cameto getting into trouble. During the summer months, our familylooked forward to our vacation time, going up to snowflake and visiting relatives. Lorum was a pal of mine and he was noangel. He lived in Snowflake and he and I were the best of

friends. Lorum and I usually found plenty to do. Grandma andGrandpa Stratton had an old toilet way out by the barn. Theyhad a wooden fence all around their place. Lorum and I werequite small but we loved to walk clear around on the old wooden fence. It had a railing on and if we were careful, wecould walk quite a ways around. One day we were walkingaround Grandpa Strattons fence and Aunt Nettie, who livednext door had a plum tree that hung across the fence. Lorumand I knew where to go to get filled up on plums. We wouldwalk on the wooden fence and we had fun picking plums and throwing them in the ditch. One day Aunt Nettie caught us, took us to our parents and made her report. She told Lorum

and me she was going to call Arch Campbell. The sheriff, to come and take us to Holbrook tojail. Oh how I watched out the window all day for his car to drive up and take Lorum and me to jail in Holbrook. I was worried sick but it cured me from stealing Aunt Netties plums. Lorum was always getting me in trouble on our vacations. He and I seemed to always be thinking of things we could do. We had our best time when everyone was at the table and ready to eatdinner. I just had to look at Lorum and we would both get the giggles. Many times Grandpa sentus away from the table until we could straighten up. One time some relatives came to seeGrandma and Grandpa Stratton and they asked Lorum to sing for them. I was upstairs and whenI heard him start his song, I knew just when to stick my head out the door and look at him. Hewas old enough to have a change in his voice, especially on reaching the high notes. When he wasready to try and reach the note, I stuck my head out. Needless to say, that ended the song weboth had the giggles again.

In the summer was the time for us to harvest our melons in the valley, so we took Lorum tothe melon patch and loaded him down with two twenty pound melons one in each arm. Then Ihad my fun. About half way across the field, I started him laughing. I knew what would happenand it did. He dropped both melons and they split wide open. We both sat down and ate theheart out of the melons, then headed for home.

I had a boyfriend in Snowflake I thought was tops. His name was Joe Freeman. Onenight we were late getting back from Taylor from a date. When we got home, my father walkedout on Grandma Strattons balcony in his underwear and questioned our being late. We told himwe had a flat tire, which we really did, but Im not sure my Father believed us. We usually walkedon our dates, rain or shine and in the dark. If we went to show in Snowflake, we had to even jump a ditch in the dark. Oh how I hated to walk. Very few people had cars. We went toSnowflake in an old Model T my father owned. He had to crank it by the engine to start it.

Sometime we could not get over Strawberry Hill unless we all go out and helped push the carover the top.

Our family went to Chandler Ward. I had many friends there, but the Chandler girls liketo go to Mesa to see good looking boys. We enjoyed going to the Mezona and dancing to FrancisGilberts band. Every Friday night he played at the Mezona.

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Memories of The Strattons

y special days in Snowflake hold a lot of dear memories for - living in the little red houseon the hill where the wind often whistled around the corner of it. It was really aprivilege to get to go to Grandma Strattons house in town. It was easy to run down the

hill to Grandmasrunning a stick along the Smiths white picket fence, throwing rocks in theditch as we crossed the bridge but it was a hard climb to come back home over the hill, especiallyif the wind was blowing hard.

I remember the three large bedrooms upstairs at Grandma Strattons home. If I was luckyI would get to sleep in home, and if I was real lucky, I would get to sleep in Irene and Leonasbedroom on the northwest corner. After a good nights sleep I would love to slip downstairs thefirst thing you would see as you opened the upstairs door was Grandmas bright colored Navajorugs and her piano with the pretty scarf and pictures on it. As I would go into the dining room Iwould see the table set for breakfast and the chairs all turned around ready for prayer.

Going on into the kitchen. I would get some hot water out of the reservoir to wash withand then stand over the good old cook stove to get warm and watch the mush cook. Grandma

would be packing cedar wood in the little side door of the stove to get a little more fire to maketoast and hot cocoa and cook the mush. Always her hair would still be a little damp from being

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The Stratton Home - Snowflake, Arizona

The Strattons are still very well known and loved in Snowflake.

After asking one of the locals where this home was located - they reported it has been replaced by the post office.


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freshly combed and pushed up into curls.Soon as Lorum and Lynn came in frommilking the cows and feeding the pigs, wewould be ready to eat breakfast.

I always enjoyed eating at Grandmas,but I sure liked to get out of doing dishesespecially if the boys had separated the milk

or Grandma had churned before breakfast. I would much rather clean and dust the frontroom or make beds. Irene was always a goodmanager I thought, as she lined up the work.Usually Leona and I would wind up with thedishes and Irene and Willa would end updoing the front room. I soon caught on why Inever was chosen to do the front roomthoughI cleaned around the big Indian rugsand Irene would take them all out and shakethem.

I loved to play hide-and-seek inGrandmas slanty closet in the front room butif Irene or Grandma caught us, our gamedidnt last long. Grandma used to have somepretty pictures. All of the grandchildren used to like to look at them. We all had our turnsand spent many hours of enjoyment looking atthem.

I used to like to watch the old apple tree

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out in front and sneak some of thegreen apples off to eat. I think I used tobe among the first to sample them untilI heard the story about someone inSnowflake who died eating greenapples, and after that I wasnt quite soeager to eat them.

I used to watch Grandma mixbread in the old blue and white speckedgranite dishpan and watch her makehominy and churn butter.

Grandpa was always good to uskids, but if he told us to do somethingwe knew he meant it. We were awfullycareful how much we acted up whenGrandpa was around.

Another day I dreaded atGrandmas was her wash days. We would all take our turns to run the old wooden washer and turn the wringer. We usually had to always giveeverything an extra lick after it hadgone through the washerthen go andbuild up the fire to cook starchthengo out in the orchard and hang theclothes.

I used to watch the men when it was time to harvest the hay. Theywould bring it in big loads to Grandpasbarn; there the big derrick would take it

up into the barn. I always tried to getout of running the horse to pull thederrick. We would lead the horse by the bridle out until we would hear awoe from the barn then we wouldback him up again. I used to like to goto Joe City down to see Aunt Lena andher family, that is, if we did not stop in Holbrook to pull one of my teeth. Aunt Lena always hadsuch good meals fixed for us and always a big cake made. I never could remember all of the littlegirls names I just knew they all belonged to Aunt Lena. Uncle Harvey would rustle up a horsefor us to ride and we always went back to Snowflake tired, but had had a wonderful time. Afterwe moved down here, Uncle Evan invited us to live at the poor housebut if that was the way

poor folks lived I was perfectly satisfied. Aunt Zella would always bake a big batch of raisin bread and I would imagine it was

baked especially for me as I ate most of it. After dinner Aunt Zella would suggest I go down in the cellar and take a nap and that was a touch of heaven for me after being down in this hotcountry. We could lay down there on the cot and look up at the big long shelves lined withbottled corn, beef, tomato preserves, pickled beets, and a big row of cheese Aunt Zella had made,a big 50 pound can of lard in the corner that she had rendered up, and also an old pressure cookernearby to bottle fruit. Aunt Zella would always load us down with good things to bring homewith us.

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William Ellis Stratton and Minnie Kartchner Stratton

Idas Maternal Grandparents


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We were invited up toUncle Raymond and AuntMillies for a good meal too.Uncle Raymond would say,You folks go right on in and I will run on down to the fieldand get some corn and be rightback. In the meantime, AuntMillie would be getting the restof the dinner ready. Afterdinner Uncle Raymond would take us for a tour around thebarn.

On every vacation we were invited down to havedinner with Tom Tanner andfamily. I dreaded to go as heknow Lorum and I too well,but I always had to go. I was

wishing Lorum would beinvited tooat least we couldface Tom Tanner together.

I guess legally Lorumand I did cause a lot of troubleand get in a lot of mischief. Its true we did borrow AuntNetties plums, but they wereon our side of the fence. Weloved to walk around that old wooden fence. Lorum alwaysdid get me in trouble though.

Seems like every time we wouldgo to Snowflake on our vacation I was dodging the law. I was sureglad to see Lorum after beingaway and down in the valley for a year. Hed say Ida, come andride on the wagon down to thefield. After being in the city itseemed like such a treat to me.Little did I know we had to trompa big load of hay before we couldcome home.

Lorum had me sent from the table more times than I cancount. He made me laugh inchurch when I was trying to listen to Brother Flakes Sermon. I wish I had been there the timeGrandma caught Lorum Smoking with Chet Webb, or the time hestole 50 dozen eggs and had to payit all back, or the time Tom Tanner

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Kartchner Famly -

We think Elizabeth Gale is front, center and Minnie is middle left...


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caught Lorum speeding.

When Lorum came down to the valley I always got him a date with a swell girl andshowed him a good time. We raised big melons in the valley and when Id load Lorum up withthree 25 pound melons he always broke at least two before we could get to the house. Hed startlaughing and away theyd go. Lorum, Lynn, Ivan, H, Leona and I would play horseshoes out in the orchard. Irene and Willa being a little older would sneak off upstairs in Irenes room andcrochet things for Christmas. The suspense of them being up there in that locked room almost

kicked me. After spending most of the day up in Irenes room, they would come down andsuggest all of us little kids play school and Irene be the teacher. I was not in a very good mood toplay school I was still sore because we were locked out of the room. I usually gave Irene a badtime. Irene usually worked all the little kids but me I had to either go along and play or play bymyself. One time I got even with Irene. She came down to the valley for a visit duringwatermelon season. Well, I waited my chance and caught her out by the ditch. I washed her facewith watermelon and then added a handful of flour for good measure!

After Irene married Bruce, at different times he would make trips down to the valley. Oneday Willa and I were in J.C. Penney store. I spotted Bruce there so I thought Id go all out to befriendly to our relatives and let them know we hadnt forgotten them. I walked up and said,Hello there, how are you and what are you doing down in this country and hows your family?Well, he pulled away a little when I put my arm around him. His face turned red and he tried to

answer all my questions. He started to walk off and Willa walked up and said Hello Vernon.Well, it floored me! I was red and embarrassed then and anxious to get out of there. I was sureglad when Willa suggested we better be on our way. Ive never seen two brothers looks so muchalike. I decided after that Id go a little easier on our relatives.

I dearly love all of Grandmas family and I have always had a special place in my heart forGrandma Stratton. I love especially her oldest daughter and am very thankful for the manythings she has taught me. Im happy to be part of the Stratton Family.

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Chapter 3

Marriage & Family

925 was in important year in my life. I met a very special person. On Friday nights adance was held for the youth of the church at the Mezona in Mesa. We danced toFrancis Gilberts Orchestra. It was at this dance that I met my husband to be. Every

third dance they would play a moonlight waltz. They would dim the lights and I always knew who that special dance belonged to. He knew it too. I fell for him and guess he felt the sameabout me. It was love at first sight. I loved him because he had high ideals went to seminary andwas a member of the church. His name was Warner Watkins.

He introduced me to his parents and six brothers. They lived in a very humble home onSouth Mesa Drive. Warner had an old jalopy Ford with a flat bed on back, so I knew that wasnt

the reason I fell for him. He waspoor with little money, but I wasntlooking for a rich boyfriend. Wehad $1.00 on Friday night to go to the Nile Theater and when theshow was out, we went to the

Mezona to the dance. That cost$1.00. Oh how I hated to have Warner work so hard and spend$2.00 on me in one evening. Weonly dated once a week. During the week we would write lettersfrom Mesa to Chandler. At the time he was bailing hay with hisFather and brothers. In thesummer Warner and his olderbrothers and parents went toCalifornia to find work in the fruit

fields and in the canneries. Warnerwent to Del Monte, California andstarted working in the cannery there. We still exchanged lettersback and forth. When harvest time was over, he would return back toMesa to enter school in the fall.

In about 1926 when it was about time for school to start, Warner came home and oh how

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glad I was to see him. After a few months webecame engaged and were married the first day the Arizona Temple opened, Oct. 27, 1927. We were married by James W. Lesueur.Three couples were married the first day thetemple opened.

In the evening a small reception was

held at the home of my parents in Chandler.Many of our relatives came down for thededication of the temple the 23rd of October1927 so they were here and attended ourreception.

When I was first married I was taught to mix and make all our bread. Each week Iwould make 5 or 6 loaves. One day, I missedmy wedding band. I had no idea where I hadlost my precious wedding ring. One day, wehad Malen Allen over for lunch. I cut thebread and put it on the table. When he was

eating his bread he hit a hard thing in his sliceof bread. He said"what is this?"He had foundm y p r e c i o u swedding band. It was okay eventhough it had been baked for an hour in the oven. I was happy toget it back.

Warner had just started working for a Mr. Parkhurst inChandler, milking cows and doing chores for him. He had anupstairs bedroom that we moved into after we were married. Hefurnished us with milk, eggs and vegetables and paid Warner $75.00a month. We worked for Mr. Parkhust about three months, thenWarner and I moved back to Mesa and lived in Grandma Watkins'little house ' on South Mesa Drive. Warner started running the haybailer and bailed hay in Mesa, Chandler and Gilbert.

We did real well and in 1928 Warner bought me my firstChevy coupe. It was a beautiful car to me. I had very few luxuriesin my life. For many

years after he bought our first car, Warner boughtme a new car every two years from Brown andHoye always trading in the old one.

A short time later the hay bailing season wasover, so we moved to Phoenix and Warner bought adump truck and started hauling sand and gravel forArizona Sand and Hock Co.

On October 27, 1928, our first weddinganniversary, we were blessed with a wonderful son.We named him Lorum Russell. Dr. Mason was thedoctor. He charged us $35.00. Oh how special he was and the joy he brought into our hearts cannever be described, to have such a special, beautiful

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son come to live with us. He had black hair andweighed 8 lbs. 3 oz. and perfect in every way.

We only lived in Phoenix a short while, then moved back to Mesa to live. I had so muchfun sewing for this special son and teaching himnursery rhymes, the alphabet, and how to countand spell. He was very quick to memorize and

brought lots of joy to his father and me. In I93I we were blessed with our firstbaby girl. She was very dark, lots of black hairand brown eyes. We named her Ida Merlene. Shewas born on June 23 in Grandma Watkins' littlehome we were living in on South Mesa Drive. Dr.Openshaw was our doctor and he charged us$25.00.

One day a special photographer came to our door and wanted to take a picture ofRussell and Merlene in a little red wagon. He said the picture would be shown on the screen at theNile Theater.

Oh how excited I was when the picturecame to Mesa. I went to the show twice the sameday to see this pictureo f o u r

beautiful children on the screen. I thought they were the mostbeautiful children I had ever seen.

Merlene's hair was long and coal black; her eyes alsowere very dark. Some said she looked like an Indian baby, but we didn't. She was our beautiful daughter. She and Russell

enjoyed playing together and got along really well. Russellalso had dark brown hair and brown eyes.

In 1931 agreat depression hit the country. Many people were out of work. Jobs were hard to find. On Nov. 23, 1932, wewere blessed with another sweet baby girl. We named herMabel Jean. She had light hair and blue eyes. Alwaysmy mother had helped me out when our babies arrived,but at this time my mother had the flu, so Warner'smother came to help me. Dr. Shornick from Tempe wasour doctor. We lived in Dr. Neilsen's house on SouthMorris St. in Mesa and paid $12.50 a month for rent. Ohhow we loved our three children.

Warner was now hauling supplies up toHumbug Mines in the Bradshaw Mountains. We had a tent to live in up at the mine, but I did not enjoy living there as there were scorpions and rattle snakes. Most ofthe time I would stay at our home in Mesa with the smallchildren.

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Russell and Merlene Watkins

This photo was shown on the screen at the Nile Theater.


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In 1936 Warner started working for Calhoun Brothers, hauling cattle all over the state. Warner spent, long hours, sometimes as a mechanic, sometimes driving and sometimesdispatching the trucks loaded with cattle. He would go early and stay late. This left, us alone a lotand I had a lot of responsibility with the family. I always stayed active in the church, taking thechildren to all the meetings. I have served in all organizations of the church: Primary presidentand teacher, M.I.A., Relief Society president and also worked at the home of the Good Shepherdin Phoenix with the delinquent L.D.S. girls there.

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Chapter 4

A Second Decade of Marriage

t this time we were living in Phoenix and dad was hauling ore from Humbug Minesand hauling sand and gravel for Munger Rock. Co. One night he came home lateand was very tired. We went to bed and later in the night I got up to go to the

bathroom. I found dad sitting on the floor crying and saying his side was in terrible pain. Being ayoung bride and not knowing what to do, I put dad in the car and drove over, to Mesa to his parent's home to see if they knew what to do for him. They suggested that I take him to theSouthside Hospital in Mesa right away.

While we were at the hospital father Watkins called Brother Nash, who was a patriarch, tocome and give Warner a blessing, which he did. Shortly afterward the doctor said he was goingto take him in for surgery as it seemed to be his appendix. They took him in and operated. Whenthe doctor came out he had a very sad look on his face. He said he had done all he could and thathis appendix had ruptured. They had put a drainage tube in to see if that would help drain off thefluid.

Warner lay for 18 days in the hospital, and each day it could mean life or death. I wantedto be near him while he recuperated. Since we were living in Phoenix at the time, father Watkinsand Galen moved me to Mesa. During all of this I had my trials too. When Warner went into thehospital I had three children down with the measles and I was pregnant again. My heart washeavy not knowing if dad would live or not, three little children who needed me., and being very

sick to my stomach because of the pregnancy.

When Warner finally came home he came to a home inMesa that he had never seen before. Many prayers wereoffered and the Lord did hear and answer our prayers. Dadlater had the drainage tube removed from his side,. The,children did get over the, measles and I was getting alongokay with my pregnancy. It seems like we moved a lot but as we were renting, it was quite easy to look for a home thatwould better serve our needs.

In 1937 Wayne was born in our home in Mesa. I hadhad all my babies in my home so far. The Dr. would come toour home's to deliver our babies. This time I had madearrangements with a Registered Nurse to deliver my baby.Her name was Miss West. She said she had helped Dr.Sharp, who she had been working with for a long time, shesaid she had delivered over 1500 babies. So we had arrangedfor her to come to our home to deliver our baby. All wentwell, I delivered the baby alright, but the baby did not cry.The nurse hollered to my mother in the kitchen to bring apan of hot water and a pan of cold water to put the baby in.In the meantime she put her fingers in the baby's mouth andpulled out a lot of flem. By then the baby let out a big cry. I'llalways be thankful to this nurse for not giving up but going

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the extra mile to save our dear baby, we named Wayne. Ohhow we loved our baby. The Lord blessed us and our babyboy's life was spared. Oh how thankful we are for this fine sontoday, who has a wonderful family and has worked always inthe church. He is a great missionary teacher.

In August, 1939 an event occurred in church history atthe brink of World War II as all missionaries were evacuated

from Europe. It was the first time that an international conflicthad prompted such a massive evacuation and the only time inone hundred years that all missionaries were pulled from theEuropean continent. On August 24, 1939, the First Presidencyinstructed Elder Joseph Fielding Smith of the Council of theTwelve, who was touring the European mission, to evacuateall American missionaries. That night President Heber J.Grant recorded it in his journal. Telegrams were sent warningour mission presidents in Europe to be ready. A week after theevacuation order, Hitler invaded Poland.

In reprisal, France and Great Britain declared war onGermany. On Dec. 6, 1941 Pearl Harbor was bombed. Many

ships were sunk and over 4,000 lives were lost. PresidentRoosevelt declared war on Japan and many of our boys were

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The Watkins Children,

Back row:Jeanne Middle, Merlene, Wayne, Russell Front Row, Warner R, Loraine, and Norman


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sent to war, many never returned. During this war mysister, Norma, lost her husband at sea when the LiscombBay ship was sunk. This saddened our family.

Oh what a worry, and how to protect all our littlechildren was constantly on my mind. The older ones wereall in school. We always had our family prayers night andmorning, always attended our meetings and the Lord

blessed us and watched over us. The war lasted four yearsand little did our small children know what dangers and problems in the world surrounded them. We were taughtwhat to do in case a bomb was to strike the United Statesand food and clothing wore rationed. Each person in theUnited States received one ration book containing stamps which we could use to buy certain commodities. Many things had to be rationed and could only be purchased with stamps. I was happy to do this, as I would have thrown away my coffee stamps anyway. We could onlybuy two pairs of shoes a year. The war ended on August6th 1945, when Japan surrendered after the United States

dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, which killedmany, many people.

In 1940 Warner lost his left eye while repairing a wheel bearing. He was pushing on awheel bearing when a piece of steel flew into his left eye. He lost sight in his one eye and had tohave an artificial eye made. This hurt all of us very much. Warner was always so good, kind andpatient with others and has always been loving and good to me. He has always provided well forhis little family.

Warner was a driver for Southwest Kenworth and would fly up to Seattle, Washingtonand buy new trucks. He would drive the new trucks back to Phoenix. Sometimes he wouldpiggyback two or three at a time. Even after losing his eye, he made many trips to Seattle to bringdown the trucks. Although Warner has had many mishaps,he is one who never complained nor held back from doinghis job no matter what he was asked to do.

In November 1941 we were blessed with anotherfine son. He was very pretty and sweet in every way.Everyone said he was too pretty to be a boy. We named him Warner "R" . Oh what a joy to have another baby in ourhome. He received lots of attention from his older brothersand sisters. He has been very spiritual all his life and lives aChrist like life, helping others and never thinking of himself.He filled a full time mission in California for the church andserved the Lord well.

While living in Phoenix, I was asked to be a

counselor to Rae Austin in Relief Society in the CapitolWard. One day we decided we should make a few visits tosome of our sisters. We were all in my car, we were onNorthern and Central avenues. And the light turned red,and I stopped. A man coming from Sunnyslope did not stopand he hit me full force in the back of my car. The impact was so hard it made my seat lay back almost flat. My carhad to be towed in .The President and the other counselorhad a lawyer and received several thousand dollars As theresult of the accident. Dad and I did not sue any one, just

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paid to have our own car fixed which was about$300.00. I have suffered with migraineheadaches for 32 years. They stopped sometimein 1996, which I am very thankful for.

I was now president of Capital WardRelief Society and this took me away from homequite a lot. Oh how I loved my husband and

family. The children were all taking musiclessons and doing well in school.

In April 1943 we were blessed with our third sweet daughter. Again I came over tomothers in Mesa and had Dr. Hartman deliverour child. We had a fine baby girl and wenamed her Loraine. She has been a joy to thewhole family. She keeps the family together andis always going out of her way for others. Sheand Warner R were only seventeen monthsapart so they had good times playing together.

We moved into our first home that we had ever purchased, as we had rented most of thetime. This home was west of Phoenix on 31st Avenue. It was here that our fourth son was born in1951. What a joy he as brought into the life of his parents and brothers and sisters. He too, was agood missionary serving a mission for the church in Brazil for two years. Dr. Rowley was ourdoctor and Norman was our first child to be born in a hospital.

In 1955 Calhoun Brothers sold out and for a while, Warner worked with Tony Callous intheir own trucking business. Warner was severely burned while working there in 1959. On theside Warner would fly to Seattle and bring trucks down for J.T. Jenkins Co. Later he workedfull time for this company who was later bought out by Southwest Kenworth Inc. He worked forthem for twenty two years.

In 1943, we were living in Phoenix on 21st Ave, right off Van Buren St, which was a verybusy street. One day I was washing, my washer was outside in the garage and I had no dryer. I

was hanging my clothes on the clothes-line, and I could hear a baby crying, quite a distance away.I thought it was on of our neighbor'schildren. I happened to look downour sidewalk, which lead to VanBuren St., and I saw our baby Warner R. He was crying, and ourdog a big Doberman was holding onto his diaper, so he couldn't move. Iquickly ran down to pick our babyup, as soon as I was near, the dog, this big Doberman turned loose ofhis diaper. I didn't realize at that

time, how valuable that dog was. Hemay have saved our babies life. Itpays to be kind to animals, they toohave a heart and mind. I will alwaysbe grateful for this Doberman dog,Dad brought home. It takes so many years, and experiences in life tomake us learn to appreciate theblessings the Lord has given to usand our families.

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Warner Watkins, Ida Watkins,

Loraine, Warner R and Norman


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A Mothers True Dream Feb 16,1979In the middle of the night, I do not know the hour, I had a dream. I was

looking for our son Warner R, seems like he was about 12 years old, and Ithought he should have returned home with the Scout Troop. I wandered aroundlooking into the face of different groups of Scouts, and I could not find our sonanywhere. I ran to his Dad and said I can't find our son anywhere. I then foundmyself wandering toward home, to see if he was there. Our home seemed to be

quite high off from the ground, as there were steps leading up to the door of ourhome. As I ran towards home I could see in the distance a small boy sitting on thesteps, with his hands on his knees-he was holding his head. As I reached the stepsand looked up I saw my sons bruised and bleeding feet. I dropped to my knees byhis side and looked up into his sad and tear stained face, I thought he had beenlost and wandering and now found his home. I sent one of the girls to find a cleandamp cloth so I could wipe his tear stained face and to bathe his tired and swollenfeet. I was going to carry him in my arms to his bed and put him in cool cleansheets. I'll never forget his tired and swollen feet and sad face. I thought of Maryand her love for her Son the Christ child. Oh how I loved our tiny son too. Thisdream was very real and I will remember it today. We have been blessed withfour special sons that we love with all our hearts. I thank the Lord in my prayers

for the gift of Motherhood.I also remember another time when we were living on McKinley street,

Warner R was just starting a new year in school. I had taken him to school butdid not go in, the list of names on the door of a classroom, told which room eachchild was assigned to be in. Warner R had looked on all the doors, and he couldonly find the name of Warner R Mckinley, his name was Warner R Watkins. Hewas only a first grader, so he decided to come home. I happened to look up acrossa big vacant field, and I could see a tiny boy walking towards me. I soonrecognized it to be our tiny son Warner R. I ran to meet him, and I asked him what happened. He said he could not find his room, they only had a WarnerMcKinley on the door. A very loving and broken hearted Mother took him back


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The Watkins Family, in the late 1950s

Back row:Warner R, Merlene, Ida and Warner Front Row: Jeanne Loraine, Warner R , Norman, Wayne


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Chapter 5

Half a Century Together

n 1959, our dear dad was seriouslyburned when a diesel barrel explodedand set him on fire. A man who was a

stranger, but wanting a job, ran to Dad to help himget his coat off and put out the fire. Dad's clothingwas burnt off from him from his waist up. He had very deep severe burns. I always felt he wasprotected by his garments

In 1962 I had a major operation by Dr.Byron Butler. I too had a close call with death.

In 1964 Warner and I purchased a lot frommy Dad in the back of his lot on South Hobson St.It was here we built the little home we live in today, which is free from debt and a fully tithed home.We have had many family parties together and builta log cabin up in Lakeside, Arizona for all to enjoyfor many years. Our blessings have been great.

In 1964 we were called to serve in the Superior Branch. Warner was in the branch presidency with Owen Gray, our

brother in law. We served there withour son , Norman who wasseventeen, for three and a half years,driving back and forth 50 miles each way, two or three times a week. Iserved as a counselor in the ReliefSociety there, also a counselor in thePrimary, lead the choir, speechdirector and helped play dinners toraise funds for the new chapel to bebuilt there. The chapel wascompleted and was a beautiful sight

to see. We were all proud of ouropportunities to serve there and wemade many friends

In 1967 we celebrated our 40th Wedding Anniversary. A beautifulaffair was planned by our children. A huge wedding cake was made, alovely program planned, and all ourchildren were there and took part in

this grand occasion. It was held in

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The Watkins Home

South Hobson St. Mesa Arizona

Warner and the Branch Presidency of the Superior Branch

I


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Merlene and Merril's home in Phoenix on EastMonterosa.

In 1968 we were called to be workers in the Arizona Temple. Oh what a privilege that was. Weworked under three different presidency's: Pres. Smith,Pres. Whiting, and Pres. Driggs. This call was thehighlight of our life. We made many, many wonderful

friends while serving there. I had the opportunity ofbeing #1 in working with the brides for two years. That was very special to me. I also was a trainer for twoyears. I trained all the new ones coming into the templeon Tuesday and Thursday night. On Saturday I workedin with the brides. Warner also has had some wonderfulexperiences there. He could lead any session. He wasquick to memorize and I was so proud of him. Oh wecould never tell anyone what this special call meant tous. Warner has been so dear to me all my life. There willnever be anyone like him. He is everything a wife couldask for. He loves the Lord and serves him every way he

can. He supports me in all my callings. He has given meeverything he could to make me happy. Our home lifehas been happy and peace, love and harmony reigns inour home. We both have a strong testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel. We know we have a trueliving prophet to guide us here on earth. We know Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and thatGod lives and can hear and answer our prayers.

One day, Warner and I were headed for Wickenburg. It was a very cloudy day and lookedlike a storm was coming in. We drove out way north of phoenix and were traveling on a very highwinding mountain road. The wind was blowing terrible and dust flying so we could hardly see.

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Warner and Ida on their 40th Wedding Anniversary


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Warner said, "We did not have prayer whenwe left home". He was trying so hard to see.When we got to the bottom of the mountain,he pulled to the side of the road. I said, "Whyare we stopping here?" Warner said to thankthe Lord that we made it through safely. Ohhow I love that dear husband of mine. Wehad our family prayer as we always do. But we needed a special prayer to have a safetrip. As long as I can remember, about 4 amin the morning. I would always see Warneron his knees praying to his Heavenly Father.

In October 1977 was a great day in our lifewhen we celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary.The children went all out to make everythingspecial for us. The reception was held in Mesa10th Ward. About 200 guests came to show theirlove for us. Pictures were taken, a beautifulwedding cake was made, and a program planned.Oh how thankful we are for our family and ohhow thankful I am for my dear companion. I havelived with him for nearly 53 years. I love him more

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Ida and Warner on their 50th Wedding Anniversary

The Watkins Family in 1977

Norman, Loraine, Warner R, Wayne Jeannie, Merlene, Russell, Ida and Warner


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every day and appreciate the respect, andhonor he shows to me. He still takes me ondates, still opens the car door, still pulls mychair out. for me to sit down, still remembersbirthdays and anniversaries, but most of allas we kneel in prayer night and morning hiswarm hands covering mine, always kisses megoodbye when he leaves and tells me he lovesme every day. Nearly every day for at least30 years, he brings me in a few roses fromour rose bushes and exchanges them for akiss. How wonderful and thoughtful he is.In1980 my dear husband and I had beenworking as ordinance workers in the ArizonaTemple. We served for seven and a halfyears.

Later in life Warner was having trouble breathing and sleeping at night. Wehad good insurance and a wonderful doctor

who informed us that he had a very badheart. All of Warner's family seemed to haveheart trouble.. He lost his mom and dad andfour of his brothers who died because, ofheart problems. For twenty years Warner was bothered with his heart but he wasfaithful to take his medication on time, andhe just kept going.

In September 1980, we were called togo on a mission, serving as ordinance workers in the beautiful Washington D.C. Temple. Oh howwe loved our mission. We made many new friendsand visited many interesting places while there. We lived on the eighth floor in the Kensington Apartments. It was about 5/8 of a mile from the temple. Most of the temple workers had to livewith other couples because the expenses were sogreat, but the Lord blessed us with the finances we needed so we would not have to live withanother couple. We appreciated being able to livealone in our own apartment; it made our missionso enjoyable. The Lord has surely blessed us

throughout our lifetime. When we arrived in the mission field, we were there in time to attend the inaugurationof President. Ronald Reagan. In fact, we hadchoice seats up near the press box. What a newexperience that was for us.

We also received permission from ourMission President to go to the New York Pageantin Palmyra and visit the Hill Cumorah and manyother church historic buildings. We also had the

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privilege of going inside the Peter Whitmer home where the church was organized. We visitedLiberty Jail and also walked through the Sacred Glove where the Prophet Joseph Smith kneltand prayed to ask "which church was right?" Another couple went with us, Brother and SisterJensen, and they helped share expenses. They were so nice to travel and be with.

Warner and I had so many choice experiences there. Warner still had chest pains but wasfaithful in his calling and went to the temple on our days to go. Warner was good in Spanish andthe two of us would take Spanish sessions through. He was the officiator and I was his follower.We had the opportunity of taking Spanish classes after we finished our temple assignment.

One special privilege I had was to be called to be over all the brides and new ones on aspecial day the temple opened throughout the Christmas holidays. At first I felt that I was too old,that the assignment was more than I could handle, but after much prayer I knew I could organizeand handle this assignment. The Lord had called me and he would guide me. He did, and I felt,his presence and guidance that day. We had 53 new ones, weddings and all. I had the privilege of

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While on our Mission, Washington D.C. TempleThe Washington Temple has been closed for now. We are all on

vacation.

Today 29 December 1981, the Temple will open for just one day to takecare of al l marriages,sealings, and endowments for members of their party.

Sister Eames, the Matron of this beautiful temple ,called me into heroffice about two weeks ago to ask me to be the Brides Director on this veryspecial day. The largest temple in the world, and the biggest day of the year ,and me 71 years old. Oh how humble I felt and how weak ,and how small. Iaccepted the call, and I knew with the Lords help we could do it. For two weeks I was busy ,planning, and organizing for this big day Fifty three hadbeen booked in at the desk so far. The sisters who worked in the temple werechoice sisters, very efficient and hard workers. I was told I could pick any oneout of the three shifts, to work with me.

What a privilege for all of us to be hands and mouth for these sacredordinances. I went to my knees many times and ask the Lord to bless me andguide me for this big day.

In all our planning and organizing there was one thing we had notcounted on. One wedding dress came up missing . The little girl to be marriedwas not worried, she said she saw the Temple worker carry her dress up to thethird floor on the same elevator she was on.. We looked and looked everywhere,many times going thru the rack pf wedding dresses Hers we could not find. Bynow her Mother ws very upset telling us how many hours she had spent onmaking her dress. Her little daughter just smiled and said we would find it. Atlast one of our sweet sisters ,inspired and guided decided to go over and have them check on the mens side to see if it had been taken up with the grooms

clothing . Sure enough it was found and everyone was happy again.Oh how thankful I am for all the dear sisters who worked so well

together that day.We had some who needed special help and needed differentlanguage help to guide them thru,German French and Cantonese.


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overseeing the brides and being head of that department for the last six months of our mission.Oh what a choice experience it was for me. I was in my seventies, but with the Lord's help we canfill the assignments we are called upon to do. We felt the beautiful spirit that radiated in theWashington Temple where we served as ordinance workers. We have witnessed many wonderfulexperiences there.

After serving for seventeen months, we went into see the mission president, as iscustomary to do before being released. On visiting with him and he being aware of my dear

husband's health problem, he advised us to be released then and not wait another month. He feltit would be best for Warner to see his own doctor at home and receive whatever care was needed,

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as the doctor in Washington D.C. hadsuggested surgery for him. Wayne flewback and drove us home. We came home

in 1982. What a happy reunion we had!Our children were all here at our home with a big " Welcome Home" sign uponour home. How blessed we have been tohave such a choice family.

My father passed away in 1977and my dear mother in 1987. That was agreat loss to me even though I understandHeavenly Father's plan.

My Dad had the neatest shop. He spent many hours tinkering there, making things forothers. If anyone ever needed anything it could always be found in my Dads neatly organized

shop. He would supply you with anything you might need. He was so clean and orderly. Hetook care of everything. Oh how I loved to sit at my sewing machine, and look out my windowand watch him putter all day, making something. Many in his family were good carpenters.Daddy built their home, with the help of his brothers. We bought the back of Daddys lot. Hereis where our home is today. Oh how I loved my kind and patient Dad. I miss him a lot. Daddydied when he was 90 Mother died when she was 99.

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To My Family at Home

So many blessings our family has hadTo be thankful for, each day as we pray

But stop and think of your hidden blessingsAs you sit down for turkey Thanksgiving Day.

Across the table, you will see our MotherWho had always been so precious and Sweet

Without her and our dear Daddy hereOur family would never be complete.

Today she is still young at age 94Still alert and independent as can be

Go over and cheer her up, with a visit and a smileAnd give her a big hug and kiss for me

Since I have been away from home so longI've had time to measure life's worth,

Every day that I live, I'll always be thankful

For the dear Mother who gave me birth

Not long ago, I too lived next doorBut kept myself busy all day

I let choice opportunity's pass me byAnd forgot hidden blessings to weigh

Today, I am far from home, and helpless to make a changeBut think, and write and shed a few tears.,It's too late, I lost my chance when home

And our dear Mother, will add two more years

Willa, Marva, Lamar, Norma and Roy,

Think of something special you might doFor the dearest Mother who lives next doorSome-day, Sometime, I'll do the same for you.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL OF YOU

Written by Ida Watkins while on our mission 1980

Mabel Stratton Perkins and Jesse Nelson Perkins

Idas parents


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The Second Hand Shop

Theres a little old man

In this little old shop

Its a collection of thingsFrom cellar to top.

Theres all kinds of things

All scattered about

But whatever you need

He can dig it out

Now wait just a minute

He says with a grin

Ill find what youre after

Its somewhere within

This little old man

His collections are many

Whether its hammer or saw

Or screws there are plenty.

His boards are all stacked

According to their size.

Just what youre looking for

Is no great surprise

At dark, he cleans up

Putting his tools all away

Hell catch a few winks

Then begin a new day.

This little old many

In his cute little shop

Hardly takes time to eat

or look at the clock

Dear Dad, were so thankful

Youve taught us so much.

Your philosophy of life

Is truly the masters touch.

Ida P Watkins

Jesse Nelson Perkins and Mabel Stratton Perkins


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Christmas Time

Dearest Family so far awayWe'll all be together in this Christmas dayWhen at the table you'll see empty chairs

Just pretend -Were all sitting there

Warner and I are very happyYou see- we have each other

But still my thoughts wander way back homeBack to my dear sweet Mother

I have such tender heart stringsThey are so hard for me to keep

Them coming to the surfaceAnd soon I start to weep

The lump I carry in my throatFeels like a great big boulder

And I think it keeps on growingEach day, as I get older

Sometimes one can't help, but feel a little sadAnd you feel like you are all alone

When there's miles and mile's between usAnd your loved ones left at home

Each day we receive a letterHelps us both to know

Our families will never forget usNo matter how far away we go.

I know where each one of you will beOn this special Christmas nightYou'll all be over to Mothers

What a precious heavenly sight

We hope each one will keep in mindThat both Daddy and me

Will have our thoughts beside youRound our Mothers tiny tree.

There's no power on earth to stop our thoughtsThey travel pretty fast

There's no need to take an airplaneAre spend money on high priced gas

Yes- dear ones we'll be thereThere's still our thoughts you seeJust pause a moment and imagine

We are all around the tree.

We'll be home for ChristmasAs far away as we may be

We'll all be together for ChristmasIf only in our dreams.

By Ida WatkinsWhile on our mission 1980


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Each Mortal Writes Own Book of Life

In D & C 88 the Lord provided light and knowledge pertaining to whatdetermines whether a person will receive a celestial, terrstial or telestial glory aftermortality.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie elaborates on this subject on Mormon Doctrine underthe entry "Book of Life" .

In a real through figurative sense the book of life is the record of the acts of men assuch record is written in their own bodies. It is the record engraved on the very bones,sinews, and flesh of the mortal body. That is ., every thought, word, and deed has aneffect on the human body, all these leave their marks which can be read by Him who isEternal as easily as the words in a book can be read.

By obedience to telestial law men obtain telestial bodies, terestial law leads toterrestial bodies, and conformity to celestial law- because this law includes the sanctifyingpower of the Holy Ghost-results in the cre

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