Shelley Beatty

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C.I.A., Secret Missions, U.S. Foreign Service, Marines….

October 12, 2017 by shelley

C.I.A., Secret missions, U.S. Foreign Service, Marines….

It was always kind of hush, hush and a very secretive scenario when we tried to get any information about my Uncle Karl, my dad’s brother. But no matter what time of year it was, whenever he came home for a visit we would stop whatever was going on in our lives and make the trip to my grandparent’s house to see my Uncle Karl.  He would never be home for very long.  We would make the two hour drive up the narrow, windy two lane Price Canyon road, cross Soldier Summit, make our way down Spanish Fork Canyon into Springville, Utah where relatives were gathered.  As children, we riddled our parents with questions; “What’s Karl’s job?” “It’s a secret.”; “Where does he do it?” “Overseas, in a far away country.”;  “What does he do?” “Not sure exactly.”; “Is he still a marine?” “Not exactly.”

The lack of any information did not really bother us because we knew it would be a fun day with cousins, aunts and uncles.  (I think this picture was taken summer 1960.)

Smith Family gathering to visit when Karl Smith came home from U.S. Foreign Service

Left to right: Beatrice Smith, Arva Smith holding Miriam Smith, Mary Ann Smith reaching toward baby with her mother Lucille Taylor Smith behind her and Shelley Smith in front with pink shorts, Craig Smith is turned with back toward viewer, far back is Bernell Jensen and Terry Jensen with Karl Smith standing in front of them with back toward viewer, Michael Smith, John Smith, Albert Smith, Boyd Smith and Will Rodeback.

Karl Smith, his mother Beatrice Smith and father Albert Smith

Left to right: Karl Smith, Beatrice Smith and Albert Smith about 1960 (summer).

We would later learn more about what he was doing during his long absences:

Karl Smith receives special Honor Award for work in U.S. Foreign Service

Karl Smith receives special Honor Award for work in U.S. Foreign Service

Karl Smith receives special Honor Award for work in U.S. Foreign Service

Karl Smith receives special Honor Award for work in U.S. Foreign Service

The letter is from the American Ambassador Winthrop G. Brown stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Vientiane, Laos.  It is dated March 2, 1961 and reads:

Dear Mr. Smith

I have already expressed to you orally the appreciation which I and the Department feel for your behavior during the battle of Vientiane.  I am writing to you today, so that it may be a matter of record.

This was not an easy time for anyone here.  For three days, the Embassy was under actual siege conditions.  The office and your home were under artillery or small arms fire.  You were frequently in personal danger.

“Throughout this difficult period, you attended devotedly to your duty, carrying extra heavy loads where required and enduring dangerous conditions with calmness, cheerfulness and courage.  Although not a thoroughly trained cryptographic clerk, you worked as such for a period of over 48 hours with practically no sleep.  When it came time to destroy classified equipment, you calmly completed the task, kneeling on the floor of the classified file room, while bullets and shrapnel were flying in the windows over your head.

“You have been a credit to yourself, the Service and to your country.  I and the Department take great satisfaction in your performance and I have recommended you to the Department for an honor award.”

From the American Embassy in Vientiane, Laos.

John W. Smith, Lola Jenson, Will Smith, Karl Smith, Albert Smith, Beatrice Smith and Hasting Smith

Filed Under: Family, Genealogy, Memories Tagged With: Battle of Vientiane, C.I.A., Foreign Service Award, Karl Smith, Laos, Marines, Secret missions, U.S. Embassy, U.S. Foreign Service, Vientiane

My Grandparent’s House

September 23, 2017 by shelley

My Grandparent’s House

I visited the house where my grandparent’s lived until they died (early 1970’s) in Springville, Utah

(136 East 200 North Springville, Utah)

Grandma’s house in Springville, Utah

It brought back so many fond memories…throwing pillows over the bannister  from the second floor down to the entry-way in a pillow fight with my cousins…Thanksgiving dinners in the parlor and the beautiful iris garden that filled the entire side yard….

My grandmother always had a bag of salt water taffy in the drawer of the sideboard in the parlor, African violet plants  in their little pots blooming everywhere and crocheted doilies on the back and arm of every chair and couch…

The old horse chestnut tree still stands out front.  My siblings and I used to throw those spiky green things at each other….and there used to be no sidewalk and gutter in front and when it rained there would be a gigantic puddle that filled the entire area in front of where the fence is now.

Horse Chestnut tree in front of my grandparent’s house in Springville, Ut

 

My grandparents: Beatrice Rodeback Smith (1892-1972) and Albert Harry Smith (1888-1971).

Filed Under: Family, Genealogy, Memories Tagged With: Albert Smith (1888-1971), Beatrice Smith (1892-1972), grandma's house, Springville Utah, Victorian house

Hotel Utah, Uncle Roscoe, Hogle Zoo and Shasta the Liger!

September 18, 2017 by shelley

Hotel Utah, Uncle Roscoe, Hogle Zoo and Shasta the Liger! Happy Birthday!

Hotel Utah menu hand decorated by Utah artist Uncle Roscoe

Growing up we did not get a yearly birthday party.  We would have a birthday party one year and a family activity the next.  One of our family activities for my birthday celebration really stands out in my mind!  I chose to go to Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City and have restaurant dinner.  Getting either one would have been more than I expected so imagine my surprise  when I got both. In those days (early 1960’s)  a trip to Salt Lake City from Price, Utah took 3 hours.  There was no I-15 just Utah highway 89.  You had to drive up Price Canyon, a treacherous windy 2 lane mountain road.  Then down Spanish Fork Canyon, which was more of the same windy mountain road except downhill.  Then you went through every small town driving right down main street on your way to Salt Lake City; Mapleton, Springville, Provo, Orem, Pleasant Grove, American Fork, Lehi, the point of the mountain, Draper, Sandy, Murray and finally State Street Salt Lake City.

The biggest attraction at Hogle Zoo was Shasta.  Shasta was a liger; half lion and half tiger.  No one every went to the zoo without seeing Shasta!

Shasta the liger at Hogle Zoo

After visiting the zoo we ate at the Hotel Utah coffee shop.

The big attraction at the coffee shop was Uncle Roscoe.  Uncle Roscoe would entertain children of dining guests by drawing cartoon sketches for them!  He wasn’t always there, it was just luck whether he would be there on any given day.  And then it took a double stroke of luck if he came to your table and did a sketch on your menu.  I was thrilled beyond words when Uncle Roscoe visited our table and personally signed and decorated my menu!!!  I am sure I just sat there wide-eyed and smiling…

Hotel Utah menu hand decorated by Utah artist Uncle Roscoe

Hotel Utah Children’s menu 1960’s

Menu at Hotel Utah Coffee Shop 1960s

Menu at Hotel Utah Coffee Shop 1960s

It was one of my more memorable birthdays!

Filed Under: Memories, Travel Tagged With: Hogle Zoo, Hotel Utah, Shasta the liger, Uncle Roscoe

Funeral Dave Monson

September 17, 2017 by shelley

Funeral Dave Monson

I made a quick trip home for the funeral of my uncle Dave Monson.  He died on July 31, 2017 just shy of his 90th birthday.

Dave Monson

Dave Monson

Obituary

David Peter Monson

1927 ~ 2017
Loving husband, father, grandfather, David Peter Monson, known by his friends and family as “Dave,” was born 29 August 1927 in Mount Pleasant, Utah to David Leonal Monson and Eloese Catherine Christensen. He passed away in West Bountiful on 31 July, 2017, just shy of 90 years.
Dave was known for his good nature, quick wit, ready laughter; and for his masterful storytelling. His entire life, Dave attempted to make friends out of every stranger he met, and usually succeeded.
He graduated from North Sanpete High School in 1945; he entered the Army 8 March 1946 and served in Japan until 6 April 1948. He received his Associate’s Degree from Snow College and subsequently enrolled in Utah State College. Dave majored in the ROTC until a serious car accident derailed his plans for a military career. Shortly thereafter he married Jedda Mercer in the LDS Manti Temple and settled in her hometown of Lehi to raise a family. They eventually had seven children, four born in Utah and three in California where they moved in 1960. Dave had a career there as a Design Engineer until 1974 when they moved back to Utah, relocating in West Bountiful.
Dave loved carpentry and all manner of handyman skills which served him well in fixing up their old pioneer home. He was often caught climbing onto the roof well into his 80’s to fix this or that. He was an active member of the LDS Church, serving in many callings, including Executive Secretary to two bishops, and as the President of the Stake Seventies. Dave served 3 Stake Missions before he and his wife went on a proselytizing mission to South Carolina, a Humanitarian Mission to Salt Lake Welfare Square, and most recently served as Ordinance Workers in the Bountiful Temple for 9 years. He was also a proud member of the Koosharem Band of the Paiute Tribe and the last of his generation.
He is survived by his loving wife, Jedda Monson; children, David Monson Jr, Kathryn Latour, Jedd Monson, Karla Bickmore, Kelly Wilson, Kristi Crusan; 24 grandchildren; and 4 great-grandchildren. He was so proud of all of their many abilities and accomplishments. Dave is preceded in death by his parents, 3 sisters, a brother, and son Stacey Monson.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Sat., August 5, at the WB 2nd Ward Church, 840 North 800 West, West Bountiful, Utah. Viewings will be at the same location on Fri., August 4 from 6-8pm and Saturday, August 5 from 9:30-10:30am. Interment at the Bountiful City Cemetery following funeral services

Children of David Peter Monson

Dave Monson family

Children of David Monson Left to Right:

David Monson Jr., Kathryne Monson Latour, Kristi Monson Crusan, Jedd Monson, Karla Monson Bickmore, and Kelly Monson Wilson.  My Cousin Stacy Monson died a few years ago.

Funeral Dave Monson

Funeral Dave Monson

Funeral Dave Monson

Jedda Mercer Monson

Jedda Mercer Monson

Beverly and Bill Mercer

Diana and Julian Mercer

I was glad I made the trip.  It had been years since I had seen my cousins.  It was fun remembering the fun times we had together as kids.

Cousins visiting our home in Price Utah 1967

Front row (Left to right): Karla, Kathy, Davey Monson, Mike Smith

Second Row (left to right):  Miriam Smith, Stacy Monson, Craig Smith, Jedd Monson

Back row (left to right): Andrea and Arva Smith

Filed Under: Family, Genealogy, Memories Tagged With: Family

Mercer Reunion 2013 (Charles Emmett Mercer 1894 and Geneve Catherine Evans Mercer 1897)

September 15, 2013 by shelley

While in Salt Lake City I was able to attend the Mercer Family Reunion.  It was held in the recreational room of the Eagle Gate Apartment Building in downtown Salt Lake City.

It was the family of Charles Emmett MERCER, 1893 (1893) and Geneve Catherine Evans (Mercer) (1897).  Obituary of Charles Emmett Mercer, OBITUARY.  Obituary of Geneve Catherine Evans (Mercer), OBITUARY.

Geneve Catherine Evans Mercer (1897-1995)

Geneve Catherine Evans Mercer (1897-1995)

Charles Emmett Mercer (1893-1961)

Charles Emmett Mercer (1893-1961)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charles Emmett Mercer’s parents are: Jedidiah Julian Mercer (1857-1939) and Fannie Frances Pulley (1866-1942).  Geneve Catherine Evans parents are Hyrum Jones Evans (1864-1951) and Lillian Mary Yates (1875-1968).

Their children are:
Arva Mae Mercer Smith (1924-2003)
Charles Evans Mercer (1926-)
Fannie Jedda Mercer Monson (1931-)
Julian Jay Mercer (1936-)
William Yates Mercer (1939-)

REUNION

Dorothy and Charles Mercer
Craig Smith, Julian Mercer, standing Bill and Beverly Mercer, seated Jeff Mercer and wife
Katherine Monson Latour, Jedda Monson and Dave Monson

Stacy Monson’s son James and brother
Julian Mercer, Bill and Beverly Mercer, Julie Mercer (seated), and Diana Mercer
Family of Bill and Beverly Mercer

Family of Bill and Beverly Mercer
Family of Bill and Beverly Mercer
Ceri Mercer and grand daugher

Charles Mercer Family; Eric and Kyle
Bill and Beverly Mercer
Kyle Mercer

Charles Mercer Family
Charles Mercer Family
Charles Mercer Family

Charles Mercer Family
Adam, Caroline and Jen
Adam Long, Ethan Smith, Caroline and Jen Long, Anelli Smith

Caroline and Jen Long
Adam Long
Caroline Long

 

Filed Under: Genealogy, Memories Tagged With: Charles Emmett Mercer, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Family, Family History, Fannie Frances Pulley, genealogy, Geneve Catherine Evans Mercer, Jedidiah Julian Mercer, LDS Church, Mercer, Salt Lake City

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I'm Shelley. Mom of three and grandma of eight... living right in the middle of the country, Kansas City! I'm happy to be alive and enjoy sharing exciting goodies that I find and make. Here you will find ideas for LDS Young Women's activities, family updates, and a compilation of all things wonderful.

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