40th Anniversary and Grandma Eva Willis Passed Away

Well here we go again, Loye left to work in the valley once again.

Many things have happened since I last wrote in this journal.

We finished working in the Mts. after spending the most enjoyable summer in a while, hauling wood, and being with our boys.  

We have had good new and bad news.  The good news is that Rikki is doing much better and Loyelin had another boy in August.  He is a real cute baby they named him Daniel Martin Luis Aceves.  They get going with names and can't quit, but the baby is cute anyway.

December 3, 1985 was our 40th Wedding Anniversary and our whole family was here.  The kids had a party for us and it was really nice.  I love my children.

The bad news is that Grandma Willis passed away the last of November.  All of her children were there (and most of her grandchildren) at her passing.  She was a good lady and as a mother-in-law I loved her very much, she was always good to me and I will be glad to meet her again in the hereafter.

Several events have happened that I would like to record since I last wrote.  Shanna and Jim came over just for Thanksgiving day getting here about 11 a.m. and leaving about 6 p.m.  Although it was a short stay we really enjoyed having them here.  From the time in November until the time in December that Idell Solomon and I went R. S. teaching our 3 ladies had tragedy strike.  Thora Pearce's daughter Charlotte was killed in a car wreck.  Aunt Gertie hatch had a stroke and Opal Kartchner passed away.

Randy Hall married Vickie Petersen on Dec. 14.  They had their wedding right after in the Taylor Stake Center.  It was really nice.  Josh was in the wedding line and was the Best looking guy there!!!

Monty Rogers came home from the Boston, Massachusetts mission on Dec 22.  All of Shum's family was there to meet him. (at sky Harbor).

Missions from now on will be for 2 years beginning the 1st of January.  However boys who are out now will have their choice.

We had Christmas breakfast here at our house.  Loye and his boys shot rabbits enough so we could have them for breakfast.  They got about 15 and by giving everyone  one piece there was plenty.  We also had biscuits and deer gravy.  Aunt Kathy brought orange juice, Aunt Sheree brought cocoa mix and Aunt Judy furnished plates and cups.  Aunt Violet bought a quart of Raspberry jelly and it really zinged! up the biscuits.  We figured we served close to 60 people.  This family just keeps growing.

My kids gave us a 50 gal hot water tank for Christmas.  I worry for fear they buy more than they can afford.  But I do appreciate the hot water.  And I love my children for their thoughtfulness.  Roger, Jared, Josh and Liza bought it.  Loyelin made some real nice lacy looking place mats, and gave them to us.  Jason gave us an electric pencil sharpener.  Since Christmas we have spent a lot of time playing Trivial Pursuit (a new game out).  Found out I'm not very smart, as this game is one that asks trivial questions on about 6 different subjects.

One of the highlights of the holidays was watching B.Y.U beat Michigan in the Holiday ball where Brigham Young won and their quarterback (Bosco) got outstanding player of the game.  B.Y.U. hasn't been beat this year but they are having a hard time winning National recognition as the nations #1 team but they are.

Yesterday we watched 3 bowl games and they were all good games.

Loye and I went up to Asian Gardens and ate Chinese food.  We went just to get out.

And that brings us up to today.

School started again, darn it!  This year is just flying by.

After work I got me a permanent from Lorraine Solomon, it cost me $30.  But it was worth it.

Eva Willis went to Mesa with Chan and Linda today to spend about 3 weeks.  They came after her in Ronald's pretty car.  I sure hope she enjoys her stay.

Geneva Horne and her kids came up this weekend so her kids could go skiing.  They don't have to go to school until Monday.

Mandy has learned a new song (for her) "Hush little baby don't say a wowd, Mommies gonna buy you a mocking bowd, if that Mocking-bowd don't sing Mama's gonna buy you a diamond wing." etc.

Loyelin was trying to get after Richard he turned his little head and kissed her right in the mouth, needless to say Little Richard didn't get any more scolding for awhile.

I misplaced this journal so I haven't been able to write in it.  Since I last wrote we have had a Willis Reunion.  Roger, Geneva Horne and Rhonda Smith were in charge of it  It was really a nice affair.  It was held at the school down here and my family was all there except Jim, Shanna, and Rick Aceves (he is assistant manager at the Bayless store in Lakeside so was unable to make it.)

We pitched horseshoes, had races, had some "Dummer Olympic Games", had a program and of course lots of good food.  Geneva had a book printed about Clad and Eva Willis and their family.  It really is a nice book.

We have spent most of the summer in the valley helping Loye.  But since he is about through I didn't go back down with him.

Well Jared and Denise wants to postpone it as she has some more thinking to do.  I think Jared was pretty upset about it  I sure hope things work out for them  We have really been impressed with her, and I would feel real bad if they don't get together  It's too bad she don't realize what a good person Jared is.

Loye isn't here and I really miss him when he is gone.

Josh went back to the valley with Randy and Kay.

It's funny how kids never know until they get children of their own what an overwhelming responsibility it is to raise them, and I really never realized it until now.

The Olympics from Los Angeles are on and it is really interesting to watch all of these great athletes perform.  U.S.A has already won a bunch of Gold Medals.

Grandma Willis got her medication all straightened out and she has to have daily shots of insulin but she is feeling lots better.  However my mom is feeling worse and no one seems to know what is wrong with her.

Well school is out now and we are in the valley with Loye cleaning the apartments that Loye has been working on al winter and it is really a big job.  We had 4 mexican ladies come in and help us, but they were earning all the money available so we had to let them go.  So Liza and I are cleaning them, along with Loye and Jason's help.

Liza is down here with Rikki so she can have her radiation treatments.  It sure is making her more uncoordinated.  Liza also brought all the kids down with her, so they have been over here helping us.

It seems that every time I write in this book there is a whole list of people that have died, and this time is no different.  Ladd Elsworth fell about 200 ft. from a cliff down by Pine.  Thelma hatch was killed in a car wreck when she pulled out in front of an oncoming car and Thelma and 2 young people were all killed instantly.  Della Webb died of a heart attack, and young Troy Owens was killed on a motorcycle, he was killed coming home from the service.

Amy Lewis married Glenn Whetton in the Mesa Temple June 15, 1984.  Tony was sealed to them on the 16th they were honored at a reception in Taylor where they had a real nice program.  Sheree had made dresses for each of the girls in pastel colors and they were all made alike.  Benda's was orchid, Karlie's was yellow, Ivy's was green, Tana's was blue, Vera's was pink and Megan's was peach.  They served cake and punch and salted nuts and mints.

Today was Liza's 23rd birthday.

Well Loye's mother has really been bad since I last wrote in this journal.  Katie has missed several days work taking her to the Dr. sitting with her etc.  She now has to have an insulin shot every day.  Also she has to have help going to the bathroom.  She gets awful sluggish in her speech.  It's pitiful to see her so helpless when she has always been so active.  On the 27th of April, Loye's brothers and sisters and spouses took their mother over to "Trappers" to celebrate Evie's 78th birthday  All of the family was there. (The original family)  She seemed to enjoy it, but, hasn't been very well since.

Anna Lou and Sheryl Lillywhite were in taylor to spend "Mother's Day" with Mom.  Sheryl just returned home from a mission in the Des Moines, Iowa mission on the 11th of May.  Anna Lou has been home a little longer.

Josh has announced his intention to go on a mission.  I just pray that he really will go.  If he goes with the same determination he has in playing ball, he will be a great missionary.

Mark and Liza took Rikki out to Flagstaff for a check-up last Monday.  They are going to have to spend 1 month in the valley so she can have radium treatments.  My heart just grieves to think she has to go through such ordeals.

Mark and Liza took Loy and I up to "Crozier's" for a "Mother's Day" dinner.  We went with Roger and Cathy in their car and Jared also went.  We had to go clear to Pinetop.  I always enjoy being with my family.  I love them all.

I really miss having Loye home.  I'll be so glad if he can ever get a job here at home again.

Jason has started playing "Little League" again this summer.  He has Lynn Hancock, Jerry Peck and Kent hall as his coaches with Brett Hancock, Clinton Peck and Ryan Hall as the main players on the team.  Jason, Ryan Hancock, Clinton Neff, Scott Hall, Steven Smithson, Tommy Hancock, Aaron Hudson, Brett Rapier and a few more I can't remember just now, are all fillers on the team.  Hopefully they will make the main players look good, if they don't they get pulled and someone else goes in.  It's a pretty political game.  Anyway they beat their opening game against the Orioles 28-8.

We are certainly having financial difficulties that I don't know if we will survive through or not.  As of right now we owe $8,968.93 on our house with interesting adding up at $2.51 a day.  We have 66 months yet to pay which will be 5 1/2 yrs.  By that time Loye and I will be 60 years old.  I don't know what we will live on in our old age.  Starve I suppose.  Besides we have another accumulation of debts that amounts to $14, 290.10.  Which paid on faithfully can be paid off in 5 years.  Hopefully we won't get sick or anything and have work so we can make these payments.  So much for worries.

Loye is still working in the valley.  I sure wish he could find work here at home.  It gets pretty lonely here without him.

I need to pick over 40# beans so we can go down to the cannery Saturday and can them.  Merne Murder died April 28, his funeral was yesterday.  I went and it was pretty nice.  I didn't know him that well.

Loye's mother isn't feeling to good and she seems to get weaker all the time.

Mom feels fairly good expect her eyes have really been bothering her.

Loye's 55th birthday.  We cooked hamburgers out to celebrate this occasion.  Grandma Rogers and Grandma Willis were both here but Grandma Willis didn't feel to good so they didn't stay very long.  Roger and Jared gave Loye a sleeping bag and Josh gave him a watch.  Friday the 5th on Loye's birthday we went to Rosewell, New Mexico where Loye made some sidewalks and steps for Don Johnson.  We stayed at Don's and slept in their motor home.  The next day they went to Clovis to a reunion so we stayed at their place while Loye finished the cement then when he was through we took a bath in their huge bathtub in the middle of their bedroom.  Then we (Loye, Jason and I) all went to the "Chew Den" and ate Chinese food (really yummy) then we went out to Carlsbad where we had to pay $48 for a room.

Fast Sunday today.  Clark and Angie Rowley had their baby Joseph blessed today.  Lots of their families were there.  Many good testimonies were borne.

Fixed barbecue chicken for dinner with baked potatoes.  One of my boys favorite meal.

Went up to visit with Eve for a while then I went over to Mom's but she wasn't home.  Loye and I rode up to Pinetop to see if we could get some tomato plants, but couldn't.  We stopped at a new Baskin and Robins and bought an ice cream cone.  

Came home and went to bed.

Today has been another windy one.  So whats new in Taylor in the spring, just typical weather.  

Kathy Rogers worked today for Maybelle.  We got along just fine.  Served Pigs-in-a-blanket (bread dough wrapped around a weiner) pretty good.

After work I went by Loyelin's to see how I could help.  She had everything pretty well under control with Jane's help.  So I went on up to Liza's and we took the kids down to Snowflake and drake a coke.

When I got home it was time to get ready to go over to the stake center.  They wanted us there by 5:00 so they could take pictures.  And we made it on time.  

Loree Mills had decorated the Cultural Hall and it looked real nice.  We served punch made with mashed bananas, pineapple juice, orange juice and kool-aid and sugar frozen together, we then took it out of the freezer mashed it up and poured ginger ale over it.  Turned out real good.

Norris Baldwin, who is Loyelin's bishop performed the ceremony, I thought he did an outstanding job.  The ceremony was in the chapel.  Loyelin wore a long pink dress.  In her hair she had a halo of flowers.  She really looked pretty.  Rick wore a gray tuxedo and looked real handsome.  Sara and Cristina wore white dotted-swiss dresses trimmed with pink, blue, and green ribbons they looked like 2 little dolls.

The family was about all that came but from both sides I think all that could come were there.  They got some nice gifts.  Rick's Father, Louis Aceves II was there from Navajo and his Grand Parents Louis and Emma were there from Albuquerque.  Turned out to be a real nice party.  Mom and Eva were both there.

We went to church without breakfast because I had to substitute as a teacher in primary and I had to prepare a lesson instead of fixing breakfast.  Jean Adam's was sick so I had to take her place.  

I had Eddie Cole, C.K. Udall, Jason Johnson, Jason Davis, Laurie Evans, and Jeff Solomon.  They were pretty good kids.  They also had a Mother's Day Program in primary.  After meetings I came home and made dinner.  After that I washed the dishes then Loye and I went up to Eva's and over to Mom's to take plants we had got them for Mother's Day.  When we got home I made 2 cakes so the kids could all come up and we could have cake and ice cream for Jared's Birthday.  They all came including Rick's Mother who flew in from Washington so she could be here for Rick and Loyelin's Rededication of their Marriage, which will be Tuesday May 10th.  

It was so nice and peaceful when everyone went home and we all just went to bed.

Another windy day in northern Arizona.  I'm thankful we have it all the time and not in the form of a tornado.  There has been so much destruction in other states just this week from tornados and in California this week they had an earthquake in Coalinga in the San Joaquine Valley.  Lots of damage done.

We had a hectic day in the kitchen we made turkey and dressing, potatoes and gravy, harvard beets, rolls and pumpkin pie, it all turned out real good.  Roger and Cathy, Jared and Loyelin, Sara, Heidi, Candon, Rikki, Mom, Grandma Willis, Ann Lewis and Viva Hatch all came by to eat dinner with us.

After work we went bowling and I bowled a 119 game and a 155 and a 145 which wasn't to bad for me, but Kate had a 209 game, it sure made her day.

In the morning we are going to the valley to watch the ball game at 7:30 hope I can get done everything I need to.