Living to 100

My Grandma Ellen celebrated her 100th birthday on May 26, 2016. She has lived a long and wonderful life despite a few trials that built and strengthened her character. She was an inspiration to all of us. “Sticking it out” to 100 wasn’t easy. The past few years were a battle with all kinds of health issues. Hopefully, she’s moved to the “better place” we all hope for. In the meantime, she lives in all of her children, grand children and great-grand children’s memories..

May 22, 2016  Memories of Grandma Ellen

Honoring our family matriarch is something we’ve all done for a long time. When we think of someone most special in our lives, Grandma Ellen comes to mind. When we talk about Grandma, it’s with a smile on our face and love in our hearts. I have nothing but good things to say. She’s an example of how to live a good life. She is smart, well read, self-educated, “well traveled,” and she has class. She enjoys life, is positive, rarely complains, never has a harsh word about family and friends and is optimistic. A few years ago mom told me that grandma was very ill and the doctors had told the family to prepare for the worst.  If I remember correctly, she had pneumonia and had been very sick. Later that day, I called her room hoping to talk to my mother. Grandma Ellen answered the phone. I told her I was surprised she answered the phone and told her the doctors were very concerned about her. She told me she was doing much better. She told me “the elevator was going up so I decided to get on.” Grandma has always put family first. She is generous with all of us. I remember as a boy I’d get $10 in the mail on my birthday. $10 was a fortune back then. You could buy 20 candy bars for a $1. A decade ago I told her how much I appreciated the $10 and how I felt so rich the week so after my birthday. On my next birthday (I was almost 50 then) I got a birthday card with $10 enclosed.  It made me smile for weeks and was my favorite birthday present I can remember. When I worked for Grandpa Joe as a teenager, I fell in love with her food. She is picky about her food and we all benefited with tasty meals. As good as she is to us she is no pushover. She always knows how to get her way. She does it without raising her voice or without personal attacks. She comes to her conclusions after study, thought and argument.  She can passionately argue her positions. And she’s generally right with the glaring exception of thinking George W. was a good President. (You can’t always be right). Her biggest success was all of us. Didn’t we all turn out well? She had everything to do with that.  I love her and have enjoyed the 60 years I’ve been able to spend time with her. May we all continue to follow her example. God bless you Grandma Ellen.

Ellen Anderson Garrett Taylor – History

2008

In 2008 while Grandma Ellen was still living in exile in Payson, Utah…kidnapped to Utah County by Richard Taylor…I went to Payson with mom and my son Cory’s Hi Resolution video camera. We’d prepared some question and hoped to video Grandma’s oral history. Which we did. Grandma was 92 years of age at the time. I asked the first question and she told her story articulately without notes for well over two hours.  No need for more questions. Mom and I watched the video last Saturday and we’re amazed at how sharp she was at age 92…and how good she looked.

Birthday – May 26, 1916

Grandma Ellen was born 100 years ago. May 25, 1916 in Moroni, Utah. Woodrow Wilson was President at the time and the United States was in the middle of World War 1 that didn’t end until 1918.

Father

In 1916 her father, Ray Anderson, was working in Mona, Utah as a school teacher. He was young and ambitious and started the first band in Mona…which was also the first band in Utah. Ray was a man’s man…probably the most capable man I’ve ever met. Educated. Wise. Experienced. Tough. Smart and opinionated.  I remember one night he lectured my father and Uncle Bob about staying out of debt. Of course, they argued with him that times had changed and borrowing for a house, a minimum was necessary. I was worried he was going to kick their buts right there in Grandma Ellen’s living room…he “flew mad” as grandma described and went home. He had several red (pointer) hunting dogs in his lifetime. They are looked the same to me and were all named “Chuck.” I’ll never forget him riding his American Saddler horse up the street. It is a beautiful memory of an old man riding a beautiful prancing horse. In 1968 or so he moved from Ely to Nephi. He built his own house while in his 70s  and paid cash for everything. At 80 we was a calloused, tough and a capable carpenter.

Mother

Grandma Ellen’s mother was Susannah (Suzie) Blackham. She had long brown hair and brown eyes. Ellen’s personality and character was much like her mother, Suzie, but she got her blue eyes and blond hair from the Anderson side of the family. I remember Suzie, then in her 80s, combing her long hair that she’d put up in a bun. I remember her as such a kind woman that never said a bad word. She was classy and always dressed well. I remember going to Disneyland in the 1966 with Grandma Anderson. Mom, Ellen and Suzie all wore nice dresses and heels. They look amazing. But, they didn’t seem interested in riding the Matterhorn with me. On that trip we went to the beach with Rita’s family. Of course, all of us kids were wearing dress slacks…to go to the beach. I rolled my pants up to wade into the ocean promising not to get wet. Hah. A big wave drenched us all. Surprisingly, no one thought to take a swimsuit to the beach…you always want to look your best. Grandma Ellen said that her mother was a talented seamstress and cook. In those days, you couldn’t easily buy cloths and cooking often include butchering the chicken and canning the fruits and vegetables yourself. Although Ray seldom went to church he and Suzie were married in the Manti Temple. Suzie was active in the church and relief society her entire life.

Duschesne Homestead

When Grandma was just 4 or 5 years old Ray moved the family to Duschesne, Utah to homestead a farm and to hopefully improve his families’ financial situation. Owning land in those days was the ticket to financial security. They lived in a log cabin. Grandma said, the roof wasn’t finished and was made from leaves and branches. It apparently leaked. The outhouse out back was a two seater. Ellen and Rita often argue over who’d get the big hole. She remembered that her father rode a white horse. No car then… This was the early “roaring” 1920s, but not “Roaring,” so much, in Duschesne. They had one milk cow which eventually got tangled up in a stream and drowned. That and a very tough climate convinced Ray and Suzie, after just a few years to move back to Moroni.

Back to Moroni

Back in Moroni Grandpa Ray worked for 25 years as a school teacher. He taught and started the Moroni band, the orchestra and the chorus. He played the trumpet and almost every other instrument…but not the piano. That may be why he encouraged Grandma Ellen to learn and play the piano. Grandma Ellen said that Ray recruited 110 of the 130 kids in high school to sing in the Chorus. He demanded a lot from them and would launch chalk in their direction If they got out of line. After school he’d teach band to elementary school kids to make sure he always had kids ready and talented for his high school band which he took all over the state to do concerts. He also put on Operas at the “Cozy Theatre” in Moroni. Grandma Ellen told me that she was once ill prepared as the pianist at one rehearsal. He told her to go home and spend all night if necessary but she was to learn to play the song perfectly by tomorrow. She didn’t disappoint him. Grandma accompanied vocalists throughout her life and served as the ward organist until she was 88 years old. Grandma said she could carry a tune but Ray was the one that had a beautiful baritone soloist voice. Even though he didn’t perform in public, he and Ellen spent many hours together singing and enjoying making music together.

Siblings

Grandma Ellen was the oldest of 5 children. Since she was the oldest and her father, Ray, often reminded her that, “as the oldest she was to set an example to her younger brothers and sisters.” They would follow her example of character and grades. As it turned out, she was an excellent example to them and later to all of us. Ray and Suzie did not allow their children to argue or to speak ill of one another. They were to speak positively about one another and to encourage each other. As a result, grandma said that she and her siblings did not lack for self-confidence. Ray and Suzie made them all feel special and as though they could accomplish great things. She admitted to a feeling of superiority and that she probably should have been a bit more “humble.” I remember Grandma huddling and sitting in a circle with Rita, Burke, Layla and John. They obviously were very fond of one another. They talked, laughed and loved each other for a couple hours. I loved grandma Ellen’s laugh but nothing could compare to Aunt Rita’s laugh…it was beautifully loud and infectious. They cherished these rare times together and could have happily talked all night. What was so impressive about Ellen, Rita, Burke, Layla and John is the love and respect they had for one another. They had an awareness that allowed them to understand each other and to see the good and to overlook others’ flaws.

Childhood in 1920s

No electronics. Radio was still not too good in rural communities. Travel was reserved for the rich. There was no fast food. Food was real and from the garden. I remember in the 1960s going out back and watching Grandpa clobber a lamb in the head. He skinned it and we ate it for dinner. Milk was from the milk cow. The cream rose to the top. Scooping the cream onto your oatmeal with some sugar made it very tasty. (If you want to live to 100 eating real food seems like a good idea). No TV – Philo Farnsworth didn’t invent the Television until 1927. Grandma was 11. The first television broadcast was in 1936 when grandma was 20…and that was back East. The first broadcast in Nephi Utah was much later. People weren’t watching black and white television until the late 1950s Grandma Ellen bought a color television in 1966 or so. I couldn’t believe it. I’d sit up all night waiting for the color commercials to come on. Entertainment in the 1920s came from books and music. It came from board games and conversation. Grandma learned to read by the time she was 5. She read out loud to her younger brothers and sisters. She also enjoyed making up and telling them stories of her own creation.

Romance

In the early 1930s it seemed everyone in Moroni loved to dance. They danced at the “Old Bungalow until Summer and then would move under the stars at the “Joyland” Dance Hall. They danced to Guy Lombardo, Tony Dorsey, Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong.  Moonlight and Roses, Blue Moon, Shine on Harvest Moon are still favorites today! Grandma Ellen was with her friend Yulita Larsen one night when she met Joe Garrett at the dance. They liked each other right away and Joe asked her out the next week. Even though he stood her up for their first date… (Apparently, he couldn’t get a car or he couldn’t get off work…not sure which) they soon fell in love.

Married October 30, 1933

They dated for a couple of years and decided they couldn’t possibly live without one another and got married October 30, 1933 even though she was 17 years old and still a senior in High School. Bishop Smith, a friend of Rob and Erma Garrett, married them at the Serve. (Lucy and a Serve customer acted as witnesses). Grandma said, “we fell in love and couldn’t stand to be apart.” After the quick ceremony she and Joe went to Moroni and told her parents, Ray and Suzie. (She said Ray didn’t “flew mad.” I’m sure he flew crazy mad but like most savvy fathers with daughters he didn’t explode in front of her). Back in 2008 I asked her how she was able to get married at age 17 without getting parental permission. She admitted that she “misrepresented” her age…she laughed and admitted that years later she couldn’t blame her parents for their shock. She said that her parents could have had the marriage annulled but they liked Joe and Ellen promised to live at home while she finished high school and to get good grades. In fact, she graduated as valedictorian and received a full ride scholarship to Snow College.

Marriage-What did you see in Joe?

When they got married Joe was 21 and Ellen was 17. They were in love. I asked her back in 2008 what it was she saw in Joe. She said that she never met anyone with a better personality than Joe Garrett…unless it was Kyle Garrett and then she added, “Oh, and you too Marc.” (She laughed…) When I worked for Grandpa Joe in the summers of the late 60s Grandma reminded me that he’d wake me up every morning at 6 a.m., “Good morning Mr. Zip Zip Zip. You’re surely looking fine.” I subjected me boys to the same greeting. He could tell stories better than anyone she knew. She said the Joe and Lucy had inherited that Tolley wit. He was honest. He was hard working. He was above board in business dealings. He was fun.

Early Marriage

After graduating High School they moved to the Garrett farm 2 miles west of town and she settled into the humble farm house as a farm wife. It was 1933 and the country was in the middle of the great depression. When they got married he didn’t have a car.  He had a wagon and two horses…and he had five milk cows. He’d milked the cows every day and sold the milk. That’s what they lived on the first year of their marriage. It was probably a blessing being on a farm during the depression. At least they had food to eat. They were young and optimistic…and Joe was a hard worker. They soon had enough money to buy a 2 seat Chevrolet so they could get around town.

Marian was born in 1935.

Two and a half years after getting married Marian was born in Moroni. She was delivered by Ray’s older brother, Dr. Abner Anderson, who was then a doctor in Ephraim. Grandma Ellen stayed with Suzie for a while to get some help with the baby. The day of Marian’s birth Joe, of course was working, clearing Salt Creek with his two workhorses. Ray sent Burke with the car to pick him up. (We calculated that Burke wasn’t old enough to have a license yet but I’m sure that didn’t matter then). Joe got there just in time to welcome his new daughter into the world. Can you imagine being just 19 and living on the farm with few neighbors and a new born. Grandma admitted being a little overwhelmed and for a while a little depressed. She said she wondered, “What have I done? The whole world is on my shoulders. I can’t do this.” Soon, however, a tranquil feeling came over her and she realized she was sufficiently capable and recalled putting Marian on a schedule and waking her up every 4 hours to eat to make sure she didn’t starve to death. Later she admitted that she could have saved herself a bit of trouble and let Marian sleep through the night rather than waking her up and splashing her face with cold water. Oh well, eating was always very important to Ellen My dad said they got their first radio in 1936 so at least Grandma, most likely, had the luxury of listening to KSL (the only station they could generally get). She also said she and Joe had a number of good friends that they could rely on. They’d get together with the McPhersons, Ockeys, Bowles, Winns, Richies and Tolleys, to name just a few, to tell stories, play cards and to eat good food.

Uncle Bob

Bob was born in 1941. 6 years after Marian. Grandma said her children were compensation enough for missing out on the College Scholarship. Grandma adored her son, Bob. Whenever, Bob showed up to see his mother she’d light up like a Christmas tree. She loved taking care of Bob and his kids…and she most especially liked to feed them. Good food is very important!!

Work

When Marian was 12 and Bob was 6 she went to work at JC Penneys. Mom say, she was generally one of their top sales people. She said that at first Joe, didn’t want her to work outside the home, but Grandma convinced him that they could use the money. She said, years later when she was tired of working and told Joe she was thinking about quitting he exclaimed, “Oh no, you can’t quit. We need the money. She worked at Thermoid as an “over qualified” secretary. And later, she worked for the Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Service and taught their programs to other county offices through the state. I think working gave her the money she needed to have the freedom and independence she wanted to travel and experience the finer things of life. She was a wise, resourceful and intelligent woman.  She knew how to get the things she wanted in life.

Joys of her Life – Books, Music and Travel

Grandma told me that the Joys of her Life were books, music, travel…and of course her family. She loved to read good books. She and her siblings often shared books and then called each other to discuss what they’d read. No one could give a book report like grandma. She could remember such detail. Grandma loved to travel. Especially with her sister Layla. They went to Russia, Europe and the Holy Land numerous times. She even took Richard with her to Egypt while they were in their 80s to see the Pyramids. I always enjoyed swapping travel stories with her. She was always excited for me when I got to travel and loved to talk about it.

Live Forever

I really thought Grandma Ellen would live forever and she almost did. She lived well for 100 years and 3 months. She will continue to live in us. The good in all of us mostly comes from her. I see her in my mom and sisters, Lesa and Lora. I see her in Melinda and Tara. They carry her genes…and follow her example. I now see it in her great granddaughters… Jenna, Courtney, Tara, Rachel, Ashley, Nicole, Gerbol, Hailey, Miranda, Riley, Reese, Rhyn, Olivia, Paige and Ava. They are caring, loving, and nurturing. They’re happy, optimistic and hopeful. They see the bright side and bring a sunny example to their family and friends. Unfortunately, I think we need to see more of her traits in me, Travis, Kyle, Tyson and Russell…oh well, we’re working on it.

I never hear Grandma Ellen say anything bad. She was all good.

Grandma loved to read. I occasionally shared books with her. A few years ago I started reading “11/22/63” a book by Stephen King.  I thought she’d like the book because Stephen King so brilliantly described what life was like in the late 50s and early 60s. Unfortunately, King also occasionally gets crude, crass and vulgar. Grandma told Lesa that “her parents wouldn’t read such a book, her siblings wouldn’t read such a book and she wasn’t going to read such a book.” She was surprised her grandson would share such a book. I felt embarrassed but learned an important lesson. Only allow the beautiful and the good in your life. I never heard her say a “bad” word. She was never crude, crass or vulgar. She was a lady. She had class. She was an example to her brothers and sisters. She was an example to all of us. She will live forever in her grandchildren.

What are the important things in Life?

Grandma said in the tape we did in 2008. “This life isn’t an end to all we know and love…we will be together again.” She said, “we all had this belief as children. Many of us go away from this belief for a while but we come back to it when we get older. “ “We have to believe in the ultimate good in people.” … “If you look for it, you can always find the good in others.” “I have always been an optimist…it always bubbles up in me…that everything will turn out well.”

Take your Character with you.

She said that, “Even though we don’t have a lot of money we can be rich in character.” She said she believes you take your abilities and good character on to the next life.  She said, “in fact, my ability to play the organ, I hope, in heaven, will allow me to play the harp beautifully.”  She laughed….

God bless you grandma. We loved you. We will always love you. You will continue to be our inspiration for all of us to do good.