I wrote Roy's full name because I thought it was great he was named after dad. I really looked up to Roy when I was a child, he seemed so smart and so together. Mom always bragged about how good he did in school, how everyone just seemed to respect him, how he could get any job or grade he wanted, teachers really liked him, and so on, but then mom said that about all her sons, I think she was partial to her sons. Any sisters out there agree? It's okay her son's brought us new sisters to love and laugh with, they are a special blessing to us all.
Whenever Roy was around it seemed there was laughter. He was such a trickster, pulling pranks, telling jokes and having a good time. It seemed like he and Marian, and Arlene and Anna always had so many friends and dates, what social life's they seemed to have. I think that is one of things I remember most about all the older siblings, they were popular and knew how to have a good time. I can still picture the house back then, watching them have a good time and sometimes they even let us little ones join in. I did love to watch and laugh. I don't really remember much interaction with Roy and the sisters, mostly it was with his friends and David. It seemed he had friends and dates, worked, went to school and was always busy.
Our house had been a boarding house, (the polite way to say it) back in the old days of Midvale so many a night we would wake up to someone trying to get in and mom yelling for them to go away. There were beer joints (as we called them back then) not far from where we lived and the old guys from the smelter would get drunk and want to come and sleep it off at the house like they used to. One night mom and dad was gone and one of the sister, I don't remember which one screamed in the kitchen, we went running in and she said someone had been looking in the kitchen window. Roy went to the window and looked out and said he couldn't see anyone but there was tracks in the snow up to the window so he was going to go out and try to find who it was, he didn't find anyone and then he went back out tied to scare us again.
Another thing I remember he wouldn't approve of me telling but it is actually funny to me now and I am sure all you mothers can relate. One night while I was asleep Roy came into my room sat on my bed and peed, my room was right across from the bathroom and I guess he got confused in his sleepy state. I screamed and when he woke up, he said no way did he do that. Well he did. He would probably deny it to this day.
Mom always told me Roy sucked his thumb like me. I was a real die hard when it came to giving up my thumb but mom and dad always stuck up for me. Mom said she tried to get all her children to suck their thumbs, the ones that did were much easier to handle. Arlene did not fall into that category and mom said that when Roy was little he said he wished he was a girl. Probably having so many sisters he felt out numbered, but Arlene on the other hand was a real tom boy, thrill seeker, and she wished she was a boy. I think it was mom or Arlene that told me that Roy and Arlene would sit down by each other holding hands and Arlene saying "I wish I was a boy" while Roy said "I wish I was a girl" over and over again, mom apparently had told them if they wished hard enough it might happen. Keep in mind that this all here say on my part since it happened when they were very little, but I was told that story on more than one occasion.
I remember Roy coming home from the air force to visit although I really don't remember him leaving, I do remember him coming home to visit. Maybe I remember him coming home because mom was busy making sure the house was clean and fixing food. Isn't is funny how some things stick in your mind. I can picture coming downstairs in the morning and Roy sitting there. I must have been apprehensive or stood back because I remember him saying come in I don't bite, but I was in awe.
The first picture of Roy I posted is one that hung on our wall for as long as I can remember. I would look at it and think how handsome he was. I think mom had that picture done when he graduated from high school. I know she was always proud of him and his many accomplishments and treasured that picture.
When he was in the service at Biloxi Ms he met Martha Hammonds. I remember him bringing Martha home and thinking she was so beautiful and so sweet. Everyone fell in love with her. She seemed shy at first not leaving Roy's side, holding his hand. It could have been she was so far away from home and around complete strangers but she soon warmed up and seemed comfortable. You know I remember Marian's and Arlene's weddings but I really don't remember Roy's. I couldn't tell you where they got married or anything about the reception. I do remember her family coming, that's probably why I don't remember anything else, boy were her brothers' cute. I had such a crush on Herb, he wasn't the cutest but he sure was the funniest and happiest. Dave was drop dead gorgeous but Herb was fun. After they were married they were gone until Roy got out of the service, then they returned to Utah. Something else I don't remember is if Sabra was born in Utah or while they were in the service. If it was when they were in the service they come back shortly after because she was probably 4 to 6 months when I remember her. I asked Roy where they got her name and he told me that while Martha was pregnant they went to see a movie called Cimmaron with Glenn Ford, the lead female was named Sabra and they really liked it because it was different. Sabra was another beauty and I remember Roy being so protective of her. I know shortly after Roy and Martha returned to home, Martha's mother and brothers came to Utah to live. They were there for a long while. Dave went to my school he was actually my age, and they became so popular with their good looks and adorable accents. I was heart broken when they moved on to new friends but we still stayed friends and had some fun times, they were the most "popular" friends I ever had.
I don't remember where they lived until they moved into the house that had been aunt Goldie's and uncle Milo's house in West Jordan. I would go and babysit for them and by then they had Carla too, she was born with a hole in her heart. I remember being afraid to tend her, afraid something might happen but I didn't tell them that because I loved to babysit, so I just held her the whole time never letting her cry, she had turned blue once when she was crying so I wasn't about to let her cry. Roy always paid me so it was doubly good, playing with the cute babies and having spending money.
Roy was a fireman with Marian's husband Duane and he was going to school at the U. I think he might of worked at a grocery store or sold insurance when he first got home from the service but I remember him being a fireman.
When I was in High School mom and dad moved to California and in the first summer Ellen and I came to Utah to stay with our older siblings. I stayed at Arlene's and Ellen stayed at Marians' but I went to Roy and Martha's' house sometimes to babysit or just visit and see the kids. Martha made me a dress for the Prom that summer and Roy was so proud of Martha and her abilities, he kept saying I would never have been able to get a dress that pretty and one that fit so well if I had bought it. I was so excited to wear it to the Prom and I did feel pretty. Roy was so proud of his family and so loved his grandchildren they brought him such joy. I love that Cherise named her son Pearson I think that was a wonderful tribute to a grandfather she loved.
Roy, like dad was a genius with so many talents, and though he didn't live as long as we would have liked, he lived life to it's fullest. He blessed us with a wonderful talented family to continue on. Martha and the children have been so wonderful to support the family in all things and keep communication open. I am sure we all enjoy their blogs, the facebook updates, and the Christmas cards they always send. What wonderful assests they are to our family.
