On 4 April 1942, Milo James Ross and Gladys Maxine Donaldson were married in Ogden by Bishop Charles Heslop of the Plain City Ward, with Gladys’ father David Donaldson and her sister Dena Michaelson as witnesses. Six months later Milo enlisted in the Army. Their civil marriage carried them through the war, through Milo’s wounds and recovery in the Philippines, through building a home and raising a family in Plain City. Thirty-four years later, they made it official in the way that mattered most.
On 2 July 1976, Milo James Ross and Gladys Maxine Donaldson Ross were sealed as husband and wife for time and all eternity in the Ogden Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by Keith G. Campbell Sr. Their daughter Judy Ethel Ross was sealed to them the same day. Witnessing the sealing were Dr. Chauncey D. Michaelson — who married Gladys’ sister Dena Donaldson in 1943 — and Bishop Robert Sharp, a Sharp cousin in Plain City.
Gladys kept a handwritten note recording the two great events of their married life:
She also typed out a fuller account of the sealing day:
“Milo James Ross and Gladys Maxine Donaldson Ross were married July 2, 1976 in the Ogden Temple by Kieth G Cambell Sr. Judy Ethell Ross was sealed to us the same day. In attendence were Bishop Robert Sharp and wife Laurall Sharp, Dr. Chauncy Michaelson and Dena Michaelson, Edward Telford and Sharrell Telford, Johne Telfort and Sharon Telford, Nick Coons and Annett Coons, Lillian West, Judy’s School Teacher, came to see Judy sealed to her parents.”
“Bishop Sharp and Dr. Michaelson were our Witnesses. I only wish Milo and I would of done this work sooner so we could have Milo Paul Ross our very wounderful son and Caroline Taylor our other wounderful dauter sealed to us. We pray that by our Prayers and Faithfullness some day soon they will take their wounderfull families and enjoy the true happyness of being married for time and all Eternity.”
Their daughter Caroline — by then Caroline Taylor, married to Lynn Taylor — marked the occasion with this card:
July 2, 1976
Well, it isn’t every girl that has the chance to congradulate their mother & dad on their marriage to each other their 2nd time and the right way. My heart is full of happiness for you and I am so proud of you. If there is anyone in this world that deserves all the happiness and treasures of this world and the next, it is for sure you two. You are the perfect couple in every way. The most wonderful parents a girl could ever have, always so understanding and always putting their childrens needs first. Maybe I can’t ever show you how much I love and appreciate you, but now with your new marriage the Lord will help you feel it. I wish and “pray” that you will both be happy and content, but I love you with all my heart and hope somehow I can let you know.
With more love than I can send,
Caroline
Caroline was sealed to her parents 25 October 1991 in the Ogden Utah Temple.
Milo Paul Ross was sealed to his parents 4 February 1999 in the Ogden Utah Temple.
Sagacity 