Sunday, 19 March 2023 by Sagacity

Myler Girls

Sarah Myler, Mary Mylder, Ruby Myler, and Leila Myler

I came upon a stack of Van Leeuwen and Bremer photos from my cousin Jennie Bremer Britzman’s estate.

I worked through all the photos, sorted and scanned them. The ones I recognized I uploaded to FamilySearch. The ones I did not, I shared with other Van Leeuwen family online. Nearly all of the photos were named. This one above was one that nobody seemed to recognize.

The back of it only said the following in four rows:

“top Sarah

“Mary

“bottom Ruby right

“Leila left

I presumably had 4 sisters, or closely related girls, with the names of Sarah, Mary, Ruby, and Leila.

Since these were of some relationship or linkage to the Bremer/Van Leeuwen families, I posted on an Ogden website. Almost immediately I had an obituary that was shared with me.

I started researching Mary Myler Standing and everything seemed to fall into place. Reviewed their profiles on FamilySearch confirmed it. They looked like these girls and were the right age. One of them even had a similar photo of the same age, probably the same dress and same day. Not only had I found the family, these four sisters are relatives of Amanda and my kids through the Buttar/Keep line.

I am still not clear on how or why the photo might have been in with the stack of photos. My only hunch is that these girls grew up in Clarkston, Utah and somehow knew the Bremer family of Richmond, Utah.

Here is the obituary:

WASHINGTON TERRACE – Our precious, courageous mother, Mary Myler Standing died at home, Thursday morning, October 31, 2002 of cancer, with her testimony of her Savior, Jesus Christ, and her membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints still strong. She was generous to those in need, the Church Missionary Program, Humanitarian Aid and Perpetual Education Fund. Mary Standing was born January 7, 1912, in Clarkston, UT to George Joseph Myler and Rachel Buttars Myler, the third of six children. She grew up in Clarkston, UT and graduated from North Cache High School. She worked on the family farm with her dad. She was a good horse rider and loved to race her horse with anyone willing. She always loved music. In her youth she would play the organ to accompany her dad playing the violin. She married Joseph Rulon Standing of Fielding, UT on January 21, 1933 and sealed in the Logan Temple December 16, 1937. They were blessed with six daughters. Mary always sewed for her daughters through the years, even though many of those years she had to use a treadle sewing machine late into the night. She provided an atmosphere of music in her home for her daughters. This required her working outside of the home part-time so that she could afford to have a piano and have them take music lessons. Later, when living in Denver, she gave free piano lessons to young people in her ward who could not afford lessons. She was famous for her wonderful home-made fudge and Boston Crème candy. Kids came from all over the Terrace on Halloween and asked, “Is this the place where you get the home-made candy?” (She also made “melt-in-your-mouth” pie crusts.) Mary always welcomed everyone, expected or not, into her home for meals or for just a place to spend the night. Everyone always felt welcome. During World War II, Mary and Rulon moved from Fielding, UT to Ogden so he could work at the Ogden Arsenal. Mary worked at the Washington Terrace Drug Store, Ballard & Carter Electronics, and eventually became a professional seamstress, both in the Ogden area and Denver, CO, for 11 years. Mary retired as a professional seamstress in Denver in 1974. When her husband retired from Chevron in 1975, they returned to Washington Terrace to live. Mary and her husband celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in Ogden in 1983; they were one month short of their 66th anniversary at his death on December 15, 1998. Mary has served in numerous teaching and executive positions in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She and her husband served as ordinance workers in the Ogden Temple for a number of years. Mary always made the Savior and His Church her number one priority in her life. Her teachings and example of honesty, integrity, and testimony have been unwavering throughout her life. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren loved her and visited her often. They felt the love and interest she had for each of them. She is survived by a sister, Vendalyn Apgood of Clarkston, UT and brother, George Blaine Myler of Mesa, AZ. She is also survived by five daughters: Lois Howell (Don), Centerville, UT; Doris Hancock (Harlen), St. George, UT; Linda Anderson Lucas (Gary), North Ogden, UT; Susan Rideout (Mack) and Retta James (Rick), both of Salt Lake City, UT, and 20 grandchildren and 46 great-grandchildren, numerous step-grandchildren and step great-grandchildren whom she loved with great devotion. She was preceded in death by her husband; daughter, Kathleen Standing; parents; and three sisters, Leila Thompson, Sarah Godfrey, Ruby Godfrey. The family wishes to thank Dr. Frank Haglund, McKay Dee Hospital Staff, and CNS Hospice staff, especially Michelle Miller, Doris Valentine, and Queenie Aydelott. Viewings will be held Sunday evening, Nov. 3rd, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Leavitt’s Mortuary, 836 36th St., in Ogden, UT, and Monday morning, from 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at Washington Terrace Third Ward, 4900 S. 300 W. The services follow in the chapel at 12 noon. Burial will be at the Fielding, UT Cemetery.

Sunday, 2 January 2022 by Sagacity

Spiral Jetty

Stepping back to September 2020, the Ross family took a trip to the Spiral Jetty on the north side of the Great Salt Lake. When originally built, it was in the water. Don’t let the picture fool you, the water is beyond what looks like waves beyond. It is all hot, dry sand around it now. The white beyond looks like waves, but it is generally salt and some foam blowing off the Great Salt Lake.

Great Salt Lake looking toward the Spiral Jetty, Hemsley and Ross family standing in the distance

Here is a picture from way out on those salt lines looking back at the Spiral Jetty and our vehicles parked up on the shore or ridge above the lake. You can see the foam on the right, but the dry salt, crunchy ground that I walked out on to the point I am taking the shot back.

North Shore of the Great Salt Lake looking west

You can see how shallow the water is with the salt bubbles and foam on the water. The sand/soil under has this reddish/pinkish hue due to the bacteria in the water. You can see people walking out on the salt peninsulas. It was a pretty hot and very windy day.

North Shore of the Great Salt Lake looking South

This is looking south from the same point above. You can see the little waves in my immediate vicinity. But you can see as the lake gets deeper, the waves get bigger. None of us took off our shoes and waded out into the water. Mostly because we didn’t want to have salt in the car and we didn’t want to use our water to wash off. The second part was the bacteria in the water, an algae bloom of sorts. Not sure what was going on with the pink.

Salt on the ground on the North Shore of the Great Salt Lake

This picture is looking directly down. I caught more of my legs than I intended. But you can see the salt crystals on which we were walking. The whole thing had an other-worldly sort of feel about it. A forbidden terrain and environment you wouldn’t want to live in. The wind, the salt in the air and on the ground, the heat, all made a pretty unfriendly environment.

Aliza Ross and salt foam on North Shore of Great Salt Lake

This picture gives some idea of the foam that is building up. You can see who tall it is in front of Aliza’s feet. The wind and waves were blowing in this foam that was stopping at the salt and then drying out or blowing away.

The Spiral Jetty is almost 50 miles from Corinne, Utah. Some of it is pretty rough road and I would certainly not try it in anything but dry and warm conditions. You basically go to the Golden Spike National Historical Site and then go south another 20 miles. There were some limited signs. Take plenty of water. As you can see from the link, we also hit the National Historical Site on the same occasion.

We also took the opportunity to stop at ATK Rock Garden too. The ATK Rock Garden shows a great outdoor history of rockets. Orbital ATK still producing rocket fuel in the Utah desert.

ATK Rock Garden showing rocket history of Thiokol in Howell, Utah

Sunday, 6 January 2013 by Sagacity

Clara McMurdie Coley

With the passing of Clara Coley this week, I thought I would put together a quick little history with the photos I have of her. A good portion of this is written around Clara’s obituary. I have an autobiography of Ivan so I will create a separate post for him in the future.

Clara McMurdie was born 26 January 1914 in Paradise, Cache, Utah with a twin brother Clarance (1914-1919). She was one of 11 children born to Sarah Amelia Checketts and Joseph Kay McMurdie. She grew up in Cache Valley and her family moved to Richmond, Cache, Utah when she was a few years old. It was while they lived in Richmond that she met Ivan Coley who was a few years older than her. Clarance died and is buried in Richmond. Her family moved to Buhl, Twin Falls, Idaho in 1928.

Joseph and Sarah McMurdie in 1960

Ivan hitchhiked all the way from Utah to Idaho to be with Clara after her family moved to Buhl. They were married 22 October 1930 in Buhl. After marriage, they moved and lived at the Coley Ranch in Richmond. They were later sealed 10 February 1932 in the Logan LDS Temple. An interesting side note, the great grandson of the Bishop who married them presided as the Bishop over Clara’s funeral.

Ivan Coley and dog

Ivan and Clara moved back to Buhl and survived the Great Depression there. They purchased a 160 acre farm in Melon Valley in Buhl. That farm was sold in 1961 and they purchased five acres just outside of Buhl and kept that property for 36 years.

Joseph McMurdie, Clara, RaNae (Cookie), and Ivan Coley about about 1964

I have in my records that there were five children born to Ivan and Clara although the obituary only has 4 listed. I will have to determine which is correct.

Sarah Colleen Coley born in 1932 in Richmond.

An unnamed son was born 12 February 1934 in Buhl. He died the same day. If I understood it correctly, this little boy was stillborn. Apparently he is buried on the McMurdie Farm in Buhl. I wonder if the present owner is aware of the grave or if it is marked?

Lorus Ivan Coley (“Bud) was born 1 August 1936 in Buhl. He died 23 October 1962 while on a hunting trip down near the Nevada border. Initially reported to me as an hunting accident, I later learned it appears to have been a murder framed to appear as a suicide. Apparently there is an open investigation ongoing at this time on this matter. I will be interested to learn the outcome of the matter.

Clara, Colleen, and Bud

I was told there was an unnamed son born in 1938 who also died the same day who was stillborn. I do not have an exact date for this one so I suppose what makes me question it is that Clara’s obituary does not mention him. I will have to find out more from the family.

In 1942, Ivan’s father Herbert came to visit for part of the summer. At Ivan and Clara’s home near the well, he fell and broke his hip. This injury would lead to his death in September.

Lastly, Clarene RaNae Coley born in 1947 in Buhl.

Bud and RaNae

Danny Todd, Ivan, Bud, and RaNae Coley

Clara at a Coley Reunion in 1955

Clara dedicated her life to love and care for her family and friends. Even into her late 60’s she was known to outrun her grandchildren. Ivan and Clara dedicated their lives to their grandchildren. Grandchildren often spent many nights, or even weeks, on the farm. Clara loved to quilt and made beautiful blankets. She also made rugs from all the fabric scraps. She was left-handed. She worked at a number of jobs including bus driver.

Ivan and Art Coley (brothers) with Clara and Mary (Art’s wife) in the mid 80’s

Clara and Ivan in the early 80’s

Ivan and Clara celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 1990. It is about this time that I have my first memory visiting Ivan and Clara with my grandmother Colleen Jonas (technically a niece-in-law).

60th Wedding Announcement

Cutting the cake at their 60th anniversary party

Here is a photo from May 2012. She was 98 years old and looked to be in great shape and pretty classy. I visited with her about this same time and she identified a number of individuals in photographs for me and still had a sense of humor.

Clara Coley May 2012

Clara passed away on Christmas Day 2012 at the St. Lukes Regional Hospital in Twin Falls. Her funeral was held 4 January 2012 in Buhl with the burial between her husband and son in the West End, Buhl, Idaho cemetery.

Clara Coley Funeral Program

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