Missionary Memory

Here is a little family history that may be interesting to you.
As children we loved to hear of dad talking of his experiences in Tahiti. His mission was extended and before returning home he had been gone 4 1/2 years, but he instilled in me a great desire to serve a mission. When I was drafted into the army and sent to Korea, both of my older brothers were away from home; Donald in the Air Force and Russell in the Navy. By the time I returned home Donald was married and Russell was on his mission in New England. Because the family didn't have much money, I waited until Russell returned, hoping then to serve a mission. I waited and waited, but Bishop Rushforth never talked to me about a mission. I was now 21 years old and I told my mother and she said go talk to the Bishop, so I walked over to his house one evening. He met me at the door and invited me in. I told him I wanted to serve a mission. He was surprised because he thought we didn't have enough money to send me. I told him I had saved my money while in the Army and had saved enough money to keep me out for 2 years. This surprised him. It was August 1948. I received my call in September to serve in the Southern States Mission and was to leave for the MTC the 1st of December. I arrived in Mississippi 2 days before Christmas. I served in Mississippi 11 months and then central Florida 13 months as a supervising Elder without a companion! My mission changed my life. What I am or ever hoped to be, came from my mission. I am grateful we are a missionary family.

Paul Nofear Davis

Sundays at our Home

SPECIAL SECTION: Installment Two – Sundays at our Home – Carolyn’s Perspective

Early in my childhood I knew that Sunday was different. One of my earliest memories is watching Dad walk down the sidewalk on 30th with sons at his side to attend early morning priesthood meeting. My hair was always in braids during the week but on Saturday night Mother put it in curlers so I would have curls on Sunday. The meals were special on Sunday, usually with meat, which was rare during the week, and homemade rolls. Often there was a spiritual discussion around the table and scriptures were looked up, mostly to prove someone’s point. I learned a lot of gospel principles just listening. Sitting by Dad and Mother in Sacrament meeting felt good and Dad would make dolls out of his hanky or he let you write in his little notebooks.

Sacrament meeting was in the evening so after church the meal was simple—hot-milk toast, bread & milk, bottled fruit, or homemade bread. Sunday evening became family night long before the church set aside an evening. We sat together in the living room, sometimes Paul read us a short story, Mother would play the hymns she knew, favorites were “I Need Thee Every Hour” or “Sweet is the Work”, Dad sang Tahitian silly songs, I saw my first ‘Tasmanian Devil’ supplied by Jerry and Shirley. Sunday was truly a wonderful day and in such a nice way we were taught to love church, love family and love the Sabbath day. Probably other siblings have different views but those are mine.

This is Jerry: When I was a Deacon, in the Ogden 9th Ward, the Bishop hired me to deliver the Fast Offering envelops out on Saturday to all the homes in the Ward. The Deacons would pick them up on Fast Sunday. The money I received wasn’t much, but it was my first job. We did not do any work on Sunday. It was truly a day of rest. One Sunday a Sister had an Epileptic fit in Sacrament Meeting and the men of the Ward took her into one of the rooms at the back of the chapel and gave her a blessing. It sure interrupted Sacrament Meeting. Most of the activities at home took place in the front room where the piano.

Arlene's Memories

Dear Family, We are starting a new feature in the newsletter that focuses on our great family legacy. It will be written by members of the second generation to pass on memories and faith-promoting stories. Here is the first installment from a newsletter submission by Aunt Arlene from l982. From Carolyn

Arlene Vellinga, Jan 27, l982 (Event Clifford Robertson funeral)

“It was a wonderful thing to start life in a small town surrounded by love. I was the first grandchild on either side of the family and what a lot of very special aunts and uncles I had. They were teases and they were handsome and they seemed always to have the time to notice a child. They liked to talk to mother. She always drew people to her through her love of fun and wealth of wisdom.

Daddy was so strong and big and kind. Mother spanked us often, but just to have Daddy scold, hurt for days. I don’t remember him ever spanking me. My friends loved to come to our house because they had such fun with mother. Many children in the neighborhood who had a lot more fireworks than we did, would bring theirs to our house because Daddy was there to help us set them off on the 4th of July.

There was such a love of the gospel in all our grandparents and parents and their faith was so strong that I don’t ever remember not wanting to go to church when we lived in Blackfoot. It was an integral part of our lives and though financially life was always a struggle for Mother and Dad we were so very rich in intangible things. I can’t tell you when I gained a testimony. It just grew as I did.

Daddy’s stories of his mission never tired or bored us and he was also successful in another difficult task. He taught us to like nearly every vegetable, fruit and fish and unusual things. I didn’t realize what a skill it was until I tried with our children. He always had a beautiful garden. Memories are special for each of us and I hope you will all have memories of wonderful aunts and uncles, grandmas and grandpas, mothers and fathers, brother and sisters, and cousins who love you and love the gospel. That’s what our family is all about and the heritage that came to us from great people is ours to keep strong, to hold fast and pass it on with greater strength to our children.

As always and ever with love, Arlene”

Thanks Brent!

The Hook (campfire ghost story)
The reports had been on the radio all day, though she hadn't paid much attention to them. Some crazy man had escaped from the state asylum. They were calling him the Hook Man since he had lost his right arm and had it replaced with a hook. He was a killer, and everyone in the region was warned to keep watch and report anything suspicious. But this didn't interest her. She was more worried about what to wear on her date.
After several consultation calls with friends, she chose a blue outfit in the very latest style and was ready and waiting on the porch when her boyfriend came to pick her up in his car. They went to a drive-in movie with another couple, then dropped them off and went parking in the local lover's lane. The blue outfit was a hit, and she cuddled close to her boyfriend as they kissed to the sound of romantic music on the radio.
Then the announcer came on and repeated the warning she had heard that afternoon. An insane killer with a hook in place of his right hand was loose in the area. Suddenly, the dark, moonless night didn't seem so romantic to her. The lover's lane was secluded and off the beaten track. A perfect spot for a deranged mad-man to lurk, she thought, pushing her amorous boyfriend away.
"Maybe we should get out of here," she said. "That Hook Man sounds dangerous."
"Awe, c'mon babe, it's nothing," her boyfriend said, trying to get in another kiss. She pushed him away again.
"No, really. We're all alone out here. I'm scared," she said.
They argued for a moment. Then the car shook a bit, as if something…or someone…had touched it. She gave a shriek and said: "Get us out of here now!"
"Jeeze," her boyfriend said in disgust, but he turned the key and went roaring out of the lover's lane with a screeching of his tires.
They drove home in stony silence, and when they pulled into her driveway, he refused to help her out of the car. He was being so unreasonable, she fumed to herself. She opened the door indignantly and stepped into her driveway with her chin up and her lips set. Whirling around, she slammed the door as hard as she could. And then she screamed.
Her boyfriend leapt out of the car and caught her in his arms. "What is it? What's wrong?" he shouted. Then he saw it. A bloody hook hung from the handle of the passenger-side door.

Cousin Trivia . . .

How many grandsons have Leonard for a middle Name?

1. John (Arlene)
2. Alan (Russell)
3. Scott (Lyle)
4. Steven (Jerry)

How many 1st cousins are deceased?

1. John Leonard Vellinga (Arlene)
2. Richard Peter Vellinga (Arlene)
3. Jay Ford Davis (Donald)
4. Jared Poulter Davis (Paul)

How many years between the first and last grandchild?

41 years - 1942 to 1983

How many consecutive years did Verna have a grandchild born?

She had a 21 year run with at least one baby each year.
1955-1976

How many girls and how many boys in Verna's grandchildren?

47 Boys
29 Girls

What year were the most grandchildren born?

In 1962 six babies were born

Cousin Picture:

1. Clarence Robert Vellinga 14 Apr 1942
2. Clifford Davis Vellinga 14 Apr 1942
3. John Leonard Vellinga 11 Jun 1944 deceased
4. Joyce Vellinga Lindsley 4 Aug 1945
5. Richard Peter Vellinga 11 Mar 1947 deceased
6. Hugh Jimmie Davis 25 Feb 1948
7. Roy Davis Vellinga 25 May 1948
8. Ray Ford Davis 8 Apr 1950 deceased
10. Dan Russell Davis 4 Nov 1950
11. Lynn Heber Vellinga 7 Nov 1950
12. Rick Allen Davis 21 Nov 1951
13. Michael Lee Vellinga 27 Feb 1952
14. Kathleen Davis Hanson 27 Mar 1952
15. Karen Vellinga Shurtleff 31 Jul 1953
16. Kirk Le Roy Davis 28 Oct 1953
17. Reed Charles Davis 28 May 1955
18. Bruce Arnold Vellinga 4 Nov 1955
19. Deanna Davis Sumsion 1 Apr 1956
20. David Rulon Garfield 8 Apr 1956
21. Susan Davis Bradford 26 May 1956
22. Janette Vellinga Petersen 25 Jun 1957
23. Jill Davis Stewart 7 Jul 1957
24. Ann Garfield Rugg 10 Sep 1957
25. Tamara Davis Gresham 2 Mar 1958
26. Keith Lowell Davis 2 Mar 1958
27. Eileen Davis Spaulding 18 Mar 1958
28. Barbara Davis Ward 8 Dec 1958
29. Mary Vellinga Belnap 8 Feb 1959
30. Mark Albert Garfield 20 Mar 1959
31. Diane Davis Reese 6 Mar 1960
32. Richard Alan Davis 2 Jan 1960
33. John Davis Garfield 28 Jun 1961
34. Patti Davis Lewis 9 Feb 1962
35. Brent Paul Davis 15 Feb 1962
36. Alan Leonard Davis 2 Apr 1962
37. Gary Robert Davis 15 May 1962
38. Ross Alan Vellinga 11 Aug 1962
39. James Aaron Davis 11 Sep 1962
40. Reed Roy Garfield 14 Aug 1963
41. Kaye Davis Esplin 16 Oct 1963
42. Cynthia Davis Wood 18 Dec 1963
43. James Gordon Davis 23 Mar 1964
44. Scott Leonard Davis 13 Jan 1965
45. Paul Gilbert Davis 9 Apr 1965
46. Julie Davis Hadley 19 Aug 1965
47. Warren Ben Davis 19 Oct 1965
48. Dean Roger Garfield 20 Apr 1966
49. Steven Leonard Davis 31 May 1966
50. Ryon Brent Pulsipher 26 Nov 1966
51. Nathan Ray Davis 21 Dec 1966
52. Ruth Ann Davis Glade 17 Jul 1967
53. Raymond Lyle Davis 16 Feb 1968
54. Carol Davis Whitby 20 Mar 1968
55. Burt Rulon Garfield 9 Sep 1968
56. Rachel Pulsipher Brammer 1 Feb 1969
57. Peggy Davis Vogel 7 Apr 1969
58. Annette Davis Dickson 17 Jul 1969
59. Janet Davis Machado 18 Aug 1970
60. Scott Davis Pulsipher 18 Aug 1970
61. Linda Davis Dunmeyer 21 Oct 1970
62. Steven Andrew Davis 31 Jul 1971
63. Jared Poulter Davis 6 Mar 1972 deceased
64. Grant Charles Davis 24 Dec 1972
65. Marie Davis Stevenson 11 Mar 1973
66. Kenneth Robert Davis 5 Apr 1973
67. Sally Pulsipher Hall 23 Jul 1973
68. Boyd Roger Davis 11 Sep 1974
69. Connie Davis Jacob 2 Oct 1975
70. Nancy Pulsipher 19 Mar 1976
71. Wesley Lloyd Davis 12 Oct 1976
72. Kent LeGrand Davis 21 Mar 1978
73. Wayne Charles Davis 25 Aug 1979
74. Kathy Davis 7 Dec 1979
75. Bradley Robert Pulsipher 13 Jul 1980
76. Neal Spencer Davis 9 Jul 1983

Aunt Carolyn Pulsipher

Aunt Carolyn Davis Pulsipher

Aunt Carolyn spoke in such a beautiful way describing her central connection to the generations before and those who are new to the Davis Family. It was so fun to see some of Grandma Verna Davis' hand work and feel that connection ourselves.

This is Just a Start

While it is fresh in our minds from Campout, I thought I would get this started. You are a blog author, so you can change anything about this blog: title, layout, colors, etc. Maybe after we get a few stories/posts up, we can start inviting other people to the blog.

Thoughts?