Ondus Horace Gibson
Ondus Horace Gibson known as "Jack" was born 28 Apr 1899 in Pahranagat Valley near Hiko, Lincoln Co., Nevada. His parents were William Arthur Gibson (Will) and Katherine A. (Katie) Lynch He was named after two of his dad's brothers. Katie's sister, Amelia Lynch Murphy told Jack that he was so tiny at birth, they carried him around on a pillow. He was so tiny, he could fit in a shoe box.
He was listed in the 1 Jun 1900 Round Valley precinct, Lincoln Co., NV census age 1 born Apr 1899 along with his mother Katie A. Gibson in the family of Peter and Mary A. Lynch. He is listed as grandson.
When Jack was about two years old, his parents were divorced. They both went back to live with their parents. Will's parents were James Henry Gibson and Effie Jane (Bloomer) Gibson. Katie's parents were Peter Lynch & Mary Amelia (Wright) Lynch. Will's parents were living in Delemar, Nevada and Katie's parents were living in Pioche, Nevada. Jack never saw his father after that. His mother later married Orson John Jordan on 7 Jan 1904 in Pioche, Nevada and they had two girls, Jessie and Priscilla Jordan.
When he was a young boy he became friends with an older man named Johnny Newman. Johnny was a bow legged hired hand. who was called Jack. O. H. use to follow him around as he did his chores. Soon other workers called them "Big Jack" and "Little Jack" and the name stuck.
Jack's growing up days were in Pioche, Nevada. Pioche is a mining town and is nestled among the foothills. The city got its beginning in 1859 when gold was discovered. Pioche was one of the most prosperous mining areas in the world in 1870. Jack went to grade school in a two roomed school house which was on a hill with a spring running past The school had a school bell which was rung by pulling a rope. One time some boys cut the rope so the bell could not be rung. The rooms were heated by coal burning stoves. The naughty boys use to throw coal at the teacher.
Jack recalled that the #1 Mine had a train called the Dinky that had pull sleds that they would ride past the school and to the depot. There was a flat car pulled by mules which would go to the mine with a load of ties & lumber. The mine had an "A" frame with a double shaft. One bucket would go up and the other one would come down. His Uncle Angelo ran a steam engine for the mine.
There was a restaurant in Pioche that was owned by China Charlie. The Chinese would take food to put on the graves of their dead to feed them and the children would go to the grave yard after dark and take the food and eat it.
The Thompson Opera House was used for plays, a dance hall, and showed silent pictures. There were pillars on the front porch. Boys would shinny up the pillars and get on the porch. A friend would pay for his ticket, open the shutters for the others on the porch and they would sneak in and see the movies.
His Aunt Amelia Murphy, his mother's sister had donkeys which they would hitch up to wagons and the children enjoyed riding in the wagons. Amelia's husband, George Murphy made violins from real cedar. He sure could play the fiddle.
When Jack was 9 years old ,his mother Kate died on 22 Jul 1908 of breast cancer at the young age of 23 years. He and his brother, William lived with his step-father but they did not get along very well. Jack didn't have very good memories about his step-father. His step-father was cruel to him and would whip him on the bare back with a leather strap that had thin, long strips
He was listed in the 1910 Pioche, Lincoln, NV census as Ondus Jordan age 11 in the household of Orson J. Jordan.
In about 1912 Jack helped carry water for 50 section workers on the railroad. A big Irishman was his good friend. In 1912 when he was in the 8th grade and 9th grades, he & Bill went to Panaca to school and lived with a Mrs. Rich. He enjoyed playing football. In the summers, he lived with his Grandmother Martha Lynch. She was living near Pony Springs which was between Pioche & Ely. A William Kixmiller lived close by. Grandmother Lynch had two horses. One was named Red and was bit on the nose by a rattle snake. Jack remembers lots of trees there and water in a spring. Pony Springs was a pony express station.
Jack also remembered the Tilford brothers who were part Indian and had a ranch near Pony Springs. They would chase wild horses.
His step father, Orson John Jordan died 17 Jun 1913 in Pioche, Nevada when Jack was 14 years old. He & Bill were at Flat Nose with the Paul Succetti family when his step father died. Paul Succetti was his Aunt Rose' father. After his step father died, Jack went back to Pioche to live with his Uncle Angelo & Aunt Rose Lynch. They had two children living with them. His step sisters' Priscilla & Jesse went to live with W. H. & Katherine Daley. Mr. Daley hauled produce. The Dalleys were L.D.S. and took the girls to church with them. They both were later baptized into the Church when they were living in Summit, Iron Co., Utah. Priscilla died when she was 13 years old and Jessie remained with the Dalleys until she married Earl Bridges.
While living with his Uncle Angelo, he rounded cattle and branded them for his Aunt Rose's father, Paul Succetti. Once the head of cattle became lost in a hail storm and it took two weeks to round them all up with seven other cowboys and his brother, William. One time Jack & 9 other cowboys went with wagons & horses to meet the Arizona boys on the other side of St. George. They helped take the cattle back to Snake Valley.
Jack had a picture taken of the Succettis when they were rounding up cattle. He was on a horse named on "Italian Boy". Jack worked for the Delemue brothers, Joseph & Andy at Round Valley, Louis Foleyanie at Spring Valley, & Paul Succetti in Rose Valley. They were all cattlemen and he worked for them rounding up cattle and horses. Delemues lived about 3 miles from the Succetti's. He rode horses in Panquitch, Utah one summer when he was living with his Grandmother Lynch. He trailed cattle from Tuscan, Arizona to Snake River, which took 28 days down the Colorado river. He helped take 7 loads of cattle to San Francisco, CA stock yards with John Foleyanie and Raymond Llewellen when he was about seventeen. A year later, he helped take 5 loads of cattle to Denver, CO with Bob Succetti and Albert Delamew. One time he fell asleep and fell off his horse. Another time, he put a rope in the bed of one of the cowhands which caused him to think a snake was in bed with him and just about scared him out of his wits.
When he was about 17 years old, he rode as a jockey in small fairs in Utah, New Mexico, and Nevada. He won several races on a horse named "Pointer."
He was almost 18 years old when the U. S. declared war on Germany on 6 Apr 1917. He registered for the World War I draft on 12 Sep 1918 when he was 19 years old. He was a laborer for the Amalgamated Mine in Pioche, NV and his nearest relative was Angelo Lynch. He was never drafted as the Peace treaty was signed 11 a.m. 11 Nov 1918.
He left Pioche when he was about 21 years old along with his brother, Bill. They went first to Milford where their step sisters Priscilla & Jesse were living with the Dalleys. They later went to Delta, Utah to work in the sugar factory. In the 1920 Census for Delta, Millard, Ut, Jack, age 22 William, age 19 & Leon Dalley age 23 were rooming together and working as farm laborers.
He was working as a cook in the Bank Hotel Café in Delta when he saw a pretty girl by the name of Remelda Nielsen who was in Delta visiting her two sisters and their husbands. They were Edith & Harold Johnston and Helen & Gene Stratford. Harold had known Jack for some time and liked him so Harold arranged a meeting between Jack & Remelda. Arrangements were made for them to bring her to the open-air dance hall to be introduced in Jul of 1921. They had an enjoyable time dancing under the stars together to Whang Whang Blues, the Naughty Waltz and Just like a Gypsy. It was love at first sight. For the remainder of the summer they had dancing dates, went to picture shows, ate treats at the Café, went dining at the Bank Hotel, and strolled in the moonlight.
The day before it was time for Remelda to go back to Moroni, her girl friend, Mildred O'Leary came to Delta from Milford, where she had been vacationing. Jack's boy friend, Emerson Ivy liked her. The two couples went up the canyon for a picnic. Emerson's car stopped when they were going to the depot to catch the train but it got running again on time to meet the train so Remelda could go back to Moroni.
They corresponded for almost a year. One interesting letter was addressed: “Take me to Moroni, Utah and land of pretty grls. Take me to Remelda Nielsen. If you find her, I’ll be hers.” Remelda did receive the letter. Jack & Remelda dated others and their romance started to "wear a little thin." Jack surprised Remelda with a visit to Moroni for her graduation from high school in May 1922. They went to her graduation dance and all of Remelda's friends admired him. Mr. Morrell, her Seminary teacher predicted that, "You will have a kindergarten of your own after he was introduced to Jack. Remelda had previously told Mr. Morrell that she wanted to be a school teacher. One evening, they went for a walk and ended up at the railroad station. It was here that he asked her to marry him and gave her a day to think about it. The next day she gave him her "yes" decision. They decided on a day in December but no one was supposed to know about it, which seemed to be the custom at that time. Jack bought her rings at Jacob Faux’s store from the clerk, Artina Christensen.
On Wednesday morning, Dec. 13, 1922, Jack & Remelda boarded the one-coach Sanpete Valley train, which was nicknamed "The Caterpillar" and traveled 21 miles to Nephi from Moroni. It took over an hour - no wonder it was named the Caterpillar.
They were married in the Juab County Courthouse at 2:10 p.m. by Bishop Belliston who left his flour mill to perform the ceremony. Jack wore a blue suit and Remelda wore a blue dress & blue stockings. Jack was 22 and Remelda was 19. Their witnesses were Marcus Booth & Allen Golden. Mark had a horse shoe shaved in his hair, so he kept his hat on.
Their bridal suite was in the west wing of the Forrest Hotel on Main Street which is now a rest home called the Colonial Manor. Mark & Allen knocked on the door shortly after they had gone to the hotel. They said they wanted the newlyweds to join them and their dates for dinner but Jack smelled a rat and declined the invitation. They learned later that their crowd had planned to separate them, taking one to Mona and the other to Fountain Green.
In May 1923, they moved to Manila, Utah which was near Pleasant Grove. Jack worked for Scott Nelson on a farm, He played on a baseball team in Pleasant Grove. Once he was running around the bases on a home run when his garter broke. He made it to home safely even with the garter flip-flapping around his ankle as he run around the bases. Remelda was expecting their first baby while living in Manilla. They were so excited about becoming parents and referred to the baby as “Junie.” They were sure the baby would be a boy. He was born pre-mature and Dr. Linbaugh from Pleasant Grove delivered him. Junior Nielsen Gibson was born while living here on 29 Aug 1923. They were not to enjoy this precious infant very long because he died just two days after they moved back to Moroni 25 Sep 1923 in his Grandma Nielsen’s arms. This was a very saddening experience.
Jack was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on 24 Nov 1923. He was baptized in a small creek in Moroni, Utah, by Soren C. Nielsen. There was ice on the creek so it had to be broken to get to the water. It was amazing he didn't catch cold for it was the end of November.
Jack worked at the People’s Sugar factory again in 1924. He took a course of study which he passed with satisfaction.
He was ordained to the office of Elder in the Melchesidek Priesthood by Niels H. Anderson
Both children Jack & Ivis were born in a two roomed house that belonged to Uncle Jimmy Christensen in Moroni. It was located a block north of Remelda’s mother’s home. They spent many happy hours visiting back and forth. Grandma Nielsen helped Dr. Dice deliver both Jack and Ivis. Jack was born 8 Sep 1924 & Ivis was born 11 Apr 1926. Jack was in Manilla working for Scott Nelson again because he was out of work. He came home the day after Jack was born. Verla stayed with Remelda at nights while Jack was away. When Ivis was born Jack was working for Billy Prestwitch hauling beet pulp.
They moved from Moroni to Shelley, Idaho in 1927 where Jack worked at Zuckerman's Potato Warehouse washing, sorting, and sacking potatoes. Remelda’a brother Arthur & his wife Bernice lived within walking distance from them. So they visited frequently. Art had a car and he took them for rides. Their daughter, Dorothy Jean was born 16 Oct 1927 when they lived in Shelley in a two roomed house which belonged to Mrs. Bradshaw. Mrs. Bradshaw helped Dr. Roberts deliver her and Mrs. Bradshaw also took care of Jack and Ivis.
In 1929 he, Remelda and their three children, Jack, Ivis, and Dorothy boarded a train for Salt Lake City. They stayed in a Hotel for two days while Jack looked for a job.
He went to Tooele, Utah, and got a job with the International Smelter & Refining Co. The Tooele Valley smelter train wemt down Vine Street to Main where the workers boarded it. The train tracks are no longer there and the train is at the Museum on Vine Street & Broadway.
Their son Melvin was born 30 May 1929 and d 11 Jun 1929 of whooping cough. They were deeply saddened over the loss of this sweet baby.
They seemed to move from one place to another in Tooele. LaRay was born in England’s home on 2nd west on 28 Apr 1930. While living here, they bought their first car which was a second-hand one. They also lived at 241 North 1st West in 1931. Max was born 25 Jan 1932 in Himes house on Main Street. Jed was born 27 Nov 1933 in Isgreen’s house on Vine Street across from the Library. Bill was born 6 Oct 1935 at 141 North 5th Street.
Jack was 5' 7" tall. Weighed 147 lbs. Had greyish brown eyes & dark brown hair. His shoe size was 7 and shirt 14 l/2.
Jack was a loving father and loved his children very much. He always made such a fuss over them. He would want to hold the babies as soon as he got home from work and their white diapers would get black from the smelter dust on his clothes.
His children remember the fun times they had sitting on the porch when they lived on 5th Street. He would tell them stories of his childhood pranks. He would joke about being part Indian. Once he parted his hair in the middle, put a blanket around his shoulders and knocked on the door. Remelda opened the door, did not recognize him, and slammed the door in his face. He and the children sure had a good laugh over the incident. He would play the harmonica and the children would love to hear him. The children had fun times playing baseball in the field behind the house. Jack would work with them on how to bat.
He always came home from work whistling so the children would hear him and go run to meet him. They would ask to carry his lunch bucket and would open it up to see if there was any tidbit left in it. Even a crust of bread was a treat from dad's lunch bucket. He rode the work train to the Smelter every work day. The boys enjoyed taking turns riding on it on Fridays to bring home his paycheck from the Smelter.
Remelda wrote a poem about Jack singing to his 2 l/2 year old son, LaRay when he had pneumonia in Dec 1932. The poem was published in the Deseret News 16 May 1938.
THE MIRACLE THROUGH A SONG
I sat in a room where a sick child lay,
Pale, getting weaker from day to day,
Each night I'd heard his loved ones pray
"Bless him and heal him soon", they'd say.
I wonder--could my ears be hearing right?
A song being sung in the room tonight!
True! Twas the sick child's favorite;
A harmony, soothing and soft and light.
Sung by the father in close harmony
With angels music, it seemed to me!
As if they were playing a symphony.
Wondrous were the strains of the melody!
The child's eyes shone with a happier light,
As the last words drifted into the night.
He went to sleep smiling and slept till awn
When he awoke he said, "my hurt is gone!"
Marvelous is the gift of singing to me;
Beautiful its rhythmic melody.
A prayer, beret of answer for so long
Is ofttimes answered because of a song.
The stock market crshed in 1929 and the depression began. Jobs were scarce and so was money. Jack did many odd jobs. One of which was being a sheep herder for Mr. England along with Bill Jordan. How the children and Remelda missed him when he was gone for days at a time. What a joyous reunion it was when he came home to spend the night.
On 1 Apr 1934 he took Jack, Ivis, Jean & LaRay up the canyon on an Easter hike & picnic that was most enjoyable.
In 1935 he belonged to the Tooele Mill & Smeltermen's Union No. 55.
They moved to the Cowie place 29 Apr 1935 & he paid $15 a month rent. On 7 Nov 1935 he paid $5.00 for the rent of the house at 141 No. 5th St. to O. E. Isgitt. In 1935 Jack worked out the water bill for cash rent of $12.69. On 4 June 1936 he paid $2.50 for renting the house at 141 No. 5th St. St. In 1938, the rent was raised to $18 a month.
In August 1938 Jack went to the L.D.S. Hospital to have some ulcers removed from his left eye. He was in and out of the hospital for about three months.
From Jan 1939 to Feb 1940 Jack did Janitorial work for O. E. Isgitt ,owner of the Ruth Apartments & Tooele Apartments on Broadway. He moved furniture, watered & mowed lawns, painted furniture, cleaned wall paper, prepared sidewalk for cement, put in cement, made cement steps, hung doors & cabinets, cleaned windows, put up awnings, bricked a fireplace, weeded, helped build a coal shed. Jack exchanged the work for rent on the home on 5th Street. The children remember taking turns going with him to help clean. He encouraged them to do a good job. His motto was, "Any job worth doing was worth doing well."
They purchased their first radio when they lived on 5th Street. The whole family would gather around the Radio and listen to programs like Amos & Andy, Renfrew of the Mounted, Gang Busters, Inter Sanctum. Jack enjoyed listening to the boxing matches.
They needed to move from their home on 5th Street because it was sold. They searched all over for a home large enough for their family of seven children. They had a difficult time finding one because people did not want to rent to a family of that size. They decided to fast and pray and each went their separate ways looking. By chance they met in front of the home on Vine Street. Mrs. Bertha Savitch the owner of the home said the renters were moving out the next day and they could move in. A few years later on 17 Jul 1943, they bought the home from Dan & Bertha Savitch for $1300. It was 439 East Vine Street, Lot 5 Block 151 Plat C Tooele City.. They paid $200 down and the balance by escrow through the First Security Bank which required $30 monthly payments plus taxes and fire insurance. They made the final payment on 4 Oct 1945. What a happy day that was to own their own home.
Jack was a scout master with Clifford Fackrell for 6 years and was instrumental in helping the entire scoot troop of 10 boys become Eagle Scouts. His oldest son, Jack was a member of that troop, Explorer Troop 365. Jack was Committeeman in 1940.
Jack loved the great outdoors. He could out-hike, out-fish, and out-shoot all of his boys. The boys remember how they would go on outings to the Uinta mountains where they hiked and fished in the daytime and sat around the campfire at night and tell tall tales. They always had a contest to see who could catch the first fish and the biggest. Jack always seemed to win even though he had a handicap of rigging and bating the hooks of his boys fishing poles before casting his line into the water. On one trip, Max and Jed set up their tent on low ground against the advise of their dad and were washed out during a rainstorm that night.
Jack & Remelda enjoyed fishing with their family and friends. They had a lot of fun fishing experiences with Bill & Nona Jordan and always came home with lots of fish to cook for the family.
Jack helped his boys learn responsibility. In 1944 they raised rabbits to sell and each of the boys had a job to do. Jed tells of the time he was in 5th grade and had to stay after school. He remembered sitting in the classroom with the teacher for what seemed like a long time, when he jumped up and ran past the teacher saying that he had to go home to feed the rabbits before his Dad got home from work. Jed had to face the principal the next day but he didn't want to let his Dad down.
They purchased a “rumble seated car” which afforded them many fun rides to the canyon. They would drive over to TOD for the dances. Some times they would take Ivis and Dorothy Jean to the dances. Jack was in the Army at that time.
One time Ivis came home on a horse that she borrowed from a friend. Jack was going to show her how to make a quick mount and instead of mounting the horse, he went flying over it and landed on the ground.
Becoming a grand-father on 5 Sep 1947 to Ivis Virginia was a special event. On 6 Oct 1947 Rand Scott, his first grandson was born. He became known as “Dappy” or “Grampy” to all of his grandchildren.
Returning to his home town, Pioche, Nevada in 1949 was rewarding for Jack. Remelda, son Bill and granddaughter, Ginny accompanied him. They visited his aunts Amelia Murphy, Rose Lynch and Martha Karacas Ferri and former friends and other relatives. His aunt Rose was living in the old home. Her daughter, Eva Heidenriech lived in a new home on the property, with her husband and family. He remarked how good it was to see them again and how the town and places had changed. He and his cousin Andy Richard laughed and talked about the fun they had as youngsters in the Pioche hills. Also some of the pranks they pulled at Halloween, etc. They stopped in Ely on the way to Pioche. They came back by a different route, through the southern part of Utah. Eventually reaching Spring City and Moroni, where they visited with Rosina, Doyle and family and with Remelda’s mother, sisters and brother. After his boys, Jed & Bill got interested in playing basketball & football, he would try to make it to all of their games. He enjoyed watching his boys play. They had season passes to attend the Tooele basketball games and season passes to attend the games. After Jed went to the University of Utah, he and Remelda went to a lot of his games and traveled to St. George a few times, to watch Bill play football there in 1958-1959.
When Remelda went to stay with her mother, Annie Nielsen in May 1952, he wrote that the boys were good to help him and were such good boys. The peach, pear & plum trees were all in full bloom. The plum tree looked like a big snowball with so many blooms. Doris came up and helped wash the breakfast dishes and swept the floors.
Jack & Remelda went to Yellowstone Park in 1952 with Dorothy & Tedd to go sight seeing and do some fishing. They camped in a tent. While sight seeing, they saw a moose and her calf grazing among the trees. They took some pictures and while Jack went to take a closer picture of just the calf, the moose gave a bellow and took out after Jack. Boy, did Jack run and frightened all of them who were watching. Thank goodness, the moose didn’t run too far away from its calf.
He also worked for a few years at the Cobalt Plant near the Black Rock Beach of the Great Salt Lake. He worked as a carpenter's helper. His son, LaRay was working at the Cobalt Plant at the same time. Jack never took off work when he was sick. One time he did not show up for work, which worried LaRay. He knew his dad must be really sick to take the day off.
He later worked at the Tooele Army Depot for the Warehouse Branch.
One time he took his girls on a fun one-day deer hunting trip. They were sitting on the side of a mountain eating their lunch, when a deer same along the trail. It practically looked Jack in the eye, then took off running down the mountain. The girls wondered why he didn't shoot it. They didn't know if it took him by complete surprise or perhaps he was too concerned about their safety.
He blessed three of his grandchildren all on the same Sunday, 5 May 1957. The grandchildren were Roy Lee Allsop, Mitch Gibson, and Tamera Gibson.
On 29 Sep 1959, they went to watch the football game at BYU High between the Wildcats and the Pleasant Grove Vikings. Jed was the football coach. The wildcats won 20-6.
Christmas was always enjoyable with their family. Most of the time the entire family met to exchange presents and enjoy dinner together. Sometimes they would have a combined wedding anniversary & Christmas celebration.
While working at TAD he earned two cash awards for suggesting new ways of packaging military materials in 1965 & 1966.
On 7 May 1965 he made a suggestion to the Care & Preservation Branch, Supply Division of the Tooele Army Depot to use Fiberboard Cushion Blocks in lieu of Plywood Cradles in Packaging Generators, etc. Sub. Jointly with John S. Cochran He retired from the Tooele Army Depot in 1969.
In Nov 1966 they went to visit Max & Barbara in Scottsdale, Arizona for the first time and enjoyed their first airplane ride.. They flew on a Bonanza "fun jet"
Jack took great pride in his home and his garden. He knew how to produce beautiful flowers and vegetables and would share them with his neighbors and friends. He enjoyed cutting a beautiful rose and bringing it into the house to share its beauty with Remelda.
In 1967 he was working at the Tooele Army Depot as a Processor Leader for the Supply Division. A copy of his performance appraisal stated he was a self starter and accomplished additional work for the unit. He demonstrated ability as a leader by displaying and utilizing employees under his supervision to the best advantage in meeting deadlines on or ahead of schedule. He uses excellent judgement on job problems where there are no specifications covering certain items. Mr. Gibson has a high standard of conduct. He is congenial with both coworkers and supervisors. He always reports to work clean and neat. He has an excellent safety record within his group. He makes sure that all tools and equipment are in good working condition. His work area is clean and orderly. He does not abuse leave usage.
One time Remelda wanted to go to Provo to visit her son, Bill and his family. Jack wasn't enthusiastic about going because It was cloudy and Jack said: "If it starts to rain, then you're driving." In the evening on the way home, it did start to rain. Jack pulled over to the side of the road and said, "It's your turn to drive now." Remelda replied, "OK, if it doesn't matter how long it takes." Remelda remembers that she drove home pretty slow because of the heavy rain. She felt it was worth it because of the enjoyable visit she had with Bill and family.
They purchased a 1967 13' Shasta Trailer and had a lot of enjoyable times traveling and camping in it to many of the lakes & Reservoirs.. In Sep 1971 they took it fishing at Joe's Valley Reservoir and Remelda and he caught 2 trout at the same time.
Remelda thought Jack was a "jack of all trades." He learned to milk cows, handle horses, drive trucks, cook, do carpenter work, paint, construction work, "spud" sorter and packer. About the only thing he did not try was electrical work.
They bought a brand new Chevrolet in Jan 1968 and were very pleased with their investment. They broke it in by taking a trip to visit Jack’s sister, Jessie and her husband Earl Bridges in Aberdeen, Washington and their families. Kathryne and Otto Fitterer in Westport, Washington. Remelda’s sister Helen and Gene Stratford inToppinish, WA and Flauris & Bert Riley in Seattle. They were gone 17 wonderful days.
Jack and Remelda celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary at the Glowing Embers in Tooele on 16 Dec 1972 with most of their children and grandchildren in attendance. The only ones who were not able to be there was Max and his family because they were living in Arizona.
They flew to AZ in Oct 1973 to visit Max and their family in Scottsdale, AZ. They went deep sea fishing on the Pacific Ocean in the Choya Bay area of Mexico and it was a wonderful "first-time" experience.
In August 1975 they went to Idaho to visit Arthur & Bernice Nielsen in McCammon and Jed and Karen Gibson in Rexburg. Jed & Karen took them to two ghost towns, Nevada City & Virginia City in Montana. They thought it was fantastic to see the homes & stores along the board walks. They rode on an ore train from one town to the other. They were amused at the two-story "john" near a hotel. There was a music shop with mechanically operated player pianos and orchestrations which could be played for 25 cents a selection. They went to West Yellowstone to shop.
Because of the feelings Jack had towards his family and the love he had for Remelda, he overcame a 50-year old habit of smoking and took Remelda to the Salt Lake Temple to have their marriage solemnized on 28 Aug 1976. After attending the Temple, the family had an enjoyable Gibson-get-together at Jordan Park in Salt Lake City. Family members there were: Jack & Remelda, Jack & Barbara Gibson & children: Barry, Cecil, Dev & Guy, Rand & Carol Gibson, Pam, Jodi and Marci Royal, Tooele; Cindy, Shane & Brandon Murray of Grantsville; Ivis Allsop, Salt Lake City; Ginny, Brett and Jennifer Moncur, Manchester, MO; Dorothy & Tedd Tuttle and children Tawna, Troy & Todd, Murray; Arlene, Gene & Jeremy Chavez, West Jordan; Mauna, Roger & Brett Ellis, Salt Lake City; Jed & Karen Gibson and children Karrie, Kamille, & Katie, Rexburg, ID. Later in the day, LaRay and Doris Gibson and grandchildren, Meisha and Kristin Ellis, Salt Lake City, Bill and Sharon Gibson and children Jeff, Monica and Michelle, Vernal, UT visited at the O. H. Gibson home. They were also dinner guests on Sunday. (The Tooele Bulletin) Remelda wrote a poem about their experience.
FOR TIME AND ETERNITY
A whole new world was opened up for us
The day we were privileged to be sealed Together for Time and Eternity.
We were happily aware that we had reached
A heavenly station in earthly-life.
This spiritual experience looms high
Above all else, within our grateful thought.
We marveled at the sacredness of vows.
Reflected in each ceremonial rite.
FOR TIME AND ETERNITY represents
To us, celestial for-everness!
In 1982 they went to the Jordan River Temple several times to do sealings for the dead. They went with Emma & Al Yates, Dan and Grace McPhie, Jerry and Elaine Doyle. One time they went alone and while in the Temple their car was damaged by a hit and run driver in the temple parking lot.
He was a home teacher for many years and had different companions. His favorite was Al Yates. He and Al were long-time friends; having known each other almost as long as they had lived in Tooele. The last group that they visited were all widows. One of them, Mrs. Spendlove told Remelda, “If they ever change teachers on me, I will not let them in. “She was always commenting upon his thoughtfulness. She said they always asked if there was anything they could do...and if there was, they were willing to do it, like spraying fruit trees, mending hoses, etc.
On July 10, 1982 he had a nose bleed and went to the Dr. Specton and learned that he had high blood pressure and started taking two kinds of medication. One day he was picking cherries and the ladder tipped. He broke his fall by grabbing onto a limb. The new neighbor in back of Savich’s came over to help him pick the cherries after that. Later in the day, he did not feel well and had to lie down for awhile, But, he was out picking cherries the following day.
On 27 Aug 1982 he had to remove a window in the trailer, so he could climb inside to open the door. Someone had poked little rocks in the key hole, preventing the key from going in it. Then he put the window back in the trailer after all of that work.
On 28 Aug 1982 he cemented a space in the front side walk and another one in the porch. He did a neat job. On 6th of September, he cemented along the west side of the house, where it had broken and cracked.
Jack and Remelda were to celebrate their 60th Wedding Anniversary on the 11th day of December 1982 at the Chuck A Rama, 4150 Redwood Road at 1:30 p.m. but he was hospitalized instead with a severe case of the Shingles. Because arrangements had been made and so many family members were here just for their special celebration, the family went ahead and held their celebration without them. Jack returned home on the 19th, but on February 6th he was again rushed to the Cottonwood Hospital in Murray where everything possible was done to help him get better. He seemed to be improving until February 12, when he suffered a stroke which paralyzed his right side and he could not talk. He was transferred to the Bennion Care Center.
Jack died 8 Mar 1983 at the age of 83 in Bennion, Utah. Memorial services were held at the Tooele 5th Ward on Saturday 12 noon. Family Prayer by Clive Worthen, Opening Prayer by Tedd Tuttle, Obituary by Bishop Kenneth Sagers, Vocal Duet by Helen Beamer & Wayne Keith, Speaker Jed Gibson, Piano Solo by Jed Allsop-Original composition dedicated to his grandfather, Speaker Bishop Kenneth Sagers, Vocal solo by Maxola Marie Stewart "Whispering Hope", Closing prayer by Albert Yates. Jack was buried in the Tooele Cemetery. He left behind a loving wife, 7 children, 35 grandchildren, 48 great great grandchildren and a step sister, Jessie Bridges of Aberdeen, Wash. He will long be remembered as a loving & devoted husband and a wonderful father who was unselfish with his time and taught his children how to play and to be hard workers. He was a great example and we all learned a lot from him.
Remelda missed him terribly and filled her remaining years with writing poetry, traveling, gardening, visiting her children, and dancing at the Senior Citizens in Tooele. She went to live with her daughter, Dorothy when she was 92. She sold their home in Tooele in 1998. She died 26 Sep 2000 at the home of her daughter, Dorothy Tuttle, 344 Saunders St., Murray, Ut at the age of 97 after living a full and rich life. She experienced much happiness along the path of life along with the sorrow of losing two sons and a husband. She was buried in the Tooele Cemetery along side her beloved husband. |
1899 - 1983 (83 år)
