ELLA JUNE LEAVITT STONE

            ELLA JUNE LEAVITT STONE   

 

It was a miracle that brought life to a lifeless Ella June Leavitt (Annette’s grandmother) who was born breech and not breathing.  Quoting from her biography- “On a cold day in June ( June 27, 1913)I was born to LeRoy H. and Ella Linderman Leavitt, their 5^th child.  It had been raining a great deal so it became necessary to build a wood fire in the kitchen range.  My mother, bless her, had had a very bad month. I was supposed to have been born the first part of the month of June but being in the wrong position, I had made it very difficult.  Mother had two doctors and a midwife.  I was born feet first and face up.  The doctors said, “the baby’s gone, just work on the mother.” 

Fortunately for me, the midwife picked me up.  I wasn’t breathing.  She used mouth to mouth resuscitation and worked over me until I began to breath.  I was cleaned up, dressed and placed in a wicker clothes basket. The basket was placed on the edge of the open oven door.  That was my incubator.  Mrs Knighton, the midwife, was a small, very sweet woman who came to our house when a new baby arrived.  She called me  “her baby.”  She continues,   “Shortly after my parents were married they bought a piano. Mom and Dad both played. Mom was always so busy with household chores and children, it was a pleasure to listen when she did sit down and play. Dad played by ear, he could play about any instrument he picked up.”  Most of what they wore was home made. Her mother “bought flour sacks from the mill and made diapers, petticoats, bloomers even dying the sacks and made dresses. She made all our clothing including coats, I never had a store-bought coat until my last year of high school.” She had a wonderful childhood and remembered, ”We went on picnics up the canyon many times. The whole family went. The Lord has helped us to stay close and I pray my family too will stay close throughout the years.” When I was very young we had a horse named ‘Abbie ‘and a two seated buggy. As time went by, we got our first model T ford.  June was very active in church and sang in sacrament meeting several times with her sister Mary.  As a teenager she enjoyed parties, dances and participated in several plays. It wasn’t long before she caught the eye of the athletic Doxey (Derald Roy) Stone.  “ I had known Doxey for many years but we had never dated.  In June 1933 he brought a large bouquet of peonies to our house.  I was working at the knitting mill on 23^rd and Grant so he gave them to mom.  She was delighted.  It was her birthday on June 12^th.  When I got home from work, she told me they were really for me. This is about the time Doc and I started dating.  We went in a group, four girls from Cross Street and four fellows from 12^th Street.  We went on picnics, to shows and to ward dances. We had lots of fun.  I was nicknamed “ Butch” because my dad was a butcher.

We were married in May 1934 by Bishop Richards.”

Doxey worked at several jobs as they began life together. He worked for Farr’s Ice Cream for 35 cents an hour. Later he got work with the PWA which was a government works project developed by President Roosevelt. He worked on the North Ogden divide pass over to Liberty.

Their 1^st child was a healthy boy, Dennis Roy Stone (Annette’s Father). “Denny” was born on February 9, 1935. When Denny was about 16 months old Doxey was working in the yard and watching him, he turned around to find that Denny had fallen into the ditch. The current was strong enough to hold him under. Doxey pulled him out, gave him first aid and brought him in to change his clothing.  It was really frightening.  In November 1941 a day after Thanksgiving, I came down with pneumonia.  I was very sick.  The ambulance picked me up and took me to the hospital. Dr Budge was my doctor.  Doxey was in Idaho and hadn’t made it home for Thanksgiving.  Thy called him home and told him that I had double pneumonia and wouldn’t make it.  The grandparents took care of the boys.  I know I prayed many times that I may stay and raise my boys.  I am very thankful the Lord heard and answered my prayers. I had to stay in bed at my folks for a long time.  December 7, 1941, while lying in bed I heard about Pearl Harbor on the radio ( no TV at this time).  I cried because I seemed so helpless.  I couldn’t take care of myself or my family and now war… because of the war, meat became scarce. We were given a certain amount of food stamps according to family size, some for meat, some for dairy products and a limited amount for gas.” “ Denny, Gary and Don took tap dancing.  They also took piano and singing lessons for a short time.”   “ Pa was called to report to Fort Douglas for examination for the Army, this was about 1942. He didn’t pass the physical but joked that they told him he would be called to serve after women and children. We were very happy he didn’t have to go. During the war nearly every family had a son or daughter in the service.  Some families lost as many as three young sons and were allowed to keep the next young man at home, many young men never returned.  It was a disastrous war. Bushnell Hospital in Brigham City was used for the seriously wounded . Many with legs or arms or both missing. Some were called basket cases, without legs and arms.  I pray we never have another war. In August 1945 the war was over, we heard all the train whistles and church bells, so we walked down to Washington Blvd. and watched the cars go by with people shouting and singing.  Everyone was excited and happy.”  After the war Roy, Colleen and lastly Patsy were born. Their family of 4 boys and 2 girls was now complete.

“We had a car in 1948, a model B Ford. Pa taught me how to drive, but I advise anyone to go to a class. We were both nervous wreaks by the time I learned.  I finally got my license the same time as Denny.”

The boys all played lots of baseball. During the summer we’d get a lot of broken windows. We would leave them all until late fall then put them all in. Grandpa Stone put them all in one fall, about 16 of them!”

In 1948 Pa (Doxey) went into business at the Glass Hat Drive-In.

His mother gave him the money to invest. Denny quit his paper route and Gary quit his soon after.  They both went to work for their dad. They could take an order, cook a meal, wait tables and car hop.  They were about 12 and 13 years old. Pa taught all his children how to work, which is a very important thing.”

Reflecting on the goodness of her parents she reflects, “with all our moves, we had lived with Mom and Dad three times with our three boys. Not many parents would be so thoughtful and caring. I thank the Lord always for my dear parents for the sacrifices they made for us.”

June and Doxy’s marriage had it’s share of problems. Doxey would leave for months at a time. One time he went to Alaska, another time to California.  When at home his drinking was problematic and in 1950 they divorced only to re-marry in 1951. In 1952, when Patsy was born, “Naomi and Denny were going together. Naomi made Patsy a beautiful satin baby quilt. “I hope and think I gave it to her when Annette was born.” Dennis and Naomi were High School sweethearts and graduated from Ogden High in 1953. Dennis got a job at Swift’s Pack and Provisions. He and Naomi were married November 4, 1953 in the Salt Lake Temple.  They both worked part time at the Glass Hat. (Doxy had left the family again in early May 1954 and didn’t come back until a few days after the wedding in November.) Gary was the main presence at the Glass Hat at this time. June reflected on these trying times; “ what would I have done without my children?  I am very thankful for each and everyone of them. I love you all!”

“Our first grandchild (Annette) was born in 1955. How thankful we were to have such healthy and beautiful children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.”

 As June and Doxey aged, their relationship improved. They had been through hard times but they had endured. When Doxey retired he took over most of the household chores and enjoyed doing most of the cooking. One Easter Dennis and Naomi and kids had all been visiting in the kitchen then they all went out side to leave. While on the porch they heard a loud bang like a gun going off. The pressure cooker on the stove had exploded and blew a hole right through the roof. June reflected on that event. “If we had been in the kitchen at that time, someone would have been killed. We know the Lord was with us that day.”  Once on the way back from a trip up to Willard Peak, the car brakes went out.  As the car gained speed down the steep decline Doxey kept his cool and realized that running into the mountain side would be better than flying off the edge. Doing so, he was able to slow their decent enough to make it safely down. June and Doxey loved Yellowstone Park and for many years they visited there two or more times a year. When their age made it so they could no longer drive, Roy or one of the kids took time to take them.  June was very active in the church and recorded a spiritual experience.  "In 1964 I attended our Stake Conference as one of the singing mothers.  After the service we were honored by a visit and a handshake from President David O. McKay. What a thrill!”

One Sunday morning at Relief Society meeting I felt a kiss on my cheek and looking up saw it was my lovely grand daughter Annette and her daughter Cami who had come to our meeting.

What a beautiful surprise.”

In October 1989 Doxey died from pneumonia. June recorded her feelings. “ Everything had changed, a most unhappy time. We had been married 55 ½ years. I must go on – and I will!”

Go on she did! June’s sons and daughters all helped with visits and kindnesses. Roy especially was amazing.  He lived with his mother and was always there for her.  When June could no longer drive, Roy would take her to church or wherever she wanted to go.

From when Doxey passed on November 12,1989 to her own passing on March 6, 2008 , over 18 years she went right on blessing the lives of all who were fortunate enough to know her.  At the end of her auto-biography she left us with a beautiful thought.  “Happiness is an inside job! That is as true as anything! You can make yourself sad or happy it all depends on yourself.  So don’t get down and unpleasant. Make the most of everyday with lots of love.”  That’s exactly how this beautiful lady lived out her beautiful life.  That’s the way she wanted us to live ours.          Much love-  The Grandparent Chronicles     

Acknowledgement:  Most of the information used was taken from “ This History Is Mine- Ella June Leavitt Stone

  27 June 1913- 6 March 2008  as recorded in Family Search-

Ella June Leavitt Stone- Memories -      thanks to Patsy -June’s daughter. We encourage all to read her unabridged story there.