Altheria S Gregerson

Contains histories, biographies and auto biographies including Altheria Sylvester Gregerson and her descendants. Search here: https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&query=%2Btitle%3Athe%20%2Btitle%3Alives%20%2Btitle%3Aand%20%2Btitle%3Aletters%20%2Btitle%3Aof%20%2Btitle%3Athe%20%2Btitle%3Asylvesters%20%2Btitle%3Aand%20%2Btitle%3Anicholsons Download here: https://dcms.lds.org/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE954766&from=fhd

The following is a transcript of a significant and priceless pioneer letter for our family. It was written during the Great Depression by Joy's great grandmother, Lovinia Nicholson Sylvester Berry, when she was seventy-nine years old. She wrote it to her daughter-in-law, Sarah Violate Blackburn Berry, who was Joy's maternal grandmother. Lovinia was the third and youngest plural wife of William Shanks Berry who was her senior by sixteen years. Her husband was tragically killed on his mission in Tennessee in 1884 leaving his families behind. Lovinia was widowed for seventy-one years and passed away when she was almost 101 years old. Before she passed away, Lovinia held either Donald or Brett Blackburn, great-great grandsons, when only seven to eight months old. When visiting Joy at her home in Cedar City, Lovinia, although shaky, was excited to be allowed to hold the baby. Joy recalled her saying, "Joy, you are the only one who will let me hold their baby." Lovinia was also fascinated that modern baby food came from a jar from the store. Grandma Joy's mother, Ora, is mentioned in the letter along with Ora's younger brother, Orson. The "Ethel" mentioned in the letter is probably Lovinia's contemporary relative, not the later step-mother of Joy. Source: Notes from two conversations with Joy, June 24, 1998. and October 2014.) (Note: I lightly edited spelling, grammar, and punctuation for easier reading. I also added a question mark after names that are difficult to decipher in the letter.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- St. George, Utah, March 19, 1933 Dear Violate & Orson, I guess you will think me a long time answering your letters. It is not because I do not think of you for I often wonder how you are getting along. Ora wrote that you were thinking of having Orson's leg amputated. I sure hope and pray that he gets along all right. Be sure and let me know as I feel very anxious about him. Wish I could send you some money but am down and out like the rest, but hope something will turn before long. My dear sister, Altheria, past away on her birthday the tenth of March. I sure feel very lonely without her. She has been very sick all winter. I have been with her a great deal. She suffered a great deal towards the last but passed away peacefully. Also, there have been three deaths in Kanarra--Uncle Wrile Rease [?], Wilames [?] and Will Roundy. I did not go up as the weather was so cold and I have to be careful. You know I am getting old. I am still working in the temple but this may be my last year. I had a letter from Jim. He said they were pulling along the best they can hoping for better times. Emma and family are well but having a hard time [getting] along as Eph cannot get any work. And so it goes with us all. Ethel is staying with her mother in Kanarra this winter as Sister Williams [?] is sick. She has Hazel with her. But Virginia [?] and Doyle [are] in Delta with Myal [?]. I would surely like to see you all. How are the girls and their babies? I would love to come and see the little pets. It is lovely for you to have them all around you. Where is Jesse? Is he still at Torry? Well, Orson, it will be much better for you if you can get a better leg, if it is an artificial one, and I hope the way will open so Grandma can help to get it. You must have good courage and ask the Lord to bless you. And we will all have faith and I think you will come through it all okay. This letter will have to be to [you] all as I am a very poor correspondent. With much love to all of you. I remain your dear grandmother, Lovinia S. Berry

Altheria came from parents who came across the plains as pioneers from England. She had a beautiful childhood; music filled her home life there in Springville. Andres had been partly raised by her father who took him under his wing. When Andrew came back to see the family at age 30, he fell in love with Althea, who had always loved him. They had ten children in 24 years. Althea saw all her children grow up and be married. Eliza, my grandma, always had a deep love and respect for her mother. Love of reading and education were important for her and her children -- many who graduated with college degrees.

LESTER PAUL BLACKBURN, "I HAD A HEART ATTACK," Entries from his 1990 Journal. Note: I lightly edited Dad's journal entries below to make reading easier. In 1990, Dad was retired and lived with Mom (Joy) in Toquerville, Utah. Dad carefully logged each day's activities and happenings and often wrote his feelings. For example, when he was recovering in the Provo hospital from a heart attack and prostate surgery, his Mom, Dola, was also in the same hospital from a stroke. In a humorous Feb. 16 entry, Paul tells that his catheter and his mother's catheter got tangled up together. During the same month, Luke's appendix burst--Luke is a grandson--and Tavish, a great grandson, was born. Not long afterward, on April 3rd, Dola died. Paul went back to Provo to attend her funeral. He returned to the same hospital four months later, on Aug. 28, for heart surgery. Also, a few days later, on Sept. 5, he returned again to the Provo hospital to visit his son, Brett, who was there for a kidney removal. Here are the journal headings below: DOLA'S STROKE LUKE'S APPENDIX BURSTS DOLA SPEAKS PAUL'S NAME TWICE PAUL'S HEART ATTACK MANY VISITORS TAVISH'S BIRTH DOLA DIES PAUL'S BI-PASS HEART SURGERY BRETT'S KIDNEY SURGERY -- Don Blackburn, son - - - - - - - - D O L A ' S S T R O K E February 3, 1990, Sat., partly cloudy Mom was going shopping in the Toyota pickup, so I removed the fuel pump as it was plugged. I put carb cleaner in it then blowed it and the fuel lines out. Mom purchased a satellite dish for $75.00 from Marlin Olds. He spent part of the day getting it operating. I called Terry in Henderson; he came up with his two boys and spent the evening. Mom called Mom Dola at 6:30 P.M. February 4, 1990, Sun., cloudy Took Terry to KOA. At home we puttered with the satellite, then Terry hooked up the wiring to a new plug. I drilled into the floor, cut the carpet, but no luck. Mom went to church. Matt & Charley rode their bikes. I gave Terry $20.00. Easton and Aunt LaVon came by. Mom put on an excellent dinner. At 6 P.M. Terry & his boys left for Henderson. February 5, 1990, Mon., clear, warm Helen called. I tried tilling the garden, but the tiller quit, back to garage. Took carb off. Manford & Norma came by. He helped with carb. Brett called. Sis Helen called early talking to Mom about Mom Dola. Spent all day puttering with the tiller. Ardene Dovey tried adjusting the tiller carb many times. Something's wrong. My back hurts. And does it hurt. I got ticked again. February 6, 1990, Tues., clear, warm The tiller started on the second try so I tilled three sections. I kept adjusting the carb & it ran better. Terry called from Vegas. Sis. Helen called Mom saying Mom Dola has had a stroke. Helen is taking her to the doctor for a head scan. Ferry called. Then Don. Then Helen called. February 7, 1990, Wed., cloudy, light rain in afternoon Mom was operated on. She's had a stroke. Ardene came over with his new tiller. Mom purchased more fertilizer. Ardene tilled four sections. Lloyd Gubler called. He asked me to call Mountain Fuel to hook us up on Feb. 9th. I dug and set one post. Terry called. D'anne called from Mapleton about Mom's condition. I called 373-7850 to the Provo Hospital. Mom Dola was operated on this morning and is paralyzed on her left side. Ferry called referring to Mom. Helen wasn't home. February 8, 1990, Thurs., clear, cold Ferry called. Mom is critical. We called Helen. She said the same. Mom and I pushed the Stokermatic [furnace] to the shop. I called Loa Brinkerhoff. I called Tone Blackburn and Wanda and Scott Brinkerhoff. Lloyd Gubler came to work. Pen and Paul came at 5 P.M. Paul brought his parents to see us. February 9, 1990, Fri., clear Mom called Provo Hospital at 10 A.M. about Mom Dola. She hasn't spoken, only lying and moaning occasionally. Lloyd Gubler started at 9 A.M. The gasman of Mountain Fuel, Steve Benson, started hooking up the meter at 1 P.M. By 5 P.M. it was completed. Mom drove to St. George earlier. Pen called from St. George. Tera called. Scott called. I paid Lloyd Gubler $414.00. I called Heidi at 6:40 P.M. to get on Rubin to stop his barking dogs. L U K E ' S A P P E N D I X B U R S T S Feb. 10, 1990, Sat., cloudy To Provo 8 A.M. North, gassed in Cedar. Mom drove most of the way. Arrived at 12:00 noon. Unloaded pickup. Then went to Utah Valley Hospital. Very frightening observing Mom Dola. I didn't think she would survive the day, but she did. Charles, Dee, Lilly, Bryon and all wives came. Sis. Helen was called and Ferry called. At 10:00 P.M. Sis Paula called. Luke's appendix burst. He is in the Cour d'Alene Hospital, maybe for a week. 10:30 P.M. to bed. D O L A S P E A K S P A U L ' S N A M E T W I C E Feb. 11, 1990, Sun. Provo Hospital. Mom better. 8 A.M. After breakfast sat with Mom Dola at hospital. Helen and Boyd came. Lilly, Ferry & Shirley, Dee & Janet, Doug & Mark & Barbara came--we had many good visits. D'anne & Lilly called. Two doctors checked Mom. Mom Dola spoke my name twice. At 1020 P.M. we left the hospital. February 12, 1990, Mon., snow Provo. Mom about the same. Lilly called. We ate. 9 A.M. to hospital. Lilly came. Helen came. Took Mom Joy to Dola's residence and went over all the bills & checkbook. Lilly left. I stayed with Mom Dola. Ferry came. I sat with Lilly while Mom ate. Bryon and his wife came. We went to Mom's place between 6 and 7 P.M. Back to hospital. Then went to Dola's at 10 P.M. Snowing. We visited with Mark Wilden [spelled "Weldon"] at the hospital. Then to Mom's where we ate Fig Newtons and drank milk. My arms and chest started hurting so I did 25 pushups--so stupid, but my arm felt relieved. To bed. P A U L ' S H E A R T A T T A C K February 13, 1990, Tues. I had a heart attack. I woke up at 2:00 A.M. with chest pains, took soda to try to relive it. At 4:00 A.M. we got dressed, tried to rest in the chair, left for the hospital at 5:00 A.M. I drove. It was snowing. We went to the emergency, attended by Dr. Oliver. Had a bad spell when they applied a nitro patch - pulse rate 32 - very nauseous. Lots of pain. Very frightened. Ferry came, called our kids, at 7:00 they took me to CCU. My doctor is Dr. Frischknecht. Joy stayed until 10:00 P.M. Don, Brett, and Penny came. Feb. 14, 1990, Wed. Nurse Trenda Rickenbach called Joy at 5:00 A.M. to tell her to come to hospital. They took me to OR at 5:45 A.M. for an angiogram. It showed 95% blockage in two main arteries. One from the first heart attack and one new one. I felt so shocked to know two arteries were blocked, so frightened. I just couldn't believe it was so serious. Joy and Don stayed all day. Brett came in the afternoon, is going to stay the night with Joy. Mom Dola is moved to TCU unit. She is very tired, not very responsive, Brett took Joy to dinner. Scott, Pen, Don, Lilly called. Brett and Don stayed at the hospital all day. Paula called several times. Feb. 15, 1990, Thurs. Had a balloon treatment at 5:30 A.M. Was able to watch the procedure on a monitor. They stretched only one artery. Very sick all day. Had chest spasms off and on all day. Very groggy. It was very successful. Brett stayed with Mom all night. All the kids came or called. Dr. Armstrong came and examined my prostate. There is a blockage. Feb. 16, 1990, Fri., cold Feeling better. No more chest pain. The nurse wheeled me to see Mom Dola. She was sleepy but knew that I was there. We had a good laugh when we got our catheters tangled with each other. I was moved up to room 516. Good to be out of CCU. Lots of visitors. Brett left at 2:00 P.M. He had frozen water pipes at home. Hated to see him leave. Don came in evening and gave me a blessing. Mom Dola is still groggy. They set her up on the side of the bed. She's very weak. Dr. Armstrong came in. He will do biopsy of my prostate in the morning. We have become good friends with Mel Lunt. He is a nephew of Sherrill Chamberlain. He lives in Vegas. Sherrill died this morning. Such a good friend. We sent a card to Doris. Paula called. They brought Lukas home from the hospital. He is feeling better. Mom went home at 9:30 P.M. Brett's 35th birthday. M A N Y V I S I T O R S Feb. 17, 1990, Sat., snow Dr. Armstrong did a biopsy at 7:00 A.M. Mom came at 8:30. A little painful. Elizabeth Adams called. All is OK at home. Brett called. Don & family, Dee, Janet, Lilly, Shirley & Ferry all came. Woody Rindlishbach came to see me. Had a good visit. Pen & Paul came but couldn't stay long because of snow. I'm passing a lot of blood in my urine. Dr. Armstrong came in and said test results won't be in until Monday. Mom Dola about the same. Mom went home at 9:30 P.M. Feb. 18, 1990, Sun., lots of snow Mom came at 8:30. I took my first shower since last Monday. Nurse removed the catheter. What a relief. Mom wheeled me down to the second floor TCU to see Mom Dola. She's about the same. My first BM since admitted. Fantastic. Paula called. Luke is fine. Had a lot of bladder distress and pain while Gene and Agnes were here. Terry finally called. He is in Houston Texas with his company. So glad we located him. Had lots of company today, very tired. Jack Meehan called. Lilly, Dee & Janet & kids, Don & D'anne & kids all came. I'm tired. Mom went home at 10:15. Feb 19, 1990, Mon., clear & cold Bladder distress all night and all day. Nurse put catheter back in tonight. Ferry, Lilly & kids came. Scott called. His back is hurting again. Earl Mazakna (WR [Western Rock] foreman) called. Larry called from Las Vegas. Bryon & Diane came for a minute. Gene called. Feb. 20, 1990, Tues., Provo Hospital Dr. Armstrong came by, telling me my prostate is benign. Dr. Freschknecht said go ahead on the prostate surgery. Leayn Hait, Paula, D'anne, and Brett called. Pen & Breck came. Trooper Kevin Davis called. Lilly came by. Mom went with D'anne. Dr. Armstrong will operate Feb. 21, 1990. Tera called. It's raining in St. George. Ferry, Shirley, & Don came. Feb. 21, 1990, Wed. Provo Hospital Brett called, Lilly called, Deed & his wife came. Bob & Ilene Greenwall came. My heart doctor came. Feb. 22, 1990, Thurs. Provo Hospital Sis. Lilly came, & took Mom BJ. Terry called from Texas. Roger Bagley, Bill Duncan, Abe Haycock called from Cedar. Orin Heiderman called. Don & Laura came by. Ferry, Lilly & we two chatted. Gene Goe called. Feb 23, 1990, Fri. Provo Hospital I may have to wait a little longer to go home. Helen, Lilly came. Bill Duncan came. Had a visit. Don & Laura came. Brett called. Feb 24, 1990, Sat. Larry & Jeanie came, we visited. Mom BJ let me talk to Mom Dola, her left ear is the best. Feb 25, 1990, Sun., Released from Hospital Lilly came by. Helen & Boyd came. Feb 26, 1990, Mon. Provo Had a restless night. Heart felt better. Lilly called. Stacee and Destiny came. Ferry came. Don & daughter came. Bernell & Linda Croft called from Orderville. T A V I S H ' S B I R T H Feb 27, 1990, Tues. Provo Had a fair sleep, Helen called BJ early. They will move Mom Thursday to CareWest Nursing Home. She's not progressing very well. Rode to hopital to see Mom. She was a little more responsive. Lilly and a friend were there. Terry called from Texas with a surprise that Tina had just given birth to a 6-month old baby boy. He's not expected to live. Ferr came by. D O L A D I E S April 3, 1990, Tues. Mom died at 3:30 A.M. Ferry called us at 3:32 stating that Mom died. At 6:50 A.M. I started calling Don, Pen, Brett, Terry, Scott, and Paula. I built Mom a fire then went to KOA. Back home I called Aunt LaVon, John DeMille, Raymond DeMille, and Loa Brinkerhoff. Mom BJ called Alene Chamberlain and Roma. We went to Zion Bank, then to the Credit Union to deposit the Social Security check, then to Western Rock. Saw Paul, Debbie and Leyan. Back home Ferry called BJ. Dee Perry came by. Pen called Mom BJ. Velma & Henry Carroll called. Mom called Sis. Helen in SLC. Gene & Aggie called. P A U L ' S B I - P A S S H E A R T S U R G E R Y August 28, 1990, Tues., Provo Hospital, 1st operation We were up at 3:30 A.M. Showered and cleaned up. I was admitted at 5:00 A.M. Spent two hours in X-ray. Doctor couldn't get balloon through artery. Took me to CCU. They will do bi-pass surgery in the morning. Brett is not in as much pain today. May remove his kidney. Pen and Paul came. Don and PJ gave me a blessing. Penny announced she is expecting. Aug. 29, 1990, Wed., Provo Hospital, 2nd operation Went into surgery at 7:00 A.M. On heart machine at 9:00 A.M. Lilly walked to OR with BJ. Pen came and waited in waiting room with BJ. Back on my own at 10:30. Heart is working well. Back to CCU at 11:30. Blood pressure is 146/77; pulse is 67. Brett had to have three pints of blood. I started to wake up at 8:30. Connected to a room full of machines. BJ stayed at Lilly's. Nurses are Shannon, [...blank...], and Linda Roper. Relieved I made it through. Aug. 30, 1990, Thurs. Still groggy. Off respirator. Brett came down to see me. They let him go home for a few days. Will come back Wed. for surgery. Lilly, Jeanette, Janet, and Don came to visit. Over-extended on respirator and caused lots of pain. Took two shots of morphine to calm down. BJ called Terry and Scott. Stayed at Lilly's. Aug. 31, 1990, Fri. Moved up to room 504. Feeling much better. Took bandages off incision. Helen & Steven, Lilly & Jeanette came. Walked 50 feet. A little shaky. Sept. 4, 1990, Tues. Released from hospital. B R E T T ' S K I D N E Y S U R G E R Y Sept. 5, 1990, Wed. Brett's day for surgery. Trying to find deodorant. Mom drove to Provo hospital to be with Brett, Stacee, & Sis. Lilly. Later on called from Lilly's. Brett is OK. I took a 25 min. walk. September 6, 1990, Thurs., 11:00 A.M. to Provo hospital to see Brett. He's feeling pretty good. Joked about who was having the most pain. They took out his kidney. Visited with Jim and Karen Hansen in CCU. Home at 2:00 P.M. Visited Bob and Ilene. Ate watermelon. Walked 25 minutes.