Colleen's Life History - 1: Music and Life: By Colleen Dawn Hayes (Layland, Weeks, Pedersen, )

Colleen Dawn Hayes, Sr. Picture, May 1943 cdh0165

I tried to think of many ways to introduce Mom’s Life History. Nothing seemed to do her life justice until I came across these words from Grandma Hayes. As we have all come to know, a mother can always summon words that describe their children in ways that others only think about. So without further ado, here is the perfect introduction to my mother.
Frank Layland, Christmas 1997

Introduction

“December 2, 1975: 51 years ago today my wonderful daughter, Colleen Dawn, came to me, a precious spirit, so new and tender from her home in heaven...

My mind skips over the years from the sweetest little one this side of eternity to a teenager in college, then on and on to other colleges to secure her degree......She was born to seek knowledge, to progress, to improve herself. Determined to teach her children throughout the years, has been a hassle. She has succeeded far more than she realizes.....

How does a poor writer like myself put down in print the thoughts and memories of this wonderful woman.....only briefly to say, from her youth she has loved the LORD and tried to serve him...her outreach to family and friends is out of the ordinary...the elderly, her special concern. Among the pages of my many diaries and ledgers there is related her love for her mother, her constancy, devotion, never wavering from year to year. The age old question could be asked, “Why should one with so great a spirit, be called to bear so many trials and hardships? My beloved Colleen, “Weeping may tarry for a day but joy cometh in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5) You were a joy when you came to me, you are a joy now, one of my greatest blessings...with the greatest love I have ever known.

“December 3, 1975: Thinking about what I wrote yesterday on her birthday, so brief, if she could have received another name, it would be MUSIC.“

Colleen's baby picture - 1925 cdh0157

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My sister Margie in 1925 (CDH0156)      

Annselina and Alma Hayes (CDH027)                                      

 

Dad & I in the winter of about 1926 (FRL0030)

The Beginning - December 2nd, 1924

It is Sunday and a most changeable day this November the 26th 1995. The sun is now lovely and all the sky is blue with fluffy white clouds (cumulus) here and there in the sky. A short while ago it was snowing small hail stones and the wind severe over the Wyoming sky in Evanston where my home has been for over four years. And what is the occasion? Why this most serious attempt at writing? My number three child and only son, Frank Riley Layland, asked me to write my memories about my Father and Mother. Being pleased to honor his request the following is written.

Almost 71 years and looking back to when life began for me, My Turn on Earth. The little house I was born in was located in Georgetown, Idaho on December 2, 1924. The temperature was below zero and mother had hung heavy quilts up over the door and windows to help keep out the frigid air. Dad went after Dr. Russell Tiger, in Soda Springs, to help with my birth and care of mother and myself. My father's name was John Riley Hayes Jr. Dad and Mother had each been married once before. My loving half sister, Mary Marjorie was 5 1/2 years older than I, had dark brown eyes, shiny black hair and a little dark skin. She was an adoring sister. And as she grew and matured her natural talent for rhythm in piano playing and dance was obvious. Margie was Mother’s oldest child and from a former marriage. Daddy was not good to Margie; he favored me; I was aware of it and didn’t like it.

We lived in the two story house with pillars at the front entrance on the north end of (highway), and west side of the road. We did not have an indoors bathroom and had to go out behind the house (west) to the privy. One day on the way to the bathroom a bee stung me on the head. I’m sure that I must have gone crying to my mother who doctored the head.

(picture to the right with me holding a cat frl0045)

Both Dad and Mother were also born in Georgetown, as was Margie. It was my blessing to have known six Grandparents. Both sets of my grandparents lived in Georgetown: Jedediah Morgan Tippets and Mary Emmaline Dunn Tippets; John Riley Hayes and Harriet Emmeline (sp?) Dunn Hayes. There is no error about my grandmothers' names; they were - both Emmaline or Emmeline, (I’m not sure of the spelling) Dunn and of very distant blood relationship. It is quite unusual that both of my Grandmother's names were Emmaline Dunn; but is something of which I have always been pleased. Mother's sister,, Lillis May, and her husband, Leon Sorensen and children lived in nearby Nounan, a few miles west of Georgetown.

My great grandfather, Alma Hess Hayes (who walked across the plains as a little boy having lost his father due to beatings of the mob in Nauvoo and his mother who died at Winter Quarters),-came to Georgetown much earlier- when it was only four- years old. He was a bishop for 17 years; much loved by people all over Bear Lake Valley who came to him for counsel; drove a surrey with a fringe on top; kept the deacons busy getting kindling wood out for the widows; during polygamy had two wives who each had 12 children. A man who stood tall and straight; wore a suit and walked with a cane; plus always wore a hat. He was proper, but kind; industrious and patient. There are papers and accounts written by him and about him; and should be among my Book of .Remembrance things. Grandma Annselina Thomas Hayes had many children and other relatives in Georgetown, as they still do, and as Grandpa’s other wife and he had and have.

Grandma and Grandpa Hayes had a fruit orchard. They worked very hard. She was always calm and controlled in her manner, to my knowledge, and very proud of her children. Daddy was good to them, he often bought things for them.

Grandma Tippets was very loving and attentive to we grandchildren. I remember especially well walking into the kitchen many times when first going to her home and asking for some bread and jam; she never turned us down. I remember too, the square, rickety kitchen table; the taste of homemade butter; watching as water was pulled up from the well on the back porch; the stairway to the second floor and how much fun we "Noisy" grandchildren had playing upstairs (with one of the folks yelling "Quiet down up there") Of course we agreed to and tried to, but soon forgot and were yelled at more times.- I don't remember ever having anyone come take us downstairs for being noisy.

Grandpa Tippets was a quiet rather small in stature man. He was very deep and had served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in his youth. He and Grandma Tippets had had a small dry farm and worked very hard.

Mother was not sure she was going to be able to raise me through the first year. No food seemed to agree with me. Finally goats milk became my saving food and I then thrived. When I was about two years old mother gave birth to my little brother John Riley Hayes Jr. the 2nd. He had not been carried full term. In those days information about different formulas was unknown and mother did not feel she had enough nutritious milk. The little boy was not doing very well and died. She worried that the cat would get in and eat part of the baby after he died and before the funeral and burial. Dad built a little coffin as he shed tears. Mother lined it with the prettiest material she had. Pink, I believe. Someone thoughtlessly said in Mothers hearing, "It is only a baby that died." How that hurt mother. She did not want her little son to die. Her heart longed to be able to raise him. My Mother and Dad spent a considerable amount of time praying together regarding family matters. I am thankful for that to this day. Little Junior is buried in the Georgetown cemetery where all the above Grandparents, Mother, Dad, and Sister Margie are buried.

Mother and Dad purchased a home on Main Street. One of the first things I remembered as a very small child (about age 3) was when the piano (player), three -pieces of overstuffed front-room furniture, and 9 piece dining room set were delivered to our house in Georgetown; they were covered with heavy, light brown paper; and I remember how big the pieces looked to me. Neighbors relatives friends, and acquaintances came to our home and gathered around the piano to sing as different ones took turns pumping the rolls, or sitting and listening, amazed and enjoying the magical sounds and movement of the untouched keys.


There were other things that took place while we lived there that are humorous, sad, and interesting. Most of them I remember from hearing the family talk about them.

Across the street from where our home was a Mrs. Thompson lived. (Mother and I met her two daughters our last visit to the cemetery together in 1994 on Memorial Day (Mother was 96). Margie and I used to go over and Mrs. Thompson would put cream on slices of bread and sprinkle sugar on top. Oh! we thought that was most delicious. I can remember those happy times.

The sad incident was when my Uncle Del (Russell Hayes' Dad) was working on a heavy wagon, having it propped up on something. The wagon slipped and caught Uncle Del on his neck. Dad was not home and Mother and Aunt Vera did the best they could to care for him. I believe they realized that he could not live and he died not long after that (Picture frl0032).  The picture, to the above right is Uncle Del, Aunt Vera, Dad and I.

Sister Margie and I had Shetland pony. It was a pretty animal but a balky one. He only wanted to go backwards. As I recall we did not keep the pony very long. (picture above right frl0035)


Mother and Dad owned a good amount of property south of Georgetown and a herd of sheep.

My father was “Daddy” to me when I was a little girl; later I called him “Dad”. We moved to Soda Springs to be near the business that was growing and very time consuming for both Mother and Dad. We lived in the two story house known as the “Root” house which was located on the south side of Highway 30 & 34 one block from Main Street, (West).

Daddy managed the Soda Springs Warehouse on Main Street in the 1930's. Times were hard for most folks; the depression had really taken over. However the industry and drive of my father and mother were so unusual that they soon established a business in Soda Springs, Idaho in addition to their farm & livestock they had on their land a few miles north and west of Georgetown. The City Transfer and Storage, Main Street, Soda Springs, has changed hands a number of time and different buildings are there. I remember the big warehouse, the office and scales that were ours for a period of time. Daddy had several men working for him and bought and sold to and from the farmers in the area. In fact all the way between Soda and Salt Lake City. It was fun for me to go with him in the big truck and ride in the back. I remember laying on sacks of wool and grain and looking up at the stars at night. One time I made myself comfortable in a big farm wheel. We often stopped for over night at Aunt Lou Whaley's in Perry, Utah. The home is across the street from the only cafe in Perry today (9/12/96) The Whaley's son-in-law, Carl Fraciff (sp?) still lives there.

The City Transfer and Storage business grew by leaps and bounds; Dad had a number of trucks and men to drive for him as well as work in the warehouse in Soda Springs. One day I climbed up to the cash register and took out a little money from the office on Main Street,(first building south of the tracks, on the east side, Main Street); crossed the street and bought some candy from Eastman Drugstore, which was straight across the street from the C.T. & S. When I returned anticipating how good the candy was going to taste Mother took the candy from me and threw it in the stove. I thought that was unforgivable.

Behind the Whaley home still stands the log cabin built about in the 1860's by John Johnson Dunn for his second wife. Early in the Mormon History of Utah Polygamy was practiced. His second wife was my Maternal Grandmother, Emmaline Dunn's mother.

Dad also worked for a broker by the name of Sterling H. Nelson in Salt Lake City. years later (1982) Sue and I visited the elderly Mr. Nelson and he still spoke very highly of Riley Hayes and how he had known how to get things done. He also said that he would rather have Riley to work for him than a dozen ordinary men.

Margie and I were outside one day in front of the house. I started across the street; Margie yelled at me to come back; and bull-headed I went part way across the street when a car driven by Mr. Seammons swerved to miss me but the back bumper caught me and broke my leg. I remember when they carried me to the hospital that I asked this question as I was being carried through the front door: “Will I have to stay all night?” Of course I did, and many nights. Mother sat by my side many hours each day; Mr. Guy Mossman, a friend of the family---tall, with a long black beard, funny and entertaining, came often and entertained me while I was bedfast. The break was in the upper right leg and the bone would not stay in place when the Dr. set it (Dr. Evan Kackley) They had to put a metal plate and screws in. When I returned home I had to learn to walk all over again.

Dad bought the home now located across the street south of the -High School. -.It is now owned, 1981, by Jerald Hatch and the address is 350 East First North. Next door to the East lived Frieda Staats, a very dear widow and loving, helpful friend. When there was need she often helped us in one way or another. On the West was Lucille and Cyril Lau and Lucille's son by her first marriage. I believe his name was Bob. She, too, was a wonderful neighbor. Not long after we moved to Soda, Great Grandfather Alma Hayes and Great Grandmother Annselina Hayes moved (or maybe they were there before we moved into the Root house; I am not sure) into the home two houses to the west from us, and next door to the Pantings who were on their west and the Laus on their East. I remember them well. Grandfather (I always called my grandfathers “Grandpa”.) always seemed to be wearing a suit, a hat, walked with a cane and had a long white beard and stood very straight and tall. Many people here still remember him, although he died April 5, 1935 while serving as Patriarch for the Stake and Church here. He often came to our house; sat his cane and hat on the floor beside him; and visited with Mother (and I’m sure with Dad when Dad was there). He loved soggy cake; if it wasn’t soggy he didn’t like it. Grandma wore, if I remember correctly, a long dress with an apron; and had curly hair with a narrow ribbon around it. Dad used to tell me about the time that Grandpa Alma (his grandfather) told him: “Riley, be sure you are right; then go ahead no matter what others think.”

TO BE CONTINUED