Richard Neal Heywood.
10 April 1933
- [1]
My LDS Heritage
Before 1933
My parents, grandparents and great grandfathers and their wives were members of
the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints.
I have 13 ancestors who “crossed the plains” to Utah before 1869; one
great-great-grandmother died in Ash Hollow, Nebraska while crossing the plains. Grandparents and great grandparents were pioneers in Mormon communities in Utah and Arizona. My father was reared in an Arizona pioneer family in Alpine and Thatcher, Arizona. My mother was reared in a pioneer home in
Wellsville, Utah. (See the table at the end of this document for
a listing of Richard Heywood's Utah Pioneer Ancestors who crossed the Plains before 1869 when the
transcontinental railroad was completed.)
Of interest to me as a patriarch, my father was a patriarch and two of my great-grandfathers were patriarchs.
Birth
Monday, 10 April 1933
I was born in Snowflake,
Navajo, Arizona. My parents' home was in Holbrook at the time. I was delivered by Dr. Joseph Neal Heywood, my uncle.
My three older siblings were Josephine, age 11, Barbara, age 5, and Alfred, age 3.
I take pride in having
been born in Snowflake
and having been delivered by my Uncle Neal. Alfred was also born in Snowflake and delivered by Uncle
Neal.
Hitler came into power during the year of my birth.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was inaugurated President of the United
States.
The following was written years ago:
The following was written years ago:
My Life
Richard Neal Heywood
I was born in snowflake, Navajo
County, Arizona. April 10 1933. It was Monday morning about 10 o’clock. My
doctor was my uncle, Dr. J. N. Heywood of Snowflake. My daddy was living in
Holbrook, Arizona. He was a dentist. My grandma Smurthwaite came from Salt Lake
city and stayed with me for two months, in Holbrook. Our home was in Holbrook.
The family lived here for five years and when I was one and a half years old we
moved to Mesa, Arizona. We lived in a brick house on south Mesa Drive for two
years. There was a big canal between our front lawn and the highway. My aunt
Ella was hanging out clothes one day, she had wheeled my crib out in the back
yard with me in it. Alfred, my brother, came along and lifted me out, and Aunt
Ella looked for me and couldn’t find me and thought I had fallen in the big
canal. But finally she found me in the house. Alfred never took me out of my
crib again. When I was three years old I was in my baby bath tub and I had a
little rubber donkey and a little rubber pig. I was playing all around, pushing
on the pig and donkey and all of a sudden I slipped over in the bath tub. I was
learning to walk when I was about one year old and I caught whooping cough and
measles, so I didn’t learn until six months were over with. When I was learning
to walk, before I caught whooping cough, Barbara, my sister, was standing and
saying “come on Richard” and when I went I went real fast and I knocked her
down, just like I was running.
Brothers and Sisters
Margaret Josephine Heywood (Pitton) 18 Nov 1922, Mesa, Maricopa AZ
Barbara Lea Heywood (Price) 2 Oct 1928, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Alfred Leland heywood 17 Jun 1930, Snowflake, AZ
Carol Jayne Heywood (French) 3 Jul 1940, Hill Township, Johnson, MO
My Place In The Family
Monday, lO April 1933 to Friday,
lO April 1953
For about 12 years, I was the youngest in the family.
At that time, my sister,
Carol, was adopted. She was about five when she first came to our home.
I think I was
a bit spoiled; at least my
older siblings seem to have felt that I had it easy.
My brother,
Alfred, picked on me some. I am told that my sister, Barbara,
gave me a pretty hard time, but I
have only the vaguest recollection of her giving me any trouble.
Places I Lived as a Child and in my Youth
Monday, 10 April 1933 to September 1959
I lived the first two years of my life in Holbrook, Navajo, Arizona. I don't remember
it. I have been told that I was walking when about one year of age, but I developed
whooping cough and this set me back. I don't know how long it took me to learn to walk again. I have wondered
From Holbrook, we moved to Mesa, Maricopa,
Arizona. Our first home was on Mesa Drive a bit south of Main Street.
I have only the vaguest recollection of the "Old Brick House."
It still standing as of February 2007.
While living there, my
mother tied me up to a tree so
I wouldn't fall in the big
ditch which ran in front of the house. Alfred felt sorry for me and turned me loose. I fell in the ditch, but he saved me. I had heard the story most of my
life, but only recently learned
that he had turned me loose. I had considered
him a hero, and I guess in a way, he
was. But the luster was a bit dimmed when I found out he was responsible for the almost
disaster.
Our next home was at 40 East First Street
in Mesa. We lived there
until I was a sophomore in high school. There
were six of us in this three
bedroom home. I thought it was a nice home,
but, by today's standard, it was small.
Alfred and I slept in what we called the screened porch. In my early youth
it was pretty
much open to the out of doors
because two walls
were made up mostly of screens. (I remember finding a black widow spider on one of the window
sills. I thought it looked
very harmless and quite pretty.
Since then, I have developed a fear for the black widow. Barbara and
Jo were in the middle
bedroom, mom and dad in the front
bedroom. We shared a small bathroom. We ate most meals in the kitchen.
We ate Sunday Dinner in the dining room. At first, we had neither central
heating nor cooling.
We had an evaporative cooler in
the living room. Because
of the hot climate, we were grateful for the screened porch. It wasn't uncommon for Alfred and me to sleep
out of doors.
We had a large yard, over an acre, with a citrus
orchard, a small barn, a
chicken coop, various fruit trees, an occasional garden, pasture for our one or two horses and one or two cows.
I
hated gathering the eggs and often procrastinated the chore. This led to the breaking
of eggs in the nests and a lot of extra work cleaning the eggs.
(I must confess that I still procrastinate and as a result often have a lot of extra work to do.)
I was milking the cow regularly
while still in "grammar school."
Once, we had two cows, a Jersey and a Guernsey. We had plenty of milk and cream and butter.
At one time, I sold cream to the neighbors.
The cream was much thicker than the thickest
cream which may be purchased
at a store. If I remember correctly, I sold a pint for 35cents.
At one time, Alfred got lazy
and didn't want to "strip" the cow dry when milking. He started adding water to the milk he
got so his laziness wouldn’t
be discovered. By the time his deception was discovered, the cow was almost dry dry.
At one time we raised two sheep.
One was named "Doc." I can't remember
the other name. We also raised a Hereford calf for meat. I saw my cousin,
Newel, slaughter it, a most unpleasant experience.
We had a couple of tall
eucalyptus trees just west and north of our house.
We climbed them quite a bit. It is so surprising to me that my
mother let us climb so freely,
because her sister Mildred, fell from a tree in her youth and suffered paralysis and a resulting premature death in a few years as a result of the fall.
Perhaps confession is good for the soul. We had a loosely
knit club called
the OFTC. One or two of us or our friends
would climb the eucalyptus and act as look-outs to make sure our
neighbors, the Scotts, were not in their orchard. (There was a large naval orange tree in the middle of their orchard.) When the
coast was clear, one or two of the boys would climb over the
When I was a sophomore
in high school,
we moved to a very nice home on Vista
Drive (Now 7th Place) in Mesa. We didn't have a huge yard like we did before, but there was a huge lawn that had to be mowed. I mowed. By then we had purchased 5 acres of pasture on Country Club where we kept a horse and cows.
I milked. Once,
when I went to milk our two cows, my Sister, Carol, went with me. The smaller
cow, a Jersey with horns, butted her resulting in a slight
injury. Dad immediately had the cow de-horned. Carol did fine. Before the dehorning, the Jersey had been a bully and reigned over the somewhat
larger Guernsey which had no horns. After the dehorning, the Guernsey became
the boss.
Shortly after I came home from my mission, my folks had a home built at 443 North Macdonald Street in Mesa. That was my home until I married
Carma. That was where we had our reception.
Church Ordinances
Sunday, 2 July 1933 to 2000
Ordinance
|
Date
|
Performed by
|
Blessing
|
2 Jul 1933
|
Leland Heywood
|
Baptism
|
3 May 1941
|
William H Poulter
|
Confirmation
|
4 May 1941
|
Mernice L Griner
|
Deacon
|
27 May 1945
|
Leland Heywood
|
Teacher
|
9 May 1948
|
Leland Heywood
|
Priest
|
9 Apr 1950
|
Leland Heywood
|
Elder
|
25 May 1952
|
Leland Heywood
|
Endowment
|
18 Jun
1953
|
Mesa Arizona Temple
|
High Priest
|
4 Aug 1974
|
Leland Heywood
|
Bishop
|
28 Jan 1990
|
Richard S. Ray
|
Patriarch
|
23 Jan 2000
|
Brent Jameson
|
Father's Occupation
About Tuesday, 10 April
1934 to Friday,
10 April 1953
My dad was a dentist.
He started dental
school when he was about 30. Before dental school
he had been a pharmacist in St Johns,
Chandler, and Mesa. He graduated from the
University of Southern California dental school when he was about 35. He practiced till he was 72, a total of about 37 years. I was proud of him. He worked very hard and was a good provider. I think he enjoyed dentistry. It was
a grinding occupation; he often came home very tired.
He said that when he died, he wanted this written
on his tombstone: "Here lies Dr. Heywood, the last cavity he will ever fill."
Mother's Occupation
About Tuesday, lO April 1934 to Friday,
lO April 1953
Mother taught school
most of her adult life. I was proud to have a teacher for a mother,
but when I think about
it now, I think there would have been less tension
in the home had she been a "stay and home" mom. Actually,
she was at home for part of my growing
up years, but when World War II came and they
needed her service she became
a substitute teacher.
Finally, when a
fulltime teacher had to quite (I can't remember
why) and she was teaching so much, mom thought it
might
be best to become a permanent teacher.
We as kids thought that would be wonderful!
She decided to resume fulltime
teaching. (If I were advising today, I would encourage her to stay home.)
After my
mother retired from Mesa High School at age about 67, she taught at the Church College of Hawaii (now BYU Hawaii)
until she was about 72.
She said that after she taught her first class as little
more than a school girl herself, she always felt economically secure knowing that she could earn a living if it were necessary.
Pets
About 1938 to About 1950
In our childhood
home on First Street in Mesa,
we had a dog named "Snowball" and later a dog named "Oliver Twist Heywood.” We also had a cat named Tonto (because of her color and the fact that Tonto, of Lone
Ranger fame, had a horse which was a "paint." (A "paint" is a horse with patches of brown or black and white. Also called a pinto.) Tonto had patches
of brown and white She had many litters of kittens.
My uncle
Tenn sent the dog from Utah.
My brother,
Alfred, recommended the name Oliver because the dog had traveled so far.
Alfred said, "You know, Oliver's Travels! The name Oliver stuck and the kids added to the name so it became "Oliver Twist Heywood.”
We had a rooster which was not exactly a pet. In fact it wasn't a pet at all. Alfred and I called it Peckarara (Sp?). It was a mean rooster
and would chase even medium sized children.
Early Education
1938 to 1947
1938- 1941 Lincoln School,
South Center Street. Kindergarten through 2nd grade. I walked to
and
from school, about half
a mile from home. I remember the principle
was Mrs. Houston. One teacher was Mrs. Kay. In Kindergarten we took a blanket
and had a nap. I particularly liked having a note pinned
to my shirt to take home to my Mother.
I remember going with a freind after school and playing in a cotton gin. I remember
a traveling group that put on some kind of a show in the front yard of the school;
they had a monkey with a prehensile tail. I'm sure I must have learned something, but I don't remember.
1941-1944 Irving School I have many more memories about Irving School, North Center Stree, where I attended 3rd through 5th grades. It was on the same block in which we lived.
1941-1944 Irving School I have many more memories about Irving School, North Center Stree, where I attended 3rd through 5th grades. It was on the same block in which we lived.
My third grade homeroom teacher was Miss White.
She was a marvelous story teller. She drilled us on adding and subtraction. I enjoyed it a lot.
My fourth grade home room teacher was Miss Cords, I think. She drilled us on multiplication tables. I enjoyed that a lot. She used flash cards.
My friend and I raised
our hands to give the answer almost before the cards were up. When she would get mad at a student
her face would go bright red. She had peach fuzz.
My
fifth grade home room teacher was Evelyn Christensen who became Mrs. Lane Pew during the year. She was our music teacher and a good one! (I started taking trumpet lessons from her husband while in the fourth
or fifth grade.)
I enjoyed many things at Irving:
Sports, the drum and bugle corps, recess and chasing the girls, patriotic programs,
the raising of the flag and the pledge each morning, and being a "Crossing Guard". Music became
very important to me. I liked all my teachers.
Once, when I was
in the 5th grade, I sort of bullied a younger boy (nothing serious). Later, I was
ashamed; especially when I leaned he didn't
have a father. (By the time we were in high school, he was bigger than me.
I
am glad he didn't hold a grudge.)
1944-1947 Franklin School was on Main Street,
close to half a mile from home.
I walked
to school, often with my friend, John Jarvis.
I was active in sports and music--singing
and playing trumpet in the orchestra; Mrs Bond was the orchestra
leader. I like my teachers.
Ruida
Hicks was my 6th grade home room teacher.
She became Mrs. Millet. Mrs. Galbraith was my 7th
grade home room teacher.
She seemed to like me a lot more before I was in her class
than she did when I was in her class. I
think it was because of excess talking on my part. Miss Bell was my 8th grade home room teacher. I liked
all my teachers. Among my favorites were Mr. Heywood
(my cousin Kenneth who taught
PE--He gave me a swat, once. (I'm sure
I deserved it.). Mr.
Riggins was our science teacher and sponsor
of 4H in which I was very active,
and Mr. Herrera. Afton Petersen was one of
the
best! I liked my classes.
I think I liked Shop least of all because I was not
very good at it. I was especially poor at Mechanical Drawing. Art was a close second. I liked Orchestra
a lot. I liked PE best of all. I got a
couple of blue ribbons in track while in 7th grade. The next
year, in the same races,
I came in 2nd or 3rd to a couple
of skinny black boys
from another school. I had expected to win, again.
I think I had stopped
chasing the girls by this time, but I had even more interest in them. I had a few "girl friends" by then.
My friend, John Jarvis, and I won blue ribbons
with our 4H demonstration on "BWD" testing
of chickens. "BWD" stands
for bacillary white
diarrhea which could result in the death of chickens. The second year, the disease was called pullorum[2]. In 4H I was given booklets to keep track the eggs our chickens would lay. I would keep an accurate
record for about 2 or 3 days. Then, I
would
procrastinate and try to remember
the figures and fill them in later.
After a while, I would give up the record keeping project.
(I still have a hard time keeping
track of things!)
1947-1951 Mesa High School
Four great years. I played football and basketball. I played trumpet in the band, first chair my senior year. I was Junior Class President. I was in the National Guard for almost 2 years.
Friends, Childhood and Youth
1938 to 1959
I became acquainted with most of my close friends at church. They were also my school mates for the most part.
John Heber Jarvis lived just down the street in the next block. I used to give
a Tarzan yell as I
approached his house on the way to school.
He had a more disciplined childhood than I did. My
parents gave me considerable more freedom.
As a result, I think,
he became a more disciplined person than I am. Some of the things I remember
about John are his great memory for names. He also had a good memory for the streets in Mesa. He was a great student.
He was always a bit smaller than I was. He was about 6 months younger.
We started school
together in kindergarten and progressed together through
high school. He was a good student
and was one of our school Salutatorians when we graduated
from high school.
At one time, we both played trumpet.
I kept playing in high school
and college. He quit after grammar school.
We played together
on the "Allen All Stars" basketball team during 7th and 8th grade.
It was coached by our friend John Allen's father, John "Bat" Allen. We were winners. John Jarvis and I were Cub Scouts together
Keith Standage was one of my closest friends
in 6th through the 8th
grades. He matured much earlier than I did and we didn't do much together
after the 8th grade except
we played varsity basketball together our
senior year. He made the freshman team. I didn't.
He was a starter for the JV s our Sophomore
year. I sat on the bench most of the time. He made the varsity team our
junior year. I was a starter
for the JV's. Our Senior year he was a starter
and when I played, I usually replaced Keith.
At one time, we almost
got into a fight in practice. I usually guarded
him in practice and he became irritated because
I guarded him too closely.
He later apologized.
I think it was when we were in the 8th grade that Keith and Merlin Mitchell
and I got into trouble. It all started after scout meeting. There was a hotel close to our "Scout Barn" behind the Mesa
First Ward building. We happened to see a partially broken window on the top floor, I think the
third. We decided to knock the
window out the rest of the way with rocks.
Merlin was a pitcher and a good shot with rocks.
I think it was Merlin who completed
the job. This whetted
our appetites. We started on a few windows which were intact with some degree of success. Then, on the way towards my home and Merlin's home, we were again tempted
by some large windows at the side of a car dealership on the south side of Main Street between Center and Sirrine.
We did some significant damage with some large rocks we
found nearby. All at once, a car came into sight.
It was a police car. We ran. Merlin escaped.
(He was not only a good pitcher,
he was fast.) Keith and I got caught. We denied any wrong doing and went our way, but, the next day the damage was reported to the police. We were confronted
and confessed. We had to appear before
Judge Bird. (He was our Justice of the Piece and also an excellent
saddle maker.) For several years I worried
about the possibility of my criminal
record becoming public
knowledge. We had to pay for the damage.
I hoed weeds to
earn money. I hated hoeing weeds. I don't know whether
I got enough hoed to really pay the debt, but somehow it was cleared
up. I don't know whether there was any relation between my juvenile trouble
and my decision to stop swearing or not, but it was in the 8th grade that I stopped. (I remember only one time since swearing-off swearing that I have sworn. That was when I got mad at Alfred. Now I don't remember was I was mad about.)
Keith fulfilled a mission, but I don't think he was entirely
committed to the Church. I heard that he had some legal troubles not too many years ago. He died a few years ago.
I lost track of Merlin long ago.
Nolan Petersen became one of my closest friends
when we were in the 8th grade.
We started doing a lot of things together
and did so through high school and into college. We had long talks on many subjects. We exchanged profound
ideas. We played
in the high school band, had mutual friends,
lived in the same ward, took occasional high school classes
together, and were in the mission field at the same time. While
I was courting Carma, we double dated with Nolan and
his future wife, Colleen O'Barr. Nolan had paper routes. He could get by on very little
sleep. He told me once
that if he got 6 hours of
sleep, he was "living." (If l didn't get at least 8 hours of sleep, I would feel tired.) Nolan served
a full-time mission in the Central States. Two of
Nolan's children accused
him of molesting them in their childhood. I am convinced
he is innocent, but the accusation eventually broke up their marriage and split the family apart. Also, the accusation and its implications almost broke Nolan mentally. He became so pre-occupied with his plight that he could almost think of nothing
else. A few years ago, however,
he met and
Ray Ulmer and I did
a lot of things together
in high school and have remained friends.
We played football together. We went to Friday Night Dances at the Mezona
frequently. We double dated some when we could get up enough courage to ask for dates, but mostly we went to the dances hoping
to find a girl there
to "take home." Most of the time, we just went home by ourselves. Ray
was not as active in the Church as my
other friends. When I talked with him on the phone not too long ago, he swore
quite a bit. He told me that his divorce from his wife, Jan, resulted from her drinking.
Ray has done very well
financially. I think he has a good family.
Don Crandall
and Larry Bluth were also a good friends.
They were a good musician;
Nolan was, too. We played in the band, sang in our ward choir, and often sang in quartets.
Don married, but the marriage
didn't last. I roomed with Don our freshman
year in college. He majored in music and became a teacher. He served a mission
in the Eastern States, think. He participated in the Hill Cummorah Pageant. Don was killed in an automobile accident while still a young man. The family asked me to present his history.
I was honored to do so.
Larry married and has lived happily-ever-after.
He has a large
family and I think they are all doing well. He served a
mission in Argentina. He has also been
a mission president.
It is sad to say, but of the
6 friends mentioned above, 4 had marriages ending
in divorce. I don't know about Keith Standage.
Fortunately 3 have remarried.
There were others,
but none as close as those mentioned
above.
Girls who were childhood friends:
I'll name a few: Donna Brinton (LeBaron), Helen Fancher (Jarvis), Joan Davis (Johnson), Anita Cox (Farnsworth), Delcina Robson (Hatch),
Donna Steffey (Millet).
Accidents
1941 to About
1997
Broken ribs via a fall. Broken arm
via a fall. Concussion via a fall from a milk truck. Broken hand via a rock thrown by a friend. Broken toe while
playing football. Mild concussion from a blow on the head while playing football.
Broken
hand while playing
basket ball. Broken hand caught in the hinge of a ping pong table
(My, did that hurt.) Subdural hematoma from a
"collision" on a slide
at a water park.
Have there been any after effects? Perhaps. My mind may have been sharper had it not been for
two concussions and the subdural
hematoma??? (My
friends and family can be the judge
of that.) Also my right fourth Metatarsophalangeal joint is periodically painful which may be the result of
my broken toe while playing
football.)
World War II
Sunday, 7 December
1941 to 1945
I remember coming home from Sunday School
on December 7, 1941 and hearing the announcement on the radio:
The Japanese had attacked
Pearl Harbor. This changed our lives. Before long, sugar was being rationed
as well as gasoline. There
was a shortage of candy, especially when we went to scout camp. We collected news papers and grease and rubber as part of the War Effort.
The government sold bonds
to raise money. (It was our patriotic duty to buy them.
I had one or two small bonds.)
We had acquired a new Buick in 1941 before the war; there would not be another until 1947, a Studebaker. My mother started teaching school again
We had many patriotic activities. 4th of July celebrations were big events.
Parades emphasized patriotism.
My brother-in-law, Jim Pitton, was our hero. He was a commissioned officer in the 69th Field Artillery Battalion. (He served in the occupation forces in Europe.)
There was news of
the war on the radio regularly and also there were short News
Reels at the movies which covered
the progress of the war.
I remember V-E day when the German's
surrendered. I remember atomic bombs being dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki followed
by V-J day.
I met
the prophet when
I was a boy.
1941
When I was
about 9 or 10, my family
went to Salt Lake City
for a vacation. While there,
I was taken to the Hotel
Utah where I was left
in the barber
shop to await
a haircut. While waiting, President Heber J. Grant
came in. I met him. He shook
my hand. I was happy
to let him go ahead of me to get his beard
trimmed. The occasion
was so impressive for me, that I determined to be a better boy. It was almost
like being baptized again. I'll always remember the feelings I had.
For me, it was a remarkable experience.
My First Jobs
About 1944 to about 1957
One summer I worked
for a few days as a cotton picker.
I think we were paid about 5 cents per pound. One of my friends put a bunch of clods in
his sack to make it weigh more. When
a brand new empty trailer
was brought in, I wanted
to be the first to dump picked cotton into the trailer. I grabbed his bag, climbed
the ladder, and, despite his protests, dumped
his bag into the trailer. As the clods hit the bottom of the trailer they made an awful sound.
That night I was told to not come back.
My friend was peeved at me. He said he could have dumped
the cotton without it making any noise.
He didn't get fired.
When I was a freshman
or sophomore in high school, I pestered
Wayne Phelps so many times about giving me a job that he finally hired me at "Phelps Market" as a "carry-out" boy.
I worked for over I 0 hours on Saturdays and was paid $5.00 per day. I got very tired. I quit the job in
the middle of my Sophomore because by that time I was playing junior
varsity basketball at Mesa High School and our games interfered with the work. I had an occasional summer job. One
memorable job was working in a potato shed in Queen
Creek as a "Jigger." One year, I delivered the Mesa Tribune every Thursday evening.
My route included part of
Alma School Road.
I did some lawn mowing
for money and had an occasional summer job while in high school.
When in college, I worked part time in grocery
stores, Speckert's in Provo and Wright's in Mesa.
I also was paid a small amount while attending Advanced
ROTC. I was also a lab instructor for a Zoology class.
High School
Graduation
May 1951
The main thing I remember
about my high school graduation was that I didn't
have a date and
I don't
remember receiving any honors or any recognition. I played in the orchestra for the processional and recessional.
I don't remember
who spoke.
Our Valedictorian was Joan Davis (Johnson). There were three Salutatorians: Donna Brinton, Anita
Cox, and John Jarvis. All of these were members of my ward and good friends of mine over the years.
Church Callings, 1954 to 2014
Calling
|
Dates
|
Orgnization Duration
|
|
Full Time
Missionary
|
1954-1955
|
Northwestern States
|
2 y
|
Sunday School Teacher
|
1955-1956
|
Mesa 1st
Ward
|
1 y
|
Elders Quorum President
|
1957-1961
|
University 4th Ward Salt Lake City
|
3 and ½ y
|
Elders Quorum Committee
|
1961-1961
|
Columbus Ohio Ward
|
l y
|
Ward Choir
Director
|
1962-1963
|
Columbus Ohio
Ward |
l y
|
Elders Quorum Counselor
|
1963-1964
|
Peoria Illinois Ward
|
2 y
|
Ward Young
Mens President
|
1964-1965
|
Peoria Illinois Ward
|
ly
|
Sunday School Teacher
|
1965
|
Tempe 4th Ward
|
l y
|
Stake Era Director
|
1965
|
Tempe Arizona Stake
|
l y
|
Ward Sunday
School President
|
1966-1972
|
Tempe 4th Ward
|
6 y
|
Counselor--Stake Sunday School Presidency
|
1972-1973
|
Tempe Arizona Stake
|
l y
|
Elders Quorum President
|
1973-1974
|
Tempe 4th Ward
|
l y
|
Counselor--Bishop Heber Olson
|
1974-1976
|
Tempe 4th Ward
|
3 y
|
Aaronic Priesthood Secretary
|
1976-1977
|
Tempe 4th Ward
|
l y
|
Ward Executive Secretary
|
1997-1983
|
Tempe 4th Ward
|
5 y
|
Counselor--Bishop Byard Wood
|
1983-1990
|
Tempe 4th Ward
|
7 y
|
Bishop[1]
|
1990-1997
|
Tempe 4thWard
|
7 y
|
Stake High
Councilor
|
1997-2001
|
Tempe Arizona
|
3 y
|
Stake Patriarch
|
2000-
|
Tempe Arizona
|
13 y
|
Missionary--Mesa Regional Family History Center
|
200 1-2009
|
Mesa Arizona
|
7 y
|
Director—Mesa Regional Family History Center
|
2009-12
|
Mesa Arizona
|
3 y
|
Ward Temple and Family History Consultant
|
Apx
2011-
|
Tempe AZ
|
6+y
|
I have been deeply
involved with Church callings. I have tried to serve well, but have felt inadequate on many occasions.
I hope my service will be sanctified to the blessing
of those whom I sought to serve. I don't think I always
made correct decisions despite my efforts
to receive inspiration. I hope I have not injured anyone
spiritually or detracted from their testimony. If I have harmed any one, I hope and
pray and am assured that a kind Father in Heaven
will make it up to them.
I believe that my callings
have been a blessing to me and my family. I served
in the bishopric through many of the years my children
were in their teens. I feel this was a great blessing
to me and I hope to them. It gave me opportunity to participate in many activities with them.
During my years of service,
I have associated with wonderful brothers and sisters
and feel grateful
for their friendship and their
confidence and their fine examples.
Courting
1956 to 1959
I have vague recollections of a cute little blond haired girl I saw when visiting my cousins in Snowflake, Arizona.
I didn't know her name,
but the circumstances lead me to believe she was the
daughter of Lawrence N. Smith. I was drawn to this little girl at the time and would be again as will be apparent
as this story unfolds.
When I returned
from my mission in the Northwestern States, some of my friends
talked me into attending Arizona
State College instead
of returning to the Brigham
Young University. While at ASC (Now ASU), I often attended
the LDS Institute activities. The building
was quite new and was located
on what is now University Drive in Tempe. I think I was leaning against a post or a
railing talking with my
cousin, Evelyn Heywood
(Bushman), who is from Holbrook, Arizona. I suppose she was waiting
for someone to ask her to dance.
I was just watching the dancers.
The dancing had changed a lot since I had left for my mission. When I left, there was almost no “Jitter bugging." when I returned that was “the thing” along with what they called "The Stomp." I didn't know how to dance that way, so I just watched. I happened to see a certain girl who seemed confident and seemed
to know what she was doing on the dance floor and who was cute. I asked Evy (Evelyn Heywood Bushman, my cousin) who she was. She said, "Carma Smith" and was surprised I didn't know who she
was. At that moment, I had no idea she was
the cute little
blond haired girl I had seen before
in Snowflake. The name didn't strike a bell.
She was no longer as blond and needless to say, she had
grown up. Still, I was pretty interested and asked
her to dance. I must not have done too
badly because she really acted friendly.
In fact, she acted friendly
enough that I dared ask her out. I didn't have enough
nerve right them, but after seeing her a few more times and receiving
encouraging smiles, I dared do it She said, "No." She already had a date. got turned down twice more before
she finally said, "yes."
Now that took courage--for me to keep asking.
I'm sure I
would have given up immediately had she not been so nice
about turning me down.
Also, she had such a nice smile!
And she was so cute.
And everyone
seemed to enjoy being around her.
Well, you know how these things
go.
During that school
year, Carma and I double-dated quite a bit with my friend, Bruce Cox, and her
friend, Carol Weech (James).
Before the end of the year I knew Carma’s father was Lawrence Smith, that her Aunt Marie
was my Aunt Marie, that my
Uncle Dave was her Uncle
Dave, and that her
cousins, Ben, Leona and Evans, were my cousins, too. I was sure she was the cute little
blond I had seen in the front yard at the home of my cousins'
cousins.
Before the end of the year, I had been accepted to Medical School at the University of Utah and planned to attend there. I was interested enough in Carma by that time to want her to be close, so
I tried to talk
her into attending BYU so she would be closer
and I would be able to continue courting. I failed. I decided she wasn't as interested in me as I had thought.
It didn't stop my interest, though. And when I went to
BYU that summer,
I wrote to her. She answered.
In fact, she invited me to visit
her around the 24th of July
in Snowflake. I did.
I arrived one day earlier
than she anticipated. She had a date.
I was not too concerned until I found that Day Ellsworth
was interested in her and that all of his friends, some of whom had formerly been my friends, too, were on his side. I was on
the outside. Well, I took her to a
couple of events; she treated me very well.
I was encouraged. But! When I saw her around
Day, she seemed to treat him the same! Needless
to say, I was a bit confused. To top it off, she thought I was leaving
a day earlier, so the last night I was there, guess who she had a date with. Right!
On the way back to BYU, I decided to "mark her off my list." (Actually, I didn't have a list, but I
marked her off anyway.)
I think she must have written a letter and apologized for not saying good bye. (I had left early in the morning
before she got up; she had stayed out late,
I think. At any rate, through some letters and seeing
her occasionally over the next couple of years, she somehow
got back on my list of one, and Day got off of hers.
Carma was about to graduate
from ASU with a degree
in Home Economics
and Education and a minor in science. I was home for spring
break. We went out a few times and I brought
up the subject of "our" future
and suggested she might consider getting
a teaching certificate in Utah.
I'm sure I must have mentioned something
about marriage and held her hand and gave her a peck on the cheek. Needless to say, I was embarrassingly unromantic. (I must have inherited that triat from my father who reportedly proposed
to my mother in a kitchen with dirty dishes
on the table. At least, I had selected
a moon lit night.)
I went
back to Utah for school. When I returned
for the summer,
I had some misgivings; and
though I spent a considerable amount of time with Carma, I didn't say anything more about marriage. She was about to give up on me.
In fact, her mind she had given me "till
the end of
the
month" of July. We
were almost there!
Fortunately, I got my courage back just in time, and we
made plans in earnest. The "cute little
blond" was to be my Eternal Sweetheart! From then on, I didn't have any more doubts and
haven't had any since.
Sealing, Richard and Carma
Thursday, 17 September 1959
We are sealed for time and for all eternity!
My Life's Work -- 1961 to Thursday, 26 April 2001
I graduated from medical school
in the spring of 1961 at age 28. I retired from the practice
of medicine on 26 April 2001 at
age 68--a total
of 40 years in medicine
following graduation.
Medical School
|
University of Utah
|
1957-1961.
|
Rotating Internship
|
Ohio State
University Medical Center (OSU)
Columbus Ohio
|
1961-1962.
|
Medical Residency
|
One year at OSU
|
1962-1963.
|
Public Health
Service
|
Peoria, Illinois
|
1963-1965
|
General Practice Residency
|
One year at Good Samaritan Hospital Phoenix
Arizona
|
1965-1966.
|
General Practice
|
Tempe Arizona
|
1966-1973.
|
Pathology--Residency
|
Maricopa County
Hospital Phoenix Arizona
|
1974-1978.
|
Pathology--Pracrtice
|
Phoenix Metropolitan Area
|
1978-2001.
|
Childrens' Births, 1963 to 1978
Karen Heywood (Miskin)
|
7 May 1963
|
Columbus Franklin Ohio
|
Leland Smith
Heywood
|
13 Sep 1965
|
Mesa Maricopa Arizona
|
Lawrence Smith
Heywood
|
13 Sep 1965
|
Mesa Maricopa Arizona
|
Michelle (Shelle) Heywood
|
25 Apr 1971
|
Phoenix Maricopa Arizona
|
Kimberly Heywood
|
30 Apr 1973
|
|
Richard Smith
Heywood
|
10 Jul 1975
|
Mesa Maricopa Arizona
|
Robert Smith
Heywood
|
30 Nov 1978
|
Mesa Maricopa Arizona
|
Our Children
Tuesday, 7 May 1963 until Thursday, 30 November 1978
We were married
on September of 17th 1959. We had our first child, Karen
(Miskin), 7 May 1963. A memorable
day! I don't think there could be a happier father. Leland
Smith Heywood and Lawrence Smith Heywood were born on Friday,
13 Aug 1965. It was my Lucky Day. When
Carma was being wheeled from the delivery
room, she said, "Am I dreaming or did I have twins?" Leland and Lawrence were named after their grandfathers.
When we hadn't
had another child for almost
six years, we thought we were through
with the "natural" process,
so we started making
arrangements to adopt through the Church Social Services. Without
going into the details, we were given the opportunity to adopt a baby girl who had just been born on 25 Apr 1971--another Lucky Day. We took
advantage, and a few days after the opportunity presented
itself, I brought
home a cute little blond haired baby we named Michelle. We call her Shelle.
(I wanted the more formal name, Michelle. Her mother wanted a more popular name like Shelle.
So--- We compromised and named her Michelle and call her Shelle.)
To our surprise, Kimberly was born two years later on 30 Apr 1973. She was the first of my children that I saw born. It was marvelous, wonderful!
(And I'm not given to use of superlatives very often)
And then, another
boy, Richard Smith Heywood, born on 10 Jun 1975. How blessed can a father be? Ricky looked like Kim's twin. He is named after his father.
Then, three years later, Robert Smith Heywood was born on 30 Nov 1978. Doesn't the name, Robert, go well with Richard?
I thought so and his mother
agreed. Besides that,. I had a favorite
uncle named Robert, my uncle Bob.
(And, I express
gratitude to their mother for baring and rearing these choice
children who were "reserved to come to" me in these
latter days!}
Operations
1965 to About 2014
Arthrotomy:
Corrections of a healing defect
following a break involving the 4th
metacarpophalangeal joint,
left hand.
Appendectomy: Ruptured Appendix
Burr Hole for left sided Subdural Hematoma.
Prostatectomy x’s 3
People In Our Home
1967 until 1999
Over the years, we have had some "extras" in our home.
Early in our marriage, we had two unwed mothers stay in our home on separate occasions. My nephew, Fred Heywood Price, Carma's cousin's child, Patty Jo Bopp, Carma's sister,
Wanda, my nephew, Jim Pitton, and, for short periods,
some of our childrens' friends
stayed with us.
In addition, Carma's
father, Lawrence Smith and her mother, Fem Hansen Smith, stayed with us for more than a year.
Our Children's Missions
1984
Karen served
in the Guatemala Quetzaltenango Mission
Leland
Served in the California Oakland Mission
Lawrence
served in the Chile Osorno Mission
Ricky served
in the Chile Osorno Mission
Robert served in the Washington Spokane
MissionLeland
Served in the California Oakland Mission
Retirement
Thursday, 26 April 2001 until 2007
I was 68 when I retired on 26 Apr 2001. One month after I retired,
I started working as a
Missionary at the Mesa Regional Family
History Center[4] in Mesa, Arizona where I served for 10 years. At first, I served
there four days a week with considerable "overtime." I was the Center Director for the 3 years
prior to my release.
I was not too happy with my working situation
before retirement. I was working at Laboratory Corporation of America in Phoenix as the Medical
Director. I was not getting
the support needed to provide adequate service to the physician clients and felt frustrated and subject to undue pressure.
I decided
it wasn't worth it, so I retired.
I haven't been sorry for the somewhat
early retirement. (I. had thought
I would work until about 70.) I am happy that I had a calling to work at
for such a long period of time.
Through Social Security, our rentals, and retirement funds, we have had adequate
income to meet our needs and then some.
Addenda
1. Some early memories. Probably originally written when I was about 22. I have made slight changes to correct mistakes, to make a few additions, to clarify, and to avoid being embarrassed.
1. Some early memories. Probably originally written when I was about 22. I have made slight changes to correct mistakes, to make a few additions, to clarify, and to avoid being embarrassed.
Actually, about the only thing I have
done, at least since the time that I can remember anything, is go to school. Of
course, I have had a few vacations and I even took off two years for a mission,
but mostly it’s been school. I started at Lincoln School in Mesa. I must be
pretty dumb because I don’t remember too much about it. To make matters even
worse the things that I do remember are kind of odd. I remember chasing the
girls to kiss them as we played out in the yard. I recall a show that was put
on in front of Lincoln School in which there was a monkey that could hold
things with its tail.
It was while attending Lincoln School
that I learned about the “birds and the bees”. I got the straight story out in
the Russel’s barn. Of course I just had to make my new discovery known as soon
as possible, so I revealed the truth to a couple of playmates on the
playground. I guess it was after recess that the teacher called me up to see
her. She accused me of telling dirty stories. Of course I denied it. She
re-accused and I re-denied. Finally she washed my mouth out with soap and tried
to wash my brain with a good lecture.
At Irving School, Miss White was my
third grade teacher. I had reached the
age of accountability. I remember Miss White mainly for three reasons. First
because she was so big -- about three hundred pound I think. The next thing was
her good nature, and finally the good stories she would so often tell us.
Besides these things, she was a good teacher. Arithmetic was my favorite
subject. I could do the whole page of addition and subtraction in one minute
with no errors. I had a friend could go faster.
I think his name was Roger. I
wonder if he remembers winding the Maypole. I never did do it, but I remember
the occasions.
There were many mornings that late
sleepers around Irving School would be disturbed by the beating of drums and
the tooting of horns. It was the drum and bugle corps. I played the drum while
in the third grade and felt promoted when I was allowed to play my flugelhorn
in the fourth and fifth grades. I took lessons from Lane Pew about that time
and have done quite a lot of playing since then.
It surely made me mad
when Mr. Fuller gave me a 4 in Health Ed. My favorite course, and I about failed!
I still don’t know why. It didn’t diminish my interest, however, and I played
the sports in their seasons. I was probably quite a sight when I wore my shoulder
pads under and old sweat shirt. It was quite uncomfortable in classes with them
on, but I enjoyed the misery.
My fifth grade
homeroom teacher was Miss Christensen who later became Mrs. Pew, having married
my trumpet teacher, Lane Pew. I liked
her a lot. She helped me gain an
interest in music.
I was eight years old in 1941. About
that time I decided that I would start remembering everything that I did. Of
course that resolution, as so often happens to resolutions, was broken. In
fact, I don’t remember very many events in my life at that young age. I think
that I remember much more concerning my 6th, 7th, and 8th grades at Franklin. I
continued to play my trumpet. Now it was in the Orchestra. Miss Bond (“Bucky’s”
wife) was the director. We used to get out of classes to practice. I wonder how
the teachers felt about our leaving their classes so often. Miss Bond used to
hold rehearsals in the summer also. This orchestra was the increased of my
interest in music. I used to take pride in taking a “practice slip” telling how
much I had practiced during the week
As much as I enjoyed music, there was
one thing that I liked even more. That was sports. During every recess, during
most of the noon hour and during my free time after school I would play
football, basketball, or baseball. As the seasons changed my sport would
change. My heroes were athletes. Although I carried my trumpet case and books
to and from school I often tried to juggle a basketball or football. How did my
digestion hold up when I worked so hard at playing right after eating my
hurried lunch? Red faced and tired I would reluctantly go to class when the
bell would ring.
Miss Hicks was one of my teachers in
the 6th grade. John Jarvis and I used to enjoy talking to her after school. It
is a real accomplishment for a teacher to have students that learned so much
from her and liked her so much.
Between my Sophomore and Junior years
in H.S. I joined the National Guard. I attended two summer camps and was quite
taken in by the military atmosphere. When the Korean war broke out in 1950, my
parents insisted that I get out. They feared I would be called on active duty
and possibly be sent overseas before I finished high school. This they would
not tolerate. It is interesting to me that my parents seldom insisted I do
anything, generally having confidence that my decisions would be alright.
However on this occasion, they insisted that I acquiesce to their judgment. To do so, necessitated my going to another
state so my reason for applying for release from the National Guard could be
“Removal from State.” Well, I removed from the State but for only 6 weeks. I
spent that time in Salt Lake City and returned to Arizona as soon as my
discharge was complete. By that time, I would have been able to get out of the
guard without such rigmarole.
Although I was happy to get back home,
I did enjoy my stay in S.L.C. I learned to love and appreciate my Aunt Sara and
her family while staying with them.
Another benefit of these events was
this. After entering school in S.L.C a week late, I soon discovered myself to
be behind and consequently for about the first time felt the necessity for
studying. Probably because I felt myself only a temporary exile from my home
and I was not socially at home, I began studying hard for the first time. As a
result, by the time I left S.L.C. I had indeed caught up and was ahead in
comparable classes when I returned to Mesa.
Upon returning home I became somewhat
of a celebrity for a while. It seems strange how my being away from home
resulted in increased popularity upon returning, but it happened. I suppose my having something
to talk about helped. At any rate I reached the height of my social glory at
this time. In addition I did well in my school work, played 1st chair trumpet
in the band and played basketball with a championship team.
Just as I had a social “down” in SLC
and an “up” upon returning, I had other social ups and downs sometimes feeling
“left out” and other times as though I had the world by the tail.
2. Memories added on Wednesday,
24 September 2014 at age 81.
I was 68 when I retired on 26 Apr 2001. It has been over 13 years! I am now 81.
How could that be? I served in
the Mesa Regional Family History Center, now the Mesa FamilySeaerch Library, for 10 years. Now what do I do?
Since my release from the Family
History Center, I have spent quite a bit of time doing family history at home. I serve as Stake Patriarch. I have given over five hundred blessings. I serve as a ward family history
consultant. I serve on two committees at the Mesa FamilySearch Library including as chairman of the LDS Ancestor Research Committe. Still, I waste too much time. I can’t keep up with Carma. She is always busy serving home and family
and friends. I don’t know anyone who
accomplishes more than she does. I
admire and love her and have grown in appreciation in my retirement. I wonder if she will ever “retire.” Probably not.
I do hope she slows down some.
(If only to ease my conscience.)
I joined the Sons
of the Utah Pioneers I was asked to
be the President Elect and later became President and then Program Chairman. I agreed.
I am very pleased with my
children. They are not perfect. They all approach it. And my grandchildren, too. (We now have 27 grandchildren. Five“greats” and am expecting another.
3. A listing of Richard’s Pioneer Ancestors who crossed the
plains before the Transcontinental Railroad[5]
was completed in 1896
(Note: Links are clickable)
Pioneer
Ancestor
Dates from Mormon Migration
|
Mormon
Migration
(Crossing
the Ocean)
Click
Person or Company Link
|
Mormon
Pioneer
Overland
Travel
Click
Person or Ship Link
|
Brown, Joshua Wood
Birth: 14 Feb 1832,
England
Death:
6 December 1903
|
|
Person: Joshua
Company: John Hindley Company (1855),
Age 23
|
Brown, Mary Ann Wood
Birth: 23 Apr 1791, England
Death:
23 Sep 1884
|
Not found in the Mormon Migration Index
|
|
|
Birth: 11 Sep 1836, England
Death: 1902
|
Ship: Liverpool to New Orleans on the Charles Buck (17 Jan 1855 - 14 Mar 1855)
|
|
Coleman, Emma Beck Evans
Birth:
1840, Illinois
Death: 1913
|
Born in America
|
Person: Emma
|
Coleman, Prime
Birth:
1803, England
Death:
1844, Nauvoo
|
Ship: Liverpool to New Orleans on the Swanton (16 Jan 1843 - 16 Mar 1843)
|
Died
in Nauvoo in 1844.
|
Coleman, Prime Thornton
Birth:
22 Sep 1831, England
Death: 29 Aug 1905
|
Ship: Liverpool to New Orleans on the Swanton (16 Jan 1843 - 16 Mar 1843)
|
|
Coleman, Sarah Thornton
Birth:
11 Jun 1806, England
Death:
1 Mar 1892
|
Ship: Liverpool to New Orleans on the Swanton (16 Jan 1843 - 16 Mar 1843)
|
|
Evans, David
Birth:
27 Oct 1804, Maryland
Death:
23 Jun 1883
|
Born in America
|
|
Evans, Mary Beck
Birth:
1804, Pennsylvania
Death:
1841, Payson, Illinois
|
Born in America
|
Died
in Payson, Adams, Illinois, 1841
|
Heywood, Joseph Leland
Birth:
1 Aug 1815, Mass.
Death:
16 Oct 1910
|
Born in America
|
Companies:
|
Heywood, Martha Spence
Birth:
8 Mar 1812, Ireland
Death:
5 Feb 1873
|
Martha
Spence did not come to America on a “Mormon” immigrant ship. She was an immigrant on the ship Helen, 13
Dec 1834 from Liverpool, landing at the Castle Garden port in New York. Her last residence was Durham,
Ireland. Listed as a Milliner, Age
21.
|
|
Ramsden, Ellen Jane Robbins Bailey
Birth:
1 Jun 1801, Ireland
Death:
12 Oct 1875
|
Ship: Liverpool to New Orleans on the Charles Buck (17 Jan 1855 - 14 Mar 1855)
|
Company: Richard Ballantyne Company (1855), Age 54
|
Robbins, Mary Ann Campbell
Birth:
Abt 1761, Irelnd
Death:
5 Oct 1855
|
Ship: Liverpool to New Orleans on the Ellen Maria (1 Feb 1851 - 7 Apr 1851)
|
Person: Mary_Ann
Company: Milo Andrus Company (1855), Age 94
Note: Died at
Ash Hollow, enroute.
|
[1]
Revised 22 Jan 2014.
[2] Disease caused by one of the two poultry-adapted strains of Salmonella bacteria. http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/131/salmonella-pullorum-pullorum-disease-bacillary-white-diarrhoea
[3]
Counselors: Larry Faas, Clark Fullmer, Earl
Bleak, Don Martindale
[4] I
was serving at the Family History Center on 9/11/2001. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11_attacks
[5] The
Transcontinental Railroad - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_TranscontinentalRailroad
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