Anthony Willis family tree » Viva Jones (1913-2000)

Personal data Viva Jones 

• She was born on July 31, 1913 in Richfield, Sevier, Utah, United States.Sources 1, 2
• She was christened on September 7, 1913 in Richfield, Sevier, Utah, United States.Source 1
• Immigrated in the year 1952 vanuit Honolulu, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States.Source 1
• Resident in the year 1930: Hidalgo, New Mexico.Source 1
• (Obituary) on May 14, 2000 in Arizona, United States.Source 1
• (FamilySearch ID) : KWCL-G23.
• She died on May 12, 2000 in Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona, United States, she was 86 years old.Sources 1, 2
• She is buried on May 15, 2000 in Virden, Hidalgo, New Mexico, United States.Sources 1, 2
• A child of Willard Edwin Jones and Edna Payne

Household of Viva Jones

She is married to Heaton Virl Lunt.

They got married on November 14, 1931 at Virden, Hidalgo, New Mexico, United States, she was 18 years old.Source 1

Child(ren):

1. Marvin Virl Lunt  1932-1966
2. Sharron J Lunt  1934-2001

Notes about Viva Jones

Viva Jones was born on 31 Jul 1913 in Richfield, Sevier, Utah, USA. She died on 12 May 2000. When she was 18, She married Heaton Virl Lunt,son of Heaton Lunt and Chloe Haws, on 14 Nov 1931 in Virden, Hidalgo, New Mexico, USA.

Heaton Virl Lunt and Viva Jones had the following children:

1.Sharron J. Lunt was born on 29 Apr 1934 in Duncan, Greenlee, Arizona, USA. He died on 21 Dec 2001 in Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona, USA.
2.Marvin Virl Lunt was born on 14 Nov 1932 in Virden, Hidalgo, New Mexico, USA. He died on 1 Feb 1966 in Safford, Graham, Arizona, USA. He married Janice Crandall in 1956 in Summit, Utah, USA.
3.Errol Dean.
4.Harlin Max.
5.Nedra Vea.

OBITUARY OF VIVA JONES LUNT
(given by her son Max) *******

Nothing we can say or do can add to or take away from mom. We are here today to celebrate, not to mourn mom’s passing, but to celebrate her good life. It’s too bad deaths have to take place for us to get together. Going through I learned things I didn’t know and it took her passing to understand why she reacted to various situations. We are thankful for the family and friends that have traveled in honoring mom. It’s too bad deaths have to happen for family and friends to get together.

I’m honored to be speaking today and paying tribute to mom. She supported me and all of us in all we did throughout our lives and personally this will be a first for me—“This time—I’ll get the last word.”

Viva Jones was born July 31, 1913 in the home of her mother’s parents in Richfield, Utah. Just a year before this her parents, along with many others were driven out of Mexico by Pancho Villa.

Needless to say times were unsettled at the time. Because of circumstances her mother was sent there and her father was working and clearing land in Tucson as they had lost everything—making $100 a month.

After her birth they moved to El Paso, Texas (December 15, 1915). She was born in poverty and a refugee. She was the second child born to Willard and Edna Jones. Her father hoping for a boy gave her the nick name of “Bill” which her family called her throughout her life.

1917—her dad built a two bedroom adobe and they moved into it. This was just in time for her third sisters birth Cleo as Corella and Emma was older.

1919—her father was called on a 9 ½ mission to El Paso. During that time period she saw her mother do most of the work around the house and fields, milking the cows and doing the chores and the girls having to share in this responsibility. The farm was 2 ½ miles from town and she remembers the narrow road winding around between the mesquite trees and passing through what is known as Mexican Town.

Mom mentions axle grease and the different uses—not only for the axles but used for putting on cutes or sores, putting on shoes, harnesses and many other things.

But mom worked right along with the men as all women and girls did, hitching up the horses, driving the teams, fixing the meals (especially for the thrasher that time of the year they were there) as most work was by hand.

Being brought up in the small community and having to share in almost all aspects they almost lived the United Order.

She developed a fear of horses when a boy she was brought up with was dragged to death by a run away horse that passed through the center of town.

Family traditions started there as both sets of grandparents, Jones and Paynes, lived in Virden. She recalls both grandparents had mustaches.

She mentions the store in Virden wasn’t modern as stores today. “We never knew there were different brands of food and never did you see bread, cakes, cookies, ice cream, pop, and such in stores. Just a good size room was the size of the first store in Virden which Grandma Keeler ran. Cash bring unknown, our eggs were carefully guarded and traded for groceries. I recall the large snake grandma Keeler (no relation) had in her store to keep down mice and other rodents. It was common for it to crawl around the shelves as we were in the store. Oh how good our lemonade was which we made out of citric acid and sweetener with artificial sugar known as saccharin then, we always had water fresh from the pump so it would be cold. Often we would take an egg to the store to trade for goodies but we usually felt lucky to get a penny as quite a bit could be bought for a penny.”

Traditions
July 24th. Would start with a blast of dynamite being set off at daylight followed by a parade through town and a picnic. I remember as a kid we would always go up to Virden as that was where the action was.

Drug-stores were unheard of and were until after she was married. All her clothes were home made. She got 3 nice dresses a year---Christmas, Easter and the 4 of July.

Stockings were knit. She said she never knew what it was to wear different clothes to school every day of the week. Our underwear was black sateen bloomers. They had elastic at the waist and on the bottom the legs were full and baggy. Our slip or petticoat was made of white muslin. Aprons were worn to protect our clothes. Sheets were not always the nicest material, as they were made from sacks the chicken feed came in. Even after married they raised chickens so had a lot of sacks. She said some sacks were hard to weave so they were used for towels and others made into curtains, quilts ect.

Valentines Day—was special. They would get a mail order from Sears and Roebuck and cut the hearts out of the wallpaper pictures and write messages on it. Then they would knock on doors and run.

Christmas—a cedar tree was used decorated with strung popcorn, red and green paper chains, little candles, and all home made.

She remembers when her brothers Melvin swallowed a jack & Maurice almost suffocated in the cottonseed pile.

School was easy and she won a spelling bee which she won $5. With that she bought a coat. Very few went on to high school after the 8th. Grade (mainly girls went) but she was top in her class and was valedictorian—class of three. She loved to play basketball and won the district tournament.

Growing us in Virden she dated most of the boys—most was her cousins. Duncan and Virden had activities and so many of the church activities were together. She met dad at a Priesthood Teacher party which was held at the bottom of the river with bon-fire and games. Dad had his dad’s Studebaker.

They dated off and on. Both graduated in 1931. The depression was on and things were scarce. She wanted to go to college so her dad scraped up enough for 6 weeks summer school in Silver City. Daddy helped his dad on the farm so there wasn’t money for him to go.

They decided they were mature enough to get married, (dad at 20, and mom at 18 years of age). She writes: “So we decided to marry November 14, 1931. Virl had bought some FFA chickens and since the County Fair was held in the fall of the year he entered everything he could. He earned $32 from his entries. A fellow came by selling mattresses and he bought one for $7. I spent the fall months canning and filling my chest with bed linens, pillow cases, quilts and such. All the girls our age learned to quilt and gathered together for quilting.

My wedding wardrobe didn’t consist of much, as there just was no money for luxuries. I did make me two new dresses, the one for my wedding I bought a dark material dress which cost around $8. My father had given me $20, so I spent $8 for the dress and put $12 into our “Kitty”. Virl’s father had given him $30 and with what Virl saved up, we had $82 to start married life on.

I’m afraid neither of us slept much after we said good night the night of November ‘13’, and we were up real early the next morning. Our county seat was at Lordsburg, New Mexico, some 35 miles east of Virden. So we had to go there to get our marriage license. I bought a wedding dress for $8. Virl’s father had a Model A Ford which we used, so we had to go get Bishop Julius E. Payne (My mothers half brother) to marry us. It was Saturday and potato harvest time. My father’s potato field was around a mile through the fields, so he and the family who were picking up potatoes walked through the fields to witness it. All were dressed in work clothes except the Bishop. We were married around 10:30 a.m. or 11:00 out in the yard of Bishop Paynes home. After the wedding we left for El Paso for our honeymoon. Their life together started in a 2 room house. They joked later in life about the cracks in the wall as they said a butterfly could fly in one wall and keep going straight out the other wall. They got cheese cloth to place over the cracks in the wall as the mice would crawl up and if they were lucky they could knock them off by throwing things at them. Crock roaches and bugs were bad. Out of one of the rooms they made a kitchen. They bought a radio but had to turn it back in as the $6 a month payment couldn’t be afforded.

During that time they bought 20 acres of land to start farming. Their dads each gave them a cow and they raised chickens. They had no electricity or running water. They would catch water from the rain for use so they wouldn’t have to carry it.

Everything was done outside. Wash was done in a tub over a fire as well as soap was made. Clothes were scrubbed outside and since they couldn’t afford a clothes line clothes were hung on a fence. Their first washing machine was bought after Dean was born as electricity came after I was born in 1940.
A Hard Worker
Her schedule was-----
Monday--- washed clothes
Tues/Wed---ironed (3 irons were used-one in use the others in the fire to get hot.
Sat.---always cleaning day or baking bread ect.

Engagement ring: Dad surprised her with a $75 ring he ordered from Sears Roebuck which he paid cash for. Money was tight and they needed money so bad they sold the ring for cash and the cash helped buy baby chicks & such.

Their 9th wedding anniversary dad bought her another wedding ring.
Entertainment: They loved to dance. Bought a harmonica and dad loved to tap dance. The radio was their entertainment. I remember Sunday night was listening to the radio shows---Amos & Andy, Charlie MacArthur & others.

1932—Marvin was born. Cost $25
They also bought their 1st car, Model A Ford for $150. They paid for it from the heads of grain they did by hand.

1933----home they bought in Metcalf for $25 and tore it down piece by piece and brought it to the farm to make a 3 room.

1934-----Sharron was born. Cost $50.

Mom was a planner: She knew she was having a baby that day so she got up early and caught, killed and prepared 10 chickens as she knew people would be by congratulating her and she had something to eat.

1936----dad got a job as substitute mail carrier which he did for 2 ½ years. With this and chickens they paid off the 20 acres. They bought a 2 door Chev for $900. They decided to go into the chicken business and bought an incubator for the young chicks and put them in the bedroom with them. You can imagine the fumes and the smell.

1938----When Dean was going to be born they knew they had to move the chickens so built on another room and moved the incubator along with Sharron and Marvin in that.

1939----dug a well close to the house and got their first washing machine.
1940----Max was born
1942----bought a cream separator and began selling butter and cream.

1943----bought the Moffet Place and moved and had the 1st flush toilet. It
was one bedroom so Dad built another & had a big bunk bed. This was the first home I can remember.

1944----Nedra was born and the only one of the kids born in a hospital. The bill was $115 for ten day in the hospital & delivering Nedra.

1945----Dad built the barn that later burnt.

Home: Mom and the sweet peas---always a yearly tradition. All kids were required to take piano and musical instruments.

1947----Max hit by the car & three weeks she stayed in the hospital with him.

1949----Mom & Dad built the present brick home.

Things I learned from Mom

1.In my opinion mom lived as Christ like life.
2.She set an example for not only us as kids to follow but others also.
3.She was devoted to dad & supported him in all that he did. At times when they disagreed I remember he would start tap dancing & moving his hat like he did & that would be the end of that.
4.She was always there for him. I remember many times he would run in & need somewhere to pick up a part or the cows or pigs were out and she would drop everything & go.
5.The above applies if he needed to go to Safford. In 10 minutes she would have the house in order, cleaned up herself & in the pickup/car with him.
6.SERVICE: As far back as I can remember she was always in the primary/mutual in the ward or Stake. She served at Stake Primary President for 10 years. She never complained. Dad was in stake positions & she supported him 100%. This was when the stake went from Miami to El Paso, Silver City. They moved to Mesa in the early 70’s and started working at the Temple as guides. After dad’s death Mom worked in the Laundry dept. folding clothes in the Temple for years. She continued to work in the Temple even after she had a hard time walking. After she just couldn’t walk into the Temple anymore a Temple laundry worker would bring her soxs or ties to mend for the Temple as she could sit & do mending & she so bad wanted to be useful. She was always involved in the Community—Womens’ Club & work each week at the Duncan Library & election days all for no pay.
7.LOVE: Not only to her family but also anyone in the valley whether church members or not. I remember her preparing food and going up to Virden or to Pete or Pablo Rodriquez homes.
Taught us respect other people.
8.THRIFTY: She taught us to be thrifty. Every so often when I would come home she would be wearing shirts that we had discarded in high School. She worried about our homes and us wasting money. Sometimes when I would call from Alaska she would say “why are you calling as it cost too much money”.
9. Work: Both mom & dad taught us how to work. We learned by example.
10. The Lunts are people persons whether that is good or not. We are not afraid to talk with strangers.
11. She had a sense of humor. She loved to joke with us and especially her grand kids, friends.
12. PATIENCE: I’m thankful for a mother that let me live beyond my teenage years. She put a curse on me and I still remember her saying “I hope your kids are just like you”.

She always kept busy knitting or peeling pecans to give away especially after she couldn’t walk. With her living with Malcolm he told me yesterday that he would walk by and see her sitting there knitting or shelling pecans that she would give away. The only time she put her knitting down was when the Suns were playing. (She didn’t know if it was a re-run or not). She was a devoted Suns fan. She would yell in to tell everyone “the Suns are on”. The grand-kids would love to watch the games with her. One of her grandkids (Ryan) brought his future wife home a week or so ago to meet the family and he took her in to meet her before meeting his parents which was neat.

One of her big fears was that she would be a burden on her family in her later year and she worked hard to accomplish this. I’m thankful for Nedra & Malcolm for them taking her in their home and caring for her as they did. She didn’t want to go to a Rest Home.
She was a devoted companion and mother. She was a hard worker. Sharron remembers being pulled around in the cotton field sleeping on the cotton sack she was pulling. She did men’s work. Her parents wanted a boy when she was born and nick-named her ‘Bill’. All her sisters worked on the farm as boys and the men.
I remember her when I grew up working in the onion shed sorting onions. She would get up early and prepare a big breakfast when we boys were out doing chores. We would come in and eat then she would clean up the kitchen & house then go down & sort onions until noon. At noon she would rush home to prepare a big meal (we had lots of beans) clean up and back to sorting onions. This was day after day.

We kids could never sleep in late. We could never come in late at night or try to sneak in without her coming in and checking to see if you were ok and tell you good night.

She loved to kid with the grandkids. They loved to stay with Grandma. Grandkids stayed with her in her home after their mission/Michele college. Grandkids couldn’t go to the refrigerator without getting a lecture on what was in there.

Mom and dad set limits and as kids we knew what they were---Spankings.

Devoted mother/grandmother---always made sure kids attended their meeting.

Supported kids on mission—Argentina, Hawaii, England, they were called on a mission to the Mesa Temple grounds as guides.
Mom’s two favorite people were her mother and Grandpa Lunt (Heaton).

She is proceeded by dad & her son Marvin.

She is survived by: three sons and a daughter
Sharron—Karen (5-children) Mesa/retired after 27 years of teaching
Dean—Terry (5) Duncan (family farm)
Max---Carol (7) Alaska-Principal in an Eskimo village on Yukon
Nedra---Malcolm (5) Mesa with work at BHP in San Manuel

Grand Children & Great Grandchildren

To sum up her life: I can remember the first time seeing her in 1948. Little did I know she had been sitting there for three weeks while I lay unconscious only leaving for short periods to bath & change her clothes. I remember her showing me pictures of my brothers & sister as my memory to this day is blotted out from before the accident when I was under eight. I remember her explaining & telling me the advantages of not being able to walk and how much fun it would be to be pushed around in a wheel chair. I couldn’t figure out why if she was so happy why that would be so much fun she was crying.

OBITUARY OF VIVA JONES LUNT
(given by her son Max) *******

Nothing we can say or do can add to or take away from mom. We are here today to celebrate, not to mourn mom’s passing, but to celebrate her good life. It’s too bad deaths have to take place for us to get together. Going through I learned things I didn’t know and it took her passing to understand why she reacted to various situations. We are thankful for the family and friends that have traveled in honoring mom. It’s too bad deaths have to happen for family and friends to get together.

I’m honored to be speaking today and paying tribute to mom. She supported me and all of us in all we did throughout our lives and personally this will be a first for me—“This time—I’ll get the last word.”

Viva Jones was born July 31, 1913 in the home of her mother’s parents in Richfield, Utah. Just a year before this her parents, along with many others were driven out of Mexico by Pancho Villa.

Needless to say times were unsettled at the time. Because of circumstances her mother was sent there and her father was working and clearing land in Tucson as they had lost everything—making $100 a month.

After her birth they moved to El Paso, Texas (December 15, 1915). She was born in poverty and a refugee. She was the second child born to Willard and Edna Jones. Her father hoping for a boy gave her the nick name of “Bill” which her family called her throughout her life.

1917—her dad built a two bedroom adobe and they moved into it. This was just in time for her third sisters birth Cleo as Corella and Emma was older.

1919—her father was called on a 9 ½ mission to El Paso. During that time period she saw her mother do most of the work around the house and fields, milking the cows and doing the chores and the girls having to share in this responsibility. The farm was 2 ½ miles from town and she remembers the narrow road winding around between the mesquite trees and passing through what is known as Mexican Town.

Mom mentions axle grease and the different uses—not only for the axles but used for putting on cutes or sores, putting on shoes, harnesses and many other things.

But mom worked right along with the men as all women and girls did, hitching up the horses, driving the teams, fixing the meals (especially for the thrasher that time of the year they were there) as most work was by hand.

Being brought up in the small community and having to share in almost all aspects they almost lived the United Order.

She developed a fear of horses when a boy she was brought up with was dragged to death by a run away horse that passed through the center of town.

Family traditions started there as both sets of grandparents, Jones and Paynes, lived in Virden. She recalls both grandparents had mustaches.

She mentions the store in Virden wasn’t modern as stores today. “We never knew there were different brands of food and never did you see bread, cakes, cookies, ice cream, pop, and such in stores. Just a good size room was the size of the first store in Virden which Grandma Keeler ran. Cash bring unknown, our eggs were carefully guarded and traded for groceries. I recall the large snake grandma Keeler (no relation) had in her store to keep down mice and other rodents. It was common for it to crawl around the shelves as we were in the store. Oh how good our lemonade was which we made out of citric acid and sweetener with artificial sugar known as saccharin then, we always had water fresh from the pump so it would be cold. Often we would take an egg to the store to trade for goodies but we usually felt lucky to get a penny as quite a bit could be bought for a penny.”

Traditions
July 24th. Would start with a blast of dynamite being set off at daylight followed by a parade through town and a picnic. I remember as a kid we would always go up to Virden as that was where the action was.

Drug-stores were unheard of and were until after she was married. All her clothes were home made. She got 3 nice dresses a year---Christmas, Easter and the 4 of July.

Stockings were knit. She said she never knew what it was to wear different clothes to school every day of the week. Our underwear was black sateen bloomers. They had elastic at the waist and on the bottom the legs were full and baggy. Our slip or petticoat was made of white muslin. Aprons were worn to protect our clothes. Sheets were not always the nicest material, as they were made from sacks the chicken feed came in. Even after married they raised chickens so had a lot of sacks. She said some sacks were hard to weave so they were used for towels and others made into curtains, quilts ect.

Valentines Day—was special. They would get a mail order from Sears and Roebuck and cut the hearts out of the wallpaper pictures and write messages on it. Then they would knock on doors and run.

Christmas—a cedar tree was used decorated with strung popcorn, red and green paper chains, little candles, and all home made.

She remembers when her brothers Melvin swallowed a jack & Maurice almost suffocated in the cottonseed pile.

School was easy and she won a spelling bee which she won $5. With that she bought a coat. Very few went on to high school after the 8th. Grade (mainly girls went) but she was top in her class and was valedictorian—class of three. She loved to play basketball and won the district tournament.

Growing us in Virden she dated most of the boys—most was her cousins. Duncan and Virden had activities and so many of the church activities were together. She met dad at a Priesthood Teacher party which was held at the bottom of the river with bon-fire and games. Dad had his dad’s Studebaker.

They dated off and on. Both graduated in 1931. The depression was on and things were scarce. She wanted to go to college so her dad scraped up enough for 6 weeks summer school in Silver City. Daddy helped his dad on the farm so there wasn’t money for him to go.

They decided they were mature enough to get married, (dad at 20, and mom at 18 years of age). She writes: “So we decided to marry November 14, 1931. Virl had bought some FFA chickens and since the County Fair was held in the fall of the year he entered everything he could. He earned $32 from his entries. A fellow came by selling mattresses and he bought one for $7. I spent the fall months canning and filling my chest with bed linens, pillow cases, quilts and such. All the girls our age learned to quilt and gathered together for quilting.

My wedding wardrobe didn’t consist of much, as there just was no money for luxuries. I did make me two new dresses, the one for my wedding I bought a dark material dress which cost around $8. My father had given me $20, so I spent $8 for the dress and put $12 into our “Kitty”. Virl’s father had given him $30 and with what Virl saved up, we had $82 to start married life on.

I’m afraid neither of us slept much after we said good night the night of November ‘13’, and we were up real early the next morning. Our county seat was at Lordsburg, New Mexico, some 35 miles east of Virden. So we had to go there to get our marriage license. I bought a wedding dress for $8. Virl’s father had a Model A Ford which we used, so we had to go get Bishop Julius E. Payne (My mothers half brother) to marry us. It was Saturday and potato harvest time. My father’s potato field was around a mile through the fields, so he and the family who were picking up potatoes walked through the fields to witness it. All were dressed in work clothes except the Bishop. We were married around 10:30 a.m. or 11:00 out in the yard of Bishop Paynes home. After the wedding we left for El Paso for our honeymoon. Their life together started in a 2 room house. They joked later in life about the cracks in the wall as they said a butterfly could fly in one wall and keep going straight out the other wall. They got cheese cloth to place over the cracks in the wall as the mice would crawl up and if they were lucky they could knock them off by throwing things at them. Crock roaches and bugs were bad. Out of one of the rooms they made a kitchen. They bought a radio but had to turn it back in as the $6 a month payment couldn’t be afforded.

During that time they bought 20 acres of land to start farming. Their dads each gave them a cow and they raised chickens. They had no electricity or running water. They would catch water from the rain for use so they wouldn’t have to carry it.

Everything was done outside. Wash was done in a tub over a fire as well as soap was made. Clothes were scrubbed outside and since they couldn’t afford a clothes line clothes were hung on a fence. Their first washing machine was bought after Dean was born as electricity came after I was born in 1940.
A Hard Worker
Her schedule was-----
Monday--- washed clothes
Tues/Wed---ironed (3 irons were used-one in use the others in the fire to get hot.
Sat.---always cleaning day or baking bread ect.

Engagement ring: Dad surprised her with a $75 ring he ordered from Sears Roebuck which he paid cash for. Money was tight and they needed money so bad they sold the ring for cash and the cash helped buy baby chicks & such.

Their 9th wedding anniversary dad bought her another wedding ring.
Entertainment: They loved to dance. Bought a harmonica and dad loved to tap dance. The radio was their entertainment. I remember Sunday night was listening to the radio shows---Amos & Andy, Charlie MacArthur & others.

1932—Marvin was born. Cost $25
They also bought their 1st car, Model A Ford for $150. They paid for it from the heads of grain they did by hand.

1933----home they bought in Metcalf for $25 and tore it down piece by piece and brought it to the farm to make a 3 room.

1934-----Sharron was born. Cost $50.

Mom was a planner: She knew she was having a baby that day so she got up early and caught, killed and prepared 10 chickens as she knew people would be by congratulating her and she had something to eat.

1936----dad got a job as substitute mail carrier which he did for 2 ½ years. With this and chickens they paid off the 20 acres. They bought a 2 door Chev for $900. They decided to go into the chicken business and bought an incubator for the young chicks and put them in the bedroom with them. You can imagine the fumes and the smell.

1938----When Dean was going to be born they knew they had to move the chickens so built on another room and moved the incubator along with Sharron and Marvin in that.

1939----dug a well close to the house and got their first washing machine.
1940----Max was born
1942----bought a cream separator and began selling butter and cream.

1943----bought the Moffet Place and moved and had the 1st flush toilet. It
was one bedroom so Dad built another & had a big bunk bed. This was the first home I can remember.

1944----Nedra was born and the only one of the kids born in a hospital. The bill was $115 for ten day in the hospital & delivering Nedra.

1945----Dad built the barn that later burnt.

Home: Mom and the sweet peas---always a yearly tradition. All kids were required to take piano and musical instruments.

1947----Max hit by the car & three weeks she stayed in the hospital with him.

1949----Mom & Dad built the present brick home.

Things I learned from Mom

1.In my opinion mom lived as Christ like life.
2.She set an example for not only us as kids to follow but others also.
3.She was devoted to dad & supported him in all that he did. At times when they disagreed I remember he would start tap dancing & moving his hat like he did & that would be the end of that.
4.She was always there for him. I remember many times he would run in & need somewhere to pick up a part or the cows or pigs were out and she would drop everything & go.
5.The above applies if he needed to go to Safford. In 10 minutes she would have the house in order, cleaned up herself & in the pickup/car with him.
6.SERVICE: As far back as I can remember she was always in the primary/mutual in the ward or Stake. She served at Stake Primary President for 10 years. She never complained. Dad was in stake positions & she supported him 100%. This was when the stake went from Miami to El Paso, Silver City. They moved to Mesa in the early 70’s and started working at the Temple as guides. After dad’s death Mom worked in the Laundry dept. folding clothes in the Temple for years. She continued to work in the Temple even after she had a hard time walking. After she just couldn’t walk into the Temple anymore a Temple laundry worker would bring her soxs or ties to mend for the Temple as she could sit & do mending & she so bad wanted to be useful. She was always involved in the Community—Womens’ Club & work each week at the Duncan Library & election days all for no pay.
7.LOVE: Not only to her family but also anyone in the valley whether church members or not. I remember her preparing food and going up to Virden or to Pete or Pablo Rodriquez homes.
Taught us respect other people.
8.THRIFTY: She taught us to be thrifty. Every so often when I would come home she would be wearing shirts that we had discarded in high School. She worried about our homes and us wasting money. Sometimes when I would call from Alaska she would say “why are you calling as it cost too much money”.
9. Work: Both mom & dad taught us how to work. We learned by example.
10. The Lunts are people persons whether that is good or not. We are not afraid to talk with strangers.
11. She had a sense of humor. She loved to joke with us and especially her grand kids, friends.
12. PATIENCE: I’m thankful for a mother that let me live beyond my teenage years. She put a curse on me and I still remember her saying “I hope your kids are just like you”.

She always kept busy knitting or peeling pecans to give away especially after she couldn’t walk. With her living with Malcolm he told me yesterday that he would walk by and see her sitting there knitting or shelling pecans that she would give away. The only time she put her knitting down was when the Suns were playing. (She didn’t know if it was a re-run or not). She was a devoted Suns fan. She would yell in to tell everyone “the Suns are on”. The grand-kids would love to watch the games with her. One of her grandkids (Ryan) brought his future wife home a week or so ago to meet the family and he took her in to meet her before meeting his parents which was neat.

One of her big fears was that she would be a burden on her family in her later year and she worked hard to accomplish this. I’m thankful for Nedra & Malcolm for them taking her in their home and caring for her as they did. She didn’t want to go to a Rest Home.
She was a devoted companion and mother. She was a hard worker. Sharron remembers being pulled around in the cotton field sleeping on the cotton sack she was pulling. She did men’s work. Her parents wanted a boy when she was born and nick-named her ‘Bill’. All her sisters worked on the farm as boys and the men.
I remember her when I grew up working in the onion shed sorting onions. She would get up early and prepare a big breakfast when we boys were out doing chores. We would come in and eat then she would clean up the kitchen & house then go down & sort onions until noon. At noon she would rush home to prepare a big meal (we had lots of beans) clean up and back to sorting onions. This was day after day.

We kids could never sleep in late. We could never come in late at night or try to sneak in without her coming in and checking to see if you were ok and tell you good night.

She loved to kid with the grandkids. They loved to stay with Grandma. Grandkids stayed with her in her home after their mission/Michele college. Grandkids couldn’t go to the refrigerator without getting a lecture on what was in there.

Mom and dad set limits and as kids we knew what they were---Spankings.

Devoted mother/grandmother---always made sure kids attended their meeting.

Supported kids on mission—Argentina, Hawaii, England, they were called on a mission to the Mesa Temple grounds as guides.
Mom’s two favorite people were her mother and Grandpa Lunt (Heaton).

She is proceeded by dad & her son Marvin.

She is survived by: three sons and a daughter
Sharron—Karen (5-children) Mesa/retired after 27 years of teaching
Dean—Terry (5) Duncan (family farm)
Max---Carol (7) Alaska-Principal in an Eskimo village on Yukon
Nedra---Malcolm (5) Mesa with work at BHP in San Manuel

Grand Children & Great Grandchildren

To sum up her life: I can remember the first time seeing her in 1948. Little did I know she had been sitting there for three weeks while I lay unconscious only leaving for short periods to bath & change her clothes. I remember her showing me pictures of my brothers & sister as my memory to this day is blotted out from before the accident when I was under eight. I remember her explaining & telling me the advantages of not being able to walk and how much fun it would be to be pushed around in a wheel chair. I couldn’t figure out why if she was so happy why that would be so much fun she was crying.

Memories
History of Virl and Viva Lunt
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History of Virl Lunt and Viva Jones Lunt
(Newspaper Article)
*********
Heaton Virl Lunt and Viva Jones Lunt have been a part of the Duncan Valley since early childhood even though neither of them were born here.

Virl was born August 17, 1911 in Pacheco, Chihuahua, Mexico. He was the first child of Heaton and Chloe Haws Lunt. When Virl was one year old, the family left Mexico because of the Poncho Villa rebellion to make their home in El Paso, Texas. In the spring of 1917, the family moved to the Duncan Valley so his father could support his family by farming. This trip was made in a covered wagon.

Virl’s life was no different than other boys of the community as all of them lived full, exciting lives. Being a farmer’s son and belonging to a large family, he learned, while young, that he was expected to work hard and in so doing, grew up to love farming and the outdoors. He attended the Day School until it was consolidated with the Duncan school and from here he graduated in 1931. He was very active in FFA, Shop, Athletics and Music.

Viva was born July 31, 1913 in Richfield, Utah. At the age of two and a half months, moved to near El Paso, Texas (near where Las Cruces, New Mexico now stands. The family lived there until December 1915 and then moved to Virden, New Mexico. This trip was made by covered wagon taking 6 days. Viva attended school in Virden and graduated from there in 1931.

Virden and Duncan were not many miles apart so the youth of both communities shared sports, music, entertainment and the social life. In this way Viva and Virl were together frequently and a Love affair developed and eventually they were united in Marriage on November 14, 1931. They made their home in the area that is called Luntville. It is about midway between Virden and Duncan just across on the Arizona side of the line.

The depression was at its peak when they married and they found out immediately that life was hard. They started farming on a small farm and they raised and sold fryers as well as eggs. Virl being a hard worker and a good manager began to expand in land and machinery.

During the early years of their marriage Virl worked at several odd jobs when they were available. This being a time of depression, the government created jobs and one was the C.C. Camp east of Virden. Virl got a job as carpenter when the government built this camp. The Government, also had control dams built in the Black Hills and Virl, using his team of horses, worked on these dams. He likewise, worked building bridges on the Duncan-Clifton highway and at a Floorspar mine west of Duncan.

In about 1937 the rural mail carrier on the Virden mail route became very ill and Virl was fortunate enough to get the Assistant Mail Carriers’ job. He worked at this job for several years. During this time he, also, farmed and was able to increase his acreage and progress in other ways.

In the years following the mail carrying job, Virl spent his full time farming and buying more acreage. He and his father farmed together several years and during these years raised onions. They were very successful with onions raising and shipped them all over the United States and one year even to Cuba; their brand name became known very well. When labor became very hard to find and the price of onions dropped they gave up this venture. Virl now had sons of his own so he and his son Marvin joined together and then later his sons, Dean and Max, joined him.

Virl’s health forced him to slow up, so in 1970 he turned the farm over to his sons and his son-in-law and moved to Mesa. He still kept his home in Duncan and commuted back and forth. In 1968 he had open heart surgery, but, again, in 1974 had to have another open heart surgery and passed away, August 13, 1976, in Phoenix, Arizona.

During these years Viva and Virl were always involved in church, civic, and community affairs along with raising their family. Their love and concern for the community was among their priorities and they always supported the school and the community affairs--serving on boards and other assignments for church and community.

After Virl’s passing Viva continued to live in Mesa most of the time but still has her home in Duncan and calls it home, too.

Viva and Virl have always been very proud of their family: To them were born 4 sons and 1 daughter: Marvin Virl was born November 14, 1932 and farmed with his father until his death February 1, 1966, from a farm accident. He and his wife Janice, have 3 sons. Sharron J. was born April 29, 1934; he and wife Karen, with their 3 daughters and 2 sons live in Casa Grande, Arizona, where they both teach school. Errol Dean, born, May 6, 1938, remains on the farm; he and his wife, Terry, are parents of 5 sons. Harlan Max, born May, 9, 1940, now resides in Coolidge, Arizona where he is in the school system; he and wife, Carol, have 1 son and 6 daughters. Their only daughter, Nedra, is married to Malcolm MacLay and they reside in Ago, Arizona with their 5 sons. Malcolm works for Phelps Dodge.

Their children, companions, 25 grand children and 2 great-grand children all love to return to home in the Duncan Valley; it will always be home to all of them.

MEMORIES OF HOME
(VIVA JONES LUNT)
******

Unfortunately my memory doesn’t recall things that happened at a very early age. There are many things that I don’t know if I remember them or not but I think it is really through having heard them repeated so many times. My memories before moving to Virden are few but I do recall vaguely of living at the Gila Ranch with so many other families with kids everywhere. But then I was only four years old, I believe when we moved to Virden as I think it was in 1917 when we moved. I do remember attending Church meetings, and of holding them under the mulberry trees; and of drinking the sacrament water out of a glass that would be passed around for everyone to drink out of. I can recall what seemed like very deep holes they made when they were building the adobes for our house. I can also remember the little house across from Grandma Jones house which has long since disappeared.

I can recall that I was much more thrilled when my third sister arrived than my father was; and I was the first one of my sisters to see her. It so happened that I had gotten the measles and in due time my two other sisters took them but not until I was over them. When the stork showed signs of landing, we three girls were quickly moved over through the lot to live with Grandma Jones. So me, being over the measles got to view her first through the north windows and so was privileged to report to my other two sisters just what she looked like. Oh, how the thought of measles makes me itch and how I used to cry and fuss telling mama how they did itch. I’ll bet grandma Jones was very happy to have us leave. I remember how we slept on the floor at her house and how kind she always was.

About a year later I recall my father being gone on a mission to El Paso for a year. We had a big porch on the back of our house and I can remember of him coming home one night and having to call through the porch window for someone to unlock the door and let him in. I remember while he was gone some of the deacons coming to chop wood and of making them some molasses candy for a treat. Of course molasses candy to us was as good as a chocolate bar is now to kids.

Around this time of life I recall a little red calf that took great delight in scaring me to death every time I would go out of the back door. I could just picture me being crushed by that huge monster. I never could understand why he didn’t chase the other kids----just me.

Our life was so different from the lives of my children. Times were very hard so that meant even though we were girls we were willing and expected to help on the farm. We all worked together to get a start but we always had a lovely modern home. I well recall building onto our other four rooms and having so many modern conveniences. Since we didn’t yet have a church when we built our home, but what few things we had were held in the school building, I recall how before we moved into our new home of holding two dances in it----one for the older and one for the younger. I belonged to the younger group and it could have been that the judges favored me that night because of it being my home but the thought never entered my mind at the time they judged Myself and Halbert McGuire as the best couple of waltzers. Of course at the time I thought I was just good.

The chores in those days consisted of milking several cows that were not of the gentlest nature. Old Tuppens would really worry us—the ornery critter. Even with a pair of hobbles tightened until it cut her legs and made them bleed she could still jump a fence and make several trips around the corral. So we would have quite a time driving her up into a chute type of place so all she could do would be to kick and jump straight up and down. How we used to hate to reach under her to put the hobbles on and many a time we got kicked when so doing. We were glad to get rid of her. It would often be after dark before we could do this milking as we would ride the school bus up to the farm and drive the cow’s home.

Other times we would have to go up on the hills by town and hunt them as they had been driven up there to get a drink and graze on the hills.

Another cow that used to worry us was Old Bess. Right after her calves were born she would chase. I recall how often in the corral she used to run toward the fence. One lovely day papa had us girls out trying to find her calf and she had hidden it well. This was in the brush pasture above the ditch so it was quite a job to look in the thick mesquite. Finally we found it and papa started to carry it to the wagon. It let out a bellow and Bess hearing it came running; she took after us girls and did we strike out. I made it to the wagon right fast but she had Emma running around several mesquites before she finally reached the wagon. Poor papa, who Bess had no power over, had to finish getting the calf by him-self.
It seems as if we always had bloated cows with them standing on every ditch bank or putting gags in their mouths so they wouldn’t eat too much & bloat. To loose one would have been tragic. This very nearly happened to one of our calves and they saved her by sticking her with a knife in the stomach. She was so full that when they did stick her it ripped her very badly. We just knew she was going to die and many a night we have taken the lantern down to check and see if she would blink an eye at us. As fast as she would eat anything it would run out of her side, but mama would make corn meal gruel and we would get her to drink it. After what seemed like an eternity she was well.

I recall we had a lovely team of horses---Flax & Nell. Flax was alright if everything went just right, but I recall one particular day that things didn’t go this way. This was an unusually busy day as it was the day to feed the threshers (harvesting workers). Papa had left very early for the farm but had left the team of horses and wagon so we could fix dinner and take it up to the Gila Ranch to feed the gang. We girls, trying to be so helpful, went out to harness the team of horses onto the wagon. I think I’ll blame Corilla for this as she was the older, but she hooked the tugs before we did the neck yoke and old Flax knew it wasn’t right. Off she took, dragging Nell and the wagon. He didn’t run too far until I believe he ran into a fence and stopped himself---at least he was stopped some way. After letting him quiet down awhile we finally got our dinner into the wagon and never got them off a walk (horses ran all the way) between our home and the ranch. But we made it in time to spread the dinner on the ground under the Pecan Tree. Feeding the Thresher workers was much more fun to us kids than it was our mother as it was more like a picnic to us girls.

Another horse that used to worry us was Browny. He had been trained to pitch if touched in certain spots. One Primary day Emma and I were riding her home and one of us touched the wrong spot and the next thing we knew we were on the road. We just led the horse on home and didn’t worry a bit about being a little late.

Getting our first car was quite an adventure. To us it was a new car even though it had many miles on the speedometer; it was an Overland which was opened on the sides and the young people of today would love it because it was more like a convertible. It happened we were at the Greenlee County Fair which was a great affair with trapeze being done on a high pole in front of the grand stand, the day we got our first glimpse of our new car. I know that our father couldn’t have had more than one or two lessons---and no driver’s license. I have been going to ask him if he ever had one; I don’t think I did until after I married. But then the roads being what they were we couldn’t get up much speed.

Thinking of cars---what a funny day that day when grandma Jones was steering Uncle Owens and Aunt Mae’s car while being pushed off the hill at the school to get it started. It was just after Sunday school, so everyone was out watching. Down the hill it went, running away like the little gingerbread boy, with everyone running after it. They cut through yards to come out just too late to catch onto the car with grandma steering around every block in town a few times. Finally she thought to herself that she had to turn the key on to start so why couldn’t she turn the key off to stop, and she did just that. It’s a good thing it was a Model T and not a Thunderbird.

Every time I look at a potato I have a back ache mixed with the happy thought of a trip to Safford. Of course this was before the truck days when we only raised a few wagon loads of potatoes. We would load the wagon box full and Papa would let some of us go to Safford; taking two days to get there. Our traveling being very limited it was quite a treat to go even if we had to sleep on potato sacks if a storm came up. But we would get to see our friends the Allreds when we did this. They in turn would come up to visit us and we dearly learned to love this family.

We did get to see quite a bit of the World, however, as we made a trip or two over to El Paso to visit friends. We also made a trip to Mesa for the dedication of the Arizona Temple. Each time we would go we would have to take along several spare tires and all the water we could manage to haul. With so few clothes we had more room for water than travelers do now.

As the years passed I recall each of the five boys coming to our home. Of course these boys made it so necessary to get that little red wagon that girls have no use for; and with each Christmas we girls took terrible risks with our lives climbing up in the top of the corn cribs, harness rooms, attic and any other such places where Santa might be hiding things. But we always managed to act so surprised on Christmas morning.

I remember well all four of my grandparents. Grandpa Jones didn’t enjoy good health for many years but I always recall him carrying buckets of water to the baseball teams and to picnics. He used to dearly love to ride us on his knee and often while on his knee would make us bend our heads back to the floor, while on his knee, and then rise up. I guess we can give him credit for making our backs strong. How well I remember the night of his passing when Uncle Lee, ran through the lots to tell papa and Uncle John he was dying. We girls didn’t sleep much more that night.

This reminds me of some tragedies which happened to some of our playmates. One morning just as we were dressing by our wood heater, we heard screaming and saw a horse run by the window dragging someone. We ran to the door and saw it run around a corner a block away dragging our dear playmate Theo Mortensen. He had somehow gotten tangled in the harness that morning and so was drug to death. Then Trena Mortensen had two tragedies---she was burned very badly by falling into a tub of scalding water and I well remember the sores and scabs as they were healing. Then later she was ran over by a wagon and died.

I recall incidents that could have turned into tragedies but the Lord was very merciful and answered our prayers. We girls dearly loved to play ‘jacks,’ and mama used to caution us all the time to keep them up and taken care of for fear one of the littler ones would get one. As was often the case we didn’t always mind and one day Melvin found one of our jacks on the floor and put it in his mouth and swallowed it. It lodged in his throat causing him to choke. Mama did all she could but to no avail and papa, although it was getting dark, hadn’t arrived from the farm. In those days walking was one of the most used ways of transportation to and from the farm and so it was this night. After mama had done all she could she picked him up and knowing papa would be coming any minute started off with a prayer on her lips telling us girls to take care of the other young ones. Her prayers were answered as she met papa just a short distance from the house. Papa took Melvin by the feet and shook him until the jack flew out. The jacks disappeared from the house for a few days but the shaking Melvin got didn’t seem to shake any more sense into him as he has always acted about the same—(Joke, as Melvin was always a Jokester).

Another near tragedy was a little later than the above one. We had a bin of cotton seed which we would feed the cows after milking them. By this time LeRoss and Edwin were old enough to milk and on this particular night they had completed the chores and all of us kids, one by one, were coming in for supper. Papa was still at the farm. Mama began checking off her list of us kids and Maurice came up missing. Everyone was quizzed but no one seemed to have seen him. The search began to neighbors, play spots or anywhere we could think he might be found. Finally someone checked out in the cotton seed and there he was head down, in a hole where they had dug seed out of. He was apparently dead. Mama ran with him to Grandma Paynes while we children all knelt down on the cement walk on the south side of the house by the old honey suckle to ask our Heavenly Father to give him back to us. It so happened, that Roy Payne, our Uncle, had just had a lesson on applying artificial respiration and was successful in getting him to breath again.

Floods were always destructive and dreaded as well as quite frequent. Many a time Riley Wash would not be able to hold all the water that came down it and it would wash down over our fields. Windham wash, just west of town, had huge floods in it and often it would be hours before these canyons could be crossed. With no telephones in the valley parents would worry quite frequently wondering just where some of their family was.

The people of the community were close to one another and would all plan and go on outings together. We would all load up our wagons with food and bedding and go up to Steeple Rock or Moore Box or up the River. Going to Steeple Rock was an extra treat because we then had a chance to get us pine nuts and pine gum. This was before the day of Bubble Gum and Pine Gum was to us what Bubble Gum is to the kids today. Those evenings were such fun when we would play Run Sheep Run and other games or listen to the stories and have programs around the camp fire. One such occasion I recall that mama made us night caps as it was getting rather cool; we slept in the wagon box and the next morning when we peeked out the neighbor boys were looking right in our direction and saw us with these night caps on which greatly humiliated us.

The Gypsies used to come around every year and would camp real close to our place. We knew that they were going to steal us blind and would watch them very closely while they were there. At this time there was no highway directly from Lordsburg to Duncan but the travelers would have to come through Virden. They would always come by wagon and camp for several days.

We used to develop our arts much more then they do now as we couldn’t buy decorations. Just before Christmas, each year, we would make paper chains to hang across the room and on the tree; we would string popcorn and on our tree we had real candles in holders to light and burn. At Valentine time we always had to make our own valentines but we always made one for every child in school and in turn got one from each of them. Our celebrations, too, were very different. On the Fourth and Twenty-fourth of July, we would be awakened by a cannon going off and then we would have a full day starting with a parade. We would have a picnic lunch and program and kids dance along with races and games. Our parents would give us each a dime or so with which to buy home-made ice cream or lemonade. We always loved to watch the team pulling contests and watch the men choose up sides and see which could pull the other across the Sunset canal, or should say into it.

Yes, there were many memories that come to a persons mind as he starts to think and write them and I could go on and on but I think this is about all I will share. It has been a wonderful life to look back on. I have had the dearest parents a person could have and my brothers and sisters each have meant so much to my life. We have had so many blessings and joys come to us. Mother leaving us made the first break in our family but she left us so many choice memories. There is no reason why each of us shouldn’t be better people than we are as both of our parents gave us such wonderful examples. Yes, home was a wonderful place and may we always remember these choice things and stay close together as a family.

Viva Jones (Lunt) Pioneer to Virden

This is taken from the History of Viva’s mother (Edna Payne Jones). It is a short sketch about Pioneering into Virden New, Mexico, with her husband Willard Jones and their three young daughters--Corilla, being 4 years old, Viva being 2 ½ years old & Emma, the baby.

Viva was born, July 31, 1913. She was born just after her parents were run out of Mexico, along with the other Mormons. So she was a baby born to refugee parents. Since her parents were homeless--her Mother went to live in Richfield, Utah, with her parents, while Willard (Viva’s father) was trying to earn a living in Tucson, and going back to Mexico to try and find work. Willard with other friends and relatives eventually found land to rent along the Rio Grande River, in Chamberino--which is around the area now known as Las Cruses, New Mexico. The family settled on a rented farm for about two years. These Colonists were constantly praying and hoping for a settlement like their old Colony home in Mexico, where they could live close together and live and love and work together, and raise their families in a spiritual atmosphere.

When the opportunity to buy land that could be made into just such a place was reported, twenty one families pooled their resources and borrowed what more was needed, and prepared to move to the new area, along the Gila River in New Mexico. Edna said the day Willard came into the house, there in Chamberino, and told her that the bid of their company of friends had been accepted and a down payment made on the new Ranch there along the Gila, that Willard rushed into the house and grabbed her and they began dancing around the room singing, “Oh Yes, we’ve found a Home Sweet Home, some place to call our own”, acting like two silly kids.

Now came the task of finishing the harvert on the farm and packing their belongings and getting ready to move. Willard had a large hay wagon and a spring seat wagon box. The wagon box was removed from the wheels and the wagon box sturdily attached to the center front of the hay wagon. Edna had canned fruits and vegestables and meats from their own farm. These jars were packed into boxes and stashed on the floor in the bottom of the wagon box, towards the back. Over these boxes of jars, a soft bed was made for the three little girls, that now had joined the family. Over the children’s bed, Willard fastened their big bed and anchored it firmly. A chest of drawers holding the family clothing was put in the wagon box along with a rocking chair, and any other bench or cupboard that could be crowded in. The wagon was covered with bows and a tarp cover, just like the Pioneer wagons. Right behind the spring seat Willard hung a heavy rug, thus making a snug, warm, little room for his family. Around the wagon box was stored the rest of their furniture, farm machinery, and feed for their animals.

Five families planned to travel together to their new home. All put their extra horses, cows, and young calves, along with some farm machinery, together and shipped it by train to Lordsburg, New Mexico. It was to be shipped from Anthony ten days after the wagon train left LaMesa. Willard and Edna took one milk cow to provide them with milk during the journey. They had kept a few good laying hens to provide them with eggs and give them a start in the new home. They attached the pen of chickens on one side of the wagon. On the other side was a prized brood sow in a sturdy pen. Each wagon carried feed for the animals and a barrel of water. Edna before leaving had boiled a lot of eggs for them to eat, thru they were prepared to begin their long, overland journey to the Gila River settlement.

Five families made this trek together: Henry and Bea Smith and baby Beatrice, John and Sarah Jones with four children, Clair and Lois Smith, with their two girls, and Junius and Sarah Payne with a baby son, and Willard and Edna Jones with three their three little girls. Each morning the manfolk arose and harnessed the teams and began the trek by daylight. They let the women and children sleep until the sun rose to help warm up the wagons. Remember, this was in the latter days of December of 1915. Edna says that Willard always lighted the kerosene lantern and hung it from the roof of their wagon to warm up the room so Edna could sponge and clean up the little girls each morning and dress them for the day. She said it was warm and cozy in their wagon. She always had something to feed the girls to keep them happy.

Edna’s children asked her how she entertained the children on that long trip. She said it was easy…she spent much time rocking and singing to them, or reading nursery rhymes and fairy tales. She spent many hours helping them cut pictures out of catalogs. One of their special enjoyments was having Edna cut out strings of paper dolls from the catalog paper. Then they would all sing the little nursery songs and make their dolls dance and perform as they sang.

When the weather was good she bundled the girls up and let them ride up front. Edna held baby Emma and sat on the wagon seat with Willard. The two older girls, Corolla & Viva, were bundled up well so they could watch out front and see the wild animals and watch the cloud formations and make up stories of what they could see in the sky clouds. The company did see lots of wild life….coyotes, wolves, and lots of deer, and a few other furry animals they would try to name. It was altogether, a very pleasant trip and gave them lots of time for singing and loving and enjoying togetherness.

At each little stream they encountered, all the animals were watered and everyone cleaned up. Sometimes it was a little creek running or else, a water tank for some ranchers cattle.

The company traveled until late evening and then stopped to make camp for the night and to turn animals out to graze and roll and rest. The people of the company enjoyed fixing a meal together and visiting. Each night they held family prayers together before retiring to their wagons or tents to sleep. Edna said she heard lots of coyotes and wolves howling near their camp and watched some follow them by day hoping to find a tasty morsel dropped by the way.

The plan was for the company to arrive at the Gila Ranch to spend Christmas, so Edna had ordered Christmas for her family from the Montgomery Ward Catalog and had it shipped to Duncan and her husband’s parents, her inlaws, were to pick up the order in Duncan and have it ready for the family when they arrived.

Two of Willard’s brothers, Casey and Lee, and two of Edna’s brothers, Wid and Ivan, had stayed with the cattle and farm machinery and were to come by train and meet them in Lordsburg two days before Christmas. When the company arrived in Lordsburg to claim their cattle, they were not there. Upon investigation they were located at Separ, a railway siding 20 miles back. The agent did not know why the cattle had been sidelined, but promised to bring them by the next train. This meant the company had to camp out an extra night to wait for the next train, which would be the next day. When the train came in the company started the cattle and horses ahead of the wagons with the four boys herding them towards the valley and they continued their trek. Night overtook them on the flat above the valley so they camped there by a water tank of some rancher, this being Christmas Eve.

Christmas morning the Jones girls were heart broken to find that Santa had come to the Smith wagons and left beautiful dolls for Vilda and Hazel and Beatrice. The stockings the Jones girls hung had cookies and some candy and a note saying that Santa had left their presents at the home of their Jones Grandparents in Richmond (now called Virden). Early Christmas morning, a snowy one, the company traveled on and got their cattle and wagons to the Gila Ranch houses in the late afternoon of Christmas Day, 1915. They found several other families already there. The two Smith wagons stopped at the Gila Ranch but the two Jones wagons and the Payne wagon went on down the valley to the small house where Grandpa Tim and Grandma Mary Jane Jones were living.

The two room house where the Jones grandparents were living was on the land that later became the Will Jones farm and still later became the Parley Jones farm. The three wagons were parked close to the house and each family of travelers slept in their own wagon or tent but ate meals inside the house. Edna said it rained for two weeks and was so wet and cold, it was easier to keep her girls dry and warm inside the wagon rather than in that leaky house. The families remained here for about two weeks until the rooms at the Gila Ranch houses could be divided off to make room for all the company. For nearly two years, ten families lived in those two ranch houses. There was a good well at the corner of the south house and that well was well used and proved to be a real blessing. Another good source of water for washing and bathing was from the irrigation canal that extended
here to this ranch.

Taken from a short history titled “Pioneers” (Edna/Willard Jones) written by their children-Emma Jean Lines & Le Ross Jones. For more histories about Edna/Willard Jones-go to their History files.
(Nedra Lunt MacLay) 6-7-13 retyped

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Timeline Viva Jones

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