Morris Wilson, Jr. Obituary

Morris Wilson, Jr. is my maternal great-grandfather.  Although, he passed away several years before I was born I feel as though I know him.  I have heard so many wonderful stories of this amazing man.  In a former post I shared one of his incredible missionary experiences.  In the obituary that follows it lists that he served as bishop of the La Verkin ward for 16 years, but in a history posted on FamilySearch.org it states, "As the populations of the settlement [La Verkin] increased they were organized into a bishop's ward June 23, 1904, with Morris Wilson, jun., as Bishop....Morris Wilson, jun., acted as bishop of the La Verkin Ward until 1928..." My mother and his grand-daughter,Helen, has often spoke of his 24 year service as bishop. Morris' obituary appeared in The Salt Lake Tribune on Friday, March 11, 1955:

Death Claims Settler, 80, At La Verkin

     La Verkin, Washington County-Morris Wilson, Jr., 80, former county commissioner, church worker and banker, died here Thursday after an illness.

He was born at North Creek, Washington County, Sept. 13, 1874, a son of Morris Sr. and Sarah Elizabeth Isom Wilson.  He married Minnie A. Stratton, May 2, 1899 in St. George Temple, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

     Mrs. Wilson died a year ago.

     One of the initiators of the Hurricane Canal and a worker on the diversion canal for 15 years, six of them as foreman, Mr. Wilson was one of the first settlers of this community and served for 16 years as bishop of the La Verkin LDS Ward.

     At the time of his death he was a director in the State Bank of Hurricane and patriarch in Zion Park LDS Stake.

     He served six years as county commissioner and prior to his appointment as patriarch was a member of the high council of Zion Park Stake.

     He formerly served on a mission for the church and had been active since a youth.  Surviving: four sons and a daughter; Wayne, Reed Wilson, and Mrs. Thora Gubler, La Verkin; Paul, Carmichael, Calif.; and Dilworth, Henderson, Nev.; 28 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren; a brother and four sisters; William F. Wilson, Mrs. Pearl W. Stratton, Hurricane; Mrs. Amelia Sanders, La Verkin; Mrs. Edna Bundy, St. George; Mrs. Nellie May, Las Vegas.

     Funeral Monday 2 p.m. La Verkin LDS Ward.  Friends call Spilsbury Mortuary Sunday, 7 to 8 p.m. and at family home Monday after 10 a.m. Burial La Verkin Cemetery.

Korean War Experience of DuWayne Squire

The following excerpt comes from the Life History of my dad, DuWayne Gilbert Squire.  This experience occurred during the Korean War in 1951.  He was Sargent First Class in the U.S. Army-213 Field Artillery.

On a few occasions I have had vivid promptings from the Holy Ghost.  At such times the visitation or prompting was given as real as if any person would normally speak to me.  One such event occurred while I was serving in the War in Korea.

Our National Guard Unit, The 213 Field Artillery, was called into active duty and we boarded a troop ship on 1 January 1951 at Seattle, Washington.  We went to San Francisco, California and picked up some more troops and then headed for Osaka, Japan.  After a couple of days in the Japan Harbor where we picked up supplies we headed on over to Pusan, Korea.  Pusan is on the Southern tip of Korea and at the time we arrived there the North Koreans had pushed the South Koreans all the way down to within 45 miles of pushing the South Koreans into the ocean.  So that is where we joined the South Korean (ROK) Army along with the 24th U.S. Army infantry troops in trying to stop the North Koreans and start pushing them back into North Korea.

To make a long story a short one - We were having a hard time in digging the North Korean's out of their entrenchment and fortifications.  That is when General MacArthur got the bright idea to make a landing at Inchon, which is up near the middle of Korea.  So we were pulled out  of the Pusan Harbor and we along with our heavy equipment were shipped up to Inchon.  That put us right in the middle of the enemy with half of their army South of us and the other half North of us.  It was a great tactical move which caught the North Korean Army off guard.  Within a week we had retaken the Capital City of Seoul, and became strongly entrenched.  We eventually were able to remove the enemy from the area South of Seoul and then concentrate on the enemy North of Seoul, which was in North Korea.  For the next few months we were making some headway in pushing the enemy to the North above Seoul and then China dumped a multitude of soldiers (some estimates ranged from 200,000 to 300,000) across the Northern border.  Each Chinese soldier had a pack sack on his back in which they carried a supply of rice and ammunition and they were armed with AK-47 automatic rifles.  Needless to say, when they reached our front lines their vast numbers overwhelmed our forces in a hurry.  We were pushed back to the North perimeter of Seoul.

 At this point I will state that I was the Supply Sargent for our Unit and had been assigned a half track vehicle which had a fifty caliber machine gun mounted on a circular track so we could swing the gun around to be able to shoot anywhere on a 360 degree angle, either at aircraft or men and equipment on the ground.  While we were setting up camp for the night I turned on the short wave radio in my half track and was listening to the U.S. pilots who were flying over and attacking the oncoming ground forces of the enemy.  One of the pilots said the enemy were all on foot without any form of transportation.  He went on to say the enemy were so numerous that all of the hills looked like ant hills covered with moving ants - and all were heading South toward us.  If that wasn't enough to put the fear and trembling into me - I saw several truck loads of Marines going up to the front to fill in a gap where the South Korean (ROK) Army had all broken ranks and fled South.  Then a couple of days later I saw 3 big trucks with high side racks all returning from the front with dead Marines stacked in the trucks like cord wood, 10 feet deep.  As we were setting up camp on the north edge of Seoul our Commanding Officer came over to my half-track and told me that since I had the only 50 caliber machine gun I was to position my half-track on the North East corner of our encampment because that is the most likely place where the enemy would attack from.  He then commanded me to remain awake and be on guard duty all night and that I was to shoot at anyone that came from the North - He said there will not be any "Friendlies" coming from the North so I was to shoot without a challenge!

I stood in the five foot diameter circular gun mount with my hands on the trigger guards and my thumbs on the two triggers.  I was cold and miserable, and I might add very tired.  But after listening to the pilot's warning concerning the numerous enemy coming our way I couldn't have slept if I had wanted to do so.  The hours passed and just as the sky began to lighten up a bit indicating that morning would soon be coming - I heard the padding of several feet coming from the North directly toward my position.  When they got about 30 feet away I began to see movement of several shadowy figures. I was ready to squeeze the triggers but was stopped by a voice telling my mind, "Don't Shoot."  I answered in my mind that I must shoot because I was given a direct order to do so.  So I was about to squeeze the triggers again and the voice told my mind in no uncertain terms that I should not shoot.  I held off shooting and within a few seconds I could see about 20-30 people coming and I was able to discern that they were very old men and women and several children, some small children were even carrying babies on their backs.  I discerned that they were poor refugees just trying to get out of the way of this cruel war.  They walked within 2 or 3 feet of the side of my half-track.

How grateful I was that the Holy Ghost had so firmly warned me to not kill those poor innocent Old civilians and their Children!  Had I done so, I doubt there is any way I could have ever forgiven myself.

Derek's Homecoming Weekend

Two years... a really long time to be away from someone you love.  It is amazing how the two years seem to melt away the instant you welcome them back home.  It has been an eventful and fun weekend.  It took Derek two days to get home due to a 12-hour layover in Argentina.  While Derek was on his journey home we were busy making posters and preparing for a family dinner at the park. 

The Airport

Let's get our boy!

The amazing welcome home posters

3 Generations of Missionaries

The long wait is over!

Father & Son Reunited

Derek's little sis all grown up.

Meeting Sister-in-law, Sharlet, for the first time!

Proud, happy parents!

Rockin' the Paraguayan Suit 

On our way to Chuck-A-Gramma

Home

Dinner at the Park

It took 18 feet of Sandwiches to feed this hungry clan.

Grandma & Grandpa Squire

Sisters!

Krystal

Reyn & MJ

Jeff, Verlynn & Tom

Grandma & Grandpa Gallacher & Jeanine

Brooklynn & Maggie

Grandma Amelia Sanders Squire Recipes

Nothing said love like my grandmother's cooking!  Oh how I wish you could have walked into her kitchen and smelled the fresh baking cinnamon rolls made with love and her strong stirring arm.  I love and miss you grandma!

Grandma Squire’s Cinnamon Rolls

Recipe from Amelia Sanders Squire

2 yeast cakes                                                     7 C sifted flour                                  

1 C scalded milk, cool                                      6 T melted shortening

1 C lukewarm water                                        ½ C sugar

1 T sugar                                                              3 eggs

2 tsp. salt

Dissolve yeast and 1 T sugar in lukewarm liquid.  Add 3 C flour and beat until smooth.  Add shortening and sugar, creamed, and eggs that have been well beaten.  Blend well and add remainder of flour and salt.  Let raise until light.  Roll out and add melted butter and sprinkle generously with brown sugar.  Add chopped pecan nuts (or raisins, if you prefer).  Roll up and cut every 1½ inches.  Place in a 9 x 13 cake pan and let raise until double in size and bake in pre-heated oven of 375° until lightly browned.  Ice with glazed frosting while still hot.

Grandma Squire’s Molasses Candy

Recipe from Amelia Sanders Squire

Grease a 9 x 13 cake pan with margarine.

In a large pan combine:

2 C sugar

1 C molasses

½ C dark Karo Syrup

1 T vinegar

1 cube margarine (less greased pan)

½ C whipping cream (or canned milk)

Almonds and Pecans (1 pkg. each) – Cut nuts in large pieces with knife.

Bring to a boil while stirring constantly.  Turn down heat to a low boil and cook until it reaches a firm ball. (Test candy in a bowl of water.)  Add cut nuts (1 pkg. each almonds and pecans) and cook for 3-4 minutes.  Add a heaping teaspoon (use a table teaspoon) of baking soda and stir until mixed in well.  This really makes the candy foam and expand so make sure you use a large pan.  Pour candy into the greased 9 x 13 pan and cool. Cut into squares and serve.

Thanks to my sister, Verlynn Squire Sheffield, for including these recipes in my Dad's life history I can  share them with you.  

Amelia Sanders Squire Obituary

I had to do some digging to find this obituary of my Grandma Squire.  I could not find it online, but luckily my dad had a copy.  I love this lady so much.  You felt loved and important whenever you were in her presence.  I have included her famous recipes (cinnamon rolls and molasses) under the heading "Know Your Ancestors."

Amelia Squire

LAVERKIN, Utah – Amelia Sanders Squire, 96, died Nov. 7, 1995 at the home of her daughter, Sandra Howard, in Leeds, Utah.  Born Oct. 3, 1899, in Millville, Utah to William and Sarah Amelia Wilson Sanders.  She married Loren DeLance Squire on Oct. 22, 1918, in LaVerkin.  Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple.

                Amelia was reared and educated in LaVerkin.  She came from a pioneer family.  She loved cooking, sewing, and doing handiwork.  After turning 90 years old, Amelia made more than 100 crochet shawls.  She will be remembered for her cinnamon rolls and molasses candy.  Amelia is an active member of the LDS Church and has lived a Christ-like life all her life.  Her family was the most important thing in her life.  She always put others first and was a loving wife, mother, sister, neighbor and grandmother.  She will be greatly missed by all.

                Survivors include children, DeLance W. and wife Dorothy Squire of Orem, Utah; Phil E. and wife Ruth Squire of St. George; Don S. Squire of Hurricane, Utah; DuWayne and wife Helen Squire of LaVerkin, Utah; Jerald and wife Lorna Squire of Pleasant Grove, Utah; Adrien and wife Louise Squire of Bountiful, Utah; Scott O. and wife Arva Dean Squire of Orem, Utah; Mrs. James “LoRene” Turner of Las Vegas, Nevada; Mrs. Alan “Sandra” Howard of Leeds, Utah; 50 grandchildren; 104 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Mrs. Allen “Lucille” Humphries, Delma Dutton and brother, Owen Sanders, all of Hurricane, Utah.  She was preceded in death by her husband and an infant daughter.

                Funeral services are Saturday, Nov. 11, 1995, 1 p.m. at the LaVerkin LDS Stake Center.  Friends may call Friday evening from 6 until 7:30 p.m. at the Spilsbury & Beard Hurricane Mortuary, 525 W. State Street, and also on Saturday at the Stake Center from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Interment will follow at the LaVerkin Cemetery under the direction of Spilsbury and Beard Mortuary.

~The Spectrum – Thursday, November 9, 1995 (St. George, Utah)

Derek's Homecoming

Join us in welcoming home Elder DuWayne Gallacher from the Paraguay Asuncion North Mission.  

Dinner at 6:30 pm

Saturday 18 August 2012 

Heritage Park 

(Next to our chapel 1533 N. 1075 W.) 

We will provide the sandwiches, drinks and chips.  We would appreciate if you could bring a salad or dessert.

Derek will be reporting on his mission in the 

Orchard Ward (1533 N. 1075 W.)

Sunday 19 August 2012

9:00am

Loren DeLance and Amelia Squire Family

My Uncle Adrien shared these wonderful family photos with me so that I can share them with all of you.  These are some great photos of my grandparents and their children.  I'm not certain of the year, but I'm guessing around 1960.  This is an awesome picture of my Squire aunts and uncles as follows:
Back Row from left to right: Sandra, Amelia (my grandma), LoRene, Don, Phil, DeLance
Front Row from left to right: Scott, Adrien, Jerald, DuWayne (my dad), Loren (my grandpa)

A more recent picture from 1988:

The Squire Women:
Lorna, Louise, Helen (my mom), Dixie, Dorothy, Ruth, Sandra, LoRene, Amelia (my grandma), Sarah (my great-grandma)

This is my Great-Grandma Sarah Amelia Wilson Sanders.  She is a grand lady who died when I was only 5 months old so I never had the opportunity to get to know her.  But I know that my dad loves her.  My dad lived with his Grandma and Grandpa Sanders from around the age of 6 to the age of 13.  He speaks very fondly of working side by side with her.  She had a very positive influence on my dad during these formative years.