Freckles

Beautiful blue eyes, freckles, and

Oh, how red your hair!

Never had a better friend

Nor lacked your tender care!

I miss those quiet talks we had

Each time I see a photo of you.



Life has taken us far apart

Yet entwined with yours my heart

Never doubts my love for you

Nor your friendship true.

The Arlo Vance Family today

Sorry, Mom, I thought it would be fun to give you antlers, and I thought there was one without. If there is one, I can't find it. If Larry has one without antlers, perhaps he can add it.

I never thought of Donnie as the caboose before.

I think that Bonnie's wolf is looking for something to eat!

I love being with my family!

The most wonderful feeling

As we drove to Manassa this morning, my head was flooded with memories. I was feeling anxious about the funeral. There were members of my family that I hadn't seen for over three decades. I took my camera today thinking that I would have some pictures to post to the blog when we got home. If the success of the trip were measured by the number and quality of pictures taken, it would have to be considered a failure.

As we arrived at the Church house in Manassa, the parking lot was almost empty. I felt encouraged when I recognized Don and Gloria's PT cruiser. We parked by them and went into the building. It was empty except for the organist who was taking advantage of a few minutes to practice before everyone came. We were asked by a kind gentle man if we were going to the mortuary for the final viewing. We decided to follow him and his wife to the Mortuary that was just a block away.

The crowd on the porch of the building was promising. I could see my sister in law, Gloria, my brother, Don, my sister, Bonnie, and Mom. They greeted us warmly and we all went in to meet Aunt Mike's family. Each of them was so kind and warm. They were grieving, but they were gracious and thinking of others.

The funeral was uplifting and inspiring. Tears were shed as family members shared poetry, memories and testimonies. Those participating in the program shared their love for a wonderful woman who had taught them by the life she lived. Her grandson reminded us that just as there would be a reunion of family after the funeral, there would be a reunion on the other side with family that had been separated for years. I have never had a more effective lesson on Heavenly Father's plan of happiness.

When we returned to the chapel after the grave side service, I had another lesson on what is important. My camera sat on the table as I visited with my cousins, their children and their other cousins who had also come to bid farewell to a common loved one. The people in that room, were all one family linked by our love of Aunt Mike. To me, there is no feeling more wonderful than feeling I belong to a family. That feeling cannot be photographed, but today it's keeping me warm. Tomorrow it will be engraved in my heart.

Kent's story - PreSchool

I recently went through an exercise where I made an inventory of my life. Somewhere mixed in the lines of scribbling on the notebook were memories of my childhood mixed with stories I had heard growing up. I had a hard time separating my own memories from what others had said. I think history is like that. What is accepted as historical fact is sometimes a mixture of what happened and the perspective of writer of the history.

My earliest memory that is truly my own is of a day in the nursery in the church house in La Jara, Colorado. I was fascinated by the wonderful toys that held two young boy's interest. Myron and I would gather the colorful cat eye marbles and place them on the top of the wooden jig. It was fascinating to watch the glass orbs as they traversed each runway and dropped to the next level. The rolled back and forth until they dropped out the final runway into a bowl with a wonderful melody of clattering marbles and giggling boys. We would scoop them up and go through the ritual over and over again.

I remember an old tin car. That was worn and rusted. It had pedals in the bottom of it to propel the car forward, but we were too small to reach them. We played on it and pushed one another back and forth.

I remember an old Ice house near La Jara. It was no longer used to store ice, but the building still stood, and in front of it was a one room home. I don't know if we lived there or if we just visited someone who did.

I remember a home called the "Ross House", that had a lilly pond in front of it. My little sister, Bonnie, fell into that pond and nearly drowned. The pond was filled with dirt.

I remember an incident with the thatched room of a potatoe cellar. Donnie and I were going to make a fort in the thatching to play boyhood games. He climbed up first and I followed. He was carrying a manure fork for moving the thatching. A manure fork is similar to a pitch fork, but has wide blades instead of tines. As I climbed to the top of the cellar, I heard Donnie cry out, "Watch out!". I looked up in time to take a glancing blow on the top of my head from the falling fork. Mom cleaned up the wound using a garden hose. The water was cold. I have no permanent scar or disfiguration so the incident was not as important as it seemed to me that day.

We passed many an hour in the fields near our home. We played as cowboys and Indians. We were knights of the round table. We saw ourselves as war heroes and magicians. Our imaginations and our bodies grew, and we enjoyed ourselves.

We moved to a home near Romeo. Dad was working as a ranch hand. That was the year I would have gone to kindergarten, but Romeo had no kindergarten. We continued playing and growing. While we lived here, Donnie and I were given some toys to help us with the jog of growing up. They were fascinating. Each of us received a hatchet and a knife. They were real. They had ivory colored handles. The hatchets had compasses embedded into the handles. They hung from our belts, and we really felt like big kids.

I remember the hatchets and I remember the knives. I don't remember what followed. Mom tells me that we, along with our cousins, went into a granary near the house and tore out the live wiring with our new tools. She tells us that the wiring in the granary was live and that it was a wonder that we were not electrecuted. If there were angels there looking over us, I did not see them. Mom swears that they must have been there.

One morning, I got up and was told that I had a new brother. I don't remember any commotion that night. One day he was not there, and the next day he was.

Dad was hurt at work. As a child, I am sure I didn't understand. I knew that he was taken to the hospital and he wasn't with us any more.

Mom had to go to work and we moved to Manassa to be close to Grandma and Grandpa Dunn. We lived just a block to the west of them on what is now called 3rd Streed. Mom began working in the school lunch system. There was a room in that house that was locked. I think it must have been full of the owner's belongings. My mind imagined all types of things that could be in that room. To the south of the house was an apricot tree. To this day, I enjoy the song, Popcorn popping on the apricot tree.

Family Photos (ca. 1956)

Thanks to Bonnie Lynn Olsen for sharing this image.

Reunion starts with a temple visit

For a long time, Mom (Gatha) has wanted all of her family to go to the temple together. We did that on Thursday, June 12. Mom was pleased to have us all together.

In the photo to the right are Larry and Jeanette Vance, Emery and Bonnie Olsen, Betty and Kent Vance, Donnie and Gloria Vance and seated is Gatha Wilson

The Reunion

We were fortunate to have some time to spend together in Pine Valley, Utah. Momma Gatha has a friend that owns this fine place we stayed for a couple days. We gathered and conversed.



We worked in the projects for the reunion that have been proceeding for the past few months.



We then began to have some fun. We played games -- like this redneck horseshoe game. Balls on a rope were hurled at a stand with three rungs. The lower rung scores three, the middle two, and the top but one. Here Emery shows off his style.



And here is Bonnie holding her cache of blue balls waiting her turn.



We had a jumping good time.



Sometimes I even surprise myself.



Shandi says, "What are you thinking?"



Monica just is happy to be here.



And then there is the good looking brother, Kent.



We enjoyed watching some skits.



Some are less inclined to be photographed.



With some coercion I was able to see most of her face.



Now she thinks it is funny.



And then we see. It was our beautiful Danette. Why be camera shy?



Someone scores a ringer.



YUP, it was me.



Story time.



We had a birthday party. Here Katee is toting her bag on her shoulder.



The store was kept for last. There was a merit system, where each participant was allowed to earn redneck bucks to spend at the store. Here are the hoards descending on the booty.



Aubrey followed her mothers queue of being a bit reluctant to put on her best for a photograph.



But her grandpa, Don, was there at his best.



Then we packed and ...



Said goodbye.

In Tune with The Master

The piano once was beautiful. . . an instrument so Grand.
Its music stirred each listening hear, just as its master planned.
When skillful hands engaged the keys, sweet music swelled the air.
And others felt inspiration as a gift of God was shared.

The master craftsman too, was pleased with the instrument he'd made.
It was of great worth to him ...indeed a high price for it was paid.
The piano enriched so many lives.. .it had a legacy of worth...
It was to have a profound influence while here upon the earth.

As years passed by. the instrument fell into careless hands,
The once valuable source of music met with harsh demands.
Not realizing its worth and value, it was the brunt of much abuse.
For musical enjoyment and inspiration, the piano was no longer used.

Its appearance was once stunning with it's surface polished to a shine.
Now was warped, scratched and scarred from seeing harder times.
After years of abusive pleasure and not maintaining its upkeep,
It experienced inner corrosion, the damage was sad and deep.

The piano long sat dormant, and when played, was so off key.
With its strings now loose and rusted...what would be its destiny?
Its owner was now dissatisfied with the once priceless gift of beauty.
And disposing of this worthless facade was now his apparent duty.

As fate would surely have it, another saw its worth,
And realizing its true potential would give it a second birth.
Restoration would require hours of work, sacrifice and pain...
But with the help of others, its value could be regained.

The work would be most tedious, not accomplished on one's own.
A master with the knowledge and skill, for the damage would atone.
To be an instrument of value again and bring others joy and pleasure.
It was destined to be in tune again, regain its worth... an earthly treasure.

The Master from the beginning, knew each individual's worth
And planned a destiny of great importance, from long before our birth.
Each soul is of priceless value... each one a child of God.
Will we pass the tests of mortal life and hold to the iron rod?

When we meet with life's big challenges, will they leave us scars of sin?
Will repairs through sincere repentance help as we strive until the end?
Our Savior paid the price for sins and said "Come Follow Me".
He wants us to be of worth, to be with Him for eternity.

May we always live in tune with God and be instruments each day.
To touch the lives and hearts of men with what we do and say.
The greatest gift, when life is over and we leave to go back home
Is to see our Savior and have him say, "Come to me. Thou art my own."

Bonnie Lynn Sisco Olsen

Establishing a Home

When Arlo and I got married, we didn't have a home. For a time we were here and there. We lived in a little 3 room house of Isabel's. Then we moved in with Grandma Vance. We live in a room of Charles and June Vance. That is where we lived when Dad died and Doris Faye came to live with us.

Then he got a job with Ed Guymon and we lived there until Don, Kent and Bonnie were born. Arlo quit his job with Ed and we moved in with Grandma Vance again for a season. We then moved to a farm between Sanford and Bountiful. Arlo worked for a Gyling. We lived there for one year.

The next year we moved to the house North West of Romeo. That is where Larry was born. That year there were a lot of things. Donnie had rheumatic fever, Arlo had a bad disc in his back and was in the hospital in Grand Junction for about a month, then was moved to Denver where he had back surgery.

While he was in the hospital, I moved us to manassa. We lived in Lucille Jackson's house, a block West of Grandma Dunn. We lived there until we bought our first home of our own. That was the one across the street from Maggie Weston.

From there we bought the house on 3rd street. That was our final home. We lived there until after Arlo died and I moved to Mesa. Things were never the same after that. There didn't seem to be a gathering place for all of us again. Eventho I own a home now, it doesn't seem to be a gathering place as I would like it to be.

About Bonnie's family

What a joy it is to hear from the family and get to know what each of you is doing. Our family is really doing fine.

Shandi , Todd and their three children are considering moving to Virginia as Todd is thinking of accepting a job with the government and they will reside there.

Emery J., Daylynn and their two boys are living in Lake Elsinore, CA where he works for a land surveying company.

Monica, Chad, and Riley live in the house behind us . She works at thy hospital as a CNA, Chad is a construction worker and Riley is in Kindergarten.

John Henry still lives at home and is working as a deli worker at the local grocery store and as a construction worker laying down curb.

We are enjoying our family and love them as well as all of you. I didn't write much but will catch up more later. I love you all and do apprciate your love and your contribution.


Until later.........stay safe, sane and sassy.....Love Emery and Bonnie

Posted on Gatha's post.

Keith's Funeral

I spent Thursday night at Bonnie's. Leon Picked us up there at 4 A.M. and we drove to Kanab and picked up Don and Gloria. We drove to Belen, New Mexico, where we had 2 motel rooms reserved.

When we arrived there, we talked to Erma and she told us that The ward had prepared a meal for the family and we could come and eat with them. after we got cleaned up we went to the church and Keith and Erma's family were mostly all there. They have 70 members of their family. We had a very nice meal and got acquainted with members of their family that we hadn't seen in many years.

The viewing followed in the Relief Society room. The day Keith died, Erma asked Kelly if he could build a casket. Kelly said "no way". The other sons and three grandsons, said they would help him and together they got to Kelly's barn at 8A.M. and stayed late into the night, sometimes as late as 1 A.M. and made a beautiful casket. It was white pine with Cedar panels. The girls made the linings. It was a work of art. Keith looked good. He was thin after so much sikness, but he looked nice.

LaRue and Harold and Doris Faye and Bert came to the viewing. That was special. we took a lot of pictures.

We went back to the motel and prepared to leave at 7 A.M. the next morning to go to LosAlamos, where the funeral was held.

Barbara came for the funeral and all of my immediate family was there. That was special. We haven't all been together at one time since Barbara was sealed in the temple.

At the viewing, Cheryl and Elwood Cardon and Aldred and Gay Schofield were there. I only have 4 living cousins on Dad's side of the family. Cheryl, Aldred, Charley, and Winona are the only ones. It was good to see them. Keith and Erma's family was all there and it was good to see all of them too. The funeral was special. I will send you a program. All of it was their children, except the bishop gave a short talk. . It was a beautiful funeral. The tribute to Keith was wonderful. We stayed for the meal after and visited with my sisters and brother.

We started home at 4:30 in the afternoon and arrived in St George at 4:30 in the morning. It was a good time. everyone was so nice and I felt that being with family was great.

Bonnie Lynn

Aunt Bonnie Lynn. Dad's sister, daughter to Gatha Bingham-Vance-Wilson and Arlo Vance, the coolest grandfather to squeal and squeek at me. All giving of fine memories.

Grandpa played Santa at the church in Manassa one year and I was determinted that everyone know "MY GRANDPA IS SANTA!" He had a green plastic chair. Back to Bonnie Lynn!

I remember a time riding in one of Aunt Bonnie's cars with the sunroof open, laying down on the seat looking up through the opening in the car. Watching the trees go by and the blue sky with the bright white clouds passing as if they themselves were stationary!

Another time in the Valley sleeping in the silver bullet camper and her getting ready for bed with her hair pulled up. I always thought she had the most beautiful red hair! She wore her red hair better than any other red haired female I knew! I always thought she was the coolest!

I felt a little jealous when my oulder cousins were allowed to wear Bonnie's old shoes with heels! I wanted a pair so bad, but I was always too young. When I was finally old enough, I way surpassed ever being able to fit into one of Bonnie's cool hand-me-downs!

When I moved in with Dad and Betty in Longmont in the early 1990's, she made me feel warm and welcome with the care package that she sent! I always felt special around Aunt Bonnie! She has always been filled with a warmth that radiates off of her!

Family

It is such a special thing to come to Mom's and get to catch up on the latest additions to the blog.
Perhaps the greatest blessing in my life is my family......immediate and extended. Mom is my star!!! She is one of the greatest examples of Christlike love. She has always displayed a love for others. I remember her and Aunt Elma getting up at a very early hour and going to Blanch Sego's home which was about a block away from our house and spent many hours pulling her weeds and put them in the front of her house to burn. I remember Blanch calling Mom and showing anything but gratitude for their kind act, I told her that I wouldn't spend my time doing things for someone that did not appreciate it. Her response to me was that they didn't do it for praise or appreciation and that there was no end to the good that we could do if we were not concerned about who got the credit. She always could see the good in me even though I felt that there was none.

My best friend, Ramona McGinnis said that Mom was the best person that she had ever met and that she was a great source inspiration to her. Mom taught her to sew, cook and many other skills that I was personally not interested in at that time.

Dad had a big heart, I remember that at Christmas he always bought a gift for the widows that were in our home town; it may have been a box of chocolate covered cherries or a small glass dish, but he had a gentle side. He was a real practical joker, he could dish it out , but he didn't like others to do it to him. He taped my eye lids shut when I was sleeping, painted my face with charcoal when I was asleep and when I sat by him at a meal time he was always hitting my elbow as I took a bite. He had an amazing ability to get close to animals and had them well trained. He would put candy sticks in his shirt pockets and they would find them and eat them. The pony would get his cap by the bill and take it off. His animals loved him. H e also had m well trained, when he came in the house I would take off his shoes, get his paper and retrieve a drink for him.

Donnie, Kent and Larry, do you remember him taking us out to go sledding on the snow packed roads in the winter in the deep hood of an old car. I also remember ice skating on the Conejos River. Dad went in front of us with a scoop shovel and would clear off the ice and probably check if the ice was solid enough to hold us.

Donnie was always so well liked by the people in the valley and I was so proud to have him be my older brother. My children and grandchildren all love him and Gloria so much because thy make them feel like they are each one their favorite.

Kent was one of my best friends and I thought he was truly the best brother in the world. Remember skating at the town pond? We would skate together to "Put You Little Foot", and we would turn and skate the other direction. I thought we were good enough to be part of the"Ice Capades". We played duet at Adam State College, our contribution was "Glow Little Glow Worms". We both took music lessons from Lena Sowards.

Larry was the "Brains " of our family. For some unknown reason, he got my share also. Maybe I traded him for his charm...that is a joke of course.

I adore all of my nieces and nephews and one of my greatest motivating factors is to be eternally linked to each and every one of my family.

I love my children and grandchildren and Emery is my greatest blessing.

Gloria, Betty and Jeantte are the sisters that I wished for from my youth.

-- Bonnie

Our Family vacations

The one thing that we enjoyed together with Arlo being there was time spent in the mountains. When Kent was less than a month old we went to the mountains and camped out. We slept in sleeping bags and cooked on the camp fire. I don't remember the place that we camped but I do remember being in the mountains. We spent a lot of time camping out and then later spent time at the cabin. The cabin proved to be a great investment for us. I still like to go there. Our reunion there was great. We have owned it for many years.

One time Barbara, LaRue, Doris Faye and I took all of our children in one car and went to Los Alamos, to visit Keith and Erma. That wouldn't be possible today because of seat belt laws.

One time we took the VW pickup and went to Pueblo to visit Nona. The car broke down and we had to find a ride home.

When Bonnie Lynn had to go to Denver for a check up at the hospital, I took all of you children and we went several times. We went to the movie in a round theater, "It's a Mad Mad World". All of us laughed so hard we cried. Sometimes we went to a resturant where there was a toy train running around the room, near the ceiling. Can any one remember other things that we did?

Homes we lived in

When Arlo and I were married, we lived in a little house that belonged to Isabel. Isabel was living in Arlene Barber's house for a time. We lived with Grandma Vance for a short time. We lived in 2 rooms that belonged to Charles and June Vance. That is where We lived when Daddy died. That is where we lived when Doris Faye came to live with us.

Before Donnie was born, we moved into a two room house belonging to Ed Guymon. Arlo worked for Ed for several years.We lived there until after Bonnie Lynn was born. Then we moved back to Grandma Vance's house.

Then we moved to a house that belonged to a man named Ross, it was between Sanford and Bountiful Colorado. Arlo worked for a man named Gyling.

Then we moved to the house in Romeo area. That is where we lived when Larry was born. That is where we lived when the snake bit Kent. Arlo worked for Thales Smith on his farm. While we lived there, Donnie had rheumatic fever and Saint Vitus Dance. Arlo had a bad back and went to Grand Junction to a veteran's hospital and was there for two months. Then he was transfered to Denver, where he had surgery on his back.

While he was in the hospital, I moved us to Manassa. We lived in Lucille Jackson's house. When Arlo returned from the hospital, he wasn't able to work for a while. I went to work at the school hot lunch. When Arlo was able to work, he went to work for Boyd Pagett, at his service station. We bought a small house across from Maggie Weston. we lived there for a few years and then sold it and moved into the house on third street. We lived there the remainder of the time we lived in Manassa. That is where we basicly raised our family.

Bonnie Lynn

This was one of the first times that I tried to say something significant and nobody was listening, not much has changed. I am so proud to be a part of the Arlo and Gatha Vance family.

This was one of memorable moments of our family outings at Wolf Creek pass. If sombody would have listened then they may have heard some wisdom. That's why we are such a miss-informed bunch.

Now listen and I will try to enlighten you. I like the blogg only I think it should be more like bologna. Love you all and I would love to add my two bits. Bonnie...........

The Kids

Bonnie Lynn

When Bonnie was born, we still lived at Guymon's place. I went from the hospital to Grandma Dunn's for a few days. I told Grandma that Bonnie had red hair, but she didn't think so. It took a while for it to show, but it was surely red. We were so happy to get a girl to go with our two sons. She has always been a very pleasant and loving person. She is a great blessing for me.