Whether you were raised by parents, grandparents or
someone else, their example definitely molded you. Sheila Sapp of St. George
tells us about her mom’s qualities: My mother Donna Park York was a living
angel to say the very least. She was always there when you needed her and yet
always helping others. Her mom died when my mom was six years old. I often
wondered if that was why mom tried so hard and was such a good mother, because
she wanted to make our lives everything hers was not. Always taking care of
others whether it was food or personal care for them, she never slept. Didn’t
have time, she seemed to have too much to accomplish here on this earth.
There was a
cannery and railroad tracks across from State Street in Orem, Utah where I
lived. Word of mouth got out to the men (hobos) who hitched a ride on the train
that there was a lady in Orem who would feed them. Many times in my youth,
there would be someone down and out, knocking on our back door. Mom would tell
them to wait while she’d prepare them food. My dear sweet mom passed away at
the age of sixty accomplishing much here on earth in a short span of years.
Juanita Robbins of St. George remembers with fondness
the influence of her grandparents in Douglas, Georgia. Raymond Carver
was a kind tender-hearted man, as was his son, Bazie, my father. Once when
grandpa had to punish the boys for something they had done, he told them that
it would hurt him more than them. This was hard for them to conceive. He had
them bend over the side of the porch and used a razor strap to spank them. Not
long afterwards, he was found out by the barn wiping tears from his eyes.
