The first story from Mom's journals that caught my attention was when Grandma Thora passed away. I was named after both of my grandmothers, "LO" from Lorena and "RA" from Thora. I was born just a few months after Grandma Thora died, so I never knew her but have been curious to learn more. I heard she died due to complications from a surgery, but I never heard any other details. I would have loved to have posted a picture of Grandma Thora, but I don't have one. If you do, please send and I will post.
April 5, 1966
A great deal has happened since I have last written. I just don't really know where to begin. On sunday, March 27th we received a call from Bonnie (Jim's girl friend), she said someone from the ranch called her and said that the Dixie Pioneer Memorial Hospital was trying to reach Bob's dad. The message was for him to get to the hospital as fast as he could. Bob's mother had an operation several days before this for a ruptured intestine. Dad had taken mother to the hospital as she complained of pains in her stomach. They continued to get worse. There is only one doctor serving people in Pieche, Caliente and Panaca
and he was ill. This is why dad drove mother to St. George, Utah. They both thought the doctor would give her some medicine and send her home, but things didn't work out that way. After the doctor examined here, he placed her in the hospital and she was operated on that same day.
That evening Jack (Bob's brother) called us to let us know mother had been operated on that evening. How bad the situation was, he really didn't know. I called Jim, Bob's younger brother who lives here in San Jose and let him know. Jim arranged to take a 20 day emergency leave from the Navy. He left the day after mother had gone to surgery.
When I received the call from Jack, Bob was not home. He was out doing missionary work.
Bob called his mother from work the day after she went to surgery. She was very glad to hear from him and she sounded as though she were doing fine. After we received the call .from Bonnie, Bob called the hospital. We had called earlier to talk to his mother but they would not take incoming calls for patients on Sunday. When Bob called back, Jack was there so he was able to talk to him. Jack, Chaca and family had gone there for the weekened. Jack informed us that mother had a heart attack Sunday morning. The doctor just didn't know how long she would last. Her pulse had stopped, but was brought back. Bob told jack we would fly out there as quick as we could.
We had talked to Lenna before talking to Jack, but she didn't know anything either. After we found out the news, Bob called back and told Gene that we would be flying out. Jack had talked to Lenna before us, so she learned of the news. Gene was trying to get a private plane to take her to Utah. It ended up that she was able to drive to Utah with Lloydel and Aunt Stella, who were leaving for Las Vegas from Ventura.
Mother (Lorena) took the children for us andBob and I flew to Las Vegas from San Francisco in an hour and ten minutes. From there, we took a bus to St. George. This took nearly three hours. It was around midnight when we arrived at the hospital. Dad, Jim, Lloyd, Jack, Chacha, Lenna, Aunt Estella, Lloydel were already there. We went right in to see Bob's mother. She had tubes going up her nose and into her stomach so she could breathe. She was very glad to see us. That same night Bob and Gayla's husband (cousin) administered to mother. She later commented how thrilled she was that at last one of her own sons could administer to her.
Mother's condition steadily became worse. She was not healing correctly and the doctor told us Monday night that she would have to undergo another operation. Her chances were very slim of surviving, but there was that chance. Without the operation she had only 36 hours to live. Everyone agreed she should go to surgery again. We all went into see her a few at a time. This would be the last time she would speak to us. She mentioned how nice it was to have all of her children together at last, she told dad that she loved him very much. He told her that he loved her very much and that's why she had to get well and go home with him. Mother was again administered to by Dr. Reitanse (sp?), a Stake Patriarch. Bob sealed the blessing. Soon after she was put to sleep and again we just waited. She went into surgery at 8:20 pm on March 28, 1965. She was in surgery nearly three hours. We all knelt in prayer. Bob gave the prayer. It was a beautiful prayer. We all arose crying.
Finally the Dr. came and told us she came through the operation and she was holding her own. A machine was used to do the work of her heart, since she already had a weak heart. Now all we could do was wait. All had been done for her that was humanly possible. Now it was up to the Lord. We again took turns sitting with her. Chacha and Margie spent nearly all the night with her. Margie said while she was with her she started mumbling and the only thing Margie could understand was 8:30. I went in to see how she was doing around 5:00 or 5:30 pm. Chacha and Margie had already gone to bed if you can call it that. They both slept in their campers. Some slept in their cars and some of us in the lounge.
When I saw Bob's mother, I knew the end was coming soon. She was suffering so much more. The tubes up her nose had collapsed and had to be repaired. She had mucus in her stomach, which they were trying to remove. Mom was fighting for her life with all she had. Soon after I saw her, the Dr was called and no one was allowed to see her. She died at 5:30 am March 29, 1966. The Dr. told us with tears in his eyes. Before going to surgery mother said she would try hard to make it through the second operation and then she said, "but I don't think I'm going to make it this time." When her condition became worse after the second operation, we again knelt in prayer. This time Lenna offered the prayer. At ten am we had to go to the morturary to make all of the necessary arrangements. Bob and I also talked to Bishop Atkins, St. George 5th Ward (Gayla's Bishop.) He made arrangements for the chapel and also to have the Relief Society serve a luncheon after the services.
Jack and Chacha returned to l.A. that day to take their children home. Lenna, Bob and myself left for the ranch to dispose of mom's personal belongings. The rest of the family went to Las Vegas to Lloyds.
Upon arriving at the ranch, Lenna called Aunt Marie and Aunt Fern, Thora's sisters and told them the news. She then called Aunt Flossie. Bob called my mother to tell them, but they already knew. Betty had called at our house and Roger was there and answered the phone. He told the children. Cindy did not fully understand being five, nearly six. Bobby who is two years older took it very hard. He cried his heart out after which he knelt down and said a prayer for his grandmother.
We could not bring ourselves to do anything on the ranch. Instead, all three of us stood with our arms around each other and cried. We were quite tired and all went to bed soon after. We all shared the same bedroom. About 2:30 a.m., I was awakened by Lenna, who was calling for Bob. I woke Bob up. Lenna was just shaking she was so upset. She asked for bob to administer to her. He did not know what to say, so we knelt in prayer that the Lord would guide him. I then went to look for olive oil, as Lenna didn't want Bob to leave her. I finally found vegetable or salad oil which ad to be used. I put a little in a glass and brought it in to Bob. He administered to Lenna after consecrating the oil. She said she felt better. I then went in search of tea, but could find none. I found cinnamon sticks and I boiled them and made tea. I thought perhaps this would help Lenna to relax. I gave her a couple of aspirins. We talked til about five a.m. We then arose and got dressed, as bob said we were leaving immediately for Las Vegas, as Lenna could not take any more. She cried and thanked Bob when he said that we would not stay at the ranch any longer.
We went to Loydel's when we arrived in Las Vegas. Loydel called her doctor for Lenna and she was put to bed. We spent that night with Loydel. In the morning Margie, Bob and myself again returned to the ranch and did what was necessary. We gave everything to the Relief Society in Panaca. They gave us a wreath to put on the grave. We returned to Las Vegas the same day. Bob and I again stayed with Loydel. We brought back mom's bird and other things we didn't want to give to the Relief Society. Loyd put the things in his attic to be split up at a reunion we may have in the future.
Friday Lenna and I went to have our hair done at the shop Loydell goes to. When we were ready to leave we found Loydel had already paid our bill.
Later that afternoon Jack, Chacha, Bob and myself returned to St. George. We found a motel. Dad, Jim, Bonnie, Lloyd, Margie came later. Jim, Bonnie, Lloyd and Margie stayed with friends in Hurricane.
That night (Friday) was the viewing from seven to eight. Bob's mother just looked beautiful. We had her all dressed in her temple clothes. She looked so different, not a wrinkle or anything. She was just beautiful. We met Thora's sisters and husbands for the first time. There were quite a few people there we did not know. Dad could not go to the viewing, he said he just could not take it.
The funeral was at 2:00 pm Saturday, there was a viewing from 1-2 pm. There were quite a few people there, friends and relatives. Speakers Gene Wall and Dr. A.W. McGregor, Dedication of the Grave - Meril Mead. Burial in the St. George City Cemetery.
Before returning to Las Vegas, we returned to the mortuary and paid our share of the bill, plus we picked up the cards and book. I found out that the otel we stayed at accused us of stealing the towels. We returned to straighten out the matter. When we drove in the lady came out already mad and she began to yell. Well this was all I needed, I yelled and screamed right back at her. What I told her, I don't remember. All I know was that Bob was really mad at me. He wouldn't have a thing to do with me all the way back to Las Vegas. We rode with Bonnie and Jim. It took all I had to keep from crying out, and from telling them all to
Shut Up!
