Notes from a memory book for William Joseph Simpson.
I am assuming it was put together by his wife. I have transcribe it out exactly the way it was written including grammatical and spelling errors. I have included ???'s where I could not read the handwriting.
Born August 14, 1902 in Moroni Utah
Blessed Sept 14, 1902 by William Prestwich
Baptised Sept 3, 1911 by Oscar Hansen
Confirmed Sep 3 1911 by Nathan Fox
Teacher June 28 1918 by David Anderson
Died on November 30, 1955 in Salt Lake City he was 53 years, 3 months and 17 days old.
Bearers: Lewis Couron Son-in-law
Jay Simpson nephew
Sid Simpson Brother
Oden Simpson Brother
Chris Riegger son in law
James Callahan son in law
Final resting place: Salt Lake City Cemetery. Lot 97 West Block 8. Laid to rest Dec 3, 1955
Children:
Rae Aunda ??? Simpson
Venice Simpson S. L. Callahan
LaRue Jackson Couron Simpson
Grandchildren:
Aunda Ellen, Anthony Jr, Ronnie Riegger
Bonnie, Rickie, Jackoline Couron
Debborah Long, Mary Ellen Long
(Ella's response to a card from his daughter LaRue given to him on a past fathers day. It has a shirt and tie on the front. The card reads(pre-printed): They don't make better Dad's than you. I learned that when a kid: and since i've looked around a lot-I still feel like I did! Much love LaRue)
This card is so like him. Our Father and husband. He was so pleased over this one.
I will rember his words:
"mama are they trying too fool me at my age or does she mean it. She has come a long way and done pretty good hasen't she?"
You have a lot to be proud of for your father left a good clean life owing no one. His name is one to rever and cherish. I don't know of an enemy he had, his smile and ??? laugh along with his tender afetion, should be a heritage to be proud it is dearer than all earthely wealth, because if you will just try to live, as you should, and teach your children the way of life we can all enjoy our Famley love some day. Of this I am sure. Teach your children love of their fellow men. and to pay their dets and live with in their means you have been a wonderful daughter and can be glad of the little things you did for him. A dollar for gass a dollar or two for fishing the little gifts at birthday and Fathers day we so aprecated. And the time Lews and your self let him take the only vacation we ever had together by using your car he was so proud and humble and the last time you took him to eat and the car ride it seems such a short time ago. Your father came from the finest pioneer linage there is in Utah. He shared his toys and work with a bro and sisters and he loved them all I never knew hunger or want in 30 years of married life there wasen't aneything he couldent do and do well. During our married life he worked at a number of trades but best of all he loved his train work best. He sheared sheep and herded them, he was a wonderful farmer. he also had a fireman job for the Union Pacific Railroad. He worked in coal mines and smelters. He was forman of Utah Construction. He helped build the Farmers market in Salt Lake, he builded bridges over the Salmon river in Idaho. and last hwas gard at the desert news paper later driving a truck. He also was manager of Fuller Brush warehouse for 5 years as well as salesman and threw it all he always had a dollar to help a bum if he was hungry. His hobby was fishing he loved to hunt but his joy came from fishing. as he always said he had itching. Fell but threw it all he tooke time to make my life enjoyable. For when we danced we were as one our very fiber moved in tune. He was not easy to be angered, but when he was it was aful, but I only seen him that way 3 times in my life and the cause was justified. He was a good husband in sickness especiley. it was never to cold or he too brok to get medical help for his familey. He loved us very much of that I can be eturneley sure. Also his grandchildren witch I beleave he proved.
The only flaw in our married life was our loss of spirit in relegion. For to go to the temple with him was my one desire. When I see what we have lost in our lives I feel so empty. You also helped your mother over some very bad times and I want you to know I am very greatful. if at times I was so rapped up in my duties and failed to tell you I will now, for we love our scater Brain. She has proved to me she is a wonderful mother and wife. Your life is full now but some day you will be bowed down with sorrow when that time comes and I am not here you can rest asured I wont be very far away. You have a good husband and I pray every nite that someday he will belong to the church and I feel like if will be Jackie to do it. Watch your darling little famley don't let them stray I can't even think of them doing it try to steal there thoughts too ????? sing later day saint ??? it makes such a hevnley home for them here in mortality. As you pick up the thread of life after each discouragment and mend the broken ends so our Father will pick up the broken ends and make them strong so that at straining and pulling will never seres them again you have been blessed dear with lovely helthy children. Tae time to grow with them they will fill your old age with love anAlong with hardships and pain and tears. BillBut its worth it all as I sat and dream of the d respect. Be mindeful of Rickey. He has the soul of an angel if you try to get close to him. Don't speak hastly harsh words they can never be recalled and leave a scar to mar their happiness later know where they are, know their friends, the world is so full of evil you cant even sleep in peace.Be prayerful open up your heart and don't close the door when you feel that guilty feeling of being in tune try a little harder may God Bless you all the days of your life and help you to draw closer to him . I pray with all my love, Mother.
(Included is a postcard from the Monte Neva Hot Springs)
We spent many happy evenings at these resorts or 10- 11- anneversery was spent here with friends and relations. They have been destroyed now to make room for progress, but not for better enjoyment.
They laid my love to rest today, I wont beleave he is gone, he is just away. 30 years of love we had along with hardships and pain, and tears. But its worth it all as I sat and dream of all teh long past years. When our hearts were gay and our dreams were bright our little one around my knee.
I've watched his dear, dear face so drawn with pain and knew it had to be but some day soon when my days are done and i've finished the time that's mine, I will beet my darling ont eh great divide and once more our love ??? God grant its soon for I am so weary now. Theres not much pleasure or joy but to worship God as slowely my head I bow.
God is Love
God is love us here it is said
For all that lives and all thats dead
It must be so when you look around
Gods great creation is in the ground
In flowers and trees and grass so soft
We can all see it if we look aloft
His great creation his wonderus love
How can we dought when we look above
and see the stars the moon and sun
He mad it all for us and gave his son
That all might live beyond the vail
When his voice be here and the angels hail
Then we will Bud and flower anew
That's for all for me for you
Sarah Ella Simpson
William Simpsons talk at his Aunt Agnes Prestwich's funeral.
My brothers and sisters, I have been asked to say a few words for my Aunt Agnes Prestwich, and to say my Mother Agnes because she has been more like a second mother to me than anybody i know. I have been with her and associated with her during the last ten years because she lived where I have lived, and also while she has been in the hospital the last four years too
In the last few days before she died, mother and myself were down there mostly three and four times a day, so when I saw Agnes suffer and my mother suffer, I had to suffer too. That is what makes it so hard for me today.
I remember as a boy, I can't go back as far as Brother Nielsen and Brother Jensen, but I can go back 45 years, when I used to work with my grandfather and uncles on the farm. Before I would come home, she always called me Will. She would say, "Come on in Will, I have something for you." She would give me a little red apple. I was tickled to get it. She had been that way ever since I could remember. She had no children of herown, but she has been a mother to a lot of people and a good mother. I'm proud to say that she has been a second mother to me. I think i an remember a lot of things she has done for me, an a lot of others whom she has done things for.
I don't think in my own heart that there is any doubt that there is a place for her. There was no kinder and sweeter woman that I know of and I can safely say that I know she will receive her reward.
In the last ten years while she has been in Salt Lake City, she has done for me, as old as she was, many more things, and what little I could do for her in her remaining days was little. I was certainly proud that i could do a little, and i know that her sisters and brothers and especially the ones that couldn't come, Sarah Lambert, would surely like to be here. I know she would like to be here very much, and I know Agnes will miss he as much as she is going to miss Agnes.
In the last just two days before she passed away, I was there along with my mother; and I want all her brothers and sisters to know that she asked for them and she didn't forget any of you. Sh in her last couldn't even talk, but she asked for you by moving her lips. Anything that anybody ever did for her she never forgot to thank them. Like I say, I came up here to say a few words and it so kind of hard for me to say it.
Because some of her sisters and brothers lived a long way away, they couldn't come and we explained to her why they could not be there so she would not feel bad. and that made her feel better.
I know there will be a place in heaven for her. No purer, sweeter woman to my knowledge ever lived, and I know like my mother said "well wouldn't it be a blessing if she could to and spend Mothers' Day with her mother," and she is going to spend it with her mother and father and brothers and sisters in heaven. They are glad to have her back with them I'm sure, and we shouldn't grieve too much.
We're going to miss her, but nobody is going to miss her more than my mother because she has been with her during her sickness. My mother has put her heart and soul into making her last days as pleasant as she could.
I hope we can all be just as sure of a place in heaven as my Aunt Agnes, and I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Transcript from Bill Simpson's Funeral (William Joseph Simpson)
December 3rd, 1955
Salt Lake City, Utah
Prelude: Rilla Rieger
Opening Remarks: Bishop Nathan W Adamson
It is now time for us to commence these services for Brother William Joseph Simpson, age 53, of 124 Vida Avenue, who died Wednesday at 4:15 am in a local hospital. He was born in Moroni, August 14th 1902, son of Angelo Fran and Jane Prestwich Simpson. He lived in Salt Lake City for teh past 13 years, was a member of the North Central Park Ward, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was a truckdriver and distributor handling the Deseret News for the Newspaper Agency Corporation. He formerly worked at the Kennecott Copper Corporation in McGill, Nevada for 19 years.
He married Sarah Ellen Flanders in Ely, Nevada on October 10th, 1925. The survivors are his widow, three daughters, Mrs. Rae Aunda Riegger, Kearns; Mrs Venice Long and Mrs. LaRue Couron, of Salt Lake City; four brothers adn three sisters, Frank and Odell Simpson of Salt Lake City; Sidney of McGill, Nevada; Bernard of Denver, Colorado; Mrs Cora Flaherty of Temple City, California; Mrs. Frances Fernstom of Las Vegas, Nevada; Mrs Beth Gregory, Chicago, Illinois; and seven grandchildren. Also his mother, Mrs. Jane Prestwich Simpson.
The prelude and postlude music is being furnished by the mortuary staff and we will now have a solo by Dan Delgique, one of the ward teachers who has been visiting their home. His solo will be "Farewell," the music by Franz Shubert, after which Brother Melvin Pehrson, a member oft eh North Central Park Ward bishopric, will off the invocation. We will then listen to a male duet, "Beyond teh Sunset," after which Bishop J.E. Horton will be the speaker, followed by another musical number, a tenor solo, "O My Father." Brother Berg Prestwich will be the next speaker, after which Brother Lawrence Singleton, a ward teacher on that district also, will speak.
Vocal Solo: "Farewell" Daniel Belgique
Invocation: melvin Pehrson
Our Father in Heaven, as we meet this day in this funeral, we are indeed thankful for the privilege we have of first meeting under such favorable circumstances, and secondly that we may meet in the great numbers to pay our last respects to one of Thy sons that has been called home.
Father in Heaven, bless us this day with Thy spirit, and especially bless the family of this good man that they may know and understand that even though there will be an emptiness in the home and in their hearts, that it will only be for a short time, that they will again be in his presence and enjoy and know him and enjoy his companionship.
Father in Heaven, in a special do we ask for a blessing for Sister Simpson. Bless her with health and strength that she may enjoy her life in They service and that she may realize that all blessings and all good comes from Thee.
We are thankful, Father in Heaven, for the life of this good brother, and though he has only lived here for a short span, we know that he has had the privilege of coming to earth and having a body that he may again return to Thy presence.
Bless the speakers this day, Father in heaven, that they may speak words of comfort and consolation, that this may indeed be an hour of solemnity and peach, all of which we ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Vocal Duet: "Beyond the Sunset: Rollo Wilson and LeVar Myers
Speaker: Bishop J.E. Horton
The beauty of that music attests to, shall I say, the deathlessness of the spirit of God, and also the spirit of man. For no thing that beautiful could be created, except it cam from something that lived eternally.
Now, this may be one of our saner moments as we sit here, each with our thoughts. Some looking at the floor, a girl crying, unashamedly, the tears flowing, his wife, mother, brothers and sisters. And I hope that I can say a few words of comfort. But rather I would say a few words of warning, for comforts is sometimes disarming and tends to make us lazy, tends to make us feel that there is a feeling sometimes of security and rather there is a feeling of the opposite nature.
I have known this family for a good many years. I was at the funeral of the husband of this good lady (Jane Prestwich Simpson), the father of William. I saw this boy when he was married to his good wife in 1924. I have known Dell --the other name skips me right now, Sid, as boys on the basketball team for the McGill Ward, Nevada Stake. I've been very close to Frances and her mother. I have know them a long time.
Bill here came into the work in a humble home in Moroni, like my humble home. And in that time, 53 years, he has seen a transformation, and so have you , the like os which would have amazed all who lived a hundred years ago. The horse and buggy has been supplanted by the automobile, the airplane, the jet. And now we talk of supersonic speed, the likes of which almost startle us.
(Still working on typing this in!)
