'Tis the Season

. . . for some great memories!

Christmas 1977

Leona - Lou

Jim - Don - Tom

Leona - Lou

(Lou and his family must have been home in Utah)

Lynn - Tesi - Carol

Leona - Lou

Butler Grandchildren

Beth (niece) -Kristie - Kari - Emily - Tommy - Chuckie

Nathan - Jamie - Jeremy

Enjoy the Christmas Season!

Military Service Remembered

Radio School Graduate - 1st tour of duty
2 August 1943

Leaving the family behind - 2nd tour of duty
18 August 1950

For the years you served 

and the sacrifices you made

- a Veteran's Day thank you.

To read about Lou's military service,  click the military service

link in the labels column to the right

Remembering

Memorial Day

2011

Sunset Memorial Gardens

Greeley, Colorado

Mother and Daughter

Leona with her mother, Etta Lorene Boling Carpenter
circa 1932

Happy Mother's Day!

. . . so many wonderful memories

A request to the Davis grandchildren for Christmas memories brought several responses.  These are from Alice Bell Higgs.

I have so many wonderful memories of Grandma and Grandpa Davis I hardly know where to start.  

Early style Cracker Jack box

One Christmas I remember we went to Haswell and to the ranch and Grandma Davis had made a bushel basket of Cracker Jacks.  I have tried to make some for my kids and I end up with a whole bunch of very soggy popcorn not even the birds would eat!

 She also had saved a lot of spools and made whistles for all of us.  

I've never been able to make those either.

 One time she was making taffy for us to help pull, and Hubert was just tall enough to reach up and put his fingers into that hot candy.  Grandma grabbed him up and sent one of the boys to the shop for a small can of kerosene.  She sat and rocked that baby with his fingers in that kerosene until he went to sleep.  Grandma always knew what to do.  I guess when you raise 14 kids you have to!  I don't remember if we made the taffy.

Alice Bell and others sent more memories that I will share in future posts.

Thanksgiving on the Davis Ranch

Lou - 7 years old - 1930

One of my earliest memories of a Thanksgiving was at Grandpa and Grandma Davis’ ranch. We arrived on the day before Thanksgiving and everything was very exciting as families began arriving; it was great fun to greet them as they came in.

We could spot the cars as they came down the dirt road several minutes before they would arrive. Everyone looked forward to seeing the cousins, aunts and uncles. Many of them we had not seen since the previous Christmas or Thanksgiving.

After supper Grandpa would get out the cards and the men would play “High Five.” They would laugh and joke and rib one another about things in the past. I loved to watch them play, and once in a while they would need one more player at one of the tables and I would get to play.  

During one game, Uncle Johnny was shuffling the cards and they scattered all over the table and some on the floor. He was laughing about it and said, “Man, I need a basket to corral all of these cards! Louis, run out and get me a basket.”  I didn’t know what he meant – but I knew I wanted to help, so I ran out into the yard and got him a basket! For many years – if anyone dropped the cards, they would yell for me to go get them a basket.

Early Thanksgiving morning the women would be in Grandma’s huge kitchen getting both breakfast and preparing the dinner. The men and boys would be eating and then going outside where they were getting ready to go coyote hunting.

Uncle Johnny, who lived on the ranch, would be getting the two greyhounds ready and most of the men were getting their guns ready. They would be talking about previous years’ hunting experiences and comparing guns and ammunition.

Some of the men, mostly the ones who lived on or close to the Davis Ranch or those who lived on or near the Harriman Ranch in Fowler, had “coyote cars or pickups.” They took great pride in having these tuned up to get a quick start and to be able to go over rough prairie lands. They preferred vehicles in which they could stand in the back and shoot over the cab while the vehicle was going full speed. The coyote cars also had to be able to turn very sharply and double back whenever the coyote felt they were getting too close to him.
 

Can you imagine what it is like in the back of a pickup (with sideboards) when three or four men are all trying to remain standing, aiming their guns at the coyote when he decides to stop and go the other way? The driver jams on the brakes and cranks the steering wheel around to follow the coyote. Men have been known to be thrown out onto the prairie grass and cactus plants and then roll over and over trying to stop! Clark Harriman rolled out once and they spent hours picking the cactus out of him! For some reason the wives are very much against their husbands taking the family car coyote hunting!

By noon the hunters would return and the big Thanksgiving dinner would be ready. The tables would be set up all over the house for the meal. After the meal the dishes were taken to the kitchen and the card games would begin again.

What will your children and grandchildren remember about Thanksgiving holidays?

Holidays - Mission Style

Although Lou and Leona were serving a mission in Switzerland with a group of new friends from many countries and backgrounds, their mission holiday dinners had a familiar look!

"The dinner table - before we messed it up eating!"

An international potluck

Donna Neilson told a Christmas story in English, 

and Jurgen Mossner translated it into German.

With the festive little Christmas tree

Merry Christmas - 1939

 To a young and starry eyed 14 year old Leona, Lou's Christmas gift of a cameo bracelet was thrilling.

 

But even more exciting was the accompanying card which gave her real status as his "girlfriend."

 

70 years of Christmas memories

Davis Holiday Memories

 Harker Davis and his sons - early 1920's

Johnny - Floyd - Norman - Richard - Lemuel - Garnons

Charles Harker (front)

 Della Davis and daughters - early 1920's

back: Augusta - Marjorie - Edna - Birdie - Mable

front: Rachel - Della - Florence

When I was very young, holidays meant going to the ranch in Haswell. The ranch was located seven miles northeast of Haswell, Kiowa County, Colorado. This was the sheep ranch where my grandparents settled after leaving the Colorado Springs area, and where my mother went to school. When they first got there, Grandpa Davis hired a teacher to come live with them to teach school for his children. I think he had about 10 children at that time.

My uncles and aunts were all married or gone from home when I first remember.  The house had seven bedrooms, and families would take a bedroom when they arrived. The smaller families would double up in a bedroom. One uncle lived next door, so some always went to stay next door with them for the nights.

On Thanksgiving, people would start coming in on Wednesday, and Thursday morning the men and older boys would go coyote hunting. One time they got home about noon with several coyotes in the trunk of one car. They usually see several at one time, and as they get one, they quickly throw it in the trunk and go on after another one. This one day, when they got home, they got out of the cars and opened the trunk. You should have seen the men all scatter, as one of the coyotes was not dead and he jumped out as they opened the trunk!

After a big meal, Grandpa Davis would get out the cards and the card tables to play “High Five.” There would be tables all over the house, as many as 12 – 15. My grandpa Davis was the only one that smoked; none of his five sons who were usually there smoked. The sixth son, Lemuel, started smoking when he was in the Navy during World War I. So even though none of them were Mormons, it was a smoke free house, although crowded with card players.

If the weather was nice and the lakes were frozen over, you might see all of us going to one of the lakes (both were about ¼ mile from the ranch house) for a lot of fun ice skating. Even my granddad and Uncle Frank might be on a sled with a pitch fork for a pusher. We had some wicked games of something resembling hockey!

Family Memories

Leona at Lou's grave

May 23, 2009
Sunset Memorial Gardens
Greeley, Colorado

Since I began this project a couple of years ago, I have developed a strong sense of connection to the graves of family members. Even though I firmly believe that the individual isn't really in the grave but has returned to our heavenly home, I like being aware of his or her last known earthly residence.

In recognition of Memorial Day, I am posting the few pictures I have of Davis family graves. Some of us may have visited these sacred spots personally, others will only know them through pictures.

Graves of Martha Davis and John Davis, her father

John was born 18 February 1835 and died 16 October 1876. He was the father of Charles Harker Davis and died when Harker was only seven years old.

John is buried beside his first child, Martha Davis, who died as a young child of only 18 months. She was born 22 March 1867 and died 1 September 1868. The notes on the back of this picture indicate that these graves are located on the St. Charles River - South of Hiway #50. At the time of this picture, August 1955, the grave stones were showing signs of age and wear. I would love to find this little cemetery, but wonder if it's still identifiable.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Dora Alice Davis
First child of Della and Harker Davis

Many years after Dora's death, members of her family had this grave marker placed on her grave in Mountain View Cemetery - Pueblo, Colorado

Edna - Rachel - Birdie
Dora's sisters
date unknown

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Graves of Della and Harker Davis
Mountain View Cemetery - Pueblo, Colorado

Harker -- 1869 - 1940
Della -- 1870 - 1952

Please feel free to leave your comments and knowledge of these graves and the people who are buried there, so we can all know them better.

A mother of sons

These pictures were taken in November, 1950. Lou, Sr had been called back into active duty because of the Korean War. When early discharge looked doubtful, Leona had these pictures taken and sent to Lou who was back in Adak. Fortunately, she was able to make a case for a "hardship" discharge, and Lou returned home in February, 1951.

Eleanor Leona Carpenter Butler
25 years old

Louis Edward, Jr.
4 years

James Alan
3 years

Charles Thomas
17 months

Donald Eldon
17 months

There is a quiet place in heaven for a mother of boys

Happy Mother's Day!

Sweet Traditions

Charlotte Ilene Butler
1998

Thursday we drove to Pueblo. It was our last visit to Auntie Pinky. She was resting peacefully in a comfortable room decorated in a mountain lodge theme – a happy reminder of her beloved Estes Park. She was very weak, but aware of our visit. And in typical Pinkie fashion - people-lover, gracious hostess that she was – when I kissed her cheek to tell her good bye, she softly murmured, “Oh, don’t go yet.”

On the way home I reflected about the Pinky that I know. As a CD filled the car with beautiful music of the season, I remembered how much Pinky loved Christmas And then I remembered all the holiday goodies she made and shared with friends, family, teachers, and neighbors. Sharing home baked sweets -that was how she loved to celebrate the Christmas season.


I had never heard of pizzelles, much less tasted one, until I became a Butler and had my first Christmas with my new family. The round and almost lacy looking cookies were a staple in Butler family celebrations. Every December Pinky made dozens and dozens of the crisp, light treats and stacked them so carefully with waxed paper between. I have only vague memories of watching her make them, but I know it was a labor of love as a pizzelle iron only bakes 2 or 3 cookies at a time.


Her divinity candy, snowy white and flecked with chopped nuts, was to die for! Making divinity involves pouring a boiling cooked syrup over beaten egg whites and beating that mixture until it is too thick for the mixer to handle, and then adding chopped nuts or cherries. I know Pinky burned up more than one mixer during a candy-making marathon, but she just considered that part of the process!


A few years ago, I asked Auntie for her recipe for Date Nut Loaf. Of course she had it memorized – one couldn’t bake a million loaves and not memorize the recipe! I wrote it down just as she told it to me, including the step “Add a gob of vanilla.” I’ve used her recipe, but I think I need to make it many more times before the finished loaves are as yummy as hers were.


As I savor my memories of Pinky’s Christmas sweets, I feel a pull to introduce my children and grandchildren to these family favorites and make her tradition our tradition.

Thanks, Auntie, for the memories - I’m off to buy a pizzelle iron!

O Christmas Tree

In December of 1958 we decided that we would get a permit and go to the mountains to get our own Christmas tree like we had read in so many stories about people doing. We would have sloppy-joes to eat (because we could take it up and keep it hot) and hot chocolate and wouldn’t need to have a fire.

Five men on a mission!
Lou, Jr - Don - Tom - Jim - Lou, Sr
blurry picture, but it documents the infamous day

We had our tree hunting expedition in the mountains near San Isabel, above Rye, Colorado. It was a cool, crisp day with snow on the ground and a lot of sunshine. It was a great day for a Christmas tree hunting party!

Leona has always been very particular about her Christmas tree. It had to be of excellent shape with well filled out limbs in the right places, etc. So as soon as we got out of the car, the four boys went in four directions - each going to find the perfect tree that would suit Mom. As they each would find one, they would call for her to come see it. Since they didn’t stay together, she was having to run all over the mountainside to inspect the finds of each boy.

Naturally the boys never found the same tree, nor were their trees together, so she had a long walk between them. They were not finding very good trees that were satisfactory to her. As time went by, and after many trips across the little valley between the two ridges that the boys were on, she became less critical and finally said, “Just take any one; I’m tired!” Jim and Don carried a tree in from the forest, and we tied it on top of our station wagon. Leona got the lunch ready for us; we were all starving.

Christmas tree lunch
Jim - Don (front)
Lou, Jr - Tom - Leona (back

We had a good time, and the tree was satisfactory, but for some reason we never went back to the mountains for another Christmas tree!

Clownin' Around

Principal Louis Butler
October 31, 1977

Happy Halloween!

Happy Father's Day

Butler boys - August 20, 1950
Don - Jim - Lou - Tom

"Rush to the Rockies" celebration - April 1959
Tom - Dad - Don - Jim

50th Wedding Anniversary - November 1993
Lou - Jim - Tom - Don
Dad - Mom

Thanks for your love and great example.

Will you be my Valentine?

February 14, 1940
A candy wrapper from Leona's first box of Valentine chocolates from Lou

Louis Butler
Leona Carpenter
1938 - It was during this year that I started seeing Leona Carpenter a lot at church and at her house on Sundays. Her Mom is a great cook and I can still remember the great breaded pork chops she used to fix! That year I bought her a white pair of ice skates for her birthday. It was a cold winter and we did get to go skating on the Mineral Palace Park Lake several times.




Louis Butler and Leona Carpenter 1939




Back to school (after Christmas break) and seeing Leona a lot during the rest of the winter and spring. When school was out I got a job with the Rainbo Bakery selling day old bread. All of the bread that was not sold was brought into the day-old store. Most of it was sold to farmers for their hogs, but most of it that I sold was not really stale, but the extra bread that was baked and then not needed for the route salesmen. Leona came over regularly to get bread, even though her dad was a baker!

Young love - 1939

Leona and I continued seeing each other when I was in high school. We went our separate ways for a while. Then after I had finished high school we started going together again.

Spring 1940
Leona (14 years old) and Lou (17 years) going to the Gold and Green Ball

March 4, 1983
Yes, I'll be your Valentine - - for all eternity!