It will be good to see all of you again

Leona & Elmer Manwaring

May 20, 1958

Dear Perry & All,

I have been wanting to write ever since we got back from Vernal but had so much to catch up with. Aunt Eva died May 17th. [Elmer's sister] She was out here staying with Venna for awhile and took sick while here. We made several trips to Venna's to see her, and then she died.

Elmer decided to ask for two days off from his work, so we could go to Bluebell and Tridell and see my folks, especially the afflicted ones. Uncle Gard [Albert Gardner Goodrich, Leona's brother] can hardly feed himself now but is real cheerful and was so glad we came to see him. Uncle Parl [Leona's brother Parley Herbert Goodrich] remembered that you came to see him, but it is really depressing to see him so helpless and so confused in his mind. He is not one bit better.

The funeral for Eva was real nice and much good gospel was given by the speakers--Ashel Manwaring and Uncle Byron. I think Marvin will be the most affected by her death. So Marian's birthday escaped our notice entirely. And now I have not handy a dollar bill to send her as I did the boys, but we think just as much of her as we do any of the family, and we do hope she had a real nice day--May 18th. I will try and do better next time. I am sending a belated card which reminds me of her.

We hope you are all well at home there. School is out here, but Hazel will teach kindergarten again. The weather is too hot already, and it keeps us going with the sprinklers, but the roses and iris and peonies are lovely. Love, Mother & Dad

Summer vacation - taking a break along the road to Utah

June 12, 1958

Dear Perry & Family,

We received your letter in regard to the sale of the coops. As Pa had an afternoon off that day, we and Hazel went up and began sorting things out. [The sale of the chicken coop property gave Perry and Gene enough money to put a down-payment on the house in Claremont, California where they lived the rest of their lives.] The realty man told us to go ahead and get everything we wanted out. The buyer is Mr. Painter's son-in-law from Texas who married Thelma. He is buying Painter's too, and I suppose he will put a circle or half circle of homes in back of the Painter home. Anyway, that is what Mrs. Newbold says. The buyer, Mr Johnson, is very nice. He came over and said we could have until the 5th of July to get what we want out.

Visiting our Utah cousins

We are glad you will be coming. Will all of you come? Hazel is hoping the roses will last until you can see them. Pa has his vacation beginning Monday, June 16th, so if you can come right after your school is out, he will be able to visit and help you with whatever you have to do until June 30th. I hope the weather stays a little cool as it is now. It will be good to see all of you again. Love, Mother [Leona]

July 8, 1958

Dear Gene,

Just received your letter and was glad to hear from you. . . . So maybe when you get that place with that room next to what you'd use for a sewing room, you can keep all your writing materials and church work and primary materials, and they won't be scattered all over the house. Then your home will be a house of order too like the Lord tries to teach us. [Leora prided herself on keeping an orderly home, which was not one of Gene's top priorities.] I hope when you get that home, you will be able to teach your children those good traits when they're at the most teachable age.

I believe the Lord is helping you to get such a home and helped you find one like this one is built purposely so each one would have a place to keep his belongings and in order. Do hope you can get it. I surely would have been proud to have been that lucky when all of you were children at home. But I think I did pretty well to do with what we did live in--even though we had to move so often but managed to live in pretty decent homes and neighborhoods even when we had to pay lower rents.

Jan by the orange tree at our new
house in Claremont, California

Dad sometimes complained when he didn't have quite enough room for his work and papers and wished he had a nice big desk. So that's the reason my dining table was covered much of the time with his papers--especially when selling insurance--though I tried to allow him most of the drawer space in my dining rooms wherever we lived. Then when we had company on Sundays, etc., he would have to "clear the deck" as he'd say so I could use the dining table and room.

But that house in Claremont, you or none of you will have any excuse to not know where your things are. It will be a joy to have a place for everything and know where to find it, your linens and bed clothes and towels, etc. You'll have plenty of room without anyone trying to chuck something here and something there and getting all mixed up. Surely will be a home like the Lord would like you to have and also our lives to be orderly too.

That basement room would make a nice playroom, rumpus or recreation. It's a wonder this man didn't have shelves in it too. . . . It would be nice if you could get big congoleum rugs to put down before moving in. It would be lots cheaper than carpet and easier to keep clean and practical. Well enough on this--and bamboo curtains are practical too. . . . Love to all, Mom [Leora]

September 9, 1958

Dear Perry & Gene,

Just a few lines to let you know how things are here. Arthur Manwaring [Elmer's brother] has had several bad heart attacks and died last night in the LDS hospital. Everett [Arthur's son] was here from New Jersey and Enid [Arthur's daughter] from Denver. Both went to their homes Sunday as he seemed much better. Uncle LaVell [another brother] and Ivy are home from the Islands, and they, with Aunt Veda, Ashel and Dee [a sister and two more brothers] came and talked with him a little Sunday morning. He was very weak but glad to see the folks. The funeral will likely be Saturday. Of course you likely wouldn't be able to come, but you should know about it.

Arthur is only 69 and seemed in pretty good health otherwise. We have expected Aunt Veda, Leona and Thelma to go before Arthur, but of course we never know. Dee and Ashel work too hard, and Dee wishes he and Mary could come out here and live. Dee wishes he could do something like your father is doing. [Elmer worked in the laundry department at the hospital for many years.] Hazel told him Pa didn't make much at his wages. Dee said, "Well, I've got to do something." His leg bothers him a lot.

Well, I wish we could talk more. I miss it very much. I could always relieve my mind at Perry's expense. I hope you are well. If we could all try and be more economical, so we wouldn't have to work so hard to keep up with the times, we would all have better nerves and hearts. How did you arrange the transfer of homes? Did you sell the other one? etc. etc. Love, Mother & Dad