7/07/2009

Sisterly Love

These beautiful roses came from Rachael's huge rose garden. Laurel gave me the gorgeous crystal vase. They grace my table for nearly a week. (see the California poppies on the wall?)

7/02/2009

Our Pioneer Heritage - Mesa, AZ



Beautiful Family:  Ellen and Asa with their first 7 of 12 children.  Grandpa Larry was the next child born after this photo.  Taken about 1915.


Papago Ward, Maricopa Stake, Arizona, is composed chiefly of Indians residing in the Papago Indian Reservation in Salt River Valley, Maricopa County. These Indians belong chiefly to the Pima and Maricopa tribes which have been known to the Latter-day Saints since 1846 when the Mormon Battalion passed through Arizona en route from the Missouri River to the Pacific Coast. Later, missionaries labored among them with considerable success and many of them were baptized. Among these missionaries was George Mason Tiffany, a Utah pioneer of 1852, and his wife, Sarah Jane YORK Tiffany , who spent twenty-two years, from 1884 to 1906, teaching the Indians. On September 27, 1891, he became bishop of Papago Ward. Incarcion Valenzula was the Indian interpreter, but George soon learned to speak both the SpAnish and Indian languages.______________________________________Taken from ancestry.com on December 10, 2002 -

6/13/2009

"California Dreamin Come True" Sibs Reunion June 2009


Craig treated us to FF flights & Marriott hotels in Riverside and Aliso Beach. Here are
Linda, Gloria, Laurel, Troy, Rachael, Roland Jr. & Roland Sr. at ARTUROS Mexican Resturant in Hemet, with Laurel treating us for dinner.Aliso Beach, near Laguna - June gloom, but hearing the waves, feeling the sand, dipping legs in the ocean was so worth it. Roli Beeble taking it all in, with Linda snapping the photo.


Near the Mission Inn, Roland and his handsome sons, Troy & Roland Jr.


Roland Jr., Aunt Linda and Troy at the Mission Inn, Riverside.




Barbara Schaack Davis met us for lunch at the one and only D'leias Grinders -- FABULOUS!
Gracing the table are her famous sweet peas in honor of our mothers who also grew famous sweet peas. They were beautiful & so fragrant. Placed by the bedside in our hotel, we all had "Sweet Pea Dreams". Such a Fun trip -- Thank you Rachael & Craig for your thoughtful generosity and wonderful, fond memories for years to come!


Larry & Mary Tiffany's Children
Roland M Tiffany
Laurel L Tiffany Crawford
Linda M Tiffany (formerly Balkcom)
David L Tiffany (KIA Viet Nam 1969)
Rachael M Tiffany Allred




5/03/2009

Autobiography of LAURENCE LAURELL "LARRY" TIFFANY




I Attended Lehi, Arizona public schools and graduated from Mesa Union High School in 1935. Worked at various farms and construction jobs until 1937, and then joined the US Army. Spent 2 years in Hawaii (Schofield Barracks), discharged and re-enlisted at FT Bliss Texas for two months and then transferred to Army Air Corps. About one year later sent to Sacramento, California where I met the girl I was later to marry. I was transferred to many air bases- finally overseas in 1945. I spent 4 months in Italy, came back to Sacramento, in August 1945 and was discharged. I enlisted in the Air Force in June 1946 where I stayed at Sacramento (Mather AFB) for three years and then re-enlisted at Castle AFB, California where we moved to Turlock. This is where I came back into activity in the church. I had been inactive for 14 years except for 1 year in 1941. This activity was brought about through the efforts of my wife, Bishop Birtchall and his wife, and other fine members of Turlock Ward. Here I received a special blessing from Anson DeWitt, the Stake Patriarch just the day before going to England on a special Air Force project. This was the turning point of my life. The efforts of all these good people – their faith and prayers were answered and the spirit of the Lord touched my heart and understanding. My bad habits were overcome and I became active in the church. I was appointed advisor to the M-Men and Gleaners and shortly afterward Superintendent of YMMIA in 1950.

I got a little ahead of our family history in giving my own. Our first child, Roland, was born 11 Feb, 1944 at Sacramento. I was at Selfridge Field, Michigan at this time. Mary and Roland joined me here in April. In May I was transferred to Godman Field, Kentucky. They joined me there a few days later.


It was from there I went to Italy, sailing on Easter Sunday. I had stopped by my folks (in Arizona) on the way and I knew when I told my Dad goodbye that he knew that it would be the last time he would see me while he was in this life. The next time I saw him was at his funeral in 1947. He was buried beside my mother in Mesa. She died in 1923 of appendicitis (I was 6 years old).
Our second child, Laurel, was born while I was in Italy, 9 May 1945. This partially explains my early returns as each child counted 12 points toward returning home and this gave me sufficient to do so. After I was discharged we made our home in Sacramento. Here our third child, Linda, was born, 29 April, 1948. Mary lost her father here in 1946 (John Leland Hales). He was a fine man who understood the gospel and had a strong testimony.
While in Turlock I was appointed Elder’s Group Leader and served as a Stake Missionary for 1 year. Also, I was on the building committee for a new chapel. We really had wonderful experiences in Turlock and sure did hate to leave. The Lord blessed us abundantly. It was shortly after I came back into activity that my wife and I were privileged to go to the Mesa Temple to receive our endowments, to be sealed for all eternity and to have our 4 children sealed to us. David, our 4th child was born on July 24, 1949 and Rachael, our 5th on April 2 1952. (Rachael was born under the new and everlasting covenant). It was indeed a time of rejoicing.

After being transferred to Forbes AFB, we joined the Topeka, Kansas branch in January 1953 and it didn’t take long for them to put us to work! I was appointed Elder’s Group Leader and assistant YMMIA Superintendant in Feb 1953. In May I was set apart as Supt of YMMIA holding this until Oct 1953 when I was set apart as branch financial clerk. At this time I was also released as Elder’s Group Leader. In June 1954, I was set apart as 1st Councilor to the Branch President, Christian Sanders and released as Financial Clerk. In November 1954 I was appointed Scoutmaster of Troup 50, BSA, a church sponsored troop. We have a small troop but they are good boys and the troop is growing. I sure have enjoyed working with them. On December 26, 1954 I was set apart as a District Missionary. I know that I am going to enjoy this work. I have a firm testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and know that the Lord blesses us in our home.
In Jun of 1955 the Air Force transferred me to March AFB, California. We decided that this was where we would complete the raising of our children, so we bought a very nice home there (4145 Jackson Street) in Riverside. However, in July of 1957 the orders came for me to go to Biggs AFB, El Paso, Texas. By this time Roland was in the 8th grade, Laurel the 7th, Linda 4th, David 3rd, and Rachael 1st. We really enjoyed El Paso. The two wards there had been divided the week before our arrival and everyone thought we had come from one of the other wards. Mary was called to the MIA Stake Board and shortly thereafter I was called as an assistant ward clerk. It was a wonderful year there and when it was up I was transferred to the Azores Islands (near Portugal) a military refueling stop. Prior to going overseas I was able to move the family back to our home in Riverside. I went to the Azores in August 1958 and by March of 1959 I was ready to leave there. The only way I could leave was to retire. I applied for retirement and came back in April of 1959 to Norton AFB, Calif. where I was retired on April 30, 1959. We maintained our home in Riverside.
In Jun 1959 I went to work for the Navy at the North Island Repair Facility, San Diego, as a Radio Repairman. Right after retirement I had applied for employment at the Naval Ordinance Laboratory in Corona (only a few miles away), but was not successful. However, it was an easy matter to have me transferred to Corona after I had been employed by the Navy in San Diego for 90 days.
In Riverside we were members of the Arlington Ward, Mt. Rubidoux Stake. Here I was called on a Stake Mission and was ordained to the office of a Seventy on 21 October, 1956 by Clifford E. Young of the First Council of the Seventy. (This was prior to going to El Paso, Texas). After returning from the Azores I was called as ward clerk of the Arlington Ward by Bishop Milton H. Tew.
In 1959 I started to night school on the GI Bill to work toward a Bachelor’s Degree. This was not completed until 1970 when I obtained a B.S. in Administrative Law. I first started and Riverside City College, then Chaffee College in Ontario, California and completed with the Riverside Branch of the Van Norman University Law School (Los Angeles).

4/13/2009

Grandpa Larry or Laurence Laurell's Mother, Grandmother & GG

Ellen Celeste Woodward was a noted woman of Pine, Arizona where she ran a store and was the postmistress. On the museum wall in Pine is a very old quilt piece (photo) that displays her work.




This is a precious Four Generation photo with Ellen Celeste Woodward, grandaughter Ellen Celeste Earl Tiffany (standing), and daughter Zilpha Diadama Woodward Earl. Great grandaughters (Larry's oldest sisters) are firstborn twins of Asa & Ellen.






Ellen Celeste Woodward (third wife of ?? and sister of ??)


Zilpha Diadama Earl




Ellen Celeste Earl (our grandmother who died when Larry was 7). She is in the double picture on the right. Her sister, Inez, is posing with her.


Mary's Mother, Verda Mower (Grandma Shepard)

This is the Henry Mower family. Henry's first wife died leaving him many children. He remarried when Verda was very small. I think she is the little one to the left of the baby.



This is the Henry Mower home in Fairview Utah, where Verda was raised. We visited this home on a few occaisions when Uncle Heb and Aunt Ethel were living there. Best home cooking came out of this kitchen!




This was taken in Gridly, CA in the first branch of the church in the Sacramento Valley. Verda is 18 or so.



This is Mary with her new mother, Verda. She was born in San Francisco in 1924.





This is my alltime favorite photo of Mother and two of her three sisters. Mary U., Emmeline Utahna (named after Utah), and Barbara Jane.

4/11/2009

San Juaquin Valley Living - Dad Stationed at Travis AFB

This home was near the county fair grounds and I have many early memories. Sodaquist Road. I remember going to the fair with my father for my 4th birthday - wow- what a special time this was! I had my Dad all to myself riding the merry-go-round, etc. Dad did a tour of duty in Japan while we lived here, leaving my mother with five little ones. She finally learned to drive after David was born. See little David on the left. Roland and a favorite kitty, Linda and Laurel. We ran around in jeans and bare feet most of the time.
Dad brought Mother several kimono aprons from Japan and she often wore these - especially on Sundays. He brought Roland and Laurel amazing thin tire English racing bikes - not available in America. In the front row: David, Roland, Linda, Rachael, and Laurel.
I love this photo: see the clothes hanging on the line? David and I were only 15 months apart, yet I was so proud to be his big sister. That meant I got to be in charge of him sometimes! Look how tan we are! My freckles started soon there after.






Temple Sealing Day, 1950, Mesa, Arizona.
Grandpa Asa was a temple sealer. Tiffany's helped build this temple. David is the little one here.



The Earliest of Days for Mary & Larry

Mary and Larry met in the early 1940's at  a big anniversary party. Grandma Shepard's sister, Aunt Murle,  and husband Uncle Roy,  were celebrating their 25th anniversary. It was held at the Coca Cola Factory on Stockton Blvd. in Sacramento, CA. Dad was stationed there. Grandma Shepard loved Larry and welcomed him into her home for Sunday dinners and many fun occasions. Larry was in love with Mary and proposed. It was her dream, however, to finish Sacto Jr. College and then go to BYU (she graduated from Sacramento High at 16). Larry was transferred (to Florida) and Mary went to BYU, but only for a semester. They were married at Thanksgiving time (Mary was almost 19 and Larry was 25). Soon Roland was welcomed into their family. Larry was then stationed in Ft. Knox, KY (WWII days). After Roland was born, Mary & he traveled by train to Michigan to join Larry, and then on to Kentucky , making this their new home.


Mary's Graduation Photo.





Larry's Graduation photo.
He was raised on the Papago Indian Reservation where his father and grandfather severed as LDS Bishop for twenty or so years each. Dad was an avid reader and when he was in grade school he'd read nearly every book on the library shelves. He ran track hurdles in high school, and left for the Army Air Corps not long after graduation.

Larry was a "Military Man" serving 22 years. He was the first of his father's sons to join the service. Seven of them served in the war at the same time, all came home safely.

This was taken in Mesa, AZ were Dad was raised. Adorable Roland is taking his fist mule ride.





 











Sarajane(Mary's youngest sister), Mary, Larry, little Laurel and Roland in the far back yard at Grandma Shepard's home. See the old wood shed in the back?