Day 19

Tell about a favorite Uncle

Marsha: My uncle Reed Fairbanks (My Dad's sister's husband) was always a tease and loved to laugh, so he was fun to be around and would help up all have fun when we were at his house.

Don:

On Hiatus

Sorry for those of you who have been checking back faithfully to see tomorrows question. I am away for a week and don't have access to a computer, or to the questions/answers. I forgot to bring the book with me. I'll start back up when I return this Sunday. Thanks for your patience.

Day 18

Tell about a favorite Aunt

Marsha: I always loved to go to Aunt Ramona's (Allenby -- my mother's sister). She and Lloyd were never able to have children and their home always seemed like the most beautiful place because there was never any "family clutter", and she loved pretty things, so she always had lovely furniture and accessories.

Don:

Day 17

Tell a fond memory of your Grandma

Marsha: "Little Grandma", Lucy Chamberlain Esplin, used to play the piano and sing. She loved the hymns of the church, but she also had some folk songs that she loved to sing. One was called "Little Yellow Gal".

Don:

Day 16

Tell a fond memory of your Grandpa

Marsha: Grandpa and Grandma Esplin had a player piano and when I was really small I could hold on just below the keyboard and peddle with my feet to make it go. I thought I was very clever to be able to do that.

Don:

Day 15

Name the childhood addresses you remember.

Marsha: Route #1 Warsaw, Indiana. I lived on Route 30, which was, at the time, the only cross country route from East to West.

Don:

Day 14

Name the towns you lived in before you were 20

Marsha: I lived in Warsaw, Indiana until I went to college in Provo, Utah.

Don:

Day 13

What did your father do for a living?

Marsha: He managed a creamery that processed milk into canned milk and butter.

Don:

Day 12

Tell of any other nicknames in your family.

Marsha: Doyle was sometimes called "Oily Doily"

Don:

Day 11

How did you get your nickname?

Marsha: There was a song that my brothers based it on -- basically, they thought my hair was a mess.

Don:

Day 10

Tell a family nickname that you had.

Marsha: My brothers called me "Rag Mop"

Don:

Day 9

What was your father's date and place of birth?

Marsha: October 13, 1906 in Cedar City, Utah

Don: February 19,

Day 8

What was your mother's date and place of birth?

Marsha: October 20, 1908 in Orderville, Utah

Don: May 19, 1918 in

Day 7

What is your father's full name?

Marsha: William Howard Thompson

Don: Robert Donald Livingstone

Day 6

What is your mother's full name?

Marsha: Ann Esplin Thompson

Don: Merne Laycock Livingstone

Day 5

Name your brothers and sisters and their years of birth.

Marsha:

Barbara Thompson (Tenney) born February 6, 1933

Howard Doyle Thompson born April 17, 1934

Gordon Henry Thompson born January 23, 1938

Joseph Garth Thompson born August 15, 1935

Don:

Louise Livingstone (Brown)

Bruce Livingstone

Robert Livingstone

Day 4

If you have a childhood picture for me, put it here.

Marsha at age 4?

Day 3

Do you know any other circumstances of your birth (who was present, who delivered you, etc.)?

Marsha: Dr. Baum delivered -- his wife Daisy Lou was somewhere close and his daughters Barbara and Beverly were helping out in the nursery. They went straight to school and told my sister Barbara, who was miffed, that they knew/saw me before she was able to. My middle name is in honor of the Dr.'s wife who was a friend of my mother's. (Amy taking -- Mom, was your dad present at your birth? At the hospital at least, if not in the room?)

Don: I was delivered by Dr. Fowler. My father was serving in the Royal Canadian army as a field engineer at the time of my birth, and was overseas (WW II was raging). My mother sent a telegram to my father in England. The man who received the telegram leaned out the window (I guess my dad was outside the office) and yelled, "It's a stem winder", obviously that is some sort of slang for a boy! !

Day 2

Where were your born? Be specific.

Marsha: I was born in MacDonald Hospital, Warsaw, Koscuisko County, Indiana.

Don: I was born in St. Michael's Hospital in Lethbridge, Alberta Canada.

Day 1

What was your day and date of birth?

Marsha: March 15, 1945. It was a week day -- I don't know what day it was, however.

Don: October 2, 1942.

Getting Started

The year was 1965, and these two beautiful people met in French class at BYU. They soon married, and created a beautiful life together. Their union has taken them to places they never could have imagined as they posed for this picture before heading off to Prom.

But each came to their marriage with a rich history and heritage. After the birth of my first daughter, I presented these two lovely people (my parents) with a "gift". Ok, it was a "gift" I hoped they would give me -- I gave them each a book entitled "Grandpa/Grandma, Tell Me Your Memories". There were 365 questions about their past lives -- glimpses into what makes them who they are. My hope was that they would take time each day to answer the question of the day, and return the books to me and my new daughter on her first birthday -- a treasure for her to cherish throughout her life. It didn't quite materialize like I hoped, but I do have one book almost full, and my hope is that this blog will serve to expand upon the information I have to create a story of the life and times of Don and Marsha. I will publish one question a day, along with the answer I have. I will leave it up to Don and Marsha to edit and expand upon each entry. At the end of the year (or however long this takes) I hope to have this blog printed and bound for each member of our family. Let's get started...