WE ARE NOT SURE WHO THESE FOLKS ARE, SO LET US KNOW IF YOU KNOW,

 THE JONES FAMILY HAS BEEN COLLECTION PHOTOS AND VARIOUS PAPERS FROM THE JONES; TOLLEY AND HARRIS FAMILY COLLECTIONS SINCE THEY ARRIVED IN THE NEPHI, UTAH AREA IN 1852, IT TOOK US SEVEAL YEARS TO DETERMINE THAT MANY WERE OF THE MORMON FOLKS WHO STAYED IN THE BRIHISH ISLES AND WE SENT THEM BACK TO A MUSEUM FROM WHENCE THEY CAME. NOW WE CAME IN TO POSSESSION OF ONE MORE THAN WE HAVE NO IDEA WHO OR EVEN WHERE THEY CAME FROM, SO WE PUT IT OUT FOR ALL TO HELP US IF YOU ARE WHY THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY CAME FROM. REMEMBER WE ARE LL DIFFERENT AND NO NEED TO REMIND US OF THAT. JUST YOUR REASONALBE GUESS IS CLOSE ENOUGH FOR US.

THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND NO IT IS NOT APRIL FOOLS DAY.

DOC STEELE OF NEPHI WAS A GREAT DOC IN THE ARMY, THEN JUAB COUNTY

If I was to describe Doc Steele of Juab County, I would say he was a great Medical Doctor for all, but did so without being one for all the people. I grew up in the small rural town of Nephi, Utah, where we had the choice of  Dr. Beckstead; Dr. Boston or Dr. Steele. Our family went to Dr. Beckstead and to Dr. Boston. My guess is that Doc Steele was guy of a different breed than many folks of this town settled my Mormons, but I didn't see him as unusual about his practice, except he could outrun the Sheriff. I believe he was a good Doctor, as I was told so by people that routinely went to him, even in West Juab County and knew those twisty roads better than most Deputies. I did know that he preferred doing his surgeries in the Payson Hospital and not the Juab County Hospital, but did work with the other physician's that covered the Nephi hospital. My only common experience with him which showed me he was a great human being occurred many years ago when I borrowed my fathers truck to head up north before their was homes at Santaquin Hill. The only other home close to the area of York, was a pioneer type settlement, where the train stopped from the North, and local Mule Skinners including by grandfather-Wm. Jones, would unload the train supply and freight them on to the Territory mining town town of Frisco. Later on, the east side of the railroad tracks were extended to Nephi and highway 91 was built. To the east was the Ranch Home that belonged to Dr. Steele, and run by Gordon Pay. I came to know Mr. and Mrs. Pay and they were good people, so I later couldn't figure out why some didn't go to Dr. Steele. I did know that his sons didn't go to Juab High, but to Wasatch Academy. I did have great faith and belief in my Aunt Erma Jones Garrett, and her polio stricken daughter-Corrine Garrett, as both those two and Uncle Rob were the crème of the crop and honest. Corrine was good with Math and helped to keep track of their farm account as well the Account at The Serv, which was owned and operated by the Garrett family through generations, then appointed to be the Nephi City Recorder. Both Erma and Corrine wouldn't hear of any gossip, so with too much of Uncle Hy Tolley & Jones DNA in me, if  I started a rumor,  Aunt Erma would shake her finger at me and be more mad than a wet hen, and I was too afraid that Kirk Sanders or Bob Garrett would come down and kick me a block or two. I remember the time that Bob got upset with me at the Garrett Farm, when I was learning to drive the Big Tractor which pulled the hay wagon with the others loading the small bales. I popped the clutch and threw them all off. I learned that lesson quick when we got to the stacking yard and Bob threw me in the water well. I couldn't swim, and Bob wouldn't help, but told me to stand up. I guess I thought the well went all the way down to Kowloon Tong, China. Now back to Dr. Steele at his home at York, when I was driving my Dad's truck up Santaquin Hill. I later found out that I blew a piston in the truck, with smoke coming out of the hood and something hit the hood. There were no walkie talkies or cellulite phones in those day's so I walked to Dr. Steels home and knocked on the door. It was early in the morning and no answer, so went and peered through the window and down the stairs the Doc. was coming fast and mad like the hens I was used to move to get fresh eggs for Mom. And I knew that Corrine Garrett was the billing lady for Dr. Steele, and could put at ease the incoming patients, as she had a warm smile and patience. When the Doc. opened the door, I closed my eyes waiting for his punch to my face. He was calm as can be, and gently asked what was the problem. When I slowly said "maybe a quart of oil", and told him the truck issue. He quickly answered like he knew the answer and said something to the like of "a can of oil aint the problem". He let me use the phone and I called Alma, who the Doc knew and respected. I felt at ease, and the truck was brought home, where Steve Greenwood knew my Dad and got him another one. Anyway, for what I thought Doc. Steele would take all 2 or 3 kidneys I may have, I came home with only dirty shorts! So all bad guys may not be so bad and all good guys may not be so good. But to me- Doc. Steele was great, so on this Veterans Night, help appreciate Doc .Steele with me. An Army Vet and one good man and Country Doc who did home visits throughout all of Juab County in earlier times, before the Freeway and Crazy Big City Drivers.

TODAY IS VETERANS DAY OF 2025

I had a hard time sleeping last night, so I just awoke and hurriedly got that pot of black joe to wake me up. I blame the sleep difficulty on how or what to write about the importance of today-to those who accepted the call from Politicians to fight and possibly kill others, if peace is not tried first. In the end it may not be difficult to understand that when life on earth began, that fight is what we have turned to do if the threat of fight doesn't work. It's sad as all sides fight to kill those family; friends; innocent humans and the beauty of God's beautiful earth. I love listening to a radio station that has no commercials, and none of those dam news casts, as they are as bad as many of our politicians, who don't really want peace, but stir us to hate other humans, which is about as anti-Christ like as any evil. I believe in sending a cashiers check to support that radio station, but never give my name or address, as they used to pester me to want more, much like the scammers that are so full of the "Cow Pies" in our corrals. I used to put the names and photos of the many photos of my family warriors from the past, as well as the history of one of my early local Hero's-Mat Howard, who was the big cigar smokin "Godfather" of the Juab County men that fought with Teddy Roosevelt on San Juan Hill. As a youngster, I often went with Carl and Cliff Howard along with their Dad Jack Howard, who was a Rock Hounder of the Juab West Desert to search for Gems. There were times as a kid, I wanted to stay at Starr Ranch and the Howard Compound to listen to Mat tell the stories of how he fought with the evil of the Spanish Invaders to Central and South America and in Cuba, who were intending to take America. From that time on, I wanted to be in the Army to fight for our Freedom and Liberty that we were accustomed to in Juab County and the United States of America. In the 4th grade, I soon put away my toy Cowboys and Indians doing pretend fighting at the Old Hollow and purchased Army men and sat up with the good guys and the bad ones, and would fight each other around the fire place in our front room at the Jones Abode on 7th North in Nephi. After being a No-Account in the 4th Grade, the teacher-Earl Bowles disciplined me and I soon listened to what he had to do fighting the Germans during World War Two. I was intrigued with what he had to do the ungodly things for Freedom. I convinced myself to eventually go to Germany and see and talk to those people of why so many of those decent people listened and fought for one of the worst of the worst-Hitler, who was not even a German. We had access to where they gassed and burned humans. My brother Gary B, who was an elite Army Ranger during the Viet Nam Era, provided a way, and at 25, he got me on a C-130 with the Army, and I spent a month on a base and started to interview Nazi's and why they loved to kill Americans. I also had the chance to drink "warm" beer in the beer joint where Hitler put his Nazi leaders together. I had an interpreter with me and recorded it as well as notes. I put them with the notes of listening to the old soldiers I passed papers to in Nephi, who fought in France during World War One, including Uncle Vic Jones, who never healed from the shot in his hip; my Uncle Ren and Vic Harris and Uncle Dell Jones. Then my Aunt Pearl's husband-Bill Ockey brought his 30-40 Craig rifle to my father-Alma Jones, who was in the Army during World War One, as Bill didn't want to ever shoot "that Dam Gun" ever again. "I have killed enough". Years later, that long barrel rifle was returned to the Emma Carter Family, where it remains. But among my collections, I was able to find the bayonet for that rifle and after matching the serial number to Bills Rifle, we gave that to the family who had his rifle. After my brother Hal Jones was sent to fight on the front lines of Viet Nam as a Medic, he was told that he was in the worst place of the fighting, and found that he was taking the place of another teen-ager from Nephite-Blair Wilkey, who had just been killed, leaving a widow and two small kids at home. I had a neutral chance to tell one of those sons, the details of how his father was killed, and he appreciated it, and all though he was grieved, the Army never told the widow or the boys. I came to honor Ladd White, who took over as a father type. In starting my work in a law enforcement position, I was scheduled to interview and/or interrogate a man who had serious charges on him, and the criminal justice wasn't really sure if he was a great liar or a realistic killer. After learning his history in Viet Nam, I was able to get his DD-214 information,  and I spoke to my brother-Weston Jones, who knew everything about the C-130's, which were used to transport Troops; Tanks and Agent Orange to Viet Nam, and he gave me the information I needed. I asked the prior Fly- Boy that was charged about what he did in the Air Force, and he told me the truth, and that gave me the information I needed, and he soon coughed up the truth about his dastardly deeds, As he told the truth, I said that could help him, but his bad crimes could hang him! So in closing, I give praise to all my family, friends and millions of Americans who fought a fight they didn't really want, but when one is called to fight or flee, most chose to protect the freedom and liberty of all people of America and the world. My Viet Nam rice picking hat goes off to them, and my knees buckle in prayer to God, who is the most powerful of all creations and conflicts. Choose This Day, Which Leader or Dumb Leader You Choose To Believe. Those dumbbells' do live and fester among us. And on a personal note, perhaps a prayer for my Nephi Nephew who presently serves with the U.S. Coast Guard, who are heavily engaged in the intervention of killer drugs and with the transport of the illegal Aliens who hate America, as Anti-American Leaders invited them here and gave them our money.... or so they say!

                                                           

IT'S NOV. 9TH, 2025. NOW GO BACK TO 1962 AND CELBRATE THE MARRIAGE OF VERL & KAYE WILKEY

As soon as Verl graduated from Juab High School with the Class of 1962, he and Kaye was married in the Manti LDS Temple. They had met each other in a variety of Church activities. They both were teenagers, and when we all were young, we do stupid things. But from my point of view is they both got hitched up with the right partner's. Verl was too young to drive to visit Kaye, so he would ride his bike or get on a horse to visit. On their wedding day it appears that Verl forgot his wallet, so his father-Fred paid for the marriage license and even signed the marriage document. Most folks around Nephi may not remember the father of Verl, but I sure did. Like Verl, Fred was a great man around town, and this Nephi Jones Boy would often visit the home of Fred and Helen. Many years ago, Fred noticed my father-Alma Jones, trying to level the city road in front of the Jones home on 7th North. Fred stopped and talked to my Dad and it wasn't long after that Fred came back with a big truck load of gravel and that was at no expense. My sister-Jaynette lives in that family home that was built in 1885, and she too has purchased a lot of gravel to keep it in good shape with the terrible traffic of the school and gym, but still better that living it the "Big Salt City." Verl must have picked up the same great work ethics as his father, as we don't teach our young folks of having fun while we work hard. While I was on the Nephi City  Council, I got more impressed with Verl and Kaye. They just couldn't be away from each other for long. I would often see Verl come to the Nephi offices on Friday, and that was when Verl would check to see if their was more home or business Inspections to compete. Kaye was content waiting in the car while I was cleaning windows and wave to her. One day when I was wearing my blue Bib Overalls,  I walked into a local business, and the owner greeted me and declared-"Did you borrow those Bibs from Verl Wilkey?" I think he wanted me to giggle, as he had the same dry whit as me, but I said something to the affect "If you compare me with Verl Wilkey, that is a great complement". When I returned to Nephi after living in the noise to the North, I built a new home in the same block as my fathers and grandfathers horse pasture. I asked the Nephi Mayor-Mark Jones if I needed to make sure the home was built according to my standards as well as what the proper codes. Mayor Jones gave me good and honest advice, much like his father did-Ron Jones. He said their is no reason to pay a lot of money to hire another Inspection, as "Verl Wilkey does that for Nephi and was the best there is". Mark additionally spoke of Verl having a lot of knowledge with his own business of doing the same work as his father did. When I noticed that there may be a problem with the building of the home, as Verl had left a Red or Blue  tag (I am color blind), I was glad Verl was on the job and got on the builder to make sure the problem was fixed or he was going to pull his license. I was personally and professionally competent that Verl had "True Grit" similar to the John Wayne point of view. I have so much respect for Verl, and Kaye, as she appeared to be the cream of crop, as I think she is like a raw glass of cow milk. Regardless of who much you shake the bottle of milk, the cream will rise to the top", just like Kaye. She will be a little lost without Verl, but if one thinks about it, he was not left you Kaye. He is really still with you, as he is just on a temporary vacation from hard and ethical work. I didn't attend his funeral, but was impressed with the writing his obituary, which has a photo  of Verl in his work Bibs, and that impressed me, liked seeing Joe Garrett in his work Bibs and one could see Joe wearing a good Bib to attend meetings, just like he did when he was on the Nephi City Council. I will miss Verl as Kaye will, but she has lots of great family and friends, so if your are one those people, "Here's your sign". Look at the Anderson Funeral Obits as I can't figure how to download it here and now put 12 straight hours typing this, so good night and the noise of the constant planes flying over is going to turn into "Welcome to Airport Number Three",  and I left "Airport Number Two" to get away from constant noise. Oh well, I guess I will just have to accept the Change of what Nephi used to be like and  Kaye has to do the same, but you will always have him.

WHILE ON EARTH, WE HAVE HERO'S, BUT FORGET TO TELL THEM THANKS

Regardless of where we live on earth, we learn from people who helped us through life. But all to often, we don't appreciate or even recognize them. Some of us believe that our earthly father and mother or grandparents may be the ones that got us walking the straight line and not to wander towards that giant cliff below us. Some may even get help from the other side, calling them Guardian Angels. If you have not found your hero or heroin, seek them for a visit. You may never ever know who they are, but you just may feel their presence. Some of mine were on both sides of the Jones; Tolley and Harris kin that helped to forge the way to Nephi during Pioneer Days of yesterday. I once was asked to assist in an Archeology dig at Martin's Cove. We did so with the cooperation of the University of Wyoming; the LDS Church and Bureau of Indian Affairs. I had previous experience in those digs which often reveal more than most would want to know, as many of those Handcart pulling families departed a little too late and caught in a severe snow blizzard. I sat on the side of the Sweetwater, but tears came when I could feel my ancestors going through sheer terror with the frozen ice cutting their legs, and wolves would dig the snow graves of people they lost. Although I am a sinner, I often feel grateful that Nephi and Martha Jackson made it as they were and remain my family.  Although I sin, I have fervent knowledge that God hears prayers. I think back of the people that I worked with in Nephi and give thanks to friends, neighbors and the great teachers all through the good times and the difficult times. For me, when our Class of 65 graduated, I felt bad for the three classmates that may have walked with us, but their lives were cut short from wars; gunshots and cancer just before graduation. My parents didn't have the money to pay for Scout and FFA Uniforms, so us 5 kids learned early in life that if we wanted to go on to college; LDS Missions; fish or hunt, it was up to us to earn the money that was needed. Often, it was more of a gift not to have the money for gifts and each of our parents repeatedly said the best gift they could receive was the non money gift of a letter to them when we were working or serving God or our country. I was once trying to make it on the University Swim Team and swam in the lanes between classes, and what a great experience to have two armored federal officers come to where I spent time teaching kids from the American Fork Training School. Those kids had real joy in splashing in the water, something they cherished more than swim champs. The two men pointed to the man standing at the window watching, and wanted to chat with me. I put a towel around me and had a twenty minute chat with Jesse Owens, the 1936 gold medal winner who defied Adopt Hitler. He was a real life hero to me, and challenged me to keep competing as that in and of itself makes a hero to somebody. I didn't make the swim team, but felt honored, especially when he told his two guards to leave us alone for a chat. And another Hero that will last forever is the time I met Gene Fullmer, who had been the Middle Weight Champion of the world in Boxing. I was his driver and took him to a law enforcement conference and then twice to the hard core inmates at a prison. I then had a similar experience with Paul H Dunn who was a gifted speaker. I once yelled at President Harry S. Truman and he yelled back at me. I have tons of hero's and so has each of my siblings. With no gold nuggets in our overalls, nobody could be more lucky to live in the era we did.

SOMETIMES, PEOPLE DO DASTARDLY DEEDS TO OTHERS.

UNCLE ROB GARRETT CAUGHT UP TO HIS BROTHER IN 1978

Robert Pixton Garrett was one heck of a great man. He wasn't just a Righteous Man Of God during his 91 Years on this sphere we call Earth, he was liked or loved by all who became acquainted with him in Nephi; at The Serv; herding sheep; his two terms with the Nephi City Council or with his LDS Church assignments. He was the type of guy all folks could chat with; walk to church with or be a member of his family, as me and by siblings believe. My brother-Hal and I was in the starting motions of climbing Mt. Nebo when our father-Alma Jones agreed to drop us off at the trailhead just below Dad and Sons, to give us the heart breaking news of Uncle Rob. If you are a "Newbie" to us oldsters, you need to check with other "older than dirt" people to find out where that point is and why we call it that. Rob wasn't feeling too good back then, and he was taken to a hospital in the City of Salt, and this mushy brain thought it was LDS Hospital. I can't remember which of his daughters were present, but it may have been Lucy and Afton. The daughters walked down the hall for a break, or what Aunt Erma would call "water the horses". When the daughters came back, one of the nurses reported that Uncle Rob had passed and they asked "who is Jim"? Apparently, that was his brother-Jim, who came to escort Rob on the immediate sheep herder train to Heaven. In those days, sheep herders were not from other countries, but Americans, such as Lorenzo Harris; Lyle Boyer of Coalville; the Reed and Ingram family of Nephi and the sheep herders from Ft. Green. When the sheep slept, their is a variety of things that a sheep man could do and for Rob, he loved reading and knowing the LDS Church books and some local folks who were not "local" but they knew that Rob Garrett and Jesse Pay had the gift of "Tongues" as some of the gifted people of God had in Ancient times. Although Rob gave up the sheep herds of Juab County, he and his wife-Erma Jones of Nortenville, set out to build "The Serv" in Nephi, as they could see that motorized vehicles would be taking the place of buckboards. Sure enough, we don't see many of those great wagons and teams around. But as a kid, I loved watching Jon Jackson take a load of loose hay up 7th North with his team of horses. Rob was on the City Council, and my guess he could tell the God's honest truth without offending others, like ne and his grandson-Bob Garrett may have done when we served the citizen's, and some folks don't like to hear the truth. Not only did Rob and Bob serve Nephi, but so did Joe Garrett, and Ross Garrett as the Juab County Boss and LDS Stake President. I know that God is quite aware of the great goodness of Robert Pixton Garett, and so does most of us old wanna be wranglers do. Rob could be the forefather of the gasoline service, and his wife-Erma started the "Penny Candy" gal at the Serv, as did his kids and their kids and on and on. Rob got robbed once, and he was able to talk the culprits out of killing him, and walked in to Nephi where they let him escape. Rob Garrett, I tip my hairpiece to you and all the Garretts. They are the cream of the crop.