ANYBODY REMEMBER THE JOE AND ELLEN GARRETT FAMILY OF NEPHI, UTAH

• If you are a newbie to Juab County, you outta make an effort to learn about this family. If you are an Oldie Goldie, you will remember Joe & Ellen and their kids, and if you kick in your Medulla Oblongata, you will also remember the parents of Ellen of Moroni, then Nevada, but always knew great music and great horses. Joe's parents were Rob and Erma Garrett of "The Serv" in Nephi. With the help of brain scrambling with the old man I saw in the mirror, I wanted to put their names up, as it is fun to look at the computer and watch the Rural Utah Cowboys excel in the genuine sport of Rodeo, and our rodeo will be here quicker that Charles Lindbergh's flight to Paris! Joe was born on the Garrett Farm, in the old cabin that still remains. When Joe headed to Moroni as a young Stud, he caught the attention of Marian Anderson, and Joe -who always had a joke or a line for your smile, saw this Sanpete beauty, he stood like a paralyzed Buck staring in headlights. I am trying to remember the dancing facility, as my Dad used to hang out there, and it may have been called the Bungalow, but it is "brain fog" hour, so not sure. Anyway, they got hitched and moved into the farm cabin when Rob and Erma moved up to the motel type shacks behind the Serv. Ellen put her foot down(yes she knew how to control Joe when needed) and took their baby Marian and started walking the two miles up 7th North. Joe finally went and brought her back on the Tractor, and fixed up the Chicken Coop of Bishop A.E. Smith, and with stepped up improvements thereof, that is where they stayed until Joe was hit with a painful Cancer and passed away, with the small close knit town that Nephi used to be-it was a very sad time. It was Joe, his son Bob and other local guys that worked their hind off for the Ute Stampede with no tax dollars. Ellen didn't miss church, and if Joe went to Church or a wedding reception, he would put on his new pair of Bibs. Ellen held on til she made it to 100 years old, and she was ready to be beamed up, I found joy to visit her and fetch her last supper. She wanted a small cone of ice cream tipped upside down in a cup and I helped her with it. I could feel it was the last time, and I told her it wouldn't be long, and sure enough after her daughter-Marian and Bob visited, she said her final good byes. As she grew up with music, attending about every Concert, Opera and program in North Sanpete, Ellen's mother would indoctrinate her with music and Ellen became the Sunday School Organist for church at age 12 years old, then continued in the LDS North Ward, then the 3rd and 4th Wards. That first day she played in the Moroni Church may be remembered for ions of time. The old pump organ they had coughed and wheezed, emitting a few notes from the hymn book and from other places unknown! Ellen didn't stop, but kept it up and soon became a great organ and piano player at church; weddings and funerals. While she was doing all of that she also worked for J.C. Penny of Nephi; Thermoid and then at the Agricultural Stabilization Conservation Office, which was in the offices above Parkin Motor(in their old place). With her help, it was citied as the best run AC office in Utah. Their daughter-Marian came along in 1935, but she was first called "apple blossom baby" but later legalized as Marian. She liked men in Uniforms, so when that Fountain Green Mikkelson Army guy returned from the upfront soldier of the Korean War, Gene wanted to attend every Ute Stampede, and at first, he was coming over to visit her and Joe said "Hey, the Ute Stampede is only once a year not evert dam weekend! Joe eased up when Gene and Marian got married and started to help Joe with farm work. They had a baby girl, but she soon died and I was too young to figure out that even us humans died. My parents tried to explain it, as I had a hard time with it. I thought it only happened to non humans! Joe was heavily involved with civic matters including the Ute Stampede and Nephi City Council, and his son Bob did both of that, but could sound out the truth a little louder than what Bob or I could, but somewhere along the line, we couldn't make good sense out of stupid nonsense.  We will have the Spirits of Cotton Rosser and Joe Garrett to entertain us at the Ute Stampede. Yes, the 4 nights is for you and your Kin. Just don't ask for use of the elevator, as it doesn't have brakes and you may find yourself floating on the soft, puffy clouds above. But always be ready, and able to rise when your bell rings, and enjoy the great Steeds of Joe Garrett of  yesteryear.
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