Thanks to DRT Family

Myrna wrote: It is a great photo and I appreciate the good job of sending the news. What's to edit? It is great! Do you know, if we had as much water (as a state) as
you do, we would not be burning up! Love, M

Did the kids get the package? I'll bet the cookies were just crumbs but Dad (Gramps) insisted they needed to be mailed. Love, M

Arbree wrote: They loved the package and the cookies were still intact...they lasted about a day and the kids got maybe 2 or three. I think I got 1. You should have put David's name on the cookies. We love you too!!!

I believe that about the water.  I think Southern Utah might be in alot of trouble again as far as water is concerned.  What to do?  Tell people they don't need such green lawns.  Desert deserves desert landscaping.  Here you have to cut the lawn 3-4 times a week it grows so fast.  What to do...our next big investment a lawnmower. Hah hah hah!


Myrna wrote: Next time, I will send four packages of cookies--one for Bree, one for  David, one for Erin and one for Donovin. Do you think that will work? Love, M

Arbree wrote: Or you can send three to David and 1 fo me and the kids...Love you!


Myrna wrote: Thanks for the photos.

Also, thanks for the new phone number and the e-mail address. It was just in the nick of time. Melanie wanted to stop and see you and could not get in touch with you on the old phone number I gave her. I guess it was the REALLYold one.

I love you all.

That would be true in this house.

After watching the movie Cinderella, five-year-old Sarah started using her 
pinwheel as a magic wand, pretending she was a fairy godmother. "Make three 
wishes," she told her mother, "and I'll grant them."

Her mom first asked for world peace. Sarah swung her wand and proclaimed the

request fulfilled. Next, her mother requested for a cure for all ill 
children. Again, with a sweep of the pinwheel, Sarah obliged. The mother, 
with a glance down at her rather ample curves, made her third wish, "I wish 
to have a trim figure again."

The miniature fairy godmother started waving her wand madly. "I'll need more power for this!" she exclaimed.

Ann Olsen wrote:  It definitely would be true in my house!

From Charlotte Kilfoyle

Hello and how are all of you? Just printed the July Newsletter and plan to read it this evening.

With all the heat and our part time jobs (between) we must keep that water going on the beets, zuchs, tomatoes and cukes. All are harvesting in astounding numbers. The ground hogs have caused my purchase of gas bombs, they have severed many bean plants at the stem.

I do hope you are feeling better and the shoulder is mending. We have a visit with the
Abdominal Doc at this months end in SLC. Wally seems to be doing well overall. Take care, E-mail us.

Love, Charlotte

Kimo's Words

Kimo prepared the following to hand out and the viewing and the funeral services for Marie. He gave this out along with the program and obituary.

What happened on Saturday July 14, 2007

Marie and I were hiking Knotted Rope Canyon on the San Rafael Swell. While crossing a ledge around a pothole 20 feet across and 20 feet down, she fell. The rope she was on saved her from falling 20 feet but not from swinging and hitting the wall and breaking her arm and hurting her back. She then lowered herself down to the bottom into the water which happened to be over her head. I was supposed to bring her back up where I was. I had been able to protect, help and assist her in any situation she had been in since we were married. This time it was different. I was unable to lift her more than a few feet, she was still in the water up to her waist. I tried for 4 hours to get her up but failed. At 9 p.m. she succumb(ed) to pain, hypothermia & fatigue and couldn't keep her head out of the water and passed away.

President Spencer W. Kimball said in the Ensign December 1985 "It has been said that the of a righteous man is never untimely because our father sets the time. I believe this with all my soul."

Even though I'm torn up inside and can't imagine my life without Marie. I know now it was her time to go. She went doing what she loved. Exploring the beautiful wonders of the outdoors. There is a heavenly purpose in this experience and blessing will come to many in this life and the spirit world.

Kimo Coray

July '07 Newsletter

Myrna, 

What  a great job you do on this newsletter. Thanks so much for including me. I would love to come to visit you and learn about the family geneology. When would be a good time for you? 

Peggy Ann Self Olsen

How to get my Ged.com

Go to ancestry.com

Type in MyrnaTrauntvein (note the connection between names) and use the password I gave you on the phone and the e-mail address of mandlht@msn.com

When the page comes up it will say: "Looking for your family tree?" In the white box will be the following:
Go to "Myrna's .GED" and an arrow. Click on that and you have the whole thing. It is not finished but I am working on it almost every day trying to get it to the point where I have my ged that cannot open.

Hobble Creek Smith Reunion

The one Smith family reunion was in Hobble Creek Canyon. I had been there many times with Pearle and Fred. I think they liked the Rotary pavilion, but at least it was one of those. I was looking closely at the photos and then compared them with a couple I had of just my kids in that area. I am certain I am right. I wonder if Pearle and Fred arranged that reunion.

 To get there: take the 400 South Springville exit (260) from I-15, turning east on U-77. Go straight through Springville. As you begin to climb the foothills, you'll come to a 4-way stop. Turn right (southward) towards Hobble Creek Canyon. Springville City has three parks located in Hobble Creek Canyon. There are ten pavilions in these parks that can be reserved for a nominal fee. Parks are open April – September, weather permitting. Camping Loop is open through October, weather permitting. The canyon parks are watered and mowed at least once weekly. Your group may be asked to accommodate these activities. In an area where tents are pitched, tents will need to be moved every two days to preserve the grass. Ample parking areas are available. Parking vehicles, trailers or motor homes on the grass is not allowed. The camping loop at Jolley’s Ranch is never included with a pavilion reservation. If you choose to camp there, you will pay the camping fee. Camping in Kelly’s Grove and Rotary Park is only allowed with a pavilion reservation.

I Found a Description

Thanks for letting me know where the Hobble Creek Canyon is.

I've found one more direct ancestor. Thomas Mason, who was a taylor in
Bicester, was born 9 Jan 1789 in Bucknell, which is a village next to
Bicester. The register says: "1789 Jan 11 (privately; admitted Jan
18)(born Jan 9) - Thomas, son of Hannah MASON & Thomas FARRIN". So he
was illigitimate. I can't find either parent's ancestry at all. But they
were both married about 1891 to other people. The Bucknell register also
shows that Hannah MASSON (x, otp) married Thomas POWELL (x, otp) on 30
May 1791.[The x means they had to sign with a mark and otp means "of this
parish".] 

I found that Hannah and Thomas Powell had five children, and was able to
trace three of them - half siblings to Thomas Mason - and about 80 of
their descendents. I had a few of the descendents already in my PAF as
they had married people I had traced before. Quite a bit of intermarriage
in those little parishes.

Donnette

To Donnette Smith

Myrna wrote: Our family is lucky to have you! Thanks so much for the new information you have found. I think you have a genius for research and, in addition, are guided to the records of those wanting to be found. I wonder how you do it. I just marvel at what you find. How do you even know what record to search? As I said, I am certain you are guided.

You mentioned there had been a lot of intermarriage in some of the small parishes. I think that there was a lot of intermarriage in our church among the early saints. I am surprised to find relatives (on the Pitts and Edwards lines) with the same ancestry back a few generations. In other words, the lines meld. However, on the Edwards' line, I think there may have been some creative genealogy toward the end of the list of families. They claim to date back to Adam. A professional genealogist once asked me: "If you were the genealogist for the king and he told you to trace his ancestry to Adam, what would you do?" You would, to preserve your head, arrive at Adam through Julius Caesar. Which is exactly what they did. At least, up to the king, the genealogy is correct. I will be interested to see, in the final outcome, what is right.

Research

You are about the only member of the family who knows even a little bit about genealogical research. As you are the only one - I'll tell you what I do.

I took some classes from BYU-Ricks in the 1960s from the world's best genealogical teacher. Richard's Dad was taking the same classes at BYU in Salt Lake and the teacher told the class - "You don't know how to do research yet so why don't you hire someone to start doing it for you."

My teacher would have us spend the first hour telling each other about our genealogical problem. She'd ask the class to give ideas as to where what to do. After we had all thought it through as well as we could she would then tell us other things to do. As we got results we would report to the class and then think as a class what to do next. She would teach us about birth certificates or wills or parish registers - and have our assignment for the next week be to write a letter to get a birth certificate from England, or butter up the minister to see if we could get a parish register microfilmed. When we got films of census or wills or parish registers she would say, "Now transcribe it." We bought 20 microfilm readers at a time and got them for good prices. And then
transcribed the films.

I was lucky that the Smith family pretty much stayed in the Oxford area. The Oxford people wouldn't cooperate with the Salt Lake Library to have much filmed. But the Oxford people had me help them get records filmed and I gave them copies of my transcriptions. In about 1980 Richard and I visited the old gentleman in charge of transcribing parish registers. He offered us drinks before dinner and when we took orange juice he said, "Now, don't tell me what religion you are. When I go to get permission to have a register filmed for you and they ask if you are a Mormon, I want
to be able to say I don't know." We all laughed and of course he knew. When he would transcribe a register he thought I might be interested in, he slipped a 6th carbon in and sent the extra copy to me.

I found a lot of the Kings, Fosters, Holts and Kirbys, etc. were farmers and had wills. I would order a film of wills to Idaho Falls. I would then realize I needed the same roll a few months later. So when a roll came to IF I would abstract all the wills in a 8 mile radius of Bicester. I have many card files of those will abstracts and still refer to them quite often.

The Oxfordshire Family History Society has long ago got all their registers transcribed - and indexed .- most of them up to 2005 - no laws of privacy I guess - and now sell them on fiche or CDs for a tenth of the cost of microfilming. So, I have lots of transcriptions and fiche.

They comuterized all the marriages of all the Oxfordshire parishes and put it out alphabetically by grooms and brides. They are now working on doing that for all the christenings and burials. So when I asked recently for information about Thomas Mason - they told me that the only one in that time period at that area was christened in Bucknell. I had the Bucknell records.

So. When I got this new lead, I just look at the parish registers. And go online to Ancestry.com for the census records - 1841 to 1901 are all there indexed. And go online for FreeBMD which is an index for all births, marriages and deaths in all of England since 1837. So for the Powells I spent three days last week going through the the parish register, the census and the FreeBMD - back and forth.

I'm supposed to be finishing up a new blessing dress for one of my daughters to use for her future granddaughters - but just can't pull myself away from the computer. It is much more fun to be looking for these people.

I think I am guided. It seems as if there is someone up there saying "OK - it is the Kirbys turn. Now it's the Powells turn." And then those people just seem to be giving me ideas.

Somehow I've never had dreams of people coming. It is just ideas. Except a couple of times. Once I was transcribing the Launton microfilm and typing along. Suddenly I heard Richard's Dad say, "There is your clue. Take it and run with it." It wasn't in those words. It was an idea. But in his voice. I turned around but he wasn't there. He had died two months before. That was when I found the parentage of James Smith born 1780. I looked at what I had just typed. It was a christening for a child of Robert Smith, a blacksmith in Launton. I suddenly thought - "There can't be two blacksmith shops in Launton. That is too small a village. They must be brothers. If I can't trace James because he died before the 1841 census, maybe I can trace Robert. I found Robert was born in Bicester and had a brother, James just the right age. Later the Hon. Secretary of the Launton Historical Society found the death notice of their father in an
old newspaper and sent it to me.

So, I belong to the Oxford list online. And to the Oxfordshire Family
History Society.

Well - that is way more than you wanted to know. Thanks for being interested.

Donnette

Beverly Sills Died and I Was Her Fan

My favorite opera star, Beverly Sills, died on July 3. I had a great deal of hero worship for her and always enjoyed her singing as well as her acting of the various parts. I was a fan before I married LHT. 

To read about her, go to the following: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/03/arts/music/03sills.html?ex=1199073600&en=afa91c4aee407e59&ei=5087&excamp=GGGNbeverlysills

Love, M

More information about Thomas Vivian Pitts‏

Charles Robison

Doyle Pitts and Parents

Mary Celina Robison

Ila PItts Snavely and Mary Celina

Mary Celina Robison

Mattie and Ila Pitts abt 1928

Mary Celina Robison

Pitts boys Johnathan - James Alfred - Peter (middle 16 yrs older than Thomas) Thomas Miles - Charles (children of Martha Stout and Thomas Pitts).jpg

Robison Ranch

Thomas Miles Pitts

Thomas Miles Pitts

Thomas Miles and Mary Celina Pitts in 1927

at ages 60 and 55

Family Christmas Party

Hi guys, Nanci here... Just a note to tell you I can't wait to see all of you! Looks like we'll be having quite a few attending. It can never be everyone but we'll talk what we can get!

I am going to surprise my mom with a large Bday cake since here Bday is the Monday before the party. As far as I know she has never had a bday party never mind a surprise, so I hope nobody minds but I'm going to steal five minutes to do a cake and song for her! Just an FYI!

I will be sending out another party reminder on Monday! Have a great weekend!

Have an amazing day!!
xoxo
Nanci


Myrna wrote: We had also planned a surprise cake for Amy, Todd's wife. We were just going to do it as our little family as part of our lunch. It is her birthday that day. I was not thinking about your Mom's birthday being the same time. I think it is great that you are planning a special surprise for your mom. She is always doing for others and never thinks of herself. I love her dearly. Do you think our little surprise for Amy will spoil your big surprise for your mom? Let me know.

Love, M

About Photo Size

Myrna wrote to Bree: I actually do not think, in spite of what David said, that you need to reduce the photos in size. I got the one photo that you sent without problem. I think you can just send a few at a time. I get the other kid's photos and only one knows how to reduce. That is a bit complicated since you have to go into photoshop, go into image and tell it to resize and what size you want it to be. I think they would be just fine. I send regular size, as you have noticed, and just send two or three at a time.

Howards for the Newsletter

Sorry, I forgot to do this last night, Mom. Thanks for writing it for me last month, but hopefully this gets to you in time.

The Howards have enjoyed seeing many family members this summer. We went to St. George where Miranda, husband, and tiny little baby were sealed. It was the first time their whole family was able to be in the temple. Grandpa Howard performed the sealing. And we have enjoyed seeing family on the Trauntvein side, too. The kids enjoyed being with Erin and Donavin one last time before the move. Matthew thinks Michael, Tyler, and Toren are the coolest thing since the invention of the Gameboy. Megan is in seventh heaven with Maddie and Emily together. Kyle is enjoying all the boy cousins together and continues to talk off their ears about anything electronic. Alyssa is happy to have Brigitta around who, I might add, made the Fourth of July Parade so much fun. (I will never forget her yelling to Bob the Builder balloon carriers, "Can you fix it? Yes, you can!" I am still chuckling about that one.) We enjoyed swimming at Seven Peaks with Amy G. and kids. We are looking forward to seeing Benjamin and Braden in a few more weeks; hopefully Braden will keep his hair on his legs this year. 

The kids have tolerated my attempts to keep them active this summer. They finished swimming lessons and are in the middle of tennis lessons. Kyle has taken a three day golf class from the golf pros. And now he is in the Junior Golf League, which means he goes every Monday and golfs the executive course. Although his score continues to be high because he is getting used to his new clubs, its still a good opportunity. The girls have dance camp coming up since both of them made competition teams again. But, I have made sure they have plenty of down time and read a lot since they keep so very busy during the school year. In fact, Alyssa told me she was really bored this morning and that she couldn't wait for school to start. That was music to my ears.

Are You Still There?

Myrna wrote: Barbara, are you still among the living? There is so much smoke between there and here, you can never be certain that the state is still intact. Love, M

Yea! I'm still here. Did the kids send you the pictures of the house? If not, I will forward them. Bree was having trouble sending them, maybe you can tell her how to make them small so they aren't such big files. You are the expert in the family. Her email is lovelizardluck77@yahoo.com. She has applied for a part time job with the hospital there as a receptionist and check in person. She is so excited. David is working hard and she says he loves his job. The kids are great. I'm sorry. I know you know all this, but all I can talk about is them. 


I am doing OK. I miss them so much. It is like I need to be doing something or going somewhere and then I realize I don't have to do either and I'm just left hanging, like what am I supposed to be doing with my life now. Oh well, I guess that will go away with time. 


Write to me. 
Love you, Barbara


I miss them also. It seems so far away. I actually do not think, in spite of what David said, that she needs to reduce the photos in size. I think she can just send a few at a time. I get the other kid's photos and only one knows how to reduce. That is a bit complicated since you have to go into photoshop, go into image and tell it to resize and what size you want it to be. I think they would be just fine. I send regular size, as you have noticed, and just send two or three at a time.

Yes, please forward the photos. I will appreciate it.

Myrna wrote: I am also at loose ends. This is a "wait for something to happen that is controlled by someone else" summer. I will also, I suppose, get used to it. After all life is full of adjustments. I remember my dad saying that he just got used to having lots of grandkids around and then they were all grown up and too busy for many visits.

Have you made a friend or two at work to go to a movie with? That helped my grandmother when I got married and left home. She was lucky to have lived in the same area for many years and had good neighbors and other retired teacher friends. Of course, in Price, you could just go outside on a summer evening and sit on the porch and someone would come across the street or next door and sit with you. That is also what my dad's neighbors did. That is who found him dead that morning--his neighbors. Well, they sent for my brother-in-law, Mike Anderson, who is the one who went inside. He found him alive and Dad got up, took a shower, dressed and sat in his chair. When he did not come outside, as expected, Mike returned and found him dead in his easy chair by the kitchen door. It is, of course, much cooler in Price than in St. George. People in St. George would not want to sit outside, I am certain. Wow! You have had hot, HOT temps. You aren't cooked, are you?

Remember, you have an open invitation to come here.

Love, M

Looking for more information about Thomas Vivian Pitts Response from Robert Madsen

Robert Madsen wrote:

Hi Myrna,

Thomas Vivian Pitts is my grandfather's older brother.  My grandfather was Doyle.  He passed away in 2003.  I got the information in this tree from my grandma Florence Thomas.  She resides in Centerville, Utah.  I have scanned images from her record book of a descendants chart for Thomas Vivian and Ruth Edwards. (Which shows a "Merna" as a child of their son Howard.  I suppose that may be you?)  Anyway, I also have Family Group Sheets for Thomas Miles and wife Mary Celina Robison and both sets of parents.

I'm sure you have all that too of course.  I do have some pictures of Thomas Miles and Mary Celina.  I'd be happy to email them to you in the chance that there is something you may not have.  But, we can't send attachments through Ancestry.com's connection broker.  So if you want them just send an email to me at rmadsen@tgn.com and I'll reply to your email.

Regards,
Robert Madsen

Myrna wrtoe: I e-mail Alan all of the time. We are very close in age and we always called each other "cousin" though we were a bit more like second cousins.

Do you know that Uncle Doyle and Aunt Florence came to all of the missionary farewells and temple weddings of all of my children? I was actually at your Grandfather's funeral. My father, Howard, gave the closing prayer in the chapel. I think it was the only time he offered a public prayer. Your Uncle Alan came to my dad's funeral as did your grandmother.

I would love to have copies of your photos. I do have a copy of your Grandpa's book.

I am trying to get the Ancestry site to realize that I am Myrna not "Merna."

You do mean your Grandmother Florence Pitts, right?

Thanks, Myrna

Rob wrote: Dear Myrna,

Yes Florence is my grandmother. I actually gave a talk at Grandpa Doyle's funeral.

I'll send you the photos I have, that I scanned this summer.

I am very pleased to make your acquaintance.

Robert

Myrna wrote:

We must both be in one of the photos taken after the funeral.

Thank you, so much, for all of the photos. It is appreciated. I am looking for a CD that has some snapshots my father had of your dad as a baby. I  have, temporarily, misplaced it. I am still searching and, when I find it, I will send the photos on.

Thanks again, Myrna

Rob wrote: That will be great. I'd love to get whatever you have that might be of interest. It'll be my mom as a baby or young child though. She is Doyle's oldest, Judy, born in 1935.

Regards,

Robert

The above came as a response to a query from Myrna:

Purpose: This email was sent in response to information you posted on Ancestry or RootsWeb. This system was designed to connect people who may have similar research interests and may not be used for other purposes.

Note: In an effort to prevent the spread of viruses and spyware, no email attachments are allowed by the connection service.

For more information about this service, go to this link:
http://ancestry.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/ancestry.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=2639.

From: MyrnaTrauntvein
[mailto:connectionservice@cbsvc.myfamily.com]
Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2007 10:58 PM
To:Rob Madsen
Subject: Looking for more information about Thomas Vivian Pitts

Myrna wrote: I saw that you submitted a personal tree to Ancestry which contains:

Name: Thomas Vivian Pitts

Birth Date: 28 Apr 1894

Birth Place: Joseph, Sevier, Utah, USA
Tree Name: Doyle & Florence Pitts

Do you have more information about this person that you could share with me?

Oops! You have the right information. It is the One World listing which does not.

Thank you,

Myrna Pitts Trauntvein

More

Todd wrote: Apparently, Gregory Peck is a cousin as well. Jane Austen. Hans Christian Andersen

Kirsten wrote: Get this. Dad is also related to Teddy Roosevelt. If this site is all correct, Dad and Mom are cousins. LOL!! That might explain the gray hair.

http://trees.ancestry.com/RelationFinder/relate.aspx?pid=40668699


Myrna wrote: I just want you to know that the gray hair is due to age and not due to relation. Sorry about that.

I have laughed at the Edwards' line. If you follow it back you will end up with one ancestor beyond Adam. To save time, just type in Adam, First Man. Interesting. A genealogist once told me: "If you worked for the king and he told you to get his genealogy back to Adam, what would you do?"

Love, m

Fabulous Five

(Myrna please feel free to edit)

 

Well we are in MO and it is humid but at least not 116 degrees. It looks like we moved just in time to beat the St. George heat wave. 

 

We travelled for three days. David was so glad to get rid of the budget truck that we celebrated when we finally dropped it off. He swayed for two days on his feet afterwards. My advice get a uhaul. They might be slower but there is a reason that they are lower over the wheels. It is beautiful here.  We hit the July forth celebration and bought fireworks that are highly illegal in the desert. Ones that I have never even heard of. 

 

The kids have made a friend next door already and play endlessly with a girl named Cindy. Everyone we run into says that Camdenton and Camelot Estates is one of the best palces to reside. We lucked out with that one. The house is beautiful and three levels. I am not sure what to think about all the stairs but the kids love it.

 

David is fitting right in with his new job and loves his truck although the previous owner never cleaned it so David has spent the last two nights scrubbing the interior and making it look beautiful. (Now if only he would do that with the home we live in.) I guess I shouldn’t complain. He is in the truck more than he is at home. HA HA!

 

I am trying to figure out what to do with all the space that we have and where to put everything. Choices, to make and decorating to do. What is a girl to do.

 

Barbara misses us but I talk to her everyday and she is staying busy at work.  Arbree is lost without her to talk to but is adjusting. (David is now not afraid to let her go anywhere alone.) Just Kidding.

 

Anyway we love you and have plenty of room for guests so please come visit. Arbree's 30 is coming up in September and planning a growing older party and all are welcome. We would love to have you.

 

Hugs and Kisses!

 

David, Arbree, Erin & Donovin

 

Three cheers, it wasn't cancer!‏

I went back and got the second and third mammos this a.m. The tissue compressed and, so on the third view, they were able to tell that it was not cancer. I guess all of your prayers worked and Heavenly Father blessed me.  Dad and Jim gave me a blessing also. At any rate, I have been smashed but I am going to live and not have a breast removed. That is good news to me. 
Love, M

Melanie wrote: Didn't know anything about it until now. Wish I had known and I would have prayed as well. 

I am glad to have you around for a while longer. Congratulations to me!

Is that why you all were talking about the word mastectomy the other night? I thought I had just walked through a conversation, not thinking that it belonged to anyone. 

I love you!
Mel

Well, Now You Know

How many years have I done a good job watching kids? Well, a fairly good job. I blew it all on Thursday. My history is shot. I had AnnMarie's three youngest (the two oldest were at youth conference with Brandon) and Eric's four. It had rained all day long. Finally, about 3 p.m. the sun came out. I decided it would be good for all of us to get out of the house. The older kids headed for the swings. I have a horrible fear of some little kid running in front of a swing and getting cut. That happened to Melanie when she was two while I was watching all the kids in the ward during a funeral. At any rate, I was playing with Rachel over by the pear tree. I pulled up some weeds and showed her the worms. Then Megan and Jason climbed up the apple tree. Everyone else was still on the swings. In just a second, Maddie had tried to climb the tree. She slipped and fell and caught herself with her right arm. She broke her wrist. We got her in the house and laid her on the floor by the fridge. That kept her arm flat. I filled a baggie with crushed ice and put it on her arm. Then I made a sling out of an old sheet that I tore up and put a big sweater of mine around her. Meanwhile, Dad called Amy and Eric. We got the kids in the car and then got Maddie in. We gave her a fleece blanket to rest her arm on during the ride and Dad took them to Payson to the emergency ward. He stopped by their house and Jason took charge of the other kids while Dad went on to the hospital. Thank goodness her arm did not swell so that she could have a cast right away. Her arm sure looked awful but she was very brave and barely cried, only a bit when it first happened and then when I got her arm in the sling. After that, she didn't shed anymore tears. Of course, she broke her right arm. So much for the summer and swimming. Love, Dumdum

Information About Thomas Vivian Pitts‏

Myrna wrote: I saw that you submitted a personal tree to Ancestry which contains:

Name: Thomas Vivian Pitts
Birth Date: 28 Apr 1894
Birth Place: Joseph, Sevier, Utah, USA
Tree Name: Doyle & Florence Pitts

Do you have more information about this person that you could share with me? Oops! You have the right information. It is the One World listing which does not.

Thank you, Myrna Pitts Trauntvein


Robert Madsen wrote: Hi Myrna,

Thomas Vivian Pitts is my grandfather’s older brother.  My grandfather was Doyle.  He passed away in 2003.  I got the information in this tree from my grandma Florence Thomas.  She resides in Centerville, Utah.  I have scanned images from her record book of a descendants chart for Thomas Vivian and Ruth Edwards.  (Which shows a “Merna” as a child of their son Howard.  I suppose that may be you?)  Anyway, I also have Family Group Sheets for Thomas Miles and wife Mary Celina Robison and both sets of parents.

I’m sure you have all that too of course.  I do have some pictures of Thomas Miles and Mary Celina.  I’d be happy to email them to you in the chance that there is something you may not have.  But, we can’t send attachments through Ancestry.com’s connection broker.  So if you want them just send an email to me at rmadsen@tgn.com and I’ll reply to your email.

Regards,
Robert Madsen


Myrna wrote: I e-mail Alan all of the time. We are very close in age and we always called each other "cousin" though we were a bit more like second cousins.

Do you know that Uncle Doyle and Aunt Florence came to all of the missionary
farewells and temple weddings of all of my children? I was actually at your
Grandfather's funeral. My father, Howard, gave the closing prayer in the
chapel. I think it was the only time he offered a public prayer. Your Uncle
Alan came to my dad's funeral as did your grandmother.

I would love to have copies of your photos. I do have a copy of your
Grandpa's book.

I am trying to get the Ancestry site to realize that I am Myrna not "Merna."

You do mean your Grandmother Florence Pitts, right?

Thanks, Myrna


Robert wrote: Dear Myrna,

Yes Florence is my grandmother. I actually gave a talk at Grandpa Doyle's funeral.

I'll send you the photos I have, that I scanned this summer.

I am very pleased to make your acquaintance.

Robert

Todd responds to the ecard

Todd wrote: Cute.  Thank you.  I went to Granville last night and watched their fireworks with a lot of people from the ward.  I didn't realize there were that many ward members there.  I think I need to look for a home in Granville.  Price is an issue.

On 7/6/07, mandlht@msn.com <mandlht@msn.com> wrote:
   
      Myrna has sent you a Hallmark E-Card.

  Hello! Myrna has sent you a Hallmark E-Card.

To see it, copy and paste the following link into your browser:
http://www.hallmark.com/ECardWeb/ECV.jsp?a=2932872500785M208875008Y&product_id=
Or pick up your E-Card with the confirmation number:
EG2932872500785

David and Bree's Numbers

Myrna wrote: Barbara, I hope your 4th turned out to be fun. Mine turned out less than great. I ended up getting the flu and could not leave the house. Talk about miserable. I am still not well today. I am not throwing up anymore but I am still under the weather. I had to stay home from the temple today and may have to do so tomorrow. So you can be glad that you didn't come up. You were safer there in the heat.

Do you have Bree's cell phone number? Will she care if you give it to me?

Dad has tried to call David's number three times now. He has left messages to be called back but David has not called. We did not plan on losing contact with them.

Love, M

Myrna wrote: Thank you. Did you say something to David? He just barely returned the call.

While we were talking the power here went out. That is some wind blowing out there. WOW! I hope I still have a roof. Love, M

Barbara wrote: Nope, he must have heard the ether waves when you emailed me. He has a way of doing that. I'm glad he called. I think it finally hit Bree yesterday just how far away she is and how different it is there. I hope she can cope. No, I know she can cope, I just hope it is in a good way. 

Talk to you later.  By the way, thank you for all the neat cards.  They cheered up my day.

435-215-4169 is the home number. It is working. David's cell is 435-313-7614.  It late in the afternoon and I am trying to get out of here.

I will write more tomorrow. I will be here in the morning.

I have a very quiet 4th. I worked, but just long enough to get done what had to be done.  Then I went home. It is nice to have a home that is mine again. I had forgotten how nice that is.

Love you, B

Stomach Flu

Myrna wrote: This is what I have. Read how to prevent it and pray that I was smart enough not to kiss any of you before I started vomiting. I can't remember. I got ill, quite suddenly, on Tuesday. Love, m

Stomach Flu (Viral Gastroenteritis)

What is stomach flu?

Stomach flu is a viral infection that affects the stomach and small intestine. It is also called viral gastroenteritis. The illness is usually brief, lasting 1 to 3 days.

How does it occur?

Many different viruses can cause gastroenteritis, including rotaviruses, adenoviruses, and the Norwalk virus. Gastroenteritis is caused by swallowing one of these viruses. The body fluids of infected people contain the virus, sometimes even before their symptoms begin. The virus can be spread by direct contact with an infected person (for example, kissing or shaking hands) or by sharing food, drink, or eating utensils.

The virus enters the stomach and intestine and inflames the lining of these organs. As a result, the stomach and intestine are temporarily unable to perform their usual functions. The virus can also cause food to move more rapidly through your gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Thanks, Myrna

Elaine wrote: I always like your emails the cards and your letters. Hope everyone is doing well. Aunt Pat says to say hi. She is doing good. Was in thee hospital a few months ago, but you know those Pitts are pretty tough!

xoxo Elaine Johnson


Myrna wrote: Tell her to hang in there. The Pitts' gene is tough and so is the Edward's gene. I have been reading about all the things they did, not only as pioneers, but as pilgrims. It was pretty wonderful. Tell her to keep talking and she will know what I mean. (When I was a baby, I would only go to sleep if she let me hold her throat and kept talking. I guess it was comforting to me.)

Do you have e-mail for Uncle Morgan? Is he OK?

Keep in touch! Love, M

Truth????? Or my fiction??????? You write the newsletter or I make it up?

Myrna wrote: You are all about your activities. Do you mind sharing them with the rest of us or should I just make something up?

I can add to the made up part. What do you all think of the following? Notice they all have something to do with disappearing. That is because--guess? 

 "Shawn and Kimberly went on a trek and they are still dusty. In fact, they were last seen in a cloud of dust disappearing from view." 

 "Melanie and Howard have opened Hotel Bolton. The pair disappeared after learning, with joy, that the enterprise was so successful." 

 "Todd is still out riding his bike and Amy G. is herding kids about Utah and is flying from spot to spot so quickly that she has disappeared from view."  

 "Eric and Amy are trapped behind drywall in their basement. Though they cannot be seen, their feeble cries can be heard from behind the walls." 

 "AnnMarie and Brandon have started a cafe in their kitchen. They were caught up in a whirlwind of success and disappeared from view." 

 "Julie and Jim have gone with the bees (not the wind) and were last seen near a vat of honey." 

 "Kirsten has three feet. She grew the last one while touring in Boston visiting Melanie. She is so concerned that she has taken her family and disappeared." 

"David and Bree moved out of state and, once they got to Missouri, they ended up being so busy and rushing about so much that they have melted in the humidity and disappeared."  

 You know, truth with a twist. 

I'll bet I could come up with some good stuff--even better than this. (I do not lie--I just rewrite history.) Want to prevent all this baloney? WRITE!!!!!

Love, M

Melanie wrote: Kirsten and family leave today to go back to Colorado. I will try and do something in the next few days to send to you, before Shawn gets here. Mel

Kirsten wrote: I actually think that was the most entertaining of all family newsletters yet!  Be careful,
mom, your great whit just may get you the monthly job (beats mine any day, in all seriousness)!!! All in 
favor? Kirsten
 
Kimberly wrote: Aye

Auntie Helen's Christmas in July Party

 Hey everyone!

Just a friendly reminder about our family get-together on July 21st! I really hope to see all of your smiling faces there! I am renting a Jolly Jump for the young'ns which should keep them busy and entertained. Kenzi and myself are flying in from Tampa on the 17th. We look forward to seeing you ALL there!

Please contact me at Happy2b4t@yahoo.com should you have any questions.

 xoxo

 Nanci

Todd wrote: We will be there.

Miserable 4th

I hope your 4th turned out to be fun. Mine turned out less than great. I ended up getting the flu and could not leave the house. Talk about miserable. I am still not well today. I am not throwing up anymore but I am still under the weather. I had to stay home from the temple today and may have to do so tomorrow. So you can be glad that you didn't come up. You were safer there in the heat.

May I have Bree's cell phone number? Dad has tried to call David's number three times now. He has left messages to be called back but I guess that David has been too busy to call. We would just like to talk to them.

Love, M

Truth????? Or my fiction???????‏

Myrna writes:

I can add to the made up part. What do you all think of the following? Notice they all have something to do with disappearing. That is because--guess?

"Shawn and Kimberly went on a trek and they are still dusty. In fact, they were last seen in a cloud of dust disappearing from view."

"Melanie and Howard have opened Hotel Bolton. The pair disappeared after learning, with joy, that the enterprise was so successful."

"Todd is still out riding his bike and Amy G. is herding kids about Utah and is flying from spot to spot so quickly that she has disappeared from view."

"Eric and Amy are trapped behind drywall in their basement. Though they cannot be seen, their feeble cries can be heard from behind the walls."

"AnnMarie and Brandon have started a cafe in their kitchen. They were caught up in a whirlwind of success and disappeared from view."

"Julie and Jim have gone with the bees (not the wind) and were last seen near a vat of honey."

"Kirsten has three feet. She grew the last one while touring in Boston visiting Melanie. She is so concerned that she has taken her family and disappeared."

"David and Bree moved out of state and, once they got to Missouri, they ended up being so busy and rushing about so much that they have melted in the humidity and disappeared."

You know, truth with a twist.

I'll bet I could come up with some good stuff--even better than this. (I do not lie--I just rewrite history.) Want to prevent all this baloney?
WRITE!!!!!

Love, M


Kirsten wrote: I actually think that was the most entertaining of all family newsletters yet!  Be careful, mom, your great whit just may get you the monthly job (beats mine any day, in all seriousness)!!!  All in favor? Kirsten

Kimberly wrote: Aye

From Myrna‏

Myrna wrote: I hope your 4th turned out to be fun. Mine turned out less than great. I ended up getting the flu and could not leave the house. Talk about miserable. I am still not well today. I am not throwing up anymore but I am still under the weather. I had to stay home from the temple today and may have to do so tomorrow. So you can be glad that you didn't come up. You were safer there in the heat.

Do you have Bree's cell phone number? Will she care if you give it to me? Dad has tried to call David's number three times now. He has left messages to be called back but David has not called. We did not plan on losing contact with them.

Love, M

Barbara wrote: 435-215-4169 is the home number. It is working. David's cell is 435-313-7614. It late in the afternoon and I am trying to get out of here. I will write more tomorrow. I will be here in the morning.

I have a very quiet 4th. I worked, but just long enough to get done what had to be done. Then I went home. It is nice to have a home that is mine again. I had forgotten how nice that is. 

Love you, B

It is once again that time--NEWSLETTER!

You are all about your activities. Do you mind sharing them with the rest of us or should I just make something up?

Like: "Kirsten has three feet. She grew the last one in Boston visiting Melanie." Or, "Todd is still out riding his bike and Amy G. is hearding kids about Utah and is flying from spot to spot." Or, "David and Bree moved out of state and they got to Missouri but they ended up being so busy that they have melted in the humidity and disappeared." "Shawn and Kimberly went on a treak and they are still dusty." "AnnMarie and Brandon have started a cafe in their kitchen." "Eric and Amy are trapped behind drywall in their basement." "Julie and Jim have gone with the bees (not the wind)." "Melanie and Howard have opened Hotel Bolton." You know, truth with a twist. 

I'll bet I could come up with some good stuff. (I do not lie--I just rewrite history.)

Love, M

Helen's party

Myrna, I inadvertantly deleted Ann Maries' e-mail to you about the family member, sorry I don't have her name down, who is interested in coming to our family day, before I answered it. She is very welcome to come- let her know what we are doing for food/drink arrangements. Have a good week. Love Helen

Al would like some historic photos.

I've recently determined to apply a motto that Marjorie Hinckley had for her life. She said, "Expect the worst, and if it doesn't happen, you'll be pleasantly surprised!" (p.86, Glimpses Into the Life and Heart of Marjorie Pay Hinckley)

From: Alan Pitts:'It's best to believe the worst, if you believe the worse then the best is no worse than expected so it's best to believe the worst.' This is a famous line from the, The Curious Savage, a Broadway play in the which the actor, Jeffery had this philosophy. He was a very talented musician that had a perfectly normal face but believed he was severely disfigured from a fire. The play written by John Patrick, I played Jeffery and played a few bars of, Prelude in C# Minor on the piano in the Little Theater. Participating in this production is one of my favorite memories of High School at Carbon High.
I went to the reading with Linda Broadbent, I was given the part of Jeffery. The student director was Konnie Magliocco, who is now my wife of Forty Four years. Konnie and I started dating in College.
Your email brought this to mind, what's left of it.

Sincerely
al pitts
M: What a great memory. Thanks for sharing that. I am glad that you two found each other. Where is Linda? the last I heard she was still in Price. That has been 10 years ago.
I have not forgotten that you want photos. I just can't find where I put them. I have now sent out a call to my kids to help me out. Their poor and troubled mother has lost it. I have a friend who told her kids that when she got too old to remember who she was, not to put her in a rest home. "Just hit me in the head with a hammer," she said. Her oldest son replied, "OK, Mom, where is the hammer?"
Lots of love, M
Al: Where is Linda? I talked with Gregg McArthur about two months ago and he sent me an email stating that she was in Orange county, CA. I looked her up in the white pages on line and there is a Linda Gibbs in orange county, Ca. We have had no contact since high school. Sad, at least for me, she was my best friend all during the 11-12 grade. I am grateful to her for many things, my testimony would top the list. She was a good friend to me. I remember Linda quite often.
Would really like those photo's. Next trip to Ut I will call so we can hook up and visit.
Love you, Cuz
al
M: By the way, just in case you were wondering, I lead a quiet life. NOT! That is why I don't have whole days to search. I have to just grab quiet moments here and there. I know I sent a copy of said disk to my kids. I did not inherit the photo album with the historic photos--Charlotte did. (Charlotte and Wally Kilfoyle ) I just have the disk that I made from the photo album for the rest of us. Laurel and Cydney chose particular photos and we had those copied at WalMart. They did not want a disk. I got the flag over Dad's grave and his war stuff and Charlotte got the historic Pitts/Edwards family photo album. The historic photos are easily copied in today's tech world and we did that but she has the originals. I am certain that my oldest son has a disk and I am fairly certain my oldest daughter does. However, our family, as you can tell from the newsletter, has been busy so no one has taken time to look.

You are not planning a quick exit to this world, are you? We are worried that Garth Childs, cousin on the Smith side, may be. He has cancer of the bone and is taking radiation.
Thanks! 

You are not the only one who would like those photos. SO WOULD I!!!!!!!

We had a flood in my office in the basement. The water valve that brings water into the house developed a serious leak last winter. It did not freeze, it just quit working. We took everything out of the office and put everything in safe and dry places until we got the mess cleaned up. Luckily, all of the wonderful stuff, like photos, I had placed in plastic containers so I just had to wipe off the outsides and move them from the big storage closet to the storage room, the garage, the bedroom closets or wherever they would fit. We put the computer stuff back in first and it has been search and search and search again ever since then. They are not gone nor are they forgotten they are just somewhere.

Love, Myrna
Al: Keep looking but I will also contact Charlotte. Maybe she will let me look at the album.
Love, M
Al: Wally Kilfoyle , is this the Wally Kilfoyle of Kilfoyle Lumber located just past the bridge on the south side of Price?
M: It is the one and the same. They live in Idaho now. Wally had a heart transplant or, like his parents before him, he would have died of heart disease at an early age. It doesn't help that he and Charlotte have always been drinkers. (I know, my church is showing.) I think he has stopped that somewhat, but I am not certain. Of course, I do not know what is allowed of a transplant. He recently had surgery to correct an aneurysm in his abdomen. All went well. He looked fine on Memorial Day.

Thanks Myrna it is wonderful,. Love you Mona Grundvig

I've recently determined to apply a motto that Marjorie Hinckley had for her life. She said, "Expect the worst, and if it doesn't happen, you'll be pleasantly surprised!" (p.86, Glimpses Into the Life and Heart of Marjorie Pay Hinckley )


Ann Olsen wrote: Dear M,

Great philosophy and I am going to apply the same motto!

I will e-mail later because I'd like to tall you about our Olsen
Family Reunion which was so wonderful.

TLC you and yours,

Ann

Six doctor appointments you should make.‏

Kirsten wrote: The second one, below, is crucial to Whitney's college fund, so please obey!!!  Actually, we'd prefer if you would let all your teeth rot and then want to fix them all with root canals and crowns.  

Doctors aren’t just for when you are sick – regular visits with them can 
prevent problems before they become an issue. Here are 6 doctor appointments 
you should make. 

Eye exam. Whether you wear glasses or not, you should get your eyes checked 
every two years. If you are over 55, wear glasses, or have diabetes, you 
should schedule an appointment once a year. 

Dental cleaning. Children and adults alike should get a regular dental 
cleaning every six months. If you have gum disease, you should visit your 
dentist every three months. 

Skin cancer screening. While you should check your body for new or changing 
moles at least once a month, you should also schedule an appointment with a 
dermatologist once a year to screen for skin cancer. 

Cholesterol test. After 45, you should get a cholesterol test at least every 
5 years (although many doctors include this test in yearly blood work). If 
you have other risk factors for heart disease, such as diabetes, high blood 
pressure, or a family history of heart disease, you should start testing 
your cholesterol at 20. 

Colonoscopy. A colonoscopy allows a doctor to look into your large intestine 
and screen for abnormal growths, ulcers, and cancers. If you are over 50, 
you should get a colonoscopy every 5 to 10 years. 

Mammogram. A mammogram is a low-dose xray system that screens women for 
breast cancer. Women over 40 should get a mammogram every year, and women 
who notice a change in their breast (such as a lump, or pain) should consult 
a doctor immediately to ensure there are no problems. 

Happy 4th Card

Thanks! That was a great Hallmark E-Card!
Happy 4th to you , too! We are going camping next week, can't wait to beat 
the heat and head to the calm serenity of the mountains!
Love, Kim Pitts and kids

Helen Trauntvein Writes

Hi, dear folks. Tim thank you for the pleasant phone visit we had this a.m.  What a busy, wonderful family week you had this past week. I am pleased David called and they arrived safely.

I hope you don't mind- but I called the Membership Dept. this a.m. and obtained the Bishops' name/phone number for Davids' new ward-

Ward- Osage Beach Ward

Bishop Evan Connell- 573-346-2232

Have a special week- didn't think to ask what you are doing for the 4th- Whatever it is-be safe. Love you both much.

Love Helen