Memories of Grandma Catherine (Kate)

Today we remember Orpha's exemplary life on the 73rd anniversary of her death. You can read other posts about her in various places on this blog. But it is also Kate's birthday, so her grandson, Joseph Stradling Ballantyne, shares some sweet memories of the woman he knew as Grandma Catherine:

Joe (seated) and his siblings Catherine and Tommy at Red Hill

Kate's gas station/store at Red Hill, New Mexico

It seems that we went to Greer a number of times for summer vacations. We stayed at different cabins. One time we stayed above the Greer Store. Grandma Catherine was the Postmaster in Greer and in Nutrioso for a few years. When we were quite young she got in a car wreck and had her leg amputated.

She owned a store/gas station in a spot called Red Hill, New Mexico. There was nothing else there--only her building. For a few years after her second husband, Roy Hall, died, she lived and worked at Red Hill all by herself. It is an absolute miracle that she never got robbed or worse. She was an old one-legged lady all by herself.

We went to Red Hill a few times to visit her. I remember we found rocks and placed them together to look like a turtle. Grandma Catherine let us paint them. One time at Red Hill, Tommy and I were chased by Grandma's roosters. I was scared and mad that she was laughing. During this same visit, Grandma and I were baking a cake together. I told her how much I liked the batter. She said to eat as much as I wanted. I don't know if I ate it all or not, but I ate more batter that day than any other time in my life!

One Red Hill visit it was just me and Mother (Kate's daughter, Margaret Stradling Ballantyne), probably the summer of 1965 when I went to work on Uncle Harvey's ranch. We stayed a few days and I ran the gas station. I felt very responsible.

Grandma Catherine had a very difficult life. But looking back, I realize she was a great Grandma. She was always doing things with us when we came to visit. I had no appreciation then for how difficult it was for her to walk. Yet many of the things she would do with us were physical things--taking us on walks, getting us horse rides, gathering eggs from her chickens, going on picnics in Greer. As a kid I remember thinking she sure had nice soft skin.

St. Johns Stake Pioneer Day Celebration

138th Annual Pioneer Days July 18TH – 23^RD

Theme: Joy in the Journey

www.sjpioneerdays.com

Monday, July 17th


Rodeo Sign-ups: Monday only from 4:00-8:00 pm at the BUB.

Tuesday and Wednesday, July 18th & 19th

Basketball: Entry fee $30 per team. Sign up Tuesday the 18th at 5:30 pm at the MIDDLE SCHOOL GYM. Round Robin play begins at 6:00 pm on Tuesday the 18th and tournament play begins at 6:00 pm Wednesday the 19th at the MIDDLE SCHOOL GYM. Free to watch. Contact Christian 928-551-3076 or Breanna Lee 928-551-5600 or Paul & Felisha Ramsey 480-390-7257.

Volleyball: Coed teams. Entry fee $7 per person. Sign up Tuesday 18th at 5:30 pm at the HIGH SCHOOL GYM. Round Robin play begins at 6:00 pm on Tuesday the 18th and tournament play begins at 6:00 pm Wednesday the 19th at the HIGH SCHOOL GYM. Free to watch. There will be a limit of 12 teams. Contact Jake 928-245-7402 or Liz Udall 480-440-7247, Ty 928-245-0199 or Candice Bond 928-243-5137.

Thursday, July 20^th

Chili Bean & Cornbread Dinner: FREE chili bean & cornbread dinner for everyone beginning at 5:00 pm. Bring your blanket and chairs to the CITY PARK. Paper products and ice water furnished. Contact Rodney Brewer 928-358-8648.

Ice Cream Social: FREE ice cream for everyone at the CITY PARK beginning at 6:00 pm. Bring your blanket and chairs and visit awhile. Sugar-free ice cream will be available.
Contact Trey & Brindi Platt 928-551-1473 or William & Delvis Briceno 551-4533 (Spanish Speaking).

Pioneer Program: Will be at the CITY PARK at approximately 7:00 pm following the Ice Cream Social. Contact Brent & Tobie Overson 928-245-7427 or Donna Hauser 928-245-6761.

Youth Dance: at the FAIRGROUNDS midway 8:30-11:30 pm, for ages 14 and up. Admission $5.00 per person. Refreshments available to purchase. (LDS dress standards: no tank tops, no bare midriffs, no miniskirts and no shorts). Contact Peter & Jaymi Cox 928-892-9448 or Klint & Amber Heap 928-245-3963.

Friday, July 21st

9, #11 & #13 Ropings: Start at 7:00 am at the ST. JOHNS RODEO GROUNDS.

Frontier Days Shoot: 9:00 am at the NASA Shooting range. Contact Bowen Udall 928-245-3666.

Junior Rodeo: Ages 0-16, starts 10:00 am at the ST. JOHNS RODEO GROUNDS. Events planned for all ages. Buckles awarded for best cowboy and cowgirl. Admission $10.00 per carload or $3.00 per person. Sponsored by St. Johns Rodeo Association. Contestants admitted for free. 


Camp Fire Circle: Circle your “wagons” next to the ST. JOHNS AIRPORT starting at 4:30 pm. Bring your dinner, family and friends. Visiting is a must! 


Family Dance: COUNTY FAIR BUILDING (BUB) 8:00 pm-Midnight. Admission age 4 and under free, $5.00/person or $20.00/family. (LDS dress standards: no tank tops, no bare midriffs, no miniskirts and no shorts) Contact Peter & Jaymi Cox 928-892-9448 or Klint & Amber Heap 928-245-3963.

Saturday, July 22^nd

5K or 1 mile Run/Walk: Registration from 5:45-6:25 am at the CITY PARK. The races begin at 6:30 am. Fee is $10.00/person. Online registration at https://www.raceentry.com/races/st-johns-2017-pioneer- days-family-fun-runwalk/2017/register 
Contact RD or Cheryl Stradling 928-245-0186, Tony 928-245-2652 or Mary Jo Raykovitz 928-245-2651.

Parade: Begins at 10:00 am. Our theme is “Joy in the Journey”. Entry deadline is Thursday July 20th @ 12 noon. Family and personal floats/entries are encouraged. CASH prizes awarded. Contact Brad & Shauna Jarvis 928-245-2321 or Ben & Amy Brown 928-242-1370. Entries available at LDS church buildings, Gas n’ Go and Whitings Quick Stop. Grand Marshalls – Steve & Sharon Crosby.

Senior Rodeo: Adult Rodeo begins at 1:00 pm. Admission: $10.00 a carload or $3.00 a person. Sponsored by St. Johns Rodeo Association. Contestants admitted for free. 


Steak Fry: ST. JOHNS CITY PARK 5:00-7:00 pm. $5.00/person; steak, baked potato, salad, rolls and water. Free hot dogs for the kids with the purchase of a dinner. Contact Tony & Wendy Lindsey 480-319-3110 or Byron & Cassidy Wahl 928-245-2008.

Family Dance: COUNTY FAIR BUILDING (BUB) 8:30-11:30 pm. Admission age 4 and under free, $5.00/person or $20/family. (LDS dress standards: no tank tops, no bare midriffs, no miniskirts and no shorts). Contact Peter & Jaymi Cox 928-892-9448 or Klint & Amber Heap 928-245-3963.

Sunday, July 23rd

Sacrament Meetings: 10:00-11:30am

Stake Center: Lyman, Grover’s Hill, Meadows & Concho 


Downtown Chapel: Little Colorado & Salem 


Registration for All Rodeos: MONDAY ONLY July 17th from 4:00-8:00 pm.

County Fair Grounds metal building (BUB)
Entry fees must be paid in CASH (Pricing on separate flyer & website) No checks or credit/debit cards - NO REFUNDS

Chairpersons Wyatt 208-227-4710 and Holly Smith 928-245-2614, Tyler Raban 480-313-2391 and Kyrie Foster 928-551-1693

Happy Canada Day!

This is the Royal Union Flag used in the early 1800's when Orpha's British-Canadian ancestors lived in Ontario. They lived mostly in or near the town of Perth (just above the Highway 7 marker on the right hand side of the map).

Important Family Dates for July

Here are the dates that are important to the family in the month of July:

1: Canada Day
6: Nathan died (1965)
8: Irvin was born (1904)
14: Jim married Mary Francis Hinge (1921)
      Irvin died (1945)
24: Pioneer Day (The St. Johns Stake is hosting the 138th annual Pioneer Days week-long celebration. Get more information here https://stjohnspioneerdays.files.wordpress.com/2016/07/24th-of-july-flyer1-2017bw.pdf or at sjpioneerdays.com.)
25: Kate was born (1899)
      Orpha died (1944)
28: Leland married Alice Geneva Crosby (1930)

A Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith

Harris Greer did not leave us any personal writings about his life. Most of what we know about what a great man he was--highly respected, strictly honest, reliable, full of integrity, devoted public servant, tender father--we learn from what others have written about him. But nothing is mentioned about his testimony of the Gospel and devotion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We get a glimpse of this, however, from something his son Jim wrote:

     I remember that when [Father] came to California, to visit me, how much I enjoyed having him.
     He talked about the good things that were in store for me, if I would become interested and work
     in it, and of what a wonderful man Joseph Smith was. I will always remember the love and
     counsel he gave me then.

Today is the 173rd anniversary of the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Harris must have had a great love for him. Some of that may have been passed down from his parents--especially his mother, who was personally acquainted with the Prophet [see the post on this blog from June 27, 2013]--but it also had to have been something that he developed deep in his heart on his own. I think he would want us to know that today.