A Tribute to May Thorson by Vard Roper

EXCERPTS FROM A TRIBUTE TO MAY THORSON

GIVEN AT HER FUNERAL AUGUST 29, 1972

BY VARD A ROPER

On August 6, 1896, .... a girl [was] born to Everett Milo Curtis and Sarah Ellen Draper Curtis whom they named Sarah May. She was born in Aurora where she has returned several times in her search for genealogy.

(CORRECTION: SARAH MAY WAS BORN TO SARAH ELLEN DRAPER AND RALPH CAMPBELL MCFADYEN ON THE 5l1i OF AUGUST 1896. ANOTHER CHILD, RALPH, WAS BORN 3RD JULY 1898 AFTER THE DEATH OF THEIR FATHER, RALPH CAMPBELL MCFADYEN 7 DEC 1897.


ON 15l1i NOVEMBER 1899 SARAH ELLEN DRAPER WAS MARRIED TO EVERT MILO CURTIS IN THE MANTI TEMPLE. THE TWO CHILDREN WERE SEALED TO THEM 11 DECEMBER 1908 IN THE MANTI TEMPLE (REF L H 5085-5086 170495 BOOK F P. 28).


Through her efforts the Thorson line was begun, showing her great concern for her loved ones over her own individual being. This was the genealogy of her husband whom she admired greatly and helped establish this love in her children. He died on July 6, 1954, still she was the strong supporter of this work. Only until a few weeks prior to this day did she mention that she wished more of her own line was complete. This was an important work in her life. Just a day or two ago while she was in bed and quite immobile she would take out her book when she couldn't sleep at night and with the aid of a flashlight go from cover to cover.


Above all came her children and posterity in controlling her actions throughout her life. Early in her life her family moved to Blue Valley Wayne County. This part of her history is a little bit sketchy, but I sure enjoyed some of her stories from that period. The floods finally drove them. back to Aurora. She said "The floods would come down and wash out an apple tree or two, and then another flood would wash out one or two more."

They had to go to Aurora for supplies. On one trip they took for lunch a large box of fresh baked cookies. They also carried coal-oil for lights and in some cases to start fires with. When they reached the Grand Wash, now in the Capitol Reef National Park, they would run their horses through and back on high ground. They settled down for lunch, and found the coal-oil and cookies mixed. So on to Aurora without anything to eat.

After about three years they moved back to Aurora.

She married Joseph Thorson on April 7, 1915 which was later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple.

While in Aurora they had two girls born to them.

Her husband took a job with the Inland Crystal Salt Co. in 1918 forcing them to move to the townsite of Salt Air. family history we made a trip out there. The buildings were all gone but she still located very closely on which remaining foundation her home stood. While living at Salt Air another daughter was born.

Shortly after Iona and I were married we would pick up Mamma and take her on these small trips. It started out as a search for genealogy but later it became one of her chief means of entertainment. She told me on one trip, "I sure like to go with you because you don't stop to fish."

In 1921 they moved to 557 East 400 South in Provo where they lived ever since. At this address the rest of the family was born and raised.

In the year 1947 I met one of her daughters who I learned to love and later married. This might not seem significant in the synopsis of Mrs. Sarah May Thorson's life but is was a definite spiritual experience in mine. I not only learned to love her daughter but I was absorbed in the radiation of love this remarkable person gave. Though this power I learned to love her as well as all of her children as though I was one of them.

Associating with May, friends as well as family quickly recognized the unselfish character she possessed. On any occasion when you were troubled or feeling low a short discussion with her and your spirit was immediately lifted.

Living as close to her as I have and having almost daily contact with her I can say she has shed a tear with every one of her children when they did and laughed with them when they laughed. It mattered not whether they lived across the street or around the world. Each of her children's troubles was felt very heavily in her own heart. In the same aspect each of their accomplishments or even themselves was a great pride to her.

One of the most beautiful things about this relationship is that each of her children reciprocated the same feeling to her as well as to each of their own children.

One instance among many with all her children whether they be son-in-law, daughter-in-¬law, or grandchild was on the evening of her death. Iona had come home that morning from surgery on her eye. Mama had been in great pain for several days and was very tired but before going to bed she had to call Iona to find out how she felt and if there was anything she could do.

As well as being greatly concerned with all her family she was very appreciative of all you could do for her. I do not know of any instance she failed to say, "Thank You," and sincerely mean it.

The only thing that came close to her family in importance was the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This woman had a testimony of Jesus Christ that radiated from her being.

Her life, however, was not all serious. She maintained a sense of humor, appreciation, and a little adventure right up to her death. A day before she died she fell and told Myrt the next day she sure had a "bummer." Or picture two women in their 60's in the back of an old pickup truck covered with dust, and even hanging on their eyebrows and eyelashes. That was Mama and Mrs. Burgi, a neighbor after a ride with us.

Her garden was known throughout Provo and this was as dear to her as anything physical could be. If you wanted to bring a twinkle to her eye just go out and pull a few weeds, trim a bush, or plant a flower without her asking.

When she was able she looked for a new road to follow, some new place to visit. Nothing tangible much, sometimes a bunch of colored leaves, a bucket full of canyon soil or just an odd shaped rock.

All this was wonderful to her but it all came to a stop when some of her children came to visit. Fast Sunday it was; "Mama lets go somewhere or do something. And the answer was always, "Not until Joe comes and leaves" and he always did. When one of the kids came to see her there was always a week of cleaning and trimming.

She came, proved herself: and now returned to her loved ones who have passed on to welcome her there. Can you imagine the joy of a mother of this magnitude meeting a daughter she has not seen for 45 years, or seeing a husband who has shared her love and helped to establish this lineage on earth. Better than that, imagine, if you can, the joy she must feel when the Lord says to her "Well Done."