My maternal grandparents, Floyd and Helen Navive Lamoreaux Palmer, were also great people. My memories of my grandmother are of a busy, determined woman who could work harder and faster than anyone around her. She was a survivor. When she was just a young girl, her mother died right after childbirth, leaving behind a family of small children. Grandma had one other sister and they had to take turns staying home to help run the household and help with their younger siblings and to cook for the older brothers. When it wasn’t their turn to help, they would go live with different aunts. Some of them were loving and kind, treating them like one of their own, but one of the aunts resented having another mouth to feed and the added responsibility. It was a miserable time for young Helen.
Grandma recalled how excited she was when she and grandpa got their first little house. She made it cozy and clean. She could whip up a meal, an outfit, or any project with little or no money. (When she would visit she would always put together a great stew using the things she would find in the refrigerator.) She always sewed for all of us and insisted that we look neat and tidy (not always a fun thing when you are a young tom boy who liked playing outside), but she loved her family. She always looked out for anyone considered an underdog.
Floyd was a craftsman and a protector. He seemed determined to keep his grandchildren safe on the farm. He boarded up an old well to prevent any of us from falling in, and he also added three much needed bedrooms to our little house. He worked as a carpenter and served as a Justice of The Peace for many years, too.
One of his loves was fishing. Not only did he like to catch fresh trout in the canyons near Preston, but he loved frying them up to eat. He was a pretty good cook. He also loved to garden and spent many hours growing beautiful produce which he loved to share.
They only had two children, but they were great role models and loving parents.
JoAnn
