I was born in the two-room
house on the 20 acre farm at the southwest corner of Stapley and
Broadway in Mesa, the fourth child of Barbara and John Seymour. I
was three when we moved to the Lamb Ranch.
My first five years of school were in Mesa, then in 1915 we moved to
the ranch south of Gilbert and I started school there. Dad had a
large dairy, 40 to 60 cows, so when I was in the eighth grade, I was
milking ten cows every night and morning and riding my little mare
to school with neither saddle nor bridle.
My eighth and ninth grade years I went to Chandler. I started at
Tempe Normal in 1921 and in 1923 graduated and began teaching in
Ocotillo. I married Paul Crandall in 1924. Paul rented an 80-acre
farm from George Lewis for two years, but the farm depression was
severe and he went broke both years. Paul held down various
jobs
during the depression— drove an ice truck, Mesa city street
sprinkler, fuel and feed sales, bought a service station, delivered
Union Oil, supervised county highways and then went back to farming,
his true love, with his brother Lee.
I held church positions from 12 years of age when I was secretary of
the Primary. I taught various classes then was called to the Primary
Stake Board before I was married, where I served for 20 years,
ending as Stake President. I had one daughter and five sons during
those years.
In 1943 I went back to teaching to help out for a year or so during
World War II. I retired 27 years later. During this time I was MIA
president six years, Junior Gleaner teacher six years, and Genealogy
director for five years. I then directed travel tours for nine
years. Paul served in the bishopric of Mesa First Ward for 13 years.
In 1952 our fourth son, Charles, died of Hodgkins’ Disease, and in
1971 Don was killed in an auto accident in California.
We had served as ordained Temple workers for five years then we were
called to the Tulsa, Oklahoma Mission in December 1979. Paul
developed high blood pressure, so we were released after one year.
He developed prostate cancer five years later and died August 26,
1987.
We have 19 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. I am 92 years
old, and have been a Relief Society visiting teacher since I retired
from school teaching. My four living children come to my home for
lunch every Tuesday, a great delight to all of us.
|