Verla May Cook-Life Sketch Part One

Life Sketch of Verla May Cook 

Written by Herself - 1961
Thanks to her son, Veldon Hix for sharing this.

1915-1999

My father, James Edward Cook, was born 11 May 1881 at Aurora, Sevier County, Utah.  My mother, Christine Magdalena Buchmiller, was born 5 August 1885 at Rexburg, Madison, County, Idaho.  They were married 16 November 1904 in the Logan LDS Temple in Logan, Utah. 

Lena and Ed Cook

My father went on a mission to California 28 December 1938 and served until 28 February 1939, when he was called home because of the death of a son, Vergil Nelson Cook.  He departed again, taking mother with him 19 December 1939 and returned home 1 April 1940.  He filled a stake mission for Rigby Stake 17 November 1940 until December 1941, or for 14 months.  He and mother served again as stake missionaries from 25 September 1951 to 25 October 1953.

They reared twelve children, all living except one, who died after he had grown to manhood and had been married only 6 months.  My mother is still living and my father passed away 20 October 1960.  My brothers and sisters are: Agnes Levin, Edna Ririe, Carl James Cook, Cleo Earl Cook, Vendetta Wilson, myself, Vergil Nelson Cook, Lila Devera Christensen, Leora Fugal, Reva Maas, Melba Maas, and Theola Simmons.

Seated: Agnes,(insert Vergil) James Edward, Christina Magdalena, Edna

Standing: Cleo, Melba, Reva, Vendetta, Leora, Theola, Lila, Verla, Carl

I was born 24 March 1915 at Taylorville, Bonneville County, Idaho on a dry farm.  I was blessed 6 June 1915 by William Priest.   While just a baby, our house caught fire while my parents were away at church.  My oldest sisters got us all out safely, but we had to live in a granary the rest of the winter. 

 I moved with my family from Taylorville to Shelley, Idaho and from there to Woodville, Idaho, where I began my first year of school.  We lived here in a large house with a big orchard on the place.  My folks stored a lot of apples in bins in the basement and in the winter several times the Indians came to buy some of the apples.  My brother, just younger than I (Vergil) and I were afraid of them and would hide under the table.  They would try to make friends with us and coax us to come out by offering us candy.  We finally made friends with them and got brave enough that when we saw them coming down the road we would go out to the gate and wait for them.  This made them very happy.

Just before my first year of school was over we moved to Ucon, Idaho.  I was ahead of my class in school so my teacher (Miss Olsen) promoted me to the second grade and I didn=t have to go to school anymore that year.