My Favorite Ancestor

This is the essay I wrote that won first place. Enjoy! "Remember the tomatoes." - Dorothy Darl Quayle Frederiskson Dorothy Darl Quayle was born April 5, 1913. She was born at 1819 So. West Temple, weight: 7 1/2 pounds, time: 8:03 A.M. She was the first child and daughter to Ralph and Darl Quayle. Her Mother wanted to name her "Helen Maurine" but her Grandfather McGhie thought that that name sounded Danish. Finally her Father's cousin, Sarah Quayle, came up with "Dorothy Darl"_she always loved her name. She had five kids, two boys and three girls. I never knew her because she died when my Mom was just a kid. However, I think she must have been a really great lady. In 1915, Dorothy's home burned down when they were at their Grandma McGhie's house. The girl who came to help her Mother left the iron on when she went home. In those days irons just kept getting hotter and hotter. The home burned to the ground, and the Fire Department just sat and watched it burn because they were just 14 rods outside the city limits.This seemed to be the beginning of a run of hard luck for her mom and dad. Her dad had one job after another, but he always seemed to lean more towards railroading. In 1918, Dorothy's 2-year old little brother, Bobby, developed a bad case of croup. They boarded a train on their way to Lima. At the Utah border the train stopped, and two men got on. They then proceeded to go through everyone's luggage. When they got to Dorothy's family's car her mother was have quite a struggle with Bobby in one of his coughing spells. Her sweet, unsuspecting mother said to the man who was going through the suitcase of the people in back of them. "What's the matter? You lost something" Then he said, "No lady, we're looking for something." Just then, Bobby started coughing again and the man said, "But' with those two kids, you wouldn't have what we're after. We won't bother you, lady!" Their suitcases were the only ones that weren't searched. Then there was the crochet hook episode. Her mother belonged to a sewing club and she usually took Dorothy with her and she always, very proudly, carried her sewing for her. She put her crocheting in Dorothy's arms, and they were off to her club. When they arrived she started to take the crocheting from her and it wouldn't budge. The crochet hook was embedded in her belly-button! They had to have a doctor remove it. When I heard this story I couldn't believe it. One day when Dorothy went to Paul's (her boyfriend) home for their 5 P.M. meeting, he was really excited and bursting with news. He told her that he had arranged to have one of the boys he worked with work for him on July 9, 1931, and for her to wear her best bib and tucker because he was taking her to Saltair! That was the place to go in those days. All the big bands went there. He said they were double dating with Clary Johnston and Glennis Quigley. The day finally came and they so excited. Dorothy's house was bubbling with activity when Paul came to pick her up. Paul said he wanted to see her alone somewhere. The only available, empty room was their bathroom, so they went inside and closed the door. They were talking when suddenly he slipped a ring on her third finger, left hand. On the inside on the ring was the inscription: P to D_ 7-9-31. One day the phone rang, it was Paul and he said excitedly, "One of the guys called in sick and the only way they can juggle the schedule and come out even is for me to have the tonight off!" They were so excited and he said, "We've just got to do something special;" and she said jokingly, "We could get married." He said, "We could, let's do it!." So it was decided, Dorothy was to go to Hubbard-Denn and pick up her wedding ring (Paul had gotten it when he got her engagement ring.) He said he would call Bishop Quayle Cannon in Bountiful and make the arrangements. In those days you weren't required to have a blood test. Bishop Cannon was also the town clerk in Bountiful, Utah. At that time the 'depression' was so bad no one was having a wedding, everyone was eloping. Paul called Johnny Kimball of course, and told him to get a date, told him about their plans, and at 7 P.M. he came to pick Dorothy up. Bishop Cannon gave a beautiful ceremony and they were on Cloud 9. Dorothy and Paul had five children. Their names were Ron, Darl, Jan, Becky, and Steve. All of them are currently alive and well. I am related to Dorothy through Becky. Becky is my grandma on my mom's side. Dorothy died on December 10, 1993. She died of breast cancer and probably old age. I can really relate to her and I think that she was a really, great lady.