 1897 - 1973 (75 years) Submit Photo / Document
Has no ancestors but 4 descendants in this family tree.
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| Name |
Gladys Haws |
| Birth |
8 Nov 1897 |
Colonia Juárez, Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, México  |
| Gender |
Female |
| Initiatory (LDS) |
1 Oct 1915 |
SLAKE |
| FamilySearch ID |
KWJK-3SZ |
| Death |
24 Mar 1973 |
Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona, United States |
| Burial |
27 Mar 1973 |
Pima Cemetery, Graham, Arizona, United States |
| Headstones |
 Submit Headstone Photo |
| Person ID |
I161536 |
mytree |
| Last Modified |
25 Feb 2024 |
| Family |
Charles Roseberry Rogers, b. 2 Dec 1888, Pima, Graham, Arizona, United States d. 15 Jan 1970, Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona, United States (Age 81 years) |
| Marriage |
1 Oct 1915 |
Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States |
| Children |
| | 1. Walter Charles Rogers, b. 16 Sep 1916, Pima, Graham, Arizona, United States d. 30 Nov 2008, Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona, United States (Age 92 years) |
| | 2. Clara Rogers, b. 1 Feb 1920, Pima, Graham, Arizona, United States d. 10 May 2005, Show Low, Navajo, Arizona, United States (Age 85 years) |
| | 3. Della Rogers, b. 18 May 1922, Pima, Graham, Arizona, United States d. 12 Aug 2004, Pinetop, Navajo, Arizona, United States (Age 82 years) |
| | 4. Chloe Rogers, b. 26 May 1926, Pima, Graham, Arizona, United States d. 20 Aug 2015, Littleton, Arapahoe, Colorado, United States (Age 89 years) |
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| Family ID |
F41099 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Last Modified |
21 Apr 2024 |
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| Event Map |
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 | Birth - 8 Nov 1897 - Colonia Juárez, Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, México |
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 | Initiatory (LDS) - 1 Oct 1915 - SLAKE |
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 | Marriage - 1 Oct 1915 - Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States |
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 | Death - 24 Mar 1973 - Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona, United States |
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 | Burial - 27 Mar 1973 - Pima Cemetery, Graham, Arizona, United States |
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| Notes |
- Obituary:
Gladys Haws Rogers was born 8 November 1897 at Colonia Juarez, Chihuahu a , Mexico; she was the third daughter and fifth child of Susan Ann Cluf f a nd George Martin Haws. Her parents were living in Mexico at the tim e bec ause of polygamy persecutions in the States. Her father had thre e wives , and her mother (Susan Ann) was the second wife; the first wif e was Jose phine, an older sister to Susan Ann, and the third wife was Et ta Wall .
When Gladys was three years old her father was called to be Bishop of t h e Chuichupa (or “Chupie”) ward up in the mountains. It took three day s t o make the trip from Juarez by wagon, and she remembers camping and s ingi ng songs such as “In Our Lovely Deseret” as they traveled over the b ump y roads.
This from a Roseberry Messenger (family newsletter), but I thought may b e applicable: Chuichupa – 80 miles from Colonia Juarez. They walked b eh ind their loaded wagons and were on a constant lookout for Indians. A fte r several days they arrived at Chuichupa and found it to be a very pl easa nt place with lots of tall trees, wild flowers, and lots of grass . Thei r livestock did very well here. Some of their supplies had to b e haule d from Colonia Juarez. The Indians often would build fires on th e mounta in tops nearby, causing great concern to the family. However, t hey neve r were molested.
They lived in a little log room where they slept, ate, and kept war m b y a big fireplace. Wood was plentiful as they lived in a little vall ey s urrounded by a pine forest.
From her own writings: Many things happened I remember in Chuichupa su c h as the mad dog, Father taking the ward on an Easter picnic, taking Fa th er’s dinner to him at the shingle mill and Mama had a baked potato tha t h ad been mashed, put back and browned, a ward outing at North Creek wh en P res. Ivins and other officers were visiting, the time we went to se e wher e the cyclone had twisted big trees off at different lengths…
They lived in the mountains about five years, and those were hard year s s o far away from the more populated areas of Juarez. A saw mill was i n th e area and a shingle factory where people worked to earn some money . Sh e remembers the kids carrying the shingles to her father who woul d packag e them into bundles… She didn’t have much schooling while livin g in Chup ie, but she does remember going to school in the one big room w hich als o served as the church house… She remembers when she and her br other Gle nn had the scarlet fever, that the cousins and other kids in th e town wal ked by the window to say “hello” to them. Aunt Josephine (he r father’s f irst wife, as well as an older sister to Susan Ann) was th e community doc tor; at least she seemed to be the one who was called whe n illness was ar ound.
One summer there was a water shortage, and the men put a large water b o x on a wagon and carried water from North Creek… She remembers her mot he r planted her garden as usual that summer, but in order to irrigate i t sh e would have to irrigate at night. The water would be turned down o ne ro w, then her mother would go to the end of that row, spread her blan ket o n the ground and lie down to rest; when she felt the water touch he r han d that was placed in the row, she would get up and change the wate r to th e next row – and so on through the night… Gladys remembers a war d picni c at North Creek where many of the children were going wading an d playin g in the water. She didn’t have a swim suit or any extra clothi ng to sub stitute for a swim suit, so some of the ladies took off their a prons an d pinned them around and on her so she could have something in w hich to s wim!
The “mad dog” scare was very vivid in her memory. One summer it was rep o rted that a mad dog was in the woods near their little town, so everyo n e chained their dogs so they wouldn’t wander off. One evening the fear e d cry came: “Mad dog! Mad dog!” And they knew that the mad dog had fin al ly ventured into the town and was coming down the street! Dave, a hal f-b rother, was in the corral and ran to the outhouse for protection. Th e ch ildren were alone in the house, and her brother Albert, although sic k a t the time, got up and shut the kitchen door first because that’s whe re t he younger children were playing; then he hurried and shut the fron t doo r just as the mad dog came upon the front porch. They heard him fi ghtin g with their own dog before he moved on down the street. The nex t nigh t a man killed the mad dog; but she said everyone surely was frigh tened b y the mad dog. Chloe reports this version: It had a fight with t heir do g under the corral fence. Uncle Dave and Uncle Ernest were on th e fenc e above. The mad dog was killed, and they took their swing down t o tie u p their own dog to see what his outcome would be.
When they lived in the mountains Grandma wrapped their feet in burla p s o they could play in the snow. They would gather the snow and pack i t un der the pine trees and cover it so they could make ice cream. Som e sno w would be put in a glass or a cup, then sugar sprinkled over it, a nd som e flavoring added. After stirring it all together, they would ea t thei r ice cream; if they wanted more, they would go through the same p rocess . Each person made his own and fixed it as he wanted it. The win ter sea son was the only time they had ice cream! Sometimes they would a dd flavo ring and sugar to milk, put it in a metal container and set it o utside fo r a length of time until it had frozen to their desired consist ency, the n they’d eat it.
Colonia Juarez is situated in a narrow valley about ¾ mile wide, bound e d by bluffs which vary in height from 100 to 200 feet; the townsite i s la id out in regular blocks, the streets crossing each other at right a ngles ; but instead of following the cardinal points of the compass, th e longe r streets run parallel with the valley and the river from northwe st to so utheast.
A stranger sighting the town for the first time from the brow of the hi l l is surprised. The green trees … and most homes … are a startling con tr ast from the surrounding desert and rocky hillsides, the dusty roads , mes quite, sand, and chaparral. To those who once lived there but left , it i s an unforgettable spot, remembered as a symbol of peacefulness, o f neigh borliness, and of unity…
All three families moved back to Juarez in 1905 as the older children co u ld attend high school there. Gladys was baptized in the river by the s wi nging bridge on November 4th, 1905 by John C. Harper, and confirmed th e n ext day by Joseph C. Bentley. After living in Juarez a while, they m ove d to Guadalupe where they lived for two years.
While living there, her half-brother Dave, who had had his feet froze n i n the snow during the winter in Juarez, came to their home to recuper ate . He was such a tease, and one day he teased the family goat and go t i t to chasing Gladys. Several times she ran around the house trying t o ge t rid of that goat, but it was always behind her. Finally she ran i n th e house and jumped up on the kitchen table, but that ole goat came i n th e house, too, and put his front feet on the table edge trying very h ard t o get on the table with Gladys. She was happy when her mother fina lly ch ased the goat outside.
In Juarez her father owned the whole block for his three families, wit h t he houses in a row on the street – one on the corner, one in the midd le , and the third house on the other corner – with the backyards of th e hou ses used for gardens, barns, corrals, etc.
Remembering Juarez: The children would play on the river bank with sard i ne cans as wagons, and spools or bottles as horses… When she went to h av e her feet measured for shoes, they laughed at her for having such lar g e feet. . . They would gather the ice that formed on the willow tree s a s it froze from water from the power plant that fell on the trees; th en p acked it in sawdust to use for ice cream later…
She went through life with a crooked nose, the result of an accident wh e n she was quite small. She got her head caught between the wagon whee l a nd the wagon box and broke her nose, among other injuries, and she re memb ers Aunt Josephine and her father putting wet cloths on her head.
Grandma Haws dried wagon loads of apples in Mexico on shares. Grandma w o uld run the peeler, and the kids would core and slice… There were ver y f ew glass bottling jars, so fruit was canned in 5 gallon cans (lik e a hone y can). A man there fixed the can lids so they could be seale d with resi n. After the bottles would come empty, Grandma would ope n a can of fruit , reheat the fruit, then re-seal it in the bottles.
During fruit and vegetable harvest, she worked at the cannery. They wou l d urge the cannery supervisor to can tomatoes on Saturday so their han d s would be nice and white for the dance that night, instead of being st ai ned if other vegetables were worked on that day. She has mentioned ma n y times that she would rather dance than eat!
At the dances when the “round dances” were becoming so popular (instea d o f the square-dance type), it was a rule set by the Church authoritie s tha t “you had to see daylight between the boy and girl”. In other wor ds, th e boy couldn’t hold the girl too close to him – and they had one o f the b rethren on duty to enforce the rule!
Only one time does Gladys remember her father talking crossly to her. S h e relates she wanted to go somewhere with her girl friends, and her mot he r said to ask her father, so she went to look for him. She saw him co min g from Aunt Josephine’s house, and then into Aunt Etta’s house, and t he n into her mother’s house, and then go to the woodpile and chop wood v igo rously. She went to ask him if she could go with the girls, and he s aid , “I don’t care what you do!”
The girls always had a new white dress for May Day… In “hard times” a d e licacy was parched corn and molasses candy for party refreshments…
One day at school one of the boys in her class had brought some eggs t o s chool with him, for he planned to take them to the store after schoo l an d buy some candy. During the day, though, one egg rolled from his d esk a nd broke as it hit the floor. The boy just scooped it up (the ra w egg) w ith his hands and ate it right there with all the children aroun d!
From Chloe: The year they got just a handkerchief for Christmas, Aunt J o sephine’s girls each received a set of china dishes. Grandma was so hu r t and disappointed, that she promised her girls that if the time ever c am e that she was able, she would get her girls some china dishes. Mam a wa s 14 years old when she was given hers. Mama gave these dishes to m e yea rs later, after we girls had used them for “tea parties.” A coupl e of th e cups are gone, and there are broken handles and chips. I cheri sh them . We girls used to play with them, but I wouldn’t even let my bo ys hardl y touch them.
When Mama was a little girl living in Mexico, Grandma combed her hai r i n four braids. You know, two on each side on the top braided into th e tw o pigtails on the bottom. Two of her brothers (it seems that she me ntion ed Walter and Dave) were playing barber shop one day and cut Mama’ s hai r – cutting all four braids off. Mama proudly carried her treasur e in he r apron to the house to show a horrified mother!
While they were in Mexico (I don’t know which place) one of their calv e s bloated and died. Some Mexicans came by and wanted the calf, so it w a s given to them. The next day the Mexicans were back selling hot tamale s.
From her own life story, Gladys tells these things: “Times were hard, a n d I remember my Mother just browning flour in the skillet then adding w at er to make gravy because they didn’t have or couldn’t spare any greas e o r drippings to start the gravy.
“I was baptized in the Juarez River down by the swinging bridge below Ha r pers. Brother Harper baptized eight of us. Bishop Bentley confirmed u s.
“We had to make our own amusement, and many times we would go up the riv e r for a picnic with bread and onion tops, and how wonderful it was.
“When I was in the second grade, my brother George was the principal o f t he elementary school in Juarez. For some reason that I don’t remembe r no w, some of us girls were sent to the principal’s office. I do remem ber h ow embarrassed I was to leave the room with the other children snic kerin g at us, and climb the stairs to his office in the tower of the re d bric k building.
“One year for Christmas all we had in the way of gifts was a handkerchi e f and a box of oranges which someone had brought to us after a trip t o th e States. What a treat it was!
“I remember the first automobile that chugged into Juarez. Everyone rus h ed into the street to see what the noise was.
“Once when Grandma Cluff was ill, Mother took Cula, Georgia and Wallac e a nd went to Pima to help care for her. Later Father went to Douglas t o he lp make a road with his big team of mules.
“He took Annie, Ernest, Glenn and myself with him. He left Colonia Juar e z late Thursday evening, because of a Friday superstition, so as not t o s tart a journey on Friday that he could not finish on Friday. One eve nin g just as it was getting dark, driving along some low hills with bi g rock s on them, we saw crows everywhere. I thought all the crows in th e worl d must have been covering those rocks. Father was so good and kin d to us , and we would sing as we traveled along. I also made a spool ro pe for W allace while traveling along.
“One evening when it was time to make camp, the wind was blowing a lo t o f sand. Father drove the wagon along the top of a dry wash. We pu t th e canvas from the wagon box to the ground. When we made a fire to g et su pper. The thing I remember most was the scrambled eggs peppered wi th dus t or sand; but it was good.
“Before getting to Morales or Oaxaca we went down a long dugway. We chi l dren walked or hurried down. I was real warm. On reaching the bott o m I drank a lot of cool water from the creek which made me dizzy and si ck . Here my Father was so gentle to me. That night Annie says we campe d a t Haynie’s.
“When we got to Douglas we camped in someone’s back yard until arrangeme n ts could be made for leaving Ernest there with the mules. Father rent e d a light wagon to make the trip to Pima to take us children.
“The water was so different, and it was hot. I thought I would choke , s o Father got some water from the lady of the house for me. Either i t wa s cold or different from the well water. He took us to a show one e venin g and bought us popcorn to eat after the show.
“One morning early we started for Pima, with the light wagon and light l o ad. We sailed along. As I remember we camped one night. I cannot rem em ber any cross words from Father, just grand to us all. I will alway s che rish the occasion of our company with him. As we passed through Pe arce t he wind had just blown down a large frame house. We went in a bi g tent h ouse in Willcox and had a meal. It seems as if it was a railroa d camp.
“In the evening out from Willcox the little prairie dogs were out barki n g at us. With his long black whip Father reached out and pulled one d o g from its hole, so he caught it for us. I don’t remember what we di d wi th it. When we got to Artesia, a stream of water looked so good. O h, bu t the taste and warmth were bad and hot. Annie says a man wouldn’ t let F ather water the mules; he was afraid Father was a squatter.
“We were getting real excited as we reached Safford, Thatcher, and Centr a l. From then on we could hardly stay with the wagon. How happy we we r e to see Mother and our little brother and sisters again.
“After the road job at Douglas was finished Father came back to Pima, a n d went to Mt. Graham where Father logged with the mules; and we had a g lo rious summer. There was no road, so we rode the mules up the mountai n . One Sunday Father put us all on the mules and we went to High Peak . L illian Cluff rode with me; Aunt Sarah Cluff was cooking for the mil l hand s.
“We were riding mules one time during a storm. We were going under a wi r e when the lightning struck and shocked the mules and threw us off.
“Father sold the mules and we all went home to Juarez on the train. Ev e n stayed in a hotel in El Paso. Again I had a close companionship wi t h a wonderful Father.” [end of excerpt]
It wasn’t long until the Mexican soldiers and the Mexican renegades star t ed fighting. Sometimes they would steal the cattle, or fruit, or whate ve r was handy that they needed and could carry away. The people in Juar e z and surrounding areas were becoming quite frightened. One day the so ld iers came marching through the town while the children were in school , an d they rushed to the windows to watch them.
Finally it was decided that the Mormon people should leave Mexico – on l y temporarily, they thought. It was in the summer of 1912, and Glady s wa s only 14 years old. Her Mother, again, was visiting in Pima and wa s no t at home. Annie, the older sister, packed the trunk, for they coul dn’ t take anything but clothes with them, then she put the dishes in a t ub a nd put the tub under the floor boards of the house.
Gladys’ mother writes this about the Exodus: “They had to leave with ju s t their suitcases. My children took some of my dishes and put the m i n a tub under the floor, so when Anna went back into Mexico she broug ht t hem out, and George (Gladys’ father) went back in and shipped my tru nk an d mattress out, and this was all we had left to start another hom e with.”
They went to Pearson and got on the train, and they traveled all nigh t . There were no lights on the train, and the babies were crying, and t h e mothers couldn’t find the things they needed in the dark. The trai n mo ved so slowly that the bigger boys would run along side the train, j ust t o have something to do.
The next morning they arrived in El Paso where the customs officials dum p ed the trunk contents on a big canvas, rummaged through the pile, the n st uffed the things back in the trunk. Since they had a little money , the y were able to stay in a hotel for two or three days until it was d ecide d where they could go. For those people who didn’t have money or d idn’ t know where to go to start a new life, a lumber yard was their temp orar y living quarters. People would come and peek through the fence cra cks t o see the Mormons and their horns. Just the women and children cam e at t his time; the men remained in Juarez a bit longer, but came out o f Mexic o within a few weeks.
Gladys and her brothers and sisters went to Pima on the train. They liv e d with their Grandma Cluff for a while, and at Weech’s chicken far m i n a converted chicken house. Her own mother had to go out and ear n a liv ing; and since Gladys was the oldest one at home now (Annie and A lbert bo th had married), she was left in charge of the four younger chil dren. He r mother worked as a cook at hotels and mines in Safford and Kl ondyke, an d Gladys and the children did the best they could. One time t hey even ha d to move from one house to another by themselves. And for T hanksgivin g one year, the only thing they had to eat in the way of a fes tive holida y food was one-half of a pumpkin pie that an aunt sent to the m!
She washed dishes for a lady once a day. The lady never washed a dish , b ut would leave them stacked all day long, and Gladys would go in an d clea n them all up for 10 cents.
Grandma Haws writes this: “Anna and I worked at the Olive Hotel, an d a t first the other children lived with Albert and Alice and some wit h Oliv e. The next winter we lived in Thatcher, then Gladys and I worke d in th e hotel. Then the children lived in the Follett home while I wen t to Glo be to nurse Edith Eyring. I was there longer than I expected t o be. Whi le I was gone the children had to move. Gladys was the oldes t at home s o she had the responsibility of the other children; so the ch ildren had i t hard, as well as I did.
“My mother gave me a lot in Pima. My brothers moved a little two-room h o use down from the hotel in Safford. This was our first home in Pima . I t was made of rough boards (1 x 12), had no batting, and had crack s an in ch wide all around, but it was the start of a home, and I was tha nkful fo r it. Later Albert let his father have money, and he put on a l ittle kit chen and pantry, and that helped out. I took in washings, cook ed on th e thrasher, and did anything I could to earn a little money s o I would no t have to leave the children to go off to work.
“Charles and Annie moved from Mexico and rented a hotel in Solomonvill e . We all moved up there to help. Gladys and I worked for them, cooki n g and waiting on tables, and making beds. The other children washed di sh es all the summer of 1914. Then Annie and Charles lived at the home i n P ima and cared for the children while I went out to the mines to wor k as c ook in the eating house. Here I got good wages, and with George d oing th e work I had two more rooms built on. Rather than leave the chil dren an y more I took in washings. I washed every day of the week one wi nter whi le some of them went to high school in Thatcher.”
Gladys managed to go to school long enough to graduate from the 8th gra d e on May 1st, 1914. Evidently, she was a member of the basketball team .
From her own writings: “Up to this time my schooling was most nothin g . I did get through the sixth grade before the exodus in July, 1912 . Th en in Pima went to the seventh and eighth grades, graduating in 191 4 . I was the historian of the class. In the eighth grade I was the sec re tary of the Religion Class… I was put in as teacher of the little clas s i n Sunday School when I was 16.
“I met Charles R. Rogers… He went on a mission, and on his return I m e t him in Salt Lake where we were married on October 1, 1915. I went t o S alt Lake with Maude and Walter.
“When we got home we lived out on the Cottonwood Wash, then moved to a l i ttle house of two doby (adobe) rooms we built. All the girls were bor n t here. Walter was born at Mother’s home in Pima on Sept. 16, 1916 an d wa s blessed on our first wedding day. He was 16 days old. Clara, th e seco nd child was born February 1, 1920. It was Sunday, the day Reec e Green w as put in Bishop. Della was born May 18, 1922. Garna, Januar y 6, 1925 . Chloe, May 26, 1926.”
Gladys met a fine young man at a dance at the town dance hall over the t o wn store. He wanted to take her home after the dance, but he already h a d a girl with him. He solved the problem by taking the girl home earl y , then returning to the dance and escorting Gladys home! It so happen e d that Gladys’ mother was at the dance, also, and all three of them wal ke d home together – and Gladys never introduced the young man to her!
After a while this fine young man asked her to marry him, but before a n y plans could be made, he was called on a two-year mission. He asked h e r to wait for him, and she did. She met him in Salt Lake City as he re tu rned from his mission, and on October 1st, 1915, Gladys was married t o Ch arles Rogers in the Salt Lake temple.
They returned to Pima, and for a year or so they lived on the Rogers hom e stead west of Pima; then they moved to their own two-room adobe home cl os er to town. In this humble home four daughters were born; their firs t ch ild and only son was born at her mother’s home before the adobe hom e wa s built. They lived here for several years while Charles farmed a l ittle , was janitor at the school and church, became a school teacher, an d late r passed the state exam to become a lawyer.
Charles was elected as county attorney for Graham County, and the fami l y moved to Safford in the summer of 1927. He served as county attorne y f or a total of 12 years, and for the times and years that he wasn’t el ecte d, he opened his own law offices and had a thriving law practice.
During the depths of the 1933 depression Charles and Gladys started a da i ry to supplement their income. This was a “trying” time for them, an d th ey were glad when economic conditions were better and they could sel l th e dairy.
It was in Safford that her children went to school and graduated from hi g h school, went on to Gila for two years of college, and for three child re n, on to Tucson for further work at the University of Arizona, and Del l a to Tempe, years after her marriage, to graduate from ASU. Her son we n t on a mission, and each of the children married while they lived in Sa ff ord.
All through her life Gladys was active in Church positions. She was sec r etary of the Religion Class for two years at the Pima school; also w a s a Sunday School kindergarten leader for 6 years, and was released i n 19 20… In the Pima Ward she was a teacher in the Primary for ten years , an d a Relief Society visiting teacher from 1916 to 1927.
After moving to Safford she was on the Stake Primary Board for 11 year s , going to SLC one summer for the Primary conference; served two year s a s a Bee Hive teacher in the MIA; but most of her time was in the Reli ef S ociety. In the Layton Ward she served in the presidency, then whe n the w ard was divided, she served three years as president of the Saffo rd War d Relief Society.
In Phoenix she was a visiting teacher in the Capitol Ward, as well as M I A Special Interest class leader for one year. In Mesa 5th Ward she wa s w ork director, and later a counselor, then president of the Relief Soc iet y where she served from the first Sunday in 1956 to the first Sunda y in 1 957. In Mesa 11th Ward she was a Primary teacher for a year.
For at least one year, 1946-1947, (there may have been others), she w a s a member of the Safford Women’s Club; and for the October, 1946 meeti n g she served as a “tea Hostess”… She also tried the Rebeccas (the comp an ion group to the IOOF), but these groups “didn’t suit her fancy” and s h e soon dropped out.
Her civic positions centered around the PTA. She served as Safford pres i dent two years, and as Graham County president two years. She was East er n regional vice-president four years under Florence Ryan, the state pr esi dent. Gila, Graham, and Greenlee counties were her district; and i n Ma y of 1946 was a delegate to the national convention in Denver. Fo r two y ears (1948-1950) she was chairman of the state PTA’s standing com mittee o n Founders Day; Mrs. P. M. Breeding was state president. Sinc e she move d to Phoenix in December, 1948, these dates indicate that sh e was activ e in the state PTA even after moving there. (A letter date d 2 May 1949 s ays “…Lollie spent three days and nights P.T.Aing.)
She loved to cook, and as PTA president started the first hot lunch prog r am for the Safford schools… She also cooked and served banquets and di nn ers for various groups and organizations in town… Her cooking abiliti e s took her to the mountains for eight summers where she cooked at the B o y Scout camps at Mt. Graham (near Safford), as well as Hannegan’s Mead o w near Clifton. She was made an honorary Life Scout of the 3-G Counci l ( with headquarters in Safford) by Mr. Robert Perrin. Even after movin g t o Phoenix and Mesa she was asked to return and cook for the Scouts . Th e Scout executives for whom she worked were Al Quist, Bob Perrin, a nd Har old Paulsen.
As Relief Society president in Safford she worked hard to help finish t h e Safford Ward building. They had the usual kinds of fund-raising even ts : bazaars, food sales, etc., and the ladies cooked and served dinner s a nd luncheons, among them the Rotary noon luncheon twice each month … Wit h some of the money they purchased a large painting of Christ to h ang i n the front of the chapel (on the wall back of the choir seats), an d a s a special gesture, a small reproduction of the picture was given t o he r to keep. Clara now has the small picture… Another thing was th e plant ing of some trees and shrubs to help beautify the front of the bu ilding.
The Relief Society room was finished and furnished, and the dishes and s i lver for the kitchen were purchased during the time Gladys was presiden t.
All events and activities for the July 24th celebration in the summe r o f ____ were sponsored by the Safford Ward in an all-out effort to ge t fun ds to finish their building. Everyone helped, and Bishop Owens ass igne d the Relief Society to be responsible for a “program” after the mor nin g parade. As the Relief Society president, Gladys directed their eff ort s toward an outdoor pageant on the high school football field, wherei n th e story of the founding of the Church, coming across the plains an d settl ing in Utah was told briefly through songs and dances and narrati on.
A bit ago when I was visiting with Chloe I wondered out loud about wha t t he folks may have done, or how they may have helped with the World Wa r I I effort in the Safford area. Later she sent the following: “I chec ke d my 4-H book, and in it was mentioned that in 1942 the government sen t i n a whole train load of people to pick cotton, and that I had helpe d Mam a as Relief Society president and the Relief Society sew 50 mattres s tick ings. I guess they were stuffed with cotton from the fields, or m aybe st raw; they were full size. We made 100 cotton-picking sacks… An d I kno w they sewed layettes and blue chambray dresses. She acted as ch airman o f the blood bank drives in serving orange juice and coffee to th ose who g ave blood… Also was chairman of food in a crisis or disaster.”
On 25 March 1942 Gladys was presented with a small certificate to signi f y that “… Mrs. Gladys Rogers has completed the standard course in Red C ro ss Home Nursing given under the auspices of the Mt. Graham County Chap ter …” of the National Red Cross.
In going through her papers the following little note was found: “Bro . O wens, did you put the cap on Mr. Crandall?” As the Relief Society pr esid ent, I guess she was concerned with such important items as this a t the t ime of death and burial. Bro. (Steve) Owens was Bishop of the Sa fford Wa rd when she was the Relief Society president.
There were the Saturday night Rook parties with the 12 or so couples gat h ering at someone’s house to spend the evening playing cards, then havi n g a pot-luck refreshment. The men against the ladies, or couples again s t couples, would lend a bit of variety to their evenings. On special o cc asions such as Christmas, or Thanksgiving, or a birthday, or just to h av e something to do, the Rook cards were easily available, and it wasn’ t ha rd to interest someone in playing.
In 1948 Charles was appointed as a deputy in the State Attorney General ’ s office, and they moved to Phoenix. They lived there two years, the n mo ved to Mesa, and Charles commuted to work. When the boss wasn’t re- elect ed, Charles opened up a private law practice in Mesa. Their firs t home i n Mesa was at a “court” where there were several small apartment s for ren t; but after two years they sold the court and moved to their h ome at 33 4 South Hobson. Here they lived the rest of their days.
She loved her work at the Fairs. She served as superintendent of the ho m e economics department at the Graham County Fair in 1948, the first cou nt y fair in 20 years… After moving to Phoenix, she worked for 16 year s a t the State Fair as an assistant in the home economics department, th en h elped at the Maricopa County Fair in Mesa for six years after movin g to t hat city, three years without pay, next three years a small amount . Thes e services she enjoyed, especially the association with the co-wo rkers . The night before the State Fair, the workers always had a dinner , an d Gladys made her enchilada casserole.
She had the misfortune to fall down the bank of a wash one day while o n a n outing with Charles and another couple. Her arm was broken near th e sh oulder, and she spent about a week in the hospital; then there wer e man y weeks of inability in using her arm. She says she didn’t ever re gain f ull use of her arm, especially in the ability to lift or raise i t very hi gh…. When she was about 65 years old both eyes developed growt hs in them , which necessitated operations to remove the growths, and whi ch necessit ated wearing the thick-lensed glasses so common after such op erations.
The “Cheerio Club” was a group of ladies that met once a month for lunch e on and visiting, and Gladys enjoyed this association very much…. Also , s he was a member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, which group us uall y held their monthly meeting in her home. Her application for membe rshi p was approved 22 December 1954. She served in various positions, a nd a t one time was “Captain” of the Cardinal Camp…. In addition, a grou p o f about 20 ward people (some couples, and some singles) banded togeth er f or family home evenings. Each member took his turn in entertainin g the g roup in his home, giving the lesson and serving refreshments.
With her husband she served a three-year mission to the Pima Indians a t S an Tan, 25 miles south of Mesa, and helped these humble people unders tan d more about the gospel… Later, they were called on a mission to th e Cum orah Mission, where they labored about six months before coming hom e beca use of failing health for both of them… They celebrated their 50t h weddi ng anniversary while in Gowanda, New York… Being called and set- apart a s temple ordinance workers was a thrill for both of them, and the y thorou ghly enjoyed their time in the temple.
Charles was injured critically and died 15 January 1970. She was migh t y lonesome after he died, which is only natural. Her son Walter and fa mi ly, and her daughter Della and family, were mighty good to come and ta k e her places she needed to go, or to include her in their family activi ti es. When her widowed sister, Georgia, moved to Mesa, they were good c omp any for each other, and they went many places together… She felt sh e cou ldn’t see well enough to drive a car to go anywhere, so she was qui te con fined; but she did walk to the temple on occasion, to the Church m eetings , and to the store for food items, because these places were with in two b locks of her home.
She enjoyed her yearly visits with her two daughters living out of stat e , Garna in Missouri, and Chloe in Colorado. Each summer she would fl y t o visit them, staying a week at each home… She really enjoyed her fl igh t to Hawaii on an excursion trip with a group of LDS people. Her sis ter s Georgia and Cula (and Cula’s husband Ivan) were among the group, an d th ey were gone ten days.
Just before Christmas 1971, Gladys suffered two serious heart attacks . A fter the second one she wasn’t expected to live longer than a few ho urs , but she pulled through. For over three months, though, she was i n th e hospital, undergoing a pacemaker operation and other correctiona l treat ments. Later she spent about a year in a rest home. In March, 1 973, sh e fell and broke her hip. She was taken to a hospital for an ope ration t o have a pin put in the bone to hold it together while it healed . Howeve r, her wound would not heal because of her diabetic condition , and on Sat urday, 24 March 1973, just before noon, she quietly slippe d away.
Funeral services were on Tuesday morning, March 27th, in her 11th Ward c h apel in Mesa, with her family filling all program assignments. Buria l wa s that afternoon in the Pima Cemetery along-side her husband and amo ng he r loved ones.
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