My Portfolio

Ever since a child, I have had a phobia of snakes. I as a child would have nightmares that I was in a pit of snakes and they were crawling all over me biting me. The fear has stayed with me my entire life, though when I now encounter a snake...

During World War II, four cousins from my father's side of the family and an uncle and two cousins from my mother's side of the family served in the military. Can you imagine that my paternal grandparents, Sam and Sylvania Chatham had four grandsons serving in the armed forces at one...

Peace of mind, a tolerant understanding heart Wisdom—faith and right thinking   All of these help make a successful life.   These with doing unto others, as we would have them do to us,   Is the way I do want to live.  

  So lonely tonight, with so much of love and life past My memories go back--to happy busy days, The years have slipped by me so fast.   I live it all over and over again, When I had all my dear family with me But now they have families of...

Written by her daughter Florence Frank She was old, and often I called in to talk with her for a while and sometimes I would stay to give her daughter a chance to go out for the evening.  I was young, full of life and vigor, and in looking at her,...

The friendship between Dad and I grew stronger during Mom's illness. We attended prayer meetings on Wednesday nights together in our church. And though Mom was not recovering, her illness brought all of us closer to God and to her. On July 16, 1978, in the early morning following my 19th...

On the road …again! Afghanistan to Zambia Chronicles of a Footloose Forester By Dick Pellek   Where Chickadees and Squirrels Compete   People who read some of the other chronicles of the Footloose Forester probably wonder if everything that is written is really true. Yes, all the stories are true, although...

To my nieces and nephews,   My Precious Memories   Someone once said, “The only lasting things you can give your children are wings and roots.”  It is with this thought in mind that I am writing to you about your grandmother Mattie Harper Ball.  She was born December 12,1911,  in...

Rev. Henry Clay Dayhoff, Martha Ann Dayhoff, William Henry Dayhoff and Charles Spivey Dayhoff Their Story   Henry Clay Dayhoff was born to parents Joshua Owen Dayhoff and Catherine Beale( Poole) Dayhoff in 1844 in Boonsboro, Washington Co. Maryland. In the census of 1850 he was living with his parents and...

Leaun G. Otten will be 83 on May 14th.  His family moved to Salem in 1941 when he was 10 years old.  His father, Glen Otten, was from Mt. Pleasant and his mother, Dora Otten, was from Sterling in Sanpete County.  When Leaun was born the family lived in Kenilworth, Carbon...

I have been informed that within the next few days,  the Lifetime Membership in I-ASK, and being grandfathered into ALL programs will come to a close for LegacyStories Early Adopters. Your immediate action is requested should you think that you would ever like to have a part-time or full time career...

On the road …again! Afghanistan to Zambia Chronicles of a Footloose Forester By Dick Pellek   Daily Visits By Our Furry and Feathered Friends   The four bird feeding stations and three bird houses in our back yard may have been among the attractions to our serene residence; but local deer,...

Art & Aletha Family 1972 by Aletha Turley, taken from postcard written to her sister Franceen shortly after the attached picture was taken. We went down to a picture studio a couple of weeks ago to have a family picture taken and it was really an unforgettable experience and one I...

At 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 29th we boarded the bus and drove to Kirkland, Ohio to visit the first temple of this dispensation.  We learned of the unfolding of many keys and truths in this early headquarters of the Church. It was in this place where the Savior appeared to...

On Wednesday, July 28th, we boarded the bus at 9:00 am and drove to Mendon to visit the home of Brigham Young and several other early leaders of the church. We then continued on to Niagara Falls for overnight on the Canadian side of the border. We spent most of the...

On the road…again!Afghanistan to ZambiaChronicles of a Footloose ForesterBy Dick Pellek   And Now On Stage …In Order Of Appearance   Let me introduce the actors, as they appear on stage.  From somewhere beyond the green curtain of shrubbery comes a red-headed woodpecker.  He appears stage left where the biggest bird...

While in Palmyra, New York,  we walked up to the top of the Hill Cumorah and overlooked Palmyra New York.        At the top of Hill Cumorah stands a monument with Angel Moroni at the top. This is where Joseph Smith was told he would find the plates that...

On July 25th we began our Church History tour by driving to Sturbridge Village and visiting a community representing a New England agricultural village of the 18th century similar to those where the ancestors of Joseph Smith lived.  We then drove to Springfield, Massachusetts to attend sacrament service. Following the meeting,...

At 5:15 am on July 23, 1971 I prepared to leave for my ten day tour covering New York City and the areas travelled by my ancestors while migrating to Utah. My family and I arrived at the Salt Lake Airport at 8:40 am at which time we met Sister Backman...

On the road…again!Afghanistan to ZambiaChronicles of a Footloose ForesterBy Dick Pellek   Slow Pitch Softball and Some Unanswered Questions   True sports fans may not pay much attention to such quaint pastimes as softball, especially the easy going variety of quasi-sport known as slow pitch softball.  But older ladies and gents...