THANKS FOR THE FLOWERS, BUT I AM STILL ALIVE...........

I was born in Draper, Utah on Easter Sunday to Arthur Eugene and Lucile Tolman Smith.
I graduated from Jordan High School class of 61
I married Clifton R. Coley and we had three children. James Russell, Raymond Dean and Catherine Lucile. Both of my boys are deceased. Divorced from Cliff in 1982. Married Donald Lewis Kinder on Oct 29,1983 under the pines at the home I was born in. Donald was my soul mate and sweetheart. He passed away on December 16, 2003.

I live in the same home now that I was born in,and hope to go to the great beyond from here. I had 3 brothers Eugene, Nolan and Douglas and my sister Dorothy. Our home started out as a grainery from my Grandfather Smith's property and as my Dad could afford $50 worth of lumber he would add on.

I decided to write my own history. Draper, Utah was a very small community when I was growing up. Lots of farms and open space. We had what you might call a small farm, a cow, a pig, chickens, rabbits, We also had our gardens and fruit trees, dewberry patch and raspberry patch. We were raised with what we had and grew. Only going to the store for flour, sugar and staples. We were taught to work and do our chores. Mother taught me how to churn butter, make homemade ice cream, make homemade rag rugs and to bottle fruits and vegetables and make quilts. We were all involved in 4-H and the only vacation we had each year was going to 4-H Club camp during the summer up the canyon. My Dad made all of our toys when we were growing up. He loved to work with wood and made a complete wooden train set, Ferris wheel with seats and dolls, a playhouse with the roof that came off so you could play with the items inside. Rocking horses, Mom made stuffed elephants and stuffed horses that she gave away as gifts. We had a pond in our backyard as well as the creek that run through the property. I remember having hot dog roasts along the creek bank. So many special memories from my childhood.

When I was 9 my Dad had a stroke, which paralyzed half of his body. When I was 10 I had ruptured appendix that had been ruptured for 3 days. The doctor who came to the house the day before told my Mom I had a murmer in my stomach and that it would go away. When Mother took me to the hospital I was so full of peritonitis and gangrene that after 6 hours of surgery they told my Mom I would not live over 24 hours. I was in the hospital for 2 months and 4 days, but survived.
At age 12 my Dad died from a second stroke and it tore me up. Mother took over the farm, and gardens, berries.
She had taken care of them from the time my dad had his first stroke. She was amazing woman. She lived to be 87.

My brother Douglas was killed in a one car roll over at age 25 in 1964.

In 1977 I had Ovarian Cancer and survived this too.

My brother Gene and sister Dorothy passed away 8 days apart in 2014. So all that is left now is my brother Nolan and I.
I worked for 45 years, between Grand America and Little America Hotels, Salt Lake Clinic, Newhouse office building, Town house motel, and 2 gas stations. Retired at 65.

I am a member of Find a grave and love my time spent on the computer and at the cemeteries. It has been my salvation, especially after the loss of my two sons. I have found several wonderful friends on this site. It keeps me going.
I also am a board member and volunteer for Draper Historical Society museum and library. I am serving a second term as president right now. I love family history.
Esther Smith Coley Kinder 2019 Still living at this time