RICHARD HAAG DONE
Born September 2, 1901; Died April 2, 1995

Richard Haag Done was the son of Louisa Mathilda Wilhelmina Haag Abegg Done and Abraham done. He was one of five children born to this marriage. Louisa had previously been married to Arnold Abegg, who had passed away in Utah and they were the parents of four children – half-brothers and sisters to Richard and his four siblings. When the family moved to Mexico, Richard was the first born, His mother was a midwife, and at 5:30 in the afternoon, she helped the birth of a child in the community and at 7:30 the same day she brought forth Richard Done, September 2, 1901. Richard was old enough during the time they spent in Old Mexico to have memories of that time. He remembered sleeping on hand-made mattresses, made out of hay and straw; and when this became broken up, it made a lumpy mattress to sleep on. He churned milk to butter, herded cows just east of Dublan; he remembered the first car, owned by Bowens, and the first picture taken in Dublan. In one serious accident, he almost lost his life. At age 10 he was doing some work, driving a team of horses in front of a hayrack, and something startled the horses and he fell into the inside of the spikes. The horses were running away, and he was being dragged by the spikes in the hayrack. The only thing that saved him was the horses came to a ditch and came to a stop.
In 1912 Pancho Villa and 1,000 rebels came into the area or Colonia Dublan and there were homes robbed and much stealing took place by the rebels in order to get what they needed to support the 1,000 troops. Pancho Villa gave the colonists 24 hours to get out of town. The people were loaded in box cars and cattle cars with a few of their possessions. As the train left Colonia Dublan, the rebels were shooting their guns, following the train as far as they could until it went too fast. They arrived in El Paso. At age 12 Richard got a job as an errand boy in a large department store in El Paso.
They moved to Salt Lake City for awhile, then arranged for land at Flowing Wells to develop a farm; but soon moved up to this area and built a house at the end of Dodge where it reaches the Rillito River. Then they built the adobe house on Ft. Lowell Road. Richard was old enough to help mix the mortar. He used to wade in the Rillito River, which had water several months of the year at that time. They used to like to walk in the foothills, pick the flowers, and hike in the Catalina Mountains.
The family were janitors for the Davidson school house to help support themselves. One of Richard's jobs was to ring the bell a half hour before school time to advise all students in the neighborhood they had a half hour to get to school. Church services were held in the building and used the bell to advise Sunday School was a half hour from the time the bell rang.
He was an active Scouter. He took hikes to Sabino Canyon and Mount Lemon. He worked on the Young farm for one dollar a day, and milked cows on Heber Farr's place. He went to Tucson High school, played the cornet and was a member of the band. At that time, they had a family orchestra of five pieces and played for some dances in the community at the Davidson school.
In 1919 he met a wonderful girl, Eva Mae Naegle. He courted her about three years; he would go to Flowing Wells where she vas living with her grandmother and he would take her on his bicycle to Tucson to go to a show. Finally, after three years of stumbling around, he asked her, not exactly will you marry me; but she knew what he meant, and she said Yes, and he said, "Let's seal it with a kiss." That was their first kiss in three years of courtship. Times have changed!
Dick built an adobe house after they were married. He worked for Eagle Milling Company five years for $87 a month. He heard an employee was leaving the Railway Express; he was employed at $127 a month to start. It lasted 41 V2 years -- until he retired. He started a pencil collection. . . from a hardware store (advertising on pencils and pens). He collected 6,000 advertising pens and pencils, all different, from all over the world.
He was ward dance (director) for many years. He liked vacation trips; went to Mexico where he was born, taking relatives; went to Rainbow Bridge, Utah, Grand Canyon, Copper Canyon in Mexico --87 tunnels, 30 years to build, one of the most spectacular train rides in the world. One trip he said he would never forget was one to the Grand Canyon. He and his brother Bill hiked down to the bottom; his legs began to give way, started back, couldn't make it. It was arranged to send a helicopter down to take them back. They had to pay $65 each. they didn't have enough money, but made a deposit and promised to send the rest when they got home.

One of the trips he thoroughly enjoyed was when his brother and Otto made a trip to Mexico visiting the pyramids. Richard and Eva filled a short term mission to the Eastern States. They had the opportunity to visit the Hill Cumorah Pageant. They also had the opportunity to visit Nauvoo and the birthplace of Mormonism in Palmyra, New York. He was a Branch and Ward Clerk many years and served under several bishops. When the Pioneer Parade was held here honoring the Mormon Battalion, he was invited as one of the people to be in the parade wearing the costume of the Mormon Battalion. He was always active in Fathers' and Sons' outings and excursions. On some of his wedding anniversaries he often remarked that to live with a person you love through good times and hard times is a wonderful life and wonderful experience -- referring to Eva. He left a large family of 4 children. 20 grandchildren, 73 great grandchildren and 11 great great-grandchildren. What a wonderful life to try to emulate. He went peacefully, without serious illness or prolonged discomfort; "Old soldiers never die; they just fade away." He faded away, almost predicting the day, even to the hour, he should go. Perhaps, unseen by the naked eye, those who have preceded him -- his father and mother were at his bedside -- and so someone did come to take him home.