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Irene Weatherston McFarland

A STORY OF MY LIFE

By Irene Weatherston McFarland

Rearranged by Virginia McFarland

I was born in Plain City, Utah 27 Oct 1896, a daughter of George Franklin and Caroline Palmer Weatherston. I was the third child of a family of seven, two boys and five girls. As I grew up, I learned how to work out on the farm as well a3 in the house. I remember when the first telephones came to Plain City. The electric lights first came to Plain City in 1914, just when I was to be married and they got the house wired just in time for us to have lights for our party.

One of the things I treasure most in my memory was my school days. I started school in a little red brick schoolhouse that had just one room. I graduated on May 24, 1912. I never went to High School, as I started work soon after I was out of school, to help make my living.

I was baptized in a large irrigation ditch, by Joseph Carver and confirmed by Robert Maw, 5 Aug 1906. I started to ~o to Mutual when I was 14 years old and I have always loved the work. I was Assistant Secretary and Librarian at Plain City Mutual until I was married and came to West Weber.

I like to remember my courtship days. I met Thomas Archibald McFarland when I was fifteen. I went with him most of the time after that. We were married 23 Dec 1914, in the Salt Lake Temple, by Alvin Smith. I like to remember some of my first days in West Weber. I was President of West Weber's Mutual for two years, from 1915 to 1917.

When we had been married for five years, we bought a farm in Hansen, Idaho, and moved up there in November 1919. He joined the Kimberly Ward in the Twin Falls Stake and soon made many new friends. It was several miles to the Kimberly Ward, so we always went to Sunday School and stayed for Sacrament Meeting, which was held in the afternoon. At that time, Tom was President of the Mutual, so I would go back with him to meetings at night, sometimes that was all the recreation we had. We had to drive a horse and buggy.

I had four children at this time. Two were born in West Weber; Thomas Glen, and Vern W. and I had two more sons born in Idaho; George Dee, and James Virgil. During that time I had very poor health and in the spring of 1924, we returned to West Weber and my last child and only daughter, Carolyn was born.

In September 1935, we started to build a new home. I had planned for this all my life and this was a great thrill to have my dreams finely come true. We moved in on 10 April 1936, and I thanked my Heavenly Father for this wonderful blessing.

After the children were old enough, I worked in the organizations of the ward and enjoyed that work very much. I was a primary teacher for a short time, when I was released I worked in the M.I.A. as the Gleaner Teacher, which position I have held for many years. I was first counselor to Marsela Gibson, for four years and was released and put back in as Gleaner Teacher, which I liked very much. I worked with the Farm Bureau organization and was President for a number of years. I learned many fine things in the art of homemaking through the Farm Bureau, and attended one of the summer schools at the U.S.A.C. I was Captain of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. I have worked in the Relief Society of the ward for many years. I was a visiting teacher first and I had many companions. I was class leader in the Family Relations class until that class was discontinued.

In the spring of 1950, I was called to meet with the Stake President, and was asked if I would be a Stake Literature Leader. I felt very humble for I had never had any education to speak of. I accepted and taught Literature. I have enjoyed it very much and it has been a real education to me. I have had the privilege of going to the BYU Leadership Week at Provo for four years and what a wonderful opportunity it has been.

In August 1942, I went to work at the Army Supply Depot in Ogden. Then in the summer of 1943, I quit this job and in January 1944, I started to work at the West Weber School as Supervisor of the hot lunch program. I enjoyed that work more than any work I had ever done away from home. I attended school for two weeks at 4.C. College in Logan with the hot lunch supervisors. This was very educational. In the spring of 1947 I had to quit on account of my health.

In the fall of 1948 we bought a new Studebaker car which we have enjoyed very much. We have traveled all over the western part of the states. We have seen much new scenery and many friends. We have seen much of the country from Seattle, Washington to Old Mexico. We spent one vacation in Canada and went through the Alberta Canada Temple. We have made many trips to Butte, Montana, going to the mines for my health. T/~e went back to the New York World's Fair and spent two weeks in Denver, Colorado. In Dec. 1956, we went to Detroit, Michigan to buy a new car, a Mercury which we enjoy very much.

We have spent many wonderful winters in Mesa, Arizona and enjoyed the temple work we were able to accomplish. We have worked hard to further the work of the Lord here on the earth.

This story was written by Irene Weatherston McFarland, before her heath 11 Nov 1975. She was a very talented woman and accomplished many wonderful things in her life. She has left us a part of her with the genealogy work she has done, the poems she has written, the books she has put together and the memories she has left behind.

She had 26 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren. She died at the age of 79

 

Source:

In The Bend Of The River

History Of West Weber 1859-1976

 

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