Ellis & Jean Merkley- 60 years together

Ellis Merkley was Asher's older brother.

Ellis and his wife, Jean, celebrated over 60 years of marriage- this post covers that hallmark.

Photos and documents are all from the personal albums of Delores Horton unless otherwise stated.  Articles are not transcribed, but can be read/examined by enlarging the article images.

Jean and Ellis

Anniversary Invitation:

*For some reason this image has decided to become blurry when posted.
For those interested in a better copy, please contact me...

Milestone article:

NO SOURCE- likely Deseret News or Salt Lake Tribune, 1968
Found in the personal albums of Delores Horton

 Anniversary notice:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1968, Jun 27, p.10

"Ellis and Jean in their home, 60 years married"

"Jean and Ellis Merkley- 60th Wedding Anniversary, 1968"

Charles and Crystal Lewis- 60th anniversary

Charles P Lewis was one of Birda's older brothers.

The following details Charles' 60 years of marriage to his wife, Crystal.

older Charlie and Crystal Lewis
From the personal albums of Patty Stewart 

Newspaper notice:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1972, Jun 22, p.3
Found also in the personal albums of Dallas Workman

Newspaper notice transcribed:

60th Anniversary Celebrated by Vernal Residents

The children of Charles and Crystal Lewis; Mrs. R.D. (Lenore) Nielson, Ret. Lt. Col. Charles Howard Lewis, and Mrs. Max (Patricia) Stewart, will celebrate their parents' 80th birthdays and 60th wedding anniversary with an open house at the Lewis home, 262 South Second West, June 24 from 6 to 9 p.m. All friends and relatives are invited.  No gifts please.

Birthday/Anniversary party notice:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1972, Jun 29, p.B5
Found in personal albums of Patty Stewart

Birthday/Anniversary party notice transcribed:

109 Guests Attend Birthday-Anniversary Celebration June 24

Mr. And Mrs. Charles P. Lewis celebrated their birthday-anniversary June 24.  They greeted 109 guests.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have worked in public and church works; Mr. Lewis was chorister in Glines Ward and 2nd Ward MIA, was scoutmaster of troop 232 Vernal 2nd Ward for several years when the troop earned the most awards of any troop in Uintah District.  He taught school 37 years, 22 of which were at Uintah High School where he taught art and other subjects.

One year at the University of Utah he was first trumpet in the University band.  He was leader of Uintah High School Band for two years and Vernal band for several years, was president of American Association of Retired Persons for five years and at present is a member of the Council on Aging.

Crystal P. Lewis taught school 15 years, was county librarian six years.  She taught LDS Sunday School 35 years.  She was class leader in both stake and ward Relief Society, taught Primary and MIA in Hawatha for two years.  She has been secretary of Sunday School, MIA, Relief Society and is now secretary of the AARP chapter 368.

She has held many offices in Daughters of Utah Pioneers, both in county and local camp since first organized.  At present, she is historian of Camp Vernal.  She has written about 20 individual histories or biographies of relatives and friends now on file at Salt Lake City Daughters of Utah Pioneers.

Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are parents of three children, Lenore Nielson, Charles Howard Lewis and Pat Stewart.  They have 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

*Spelling corrected wherein I was aware.

Jennie L Hullinger- Mother of the Year

Jennie L Hullinger was Birda's younger sister.

Jennie Lewis Hullinger
From the personal albums of Charmain Runyon
Cropped from a larger image

The following article details how Jennie won the distinction of "Uintah Basin Mother of the Year" in 1972.  It gives a brief overview of her life and details the events of her receiving her award.

Newspaper article:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1972, Apr 20, p.1

As it's rather lengthy I won't transcribe it at this time, but by clicking on the newspaper image or downloading it, it is still easy enough to read.

Jennie holding daughter
From the personal albums of Charmain Runyon

Ellis and Jean Merkley- 50 year anniversary

Ellis Merkley was Asher's eldest brother.

Ellis and his wife, Jean, celebrated 50 years of marriage.  The following are items related to that momentous event, and are from the personal albums of Dolores Horton.

"Jean and Ellis at Golden Wedding Party"

Newspaper notice:

NO SOURCE
(Likely SL Trib or Des News 1958)
Found in the personal albums of Delores Horton

Newspaper notice transcribed:

Golden Wedding

An open house honoring Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Merkley on their golden wedding anniversary will be held Sunday at the home of a son, Dr. Harold E. Merkley, 2255 Oneida St. (2150 East).  Friends and relatives are invited to call from 2 to 5 p.m.

Ellis and Jean Gerber Merkley were married June 17, 1908 in the Salt Lake Temple, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  They have made their home in Salt Lake City for the past 25 years.

They have six sons and daughters, Aird G., Parowan; Dr. Harold E., Salt Lake City; Thurman G., Portland, Ore.; Mrs. Eugene T. (Margaret) Condie, Burbank, Calif.; Mrs. Harlan W. (Geraldine) Clark, Salt Lake City, and Dr. Ralph G., Cupertino, Calif.

*Spelling and punctuation adjust wherein I was aware.

Anniversary Invitation:

 Anniversary Party Serviette:

Family photos taken at the celebration (labeled below images):

Notes on Golden Wedding:

From the personal albums of Delores Horton

Ellis Merkley turns 90

Ellis Merkley was Asher's eldest brother.

He lived to the ripe old age of 91, and was thus very entitled to a 90th birthday party in 1975.

Birthday invitation:

From the personal albums of Delores Horton

 Honorary newspaper writeup:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1975, Apr 24, p.4

Honorary newspaper writeup transcribed:
Ellis Merkley to be honored
Ellis Merkley, 1924 South 10th East, Salt Lake City, will be honored at an open house on Saturday, May 3 in honor of his 90th birthday anniversary.  The open-house will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. at 1722 Harvard Ave. and friends and relatives are invited to call.
Mr. Merkley, a native of Vernal, was born May 2, 1885, the oldest child of Nelson and Keturah Peterson Merkley.  All of his early years were spent in Vernal where he graduated from the Uintah Academy.  He later attended the LDS College in Salt Lake.  After filling a mission to the Southern States, he was married on June 17, 1908 to Jean Eleanor Gerber in the Salt Lake Temple.  They lived for several years in Vernal where they were both active in church and community affairs.
In 1932 the family moved to Salt Lake City where they have since resided.  Mr. Merkley is enjoying good health and drives his car almost every day to visit relative or to attend to other affairs.  Mrs. Merkley died December 26, 1972.  The couple were honored at open houses in observance of their fiftieth and sixtieth wedding anniversaries.
Six children are joining to honor the oldest living Merkley at this open house.  They are, Aird G., Dr. Harold E., and Mrs. Harlan W. (Geraldine) Clark, Salt Lake City; Thurman G., Portland, Oregon; Mrs. Eugene T. (Margret) Condie, Fremont, California; and Dr. Ralph G., Saratoga, California.  His posterity also includes 18 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.  Also joining in honoring Mr. Merkley will be a sister, Mrs. Rulon K. (Margret) Hansen, and Mrs. Clair (Ellen) Fletcher, both of Salt Lake City.

Photos from the 90th birthday gathering (all from the personal albums of Delores Horton):

Ellis Merkley, aged 90

Ellis with family- labeled below image

Party goers (Asher's eldest daughter, Virginia in red)
Evelyn Merkley (green?) Delores Horton (yellow)

Byron Colton turns 80, 90

Byron Colton married Asher's sister, Helen.

The following are articles on milestones he attained through age.

As surviving offspring may still be alive I won't transcribe these, though they can easily be read by clicking on them.

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1962, Feb 22, p.4

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1972, Feb 17, p.14

B.O. Colton
Photo from the personal albums of Sarah Nielsen

Burnie & Helen Colton- 50 years

Helen Merkley Colton was one of Asher's sisters.

She married Byron Owen Colton and they were married for over 50 years.

These are the notices of their 50 year mark in marriage:

"Burnie & Helen Colton"
From personal albums of Sarah Nielsen

Newspaper clipping:

NO SOURCE- found in the personal albums of Sarah Nielsen
Last bit of this clipping is missing, but the text is nearly verbatim in newspaper notice below.
As the article titles are different I'm assuming they are from different papers,
but likely both local to where they resided at the time.

 Newspaper notice:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1960, Jun 23, p.4

Newspaper notice transcribed:

Mr. and Mrs. Byron O. Colton Celebrate 50th Wedding Year

Mr. and Mrs. Byron O. Colton of Roosevelt, formerly of Vernal, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary June 29.

Mr. Colton was born February 15, 1882, at Provo, UT, son of Byron Oliver Colton and Sarah Maria Smith.  The family moved to Ashley Valley in August, 1884 and made their home near what is now Vernal.

Helen Merkley Colton was born in Vernal, April 8, 1890, to Nelson Merkley Jr. and Keturah Peterson, who were some of the original pioneers of Ashley Valley.  She attended public school at Vernal and graduated from the Uintah Stake Academy.  She also attended the Keister Ladies Tailoring School at Salt Lake City.

Mr. Colton received his schooling at the Maeser Elementary School, Uintah Stake Academy and the Brigham Young University, where in his senior year he served as chairman of the "Campus Committee" that secured 25 acres on Temple Hill, the first unit of the present upper campus.

The couple was married in the Salt Lake Temple of the LDS Church, June 29, 1910.  Their first home was in Maeser.  They later moved to the reservation, where Mr. Colton was active in settlement work and irrigation development.  He has been employed through the years by several of the larger irrigation companies as engineer in location and construction of canals and reservoirs located in the central and eastern part of the reservation area.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Colton have served many years in positions of responsibility in LDS Ward and Stake.  He was Bishop of Maeser Ward, Bishop of Randlett Ward and President of the Roosevelt Stake.  He is now acting Stake Patriarch for the Roosevelt Stake and an active Ward Teacher.

Among other achievements is also a long list of public service.  A few follow sixteen years in Uintah school district in elected service, a member of the Utah Water Storage Commission, 1929-1931, and dat present, a member of the Utah Water and Power board, having been appointed by Governor Herbert B Maw in 1947.  He has also served as Water Commissioner for the United States Uintah Indian Irrigation Project and Associated Water Users of the Uintah and Lakefork Rivers since 1931, and including the Duchesne and Strawberry Rivers since 1934.

To these parents have been born 9 children, seven of whom are living.  They are Mrs. Harold (Lulu) Dudley of Randlett, Merrill B. Colton of Sandy, Mrs. Glen (Margaret) Wyler of Fairfield, California, Elmo S. Colton of Holladay, Miles M. Colton of Pleasant Grove, Mrs. Calvin (Sarah) Neilsen of Mona, and Mrs. Vern (Grace) Berrett of Provo.

The couple desires to greet all friends and relatives at an open house at their home in Roosevelt on June 29 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. It is requested the presents be eliminated.

*Spelling and punctuation corrected by me wherein I was aware.

"Burnie and Helen"
Photo from the personal albums of Sarah Nielsen

Charles & Crystal Lewis- Golden Anniversary

Charles Lewis was Birda's older brother.

Charles and his wife, Crystal Potter Lewis, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1962.

The following are documents of photos of that event.  

All photos are from the personal albums of Patty Stewart.

"Crystal and Charlie Lewis, Nov 1916"

Newspaper announcement:

SOURCE: SL Tribune 1962, Oct 7, p.4B
Found in the personal albums of Patty Stewart

Newspaper announcement transcribed:
Golden Weddings
Special to The Tribune
VERNAL- A golden wedding anniversary observance honoring Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Lewis will be held Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Max Stewart, 240 S. 2nd West.
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis were married Oct. 30, 1912.  Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
A school teacher in Uintah and Carbon counties, Mr. Lewis has resided in Vernal most of the time since moving here with his parents in 1895.
Mrs. Lewis, the former Crystal Potter came to Vernal in 1907 and taught school for 15 years.  She also served six years as county librarian.
Both have been active in the LDS Church.
They have one son and two daughters, Lt. Col. Charles Howard Lewis, Mr. R.D. (Lenore) Nielson and Mrs. Max (Patricia) Steart, 10 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

Local announcement:

NO SOURCE- found in personal albums of Patty Stewart
Assumed from the Vernal Express 1962,  Oct?

Local announcement transcribed:

Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Lewis Celebrate Golden Anniversary

Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Lewis will celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary Sunday.

They were married in Vernal, Utah, October 30, 1912.  Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.

Together Mr. and Mrs. Lewis served as teachers in local schools 52 years.  Mr. Lewis taught in Uintah and Carbon County schools for 37 years.  Mrs. Lewis taught for 15 years.

Mr. Lewis graduated from Uintah High School in 1911.  He attended the University of Utah, B.Y.U. and Utah State University, majoring in art and band music.  He taught band and orchestra at Uintah High School and was also the choir leader in the LDS organizations and scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts for many years.  Mr. Lewis was born March 3, 1892 at Midway, Utah, to Siney and Elizabeth Coleman Lewis, Sr., who moved to Vernal in 1892.

Mrs. Lewis attended high school in Vernal and the University of Utah and Utah State University.  She was not only a teacher but also the County Librarian for six years, taught Sunday School 35 years and was secretary, class leader and visiting teacher in Relief Society for more than 40 years.

Mrs. Lewis is the daughter of W. Edwin and Harriet K. Potter, who moved to Vernal in 1907.

There will be an open house honoring Mr. and Mrs. Lewis at the home of their daughter, Mrs. Max Stewart, 240 So. 2nd West, Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m.

Napkin from the anniversary party
From personal albums of Patty Stewart

"Golden Wedding 1962- Crystal and Charlie"

"50th Anniversary Cake"

"Charles and Crystal cutting their 50th anniversary cake"