Arnold and I met on a winter night during a snow storm that knocked down the power lines. Our blind date had been arranged and he had come over to "check me out." My mother brought in a lighted candle and introductions were made. It was rather romantic. As we became acquainted during the next months, we found mutual attraction enhanced by our united love of the gospel and desire to be the parents of many children. We were married on December 21, 1938 in the Salt Lake Temple by President Chipman and surrounded by loved ones. A delicious wedding luncheon at the Salt Lake home of Raymond and Esther preceded our return to Provo to a lovely reception at the home of my parents. 
A basement apartment near BYU became our honeymoon nest and we both returned to school, me to finish my freshman year of college and Arnold his sophomore year. We left school early to go to Arizona where Arnold had a desire to invest the money left him by the death of his father (earlier) and get on with the serious business of living!
After a summer with Arnold's mother in Douglas and searching for an investment in Tucson, we moved to Los Angeles and invested in an apartment building recommended by Arnold's Uncle Millard Haymore. This new apartment was nice with six rentals and located on the corner of 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue (near USC). Arnold took various jobs of carpentry and finally became a gear cutter at Pacific Gear Co. This was a happy time especially after the friendly oasis we found in Arlington Ward. I taught the nursery class there. I discovered our bishop, Lyman H. Robison, to be a gynecologist and fertility expert and visited him often. Arnold and I longed for those children! Finally after three long years, the dream came true and beautiful, brown-eyed curly headed Valerie was born January 12, 1942. I could almost count that date as my birthday, too, because I then truly began to live! Our dear friend Dr. Robison delivered Valerie and he was almost as happy as were Arnold and I. The doctor told me later he really didn't think we could have children but he worked hard to help us. 
About this time Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and our country entered World War 2. I remember one scary night during the blackout, with unidentified planes soaring overhead, I suddenly realized our vulnerability in living on the west coast, and thought of our Valerie's safety. Arnold kept his job at Pacific as gears were needed for the war planes. We moved to a simply darling home in Lynwood near Arnold's work. Here Arnold hobbied in rabbits, chickens, turkeys, garden, etc. Valerie loved the fenced in yard and animals. I liked the pretty new home with hand-painted pictures on the living room walls.The blessings began to pour in as we realized that Daniel was coming to us in March, just 14 months younger than his sister. Shortly before his birth, we moved to Salt Lake City and lived on Hyland Drive at 4687 South. While Arnold engaged in the chicken and egg business, Elaine produced Daniel, March 22, 1943. From birth, Danny excelled. He crawled at seven months and walked at nine. He was so happy to be alive and his daddy said he was too good to be a boy. With much enjoyed help from the Holbrook grandparents, we moved along. Dan's aged great-grandmother Holbrook was so fond of him and father brought her out to see and enjoy him, her youngest great-grandson. Darling Gloria came to us on December 27, 1944, born at home. So much joy with this third one who really was the easiest and a child of great promises, many already fulfilled. Christmas brought bouncing horses (not rocking) made by their creative daddy of bent metal frames. Valerie and Danny bounced around the house on their chargers and thought their dad better than Santa Claus! Five of us around the kitchen table assured we were a growing family. The Holladay ward found us present each Sunday. I taught MIA young women here.
The draft finally did call on Arnold and he left for his physical. Miraculously he was rejected and returned home determined to increase his egg business to full-time employment. That is when we moved to our three acre farm at 1827 E 6400 S. The soil here was pure gold and again with Grandpa's help we had a wonderful garden of strawberries, peas, corn. My mouth waters to remember. Several large apple trees provided climbing for the children, picking for Elaine, and pies for Arnold. Arnold even brought home piglets who were forever slipping out and running over the neighborhood while Arnold was away. It became a familiar sight to see Elaine and the three little ones running after those piglets!
It was here that Valerie's story about climbing high in the tree, being attacked by ants, and eventually being rescued by her Mom after Dan finally reported it, took place. One day a frightened, pale two-year old Dan came tearing in to tell his mother that the neighbor's horse smoked! It actually had snorted and pranced. Dan loved to ride his tricycle with baby Gloria perched in the little red byke trailer his Dad had made. One day he cried "Mom, help PeeDee (his name for Gloria). Big Kitty-kat going to get her!" Sure enough a baby kitty was perched in the little trailer, being petted by Gloria.
These were busy years for me as a mother who also buffed hundreds of eggs, separated the cream and washed the separator with its numerous parts, sold the same to home customers, learned to garden, etc. Baby John came to us on November 8, 1946, so welcome and loved by his three siblings and parents. Now we were six. My sister Vera made simply darling clothes for the little ones who proudly wore them to church at Cottonwood Ward. I remember little red corduroy coats for the girls and blue for the boys, as well as matching dresses and pants.
Valerie and Danny contracted rheumatic feber and many prayers and doctor visits, bed rest, and pasteurized milk commenced. They both had heart murmurs but the prayers were answered and no lasting infirmities resulted. Removing tonsils and the recent miracle of penicillin lessened the strep throat attacks. The 2000 leghorns also became ill with Coccidiosis and died in great numbers. Arnold finally sold the remaining chickens as well as our farm and we moved in with my parents on 1448 Browning Avenue.
The grandparents were wonderful! Forgetting their own comfort in their later years, they loved, taught, worked for and enjoyed their four Haymore grandchildren. The children formed attachments and love and gained lasting values from these strong, caring, spiritual grandparents. We planned to stay only until finding another home but the months stretched into two years. To ease the tension, my parents increased time with their older children, helping with new arrivals, illnesses, and more as was their custom. Wasatch Ward welcomed us. Valerie and Danny attended Uintah grade school, first grade and kindergarten respectively.
It was here on Browning Avenue that all of our children caught chicken pox and baby John became very seriously ill. With his life in the balance, he was taken to the hospital for several weeks and with the help of modern miracles of science and caring doctors, he recovered. We could not visit as he was in the contagious ward and when he finally returned to his family, he kept his eyes on me, watching my every move. His lips quivered if I moved out of his sight (no cries) so I didn't. We were so glad to be reunited once again! Knowing that Douglas was joining us next September comforted and sustained me through this trying time. Somehow I knew this next baby carried the message that all is well. Douglas still sends this message. He was a contented, happy baby, blest by spending his early months with his choice grandparents as well as his loving family. We finally did move to Aunt Ada's converted (by Arnold) garage apartment and it was heaven to have a home again.
With seven in this small place, we decided to build a roomy house on the adjoining lot. This really was home! Sylvia was born soon after we moved in here, 1656 E 3350 S in 1950. Petite Sylvia with the twinkling eyes and dancing toes! Wilford Ward on Hyland Drive was within walking distance. In all of our wards so far, I taught in Jr. Sunday School and Primary which was then held on a week day. I cherish those experiences, learning of Jesus with the little ones really is near to Heaven.
Bruce came next, just 2 1/2 years after Sylvia. He was a healthy happy baby weighing 9 1/2 pounds at birth. But at three weeks he caught developed bronchitis from his siblings and Dr. Egan visited us often. How happy we were to have him all better by Christmas, our best gift. He was the perfect baby Jesus in our annual Christmas play of the nativity with Valerie as Mary, Dan as Joseph, Gloria and John as wisement, Doug and Sylvia as shepherds. The Holbrook grandparents loved this play and were present whenever possible. My father suggested we do this each Christmas time and it became a tradition.
I find I measure my life in terms of babies, not days and years. Beautiful and dainty Rosalee joined us next. With her white hair and blue blue eyes, she looked so darling in the pretty bonnet her cousin Jane Anderson sent. How we loved and enjoyed our "Rosie." Bruce was her special friend and her older sisters loved to "doll her up" and play with her. She was the good-natured baby when she, Valerie, and I went to California to visit my sisters there, see Huntington library and other sites. We enjoyed the scenery from the top of City of Los angeles train on our return home. When about four months pregnant with Rosalee, I had broken my foot and wore a heavy cat clear to my knee until shortly before her birth. I felt so blest to have that cast off and then baby Rosalee's arrival.
At this time our dear friend, Marge Sandberg, lost her fourth baby and we longed to comfort her. She sometimes tended our children and that must have been difficult for her. She did have one child, John Wayne. Marge and Wayne were dear friends through the years and though they have been gone for sometime, I still miss them. We enjoyed close friendships with other neighbors - Emerys, Curreys, Smiths, Berentzens, Aunt Ada and her girls, Sewells, Swensons, and many more. Sewells and Brother Berentzen are the only original neighbors now left on our street. It has come full circle, though, as new neighbors with precious young families have purchased the homes of the elderly. Once again the neighborhood rings with happy childhood laughter. Joe and I are still living in the old family home with its precious memories. We find ourselves reluctant to leave.
Joseph came in October, 1971. His large eyes seemed to penetrate and he was happy to be a part of his adoring family. So huggable and loveable and agreeable. Jose just seemed to "fit in." He was glad when his brother David arrived two years later and the two brothers became buddies. Our home rang with the refrain "Davy, Davy Crockett (Squawket, sand his dad) king of the Haymore house." Actually, I doubt a better-natured, loving, well adjusted baby hs ever graced this earth. He was pure joy and bubbled with laughter. As David was number ten in our family, some called him our tithing child. Marge Sandberg even gave a baby shower for him, declaring that anyone who had ten children deserved new baby supplies! With the warmth of his buddy Joe, Dave blossomed and bloomed and was delighted to be a part of the Haymore home. His large penetrating eyes, like his brother Joe's, took everything in and it was hard to imagine life without our Davy.
But our "tithing child" was not the end, thank goodness! Once more our hearts opened wide to Carolee, born in the hospital while her mother was alone and the nurse had hurried off to find Dr. Preston! But not alone. As with each birth, I again felt the Lord's presence and help to see that this precious one arrived safely. what a comfort and joy this beautiful daughter with the long dark lashes and blue eyes was to me. A couple of pints of blood helped my recovery and we came home to her admiring siblings. I was so grateful and blest with my Carolee. She buoyed me up over some dark clouds of life. We thought to name her Carol but I felt her beauty needed a little extra recognition so added Lee, Carolee. My mother was declining, so baby Carolee and I used to visit with her while the rest of the family were in Sunday School. We did not enter her room but sat in the doorway. Carolee's grandma loved her and enjoyed her. She predicted that Carolee would be a great help and comfort to me. This proved true many times.
Valerie took leave from BYU and helped me the next year, as well as worked for Granite School District. She was like a second mother to baby Carolee. That year Valerie gave lovely Christmas presents to us all. I treasured that warm and just the right shade of blue fur (actually synthetic) coat for many years and see it now in memory. Two years later, Cynthia came. Lovely brown-eyed Cynthia. She reminded me of a flower (the hyacinth) and so Cynthia became her name. She later shortened this to Cyndi. As Joe and Dave were buddies, soon Carolee and Cyndi became inseparable, each blest to have the other. It reminded me of my own precious sisterhood while growing up. We were still sending students to Libby Edwards where they learned and thrived.
I had a miscarriage a year or so after Cyndi and so I thought she might turn out to be the baby of our family, just as I was in mine. I loved and cared for her with this possibility in mind and she was pure joy. But, thank goodness, that was not the plan. Three years later, Mark arrived, number 13. He was our crowning joy. Although Mark was a healthy happy baby, at one month old he did not seem to be thriving as he should. My prayers regarding this were answered in an interesting way. One day we had unexpected company. Mark's Grandpa Holbrook, Uncle Delbert Groberg, and one other uncle arrived. I found the oil and they administered to Mark. From that time on, he thrived! He grew to be the tallest in the family, I think about six feet. Well, it is a tie between Mark and Dan, the youngest and the oldest, both tall and handsome. Mark has his Dad's brown eyes and dark hair, while Dan is blue-eyed and blonde. The boys are all handsome but vary in height.
Our first missionary, Dan, was serving in Scotland when Mark came to us and in Mark's growing-up years Dan was in school, married, and in graduate school. So they were not too well acquainted. There are twenty-two years between my oldest child, Valerie, and my youngest, Mark. Twenty-two wonderful years! As near to heaven as a mother can come while here on earth. All of my sons served missions and attended university. All of my daughters also attended university and all have become mothers.
The boys were fortunate to learn carpentry skills by working with their dad during their growing-up years, while the girls became proficient at cooking, sewing, music, office work, housework. Twelve of the children attended bYU and most graduated in their chosen fields. Douglas graduated from the University of Utah after five years in engineering. With their working skills, the children seemed to easily work their way through the universities with scholarships and grants, helping each other, receiving little financial aid from parents. Valerie specialized in education, Dan became an orthodontist, Gloria a school teacher, John a dentist, Sylvia an educator, Bruce a contractor, Rosalee emphasized survival education, Joe predental, David dental, Carolee and Cyndi with associate degrees, Mark a CPA and MBA. Temple marriages followed in the Salt Lake Temple and Los Angeles Temple. These years were productive and busy.
After the marriages of Valerie, Daniel, Gloria, John, Douglas, Sylvia, and when our youngest, Mark was nine years old, Arnold and I completed our necessary divorce. He moved to Arizona and remarried while I entered the world of work as a single mother with seven still in the nest.
Western Rivers, the world's largest river running company, played a big part in our lives. Owned and operated by our good friends, Jack and Betty Currey, it soon became the place of employment for many of the Haymores. I was a receptionist and secretary to Jack and it was kind of fun to talk to people in countries all over the world who were choosing to include this trip in their itinerary of U.S. travels. Having been on Colorado River trips, Moab, Greenriver myself, I was honestly enthusiastic in promoting these trips. The office was on Highland Drive, about two blocks away from our home and I could vary my hours of work a little when necessary, thanks to Betty and Jack. This company was growing rapidly and work was plentiful. Joe and Dave became helpers on the river and then boatmen. Carolee and Cyndi were office workers, mailing thousands of brochures, answering phones, making stencils, addressing mail and more while also attending Olympus High. Rosalee and Sylvia worked when time allowed from BYU and even Mark became the occasional office boy. He mostly worked on the yard, stuffed brochures, ran errans. Having the children at work with me did much to soothe the single parent dilemma of choosing between work and being fulltime mother at home. We were saddened when Jack and Betty divorced and eventually left the company although it is still operating with different owners.
My next job was with a construction company, Lundell Homes. I mostly answered phones, listened to grievances, took messages. I looked forward to the end of the day, coming home and playing badmintor with Carolee, Cyndi, and Mark. But in a year or two this company folded. Next I worked for three attorneys in the Carriage House of the McCune Mansion. I was hired by a friend, Jim Baker. Here I did much typing, telephoning. I fit in well as my brother Raymond was a lawyer and I was slightly familiar with the terms. After two years these attorneys split up and moved and Jim suggested I try the Church Office building for work.
I am glad I did that as with proficiency in typing, I was immediately accepted and the rest of my working years were spent in the this employment. Here I learned much, felt security, and was treated well. First I worked in Information Systems (19th floor) and learned word processing programs and typed and typed and typed for the department. After several years it became apparent that the new simplified and reliable word processors, less help was needed from secretaries. I hated to leave my many friends there but eventually accepted a job with the Auditing Department on the 16th floor. This was a step up in pay as well as classification. These auditors were delightful to work with and our friendships are still acknowledged when we meet, usually in the Salt Lake Temple. The auditors traveled to the worldwide Church institutions and brought their reports home for the secretaries to type. I worked until my 74th year, with the last two or three years being a temporary employee, 22 years in all of outside employment.
Although I knew the good steady employment was a blessing to me and the children, my strength, energy, and time were inevitably often needed in both places. We did receive a couple of days each month as sick or vacation leave. Occasionally in an emergency, I was able to stay home and then make up work with longer daily hours. It was challenging, but the school, missions, and marriages were not slighted, proceeded in order and were pronounced "very good." Another challenge was my nerve-deafness problem. I received wonderful help with this from my good friend and audiologist, Rex Scott. He truly went the second mile and made working a possibility for me with correct hearing aids at the last possible cost (sometimes free). He has also helped some of my children who have this problem. By the time I completely retired from work, the children were married and gone. But with a loving and very active large growing family, being a grandma as well as a mother became even more meaningful and wonderful.
I find being a grandmother and mother is a double blessing and so very much enjoy these years. Though some of my children have subsequently divorced, here are the parents with their children:
Valerie and Brent - Jess, Shawn (deceased), Jill, Jennifer, Brian, Amy, Julie, Megan, and Chelsea
Dan and Sonnie - Brian Daniel, Sherie, Michael (deceased), Jon, Steven, and Wendi
Gloria and Dave - Marianne, Sandra, David Paul, Nicole, and Chad
John and Bonnie - Bret, Jess, Stephen, Michael, and Seth
Douglas and Patricia - Brinton, Scott, Jeffrey, Richard, Paul, Steven
Sylvia and Jeff - Jeffery David (deceased), Deja, Damion, Emily Angela, Jordan. Sylvia and Cam - Cherish
Bruce and Cindy Lee - Jeremy, Jason, Neal, and Nathan (deceased)
Rosalee and Larry - Ryan Adam, Rachel, Tasha, Julie, Carly
Joseph and Gabrielle - Joseph H. II, Thomas Chandler
David and Barbara - Michelle, Andrew, Deborah, Preston, Melinda
Carolee and Steven - Laura Brooke, Amber Nicole, and Jeni
Cynthia and Greg - Melissa and Jason (twins), Andrea, Amanda, Kayla Marie
Mark and Andelyn - Rebecca Elise, Alyssa, Dallin Mark, Franklin Scott, Elaina
I have 67 grandchildren and 38 great grandchildren at this time.
As I finish my story, it is July 2002 and Joe and I are still living on 3350 South. With help from family and painters, we have made some home improvements and hopefully, I will add a picture of our new living room. I am a very healthy 81 year old after a tough illness last spring, wondering whether or not to resume my work as temple ordinance worker. I am enjoying children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. What a great day to be alive! Here are our present vital statistics: Children - 6 girls, 7 boys; grandchildren - 30 girls, 35 boys (3 deceased); great grandchildren - 10 boys, 15 girls. Missions: 30 boys, 1 girl; 2 couples; current missionaries - 5.
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