Happy Birthday Grandma Salmon!

Born in 1903, Grandma would have turned 106 on January 18th. What a great woman she was. Her parents died early...she was only ten when they became orphans...all six of them. Grandma's uncle came down to Utah to pack up Eva and her siblings (except the baby who went to another family member in Wyoming) and brought them back to Canada where she was raised with her cousins. Grandma always said they were treated just like family and no one could tell which ones were the cousins from Utah.

But there was a lot of work for 11 kids! Grandma learned how to be a hard worker...and to not complain about it. She spent a lot of her teenage years working in the mercantile in Raymond to help out at home. When Grandpa Salmon got home from his mission to Eastern Canada, they were married in the Cardston temple. Grandma had three children (Jay, Delores, and Don), and she had them all cesarean section (a highly unusual procedure in 1920s).

She made the best roast beef dinner, and you could peel layers off her rolls and let them melt in your mouth! There were never any lumps in her oatmeal...we had that a lot for breakfast when we would visit so she had lots of practice!


Grandma had a broad-rimmed pink hat she used to wear when she was working in her garden. She had very straight rows...and her carrots were the sweetest carrots I'd ever tasted. We picked lots of crabapples too. And Grandma would make crabapple jelly, crabapple juice, crabapple sauce...ANYTHING crabapple.

When Grandpa died in 1978, Grandma decided to stay at home and live on her own. That would have been a hard adjustment, not only because she lost her sweetheart so early (he was in his late 70s), but also because she didn't drive! Everywhere she went (shopping, to the bank, to Church, etc.) was either on the city bus or with Bob and Mabel (Bob was Grandpa's brother). Grandma was a blessing to our family when she moved in with us six years later. And I was the luckiest of the kids because I was still at home during those years. I appreciate it now more than I did back then.


Grandma Salmon was a 100% visiting teacher. Never missed a month! What an example. And those sisters she visit taught really knew she cared. She took her church callings seriously. Even if it was just keeping track of the Relief Society tablecloths. She'd walk over to the Church during the week to check the tablecloths and then she'd walk over again on Sundays for Church meetings. I don't think she missed her church meetings more than a few times.

Grandma graduated from a cane to a walker while she was living with us. And after a fall in the bath when she was 87, she decided it was time to move to a nursing home. What a wonder woman! Most Grandmas would fight it, kicking and screaming all the way, making their children feel awfully guilty. Grandma told Mom and Dad that she was ready because she knew Mom was having to do more to help her and that wasn't right. Her arthritis had progressed to the point where she was having a hard time with the stairs and moving around our home as well, so she went...without complaining.

Grandma was one of the favorites at the nursing home. She was pleasant and always grateful for anything the nursing staff did for her. She once gave a Book of Mormon to one of her nurses. I think it was Grandma's example, and her kind and loving spirit, that prompted the nurse to take the discussions and join the church.


After she moved to the nursing home, she wasn't able to attend the temple. I think that was hard for her as she and Grandpa had worked in the temple for ten years, and loved the temple so much. But just because she couldn't go, didn't mean she didn't have her recommend current! Each year she'd have Mom or Dad arrange the interviews. Once a newer member of the bishopric came down to interview her and later told Mom and Dad that that evening was one of the most wonderful experiences he had interviewing someone for a temple recommend. Her recommend was so important to her that Grandma kept it in her nightstand drawer.

Her desire to do everything the Lord wanted of her was seen in every facet of her life. She read her scriptures, read the conference talks in the Ensign, listened to and followed the prophets, and was a woman of God. Grandma left a legacy for me...and for all of her posterity. I'm sorry not everyone had a chance to know her. But lucky for us, we know we'll see her again and what a reunion that will be. I just hope I live up to her great example! Happy Belated Birthday Grandma!