Star Valley, Dallas, and a Rifle

Fifty years ago at 5 AM in the dark morning my dad, Jim Hillyard, got up, dressed in his red flannel shirt, rubber boots, and canvas outer coat. He grabbed his rifle and headed out to his borrowed truck. It was hunting season in Star Valley, Wyoming, and he had come with is newly wed wife, Carol, 1,500 miles from Houston, Texas for the deer/elk hunt. Carol having spent the last 5 or 6 years in Houston, Texas, had Texas winter clothing--a light sweater; consequently, she didn't go hunting with Jim. It was a bit early in the morning as well.

Carol wasn't happy to spent the day with her new mother-in-law, Ada Hillyard. This mother-in-law was not happy to lose her youngest son to a beautiful, young girl from southern climes. What would this young woman know of taking care of her Wyoming son? This cherished son came home in the late afternoon from his hunt empty handed.

The next day, November 22, 1963, Ronny, Jim's older brother, directed Jim to a more fertile hunting spot near Palisades Lake. Leisurely walking in a field near the road just north of Etna was an ancient six point deer. Jim says that a Utahn counts the points on both sides of the deer and a Wyoming hunter counts only one side. This deer dropped conveniently near the road and Jim was able to drive up and load it into the truck with help from his hunting buddy. The result is pictured behind Carol in the back of a 1950's pickup. The next day Jim celebrated his 28th birthday

On this same day at noon Lee Harvey Oswald shot and killed John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States.

There was no newscast from CNN which began broadcasting in 1980. Radio and t.v. existed, but the connectedness we have now through internet, cell phone, and wifi devices was unheard of, even maybe undreamt of. The Star Trek communicator didn't come along until 1966.

So, while a crazy, nobody rocked the world by assassinating Pres. Kennedy, Jim cleaned a deer. Carol cleaned the lunch dishes, and Ada ate a bit of white bread in a glass topped with honey and milk. 

"Go On to Capture the Eagle, Daniel"

Daniel turns 11 years old next Monday. Last night was his last pack meeting as a cub scout. He was awarded his Arrow of Light and a plaque with his photo on it. Sister Debbie Norton has been an amazing leader for Daniel who has been the only cub scout his age in our ward for the past two years. We're looking forward to the Anderson family moving into our ward near the end of December because they have four boys. One is 11 years old.

Jared Davey had learned a great presentation for the recipient of the Arrow of Light. He represented an Indian brave who congratulated Daniel on receiving the Arrow of Light and urged him to go forward and catch the eagle--become an eagle scout. It was very well done and I was proud of Jared and thankful for the effort he and his mom have put forth in scripting and costuming.

the Fijian Way Home

Leslie Hillyard
26 March 1895-28 August 1959
Auburn, WY

I never met my father's father while he was alive. I was born in 1965 and he died in  August of 1959. My dad told me that he is thankful he didn't complete his world tour the long way home. Some of his fellow companions who were released after completion of their LDS "Mormon" missions had invited my dad to travel with them to see the world. They would have traveled east and through Europe. Jim's parents had even sent him some hard earned money for this tour.  They didn't want him to miss this opportunity of a lifetime. Jim knew how hard this money was to acquire and felt selfish. He traveled from Sydney to Melbourne and was preparing to take an Italian ship to Europe. The ship employees went on strike and two weeks later with the strike continuing Jim and two companions decided to head home across the Pacific.

Rather than tour Europe my dad left from Melbourne, flew to New Zealand and caught a cruise ship to Hawaii. He flew from Hawaii to LAX, then to Salt Lake City UT. The cruise ship was an improvement over the freighter which he had to take on his way to the Sydney, Australia mission. During his trip across the Pacific he stopped in Fiji and met friendly fellow Mormons. The Fijians had a ward house and the LDS men were able to hold the Priesthood. This was before 1978.

Jim with Fijians

Traveling companions to home.

Jim barely made it home in time to be with his father before he died from a heart attack three weeks later. Leslie had been ill with with a concussion to the head and a severe bleeding ulcer. During Jim's mission Ada and Leslie had headed to Orange County, CA to work for their son-in-law, Byron Thurman. Byron was a manager for Sav-On. Leslie was a talented carpenter and maintained the stores. During his stay in Orange County he had a bleeding ulcer and had 2/3's of his stomach removed.

Leslie Hillyard married to Ada Elizabeth Wood
12 April 1917
Logan UT LDS Temple

Amelia is Leslie's mother

the Hillyard's Auburn Foundation

Grandpa Leslie Hillyard built his family home from the foundation up. Before he built the home in the meadow on the outskirts of Auburn he housed his growing family on the hill north of the "Auburn foundation" as I will call it. The hill location was acquired through the US Governments Homestead Act is what my father told me. 

Meadow outside north of Auburn

Ada and Leslie's Foundation

The home was moved into Afton WY
 abt1964 and sits near the corner of
E 4th Ave and Madison Street.

"I'm Just a Little Black Rain Cloud"--NOT!

As Whitney and I were hauling a tarp of fallen leaves to mulch in the back forty, Whitney found this lovely hornet's nest. It had been cold enough that no insects were left. Maybe it wasn't just the hummingbirds drinking the sugar water from their feeders this summer.

The black berry leaves turn a beautiful red.