Item Detail
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Humphries, Verna Durrant
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1906-2001
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MSS SC 822
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Memoirs
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Verna Durrant Humphries was born March 30, 1906 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah to William Rendell Durrant and Mary Elizabeth Horne. Verna was the second oldest of five children born to her mother. Later in her life, the family adopted another little sister whom Verna adored. With her older sister Ardelle, Verna participated in the usual chores expected of girls through which she learned basic homemaking skills. However, Verna was a tomboy at heart who loved to ride horses and help her papa with outdoor work. She was taught early on to drive and ride their horses, and when her dad was a traveling salesman in Logan, she was responsible to take care of their lively cow. Verna adored her father and mother and loved her family with all her heart. She was taught the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ from her early years, and spoke with reverence of the example set by her parents. Verna spent her happy childhood in Driggs, Idaho, until the family moved to Logan, Utah in 1918. In Logan, she attended the Junior High School and experienced great unhappiness as she was taunted and teased by the boys. She had already reached her womanhood height of 5' 4' and was taller than the rest of her classmates. She had inherited her father's large bone structure and was well padded after suffering an almost-fatal attack of typhoid fever when she was younger. She endured those 'tortured days,' but still suffered when put in front of a crowd. Her family was her only comfort, and she was overjoyed when two of her cousins moved to Logan from Driggs, Idaho. She then attended B.Y.C. in Logan, and enjoyed her experience there very much. Just before she graduated, her family moved to Salt Lake City where she attended Henegar's Business College starting in the fall of 1924. She took a 6 month stenographer class after which she worked for Richards & Mitchell, Attorneys, and the Martha Washington Candy Company, and eventually the Utah State Board of Health. Verna was married to Louis Ellis Humphries in the Salt Lake Temple on October 20, 1953. She was always active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints along with her family. Verna was dedicated to her family and involved in extensive family history work. She wrote two books, one from which this biography was taken, entitled, 'Ada's Children.' Verna passed away in 2001.
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Verna's memoirs are nestled within her book written about her father William R. Durrant and her uncle Walter Durrant, entitled, 'Ada's Children.' The book is bound and 141 typed pages in length with some family pictures included. Also included in the collection is a history Verna wrote about her paternal grandfather, William Wendon Dewey Durrant. She was desirous 'to preserve for posterity the lives and characters of [her] father Will and his brother Walter Durrant.' Because this story is written from Verna's point of view, much of her life is included among the stories about her father, her uncle, and their families. Verna wrote in great detail of her childhood in Driggs, Idaho, including both accounts of trial as well as joy. In Driggs, Verna was surrounded by many cousins whose association she treasured and for which she counted herself very blessed. Verna's parents were faithful and diligent to one another and their family, and Verna wrote much of the great character of her parents and Uncle Walter and his family. Verna loved the outdoors and was often outside with her papa or riding bare back on one of the family's horses named Belle. She recalled rejoicing in 1918 on Armistice Day with the members of the community and enduring the hardships of the depression with her family. Verna's father became ill prior to the depression with Parkinson's disease and was never able to work again. Verna worked and with the help of her sisters and brother, supported the family. She sent money to her sister Ardelle every month who was serving a mission in California and also bought a house for her family. At this time, Verna worked for the Utah State Board of Health where she continued until her resignation in 1953 prior to her marriage. Verna recalled that performing was not her forte, but that she was a great audience. She said, 'I was confident that the real me, given a different body, could sing and dance with the best. I'm still a fan of any talented singer, dancer, or thespian, whether child or adult.' She encouraged her little sister Eva to take dance lessons, and said she was then rewarded many times watching her perform. However, Verna loved to sing, and sang in the Logan Tabernacle Choir with her sister Ardelle, as well as with the College Choir at B.Y.C. She felt inconspicuous in the chorus and felt that she could sing her heart out. When at B.Y.C., Verna won the Oratorical Contest sponsored by President Heber J. Grant. She was required to read her composition to the entire student body and was terrified. She recalled that she somehow stumbled through, focusing on her cousin Walter who was supporting her in the audience. Verna was very close to her family and had a special relationship with her father. The week before he died, Verna took him to L.D.S. Hospital and kissed him and told him she loved him. He said, 'I know you do, Verna.' She sacrificed very much for her family in their time of need and worked to help and support her parents. Verna and her sister Ardelle followed in her father's footsteps in genealogical work. While her father was sick, Verna typed his letters, through which they acquired family history information from distant relatives. Verna was full of faith, loyalty, and unselfishness. She is an example to all of love and dedication. Author also wrote 'The Legacy of the Trunk.'
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1884-1968