Bits and tidbits

Recent news from family members

Kira (Dale and LeAnn’s family) posted on Labor Day: “Last night Scarlett shocked herself trying to plug in a nightlight, which was super sad and scary. I think the electricity must have done something to her because she has been a perfect angel all day and decided to potty train herself. No accidents all day. She just woke up this morn­ing and magically knew how to use the potty.”

Chuck McAllister’s mother, Margaret Ellen Linford McAllister, died September 7, due to complications of pneumonia. She was 71 years old. Chuck is Kay’s son-in-law, married to Andrea. According to the obituary, she was “survived by her husband of 50 years, Karl W. McAllister, six children: Karl David, Benjamin L., Charles Mark, Adam James, Paul Samuel and Heather, also 25 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

“Born November 25, 1944 in SLC to Duane H. Linford and Mary Ellen McDonald, Margaret was the oldest of five living children. A graduate of Granite High, she excelled in the arts, and music, and became a ‘Sterling Honor’ of Home Eco­nom­ics. After earning her Bachelors and Masters degrees, she taught ‘Special Ed.’ for 30 years, and was beloved by all her students.

“Love of family and motherhood were her most cherished and honored achievements. She excelled in every cooking and sewing skill, but especially enjoyed creating many unique heir­looms quilts and artful embroideries.”

The funeral was held on September 12 in Lehi.

For Claudia’s and my family this is “the year of the move.” Five months ago we had children spread across all of the time zones in the conti­nental United States: Becca and Cade in Fall­brook, California (Pacific time zone); Rachael and Robert in Harris­burg, Illinois (Central time zone); Eliza and Paul in Cumming, Georgia (Eastern time zone); and the other five in Utah (Mountain time zone).

In June Becca and Cade moved from southern California to St. George. Cade’s contract work for the military can be done largely from home, and they are in St. George (either permanently or tem­porarily; they’ll know in January) helping to care for Cade’s mom and grandma.

The same month Rachael and Robert moved from southern Illinois to Kaysville. Robert, a medical doctor, is now working for Inter­moun­tain Health Care, working at InstaCares in Weber and Davis counties.

And this coming week Eliza and Paul are moving from Georgia to somewhere in Utah (initially staying with us here in Bountiful until their house in Georgia sells and they decide where they want to buy a home here along the Wasatch Front). Paul, a pharmacist, will become a manager for a new pharmacy probably to be located some­where in the north end of Utah County.

And two of our Utah children moved: Anna and Pete to a new home in the Yalecrest area (also known as the Harvard-Yale area) of Salt Lake City and Mary and Vince from our basement into Anna and Pete’s former house in the Sugar House area of Salt Lake.