Vaughn Elbert Shields was born Monday, March 6, 1916 in South Jordan, Utah to David A. and Elizabeth Sheppick Shields.
He married Myrle Miner on September 2, 1936 in American Fork, Utah; later solemnized in the Logan Temple.
He served in the U.S. Army during WWII. He was a successful barber in Murray for over 35 years. He loved people, loved to talk, and always had a smile to share. He was fun loving and never lost his sense of humor.
His hobbies included bowling, golf, and watching football and basketball with his family. He took great pride in his beautiful yard. His greatest loves in life were his wife and family. He lovingly taught us all patience, honesty and the value of hard work. We all looked to him for advice and encouragement.
He taught us to be proud of who we are and to enjoy the simple things in life. You were the greatest husband, dad, and grandfather to us all. We will miss you very much.
Vaughn passed away on Sunday, January 11, 1998 at his home after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease. He resided at 6196 South Cedar Street (100 West) in Murray, Utah at the time of his death.
He was survived by his wife, Myrle; children, Earl V. Shields (Barbara); Joane Gile (Darrell), Marlene Feurer (Ralph); 11 grandchildren; and 25 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one grandson.
Funeral Services were held on Thursday, January 15, 1998 at 11:00 a.m. in the Murray Twenty-First Ward Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located at 10 West 6100 South in Murray, Utah. A visitation was held on Wednesday from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, 4760 South State Street (100 East), and on Thursday from 10:00 until 10:45 a.m. at the Church.
Vaughn was laid to rest following the conclusion of the Funeral Services at the Murray City Cemetery in Murray.
REST IN PEACE.
Leo Emerald Miner was born April 10, 1922 in Hinckley, Utah. He was the 8th of 9 children born to George and Lillie Miner. When he was 4 years old his family moved to a 50 acre farm on the East Bench of American Fork. He told us that though his family was poor they were very happy and he had an enjoyable childhood. He did his share of the chores as he got older. He tended the cows, taking them to the pastures, milking and feeding them. He also made sure the chickens and pigs were fed and helped with the planting of the corn. His favorite animal on the farm was his horse. He remembered saddling him up and riding him whenever he could.
He met Donna Lee Eves at a high school basketball game. He became quite attached to this "good looking blond" and was heart broken when she took a job in California. He tried dating other girls but couldn't get Donna out of his head. He proposed to Donna through the mail - even sending a ring in the envelope. She accepted and they set a date.
He and Donna were married September 24, 1941 in the Salt Lake Temple. They rented a home in Salt Lake for a few months and soon had enough for a down payment on a nice brick home. After a short year and four months, Leo was drafted into the Army. He was sent to Camp Williams for basic Training. He then received orders that sent him to Africa.
While in Africa he received word through the Red Cross that his baby daughter, Donna Marie had been born. He spent 2 1/2 years serving his country in Africa and Italy. While overseas Donna moved to California with her parents. She met Leo in San Pedro when he was discharged. He attended Long Beach City College while working in his brother's auto body shop. He established his own shop in Covina. In 1949 they started building their home in Covina.
Working on cars was not only a profession but a hobby. Leo loved watching a wreck of a car transform under his skilled hands.
Leo was very shy as a young man though is not remembered that way. He attributed his outgoing nature later in life to his service in the church. His leadership positions were many and he grew with each one. He served as counselor to two bishops and as Bishop for 5 years.
In 1970 he was invited by Citrus College to set up the Vocational Program in Auto Body and Painting for them. He was very excited. He attended UCLA to receive his teaching credentials. The program at Citrus was very successful.
In 1977 he was called to the Stake President's office where Apostle Bruce R. McConky called him to serve as a Patriarch in the Covina Stake. This was a very humbling experience for him. He was thrilled over the years to be able to give many of his own grandchildren their patriarchal blessings. He was especially thankful for that opportunity. And even though his body was weak he sounded as strong as ever as he pronounced the blessings.
Because of his strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and his love of people, missionary work always held a special place in his heart. He served four Stake Missions with his wife teaching many people about the Gospel plan. In his life history he write: "In 1988 I filled a promise that I made to my mother nearly 40 years before, that I would go and fulfill a full-time mission for the Church. He and Donna were called as full-time missionaries to the Minnesota Minneapolis Mission. They helped to restore the Hutchison Branch and Leo was called as the Branch President.
In 1992 Leo was diagnosed with acute leukemia. This was a great shock to all of us. The prognosis from his oncologist was not good. But he was strong and had great faith that his time on the earth was not done. He was in the hospital for approximately two weeks receiving chemotherapy. Tests showed the cancer cells were still there so he had a follow up treatment of chemo. His time in the hospital was not spent just lying in bed. He played games with his family when they visited, talked on the phone to loved ones far away, and of course, taught the gospel to every nurse, orderly, and hospital employee who came into his room. Some were quite receptive.
The Dr. was pleased when the leukemia went into remission. Leo had fairly good health for the next two years and went about his life as usual. He worked hard in his church callings, had a car in the garage to work on and enjoyed time with his family.
We all knew that the remission was temporary and in late 1994 the leukemia returned. The last year and a half was filled with many ups and down but Leo was always optimistic and happy. He loved his dear wife and praised her endlessly for the selfless service she gave to him. She was there at his beckon call eager and happy to do whatever she could to see to his comfort.
His last few days were spent in a hospital bed in the frontroom of their home on Kingside Drive. He passed away early Friday morning, June 7, 1996.
Leo loved to share his testimony. He wrote, "I know beyond any doubt that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth here in this latter day in its fullness for us to partake of. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God visited by Heavenly messengers restoring the various keys and scriptures that were necessary that His kingdom may continue to roll forth. These things I humbly bear witness of, without a shadow of a doubt in my mind concerning the truthfulness of the Church - the only true and living church on the face of the earth here in the latter days."
Life sketch given by Vickie at Mom's Funeral: Donna Lee Eves "Miner" was born April 28th, 1923 in Storrs, Carbon County Utah. Storrs was a very small mining town renamed Spring Canyon a year later. Donna was the fifth child born to Jasper and Inez Eves. She had 5 brothers and 5 sisters. For some reason Mom taught us to recite their names: Elva, Sonny, Leo, Katie, Donna, Dorothy, Roy, Richard, Ilene, Jay and Connie. Just a couple of weeks ago she smiled as she said all their names.
When Donna was 2 years old her family moved to a small farm in Pleasant Grove, in an area called Manilla, near the mouth of American Fork. She remembered raising chickens, pigs, rabbits and even a cow. One of her jobs was herding the cow along the ditch banks to graze. Donna learned to be a hard worker and how to keep a clean house. When she was old enough, she earned money picking fruit; strawberries, raspberries, apples,cherries, peaches and pears.
She joined the 4-H club when she was 10 years old. Donna learned to sew, darn & cook. She would work alongside her mama and sisters in the kitchen making 8 - 10 loaves of bread, 2 or 3 times a week. They also canned hundreds of bottles of fruit and vegetables. She babysat and cleaned house for some neighbors earning herself a good reputation.
Donna attended school in Pleasant Grove. She was a bit of a tomboy and loved sports. She always told us what a fast runner she was. She played on the schools girl basketball team and girls touch football team.
Donna met Leo her future husband when she was in the 10th grade. He lived in American Fork and she saw him at a basketball game. She had noticed him up in the stands and at the dance after the game Leo came up to her and asked her to dance. She told him she didn't dance, but they talked and he ended up taking her home that night.
In 1939 Donna entered a 4-H club contest and she WON an all expense paid trip to Chicago. After graduating from Pleasant Grove High School she was offered a job as a housekeeper and nanny for a doctor in Hollywood, California. Leo didn't want her to go but Donna thought it was time. They kept in touch through the mail. After a month or so of writing back and forth Leo proposed. Donna accepted & she received her ring through the mail. They were married September 24th, 1941 in the Salt Lake Temple.
Donna and Leo worked hard for the next year and a half at a small arms plant in Salt Lake. Donna ran a big machine and inspected the bullets as they were released. They were in 7th heaven when she announced they were expecting their first child. Shortly thereafter Leo was drafted into the army for WWII. Donna moved back home with her parents and baby Donna Marie was born while Leo was far away in Italy.
Donna's mom (Inez Davis "Eves") health began to fail and she needed a warmer climate, so while Leo was overseas Donna and baby moved to California with her family. Donna got a job as "Rosie the Riveter" in El Monte where they assembled airplanes. The war finally ended and Leo came home to meet his little daughter for the first time on her 2nd birthday. Shortly after they bought a home and their second child was born in Long Beach, another girl....Ruth Ann.
Donna's Mom, Grandma Eves health was getting worse, so they sold their home and moved into a trailer in Grandma and grandpa's back yard so she could help her more. While living in this little trailer they were blessed with their third child, a boy this time....Ronald Leon.
With a growing family they bought a lot in Covina and started build their new home. In 1949 Leo, Donna and three kids moved into their dream home (the one we all remember on Kingside Dr.). The last three girls Linda Sue, Victoria Lee and Jullie Rae were born there.
Donna served in all the auxiliaries in the church; Primary, Mutual, Sunday School and Relief Society. She was a counselor and Relief Society President for 5 1/2 years. Countless Ward dinners found her in the kitchen and she worked endlessly on Ward bazaars.
Donna and Leo loved going to the temple. They served 4 stake missions together. In1988 they were called to serve as full time missionaries in the Minneapolis, Minnesota Mission.
Leo passed away June 1996 and a year later Donna sold the family home and built an addition on to Jullie's house here in Claremont, where she has lived the last 19 years.
Donna loved spending time with her family. She has 3 children here in California that enjoyed weekly visits with her playing games, eating and shopping. She has 3 children in Utah and would travel once or twice a year and spend some time with the families up there.After Leo went overseas (WW II) Donna sold the little house they had purchased and moved in with her parents. She was expecting their first child. Little Donna Marie was born 28 October 1943.
Donna (Donna Lee Eves Miner) called her parents 'Papa' and 'Mama.' Mama's health began to fail so she and Papa moved to California to live with Elva (their oldest daughter) with hopes that the change in climate would help. Donna stayed home in Manilla, Utah and cared for her younger brothers and sisters. The move to California did indeed make a difference so Papa planned to return to Utah, sell the house and take the family back with him.
Papa soon purchased a home in Baldwin Park, California. At this time Katie's (Katie is Donna's sister just older than her) husband, Roy, was also serving in the military but he was stationed in California. Donna packed up all the furniture and canned goods in Mama's and Papa's house in Manilla, Utah and shipped them to California. Donna sold her car because some man had told her it wouldn't make the trip. Later, Leo said the car would have been just fine, but at the time the decision was totally up to Donna and she trusted what she had been told.
Katie wanted to be in California to be near her husband so she and Donna loaded up her car and headed for California. There were Katie, Donna, baby Marie, Roy, Richard, Ilene, Jay, and Connie. The car was stuffed not only with the eight people but with Marie's pottie chair, a gas stove and clothes galore. They also had to carry a 10-gallon can of oil for Katie's car which was always running low on oil.
Donna held Marie on her lap on a pillow all the way. Marie was 5 months old at the time. It was the first time Donna's brothers and sisters had been on a trip. They all enjoyed the scenery and the adventure of it all.
Mama and Papa's house in California (Baldwin Park) was really nice with a large upstairs where most of them slept. At last an indoor bathroom! There was a large yard so they had plenty of room for Donna too. Mama tended Marie and Donna went to work. First at the '5 and 10 Cent Store' in Covina. Her sister, Dorothy, worked there too and they had fun.
Donna was about 5 years old in 1928. She remembers that Papa had an old truck with wooden sides. He would fill the back with fruits and vegetables, mostly home grown, and drive to town to sell them. The people waited for him to buy his produce – tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, plums, apples, etc. Mama would go sometimes because that’s where her mother and one sister lived. She left Elva in charge. Elva put the kids to work cleaning the house. As little as I was, I remember pushing the mop. When the house was clean Elva would make all the kids go outside so the house would stay clean. One time, Leo got mad at being kept out of the house and put his fist through a window. Since Mama and Papa were not home the kids ran to the neighbors and asked if they would drive him to the doctor.
Papa would run a big reaper to cut the wheat. He would go to the neighbors and cut the fields to earn a little money. By noon he was several miles away. Mama would always fix a nice noon meal for him, chicken, potatoes, fruit, bread, and one of the kids would walk it over to him.
Mama would walk 2 ½ miles to the store to get the few things she needed (sugar, flour, baking powder, baking soda, etc). The kids would take turns walking with her. I remember neighbors driving past us as we walked and I’d think to myself, ‘You just wait until I get a car. I’ll pass you by!”
Papa never took anyone to the doctor. He would make the diagnosis and decide the best treatment. For a bad cold or cough he had us kids get under a blanket and keep piling on the blankets until we were sweating like a stuck pig. Then he would take us in the kitchen by the stove and rub us down with alcohol.
Papa was always the first one to the outhouse every morning. In the winter he would make a trail through the snow. The Sears and Roebuck catalog was our toilet paper.Sunday morning you could always find Papa leaning on his shovel, watching the water go down the rows of his beautiful garden. His celery was the best around, even the stores were interested in selling it.
As a kid I thought Papa was mean, in fact I was scared of him. I only got a few hard spankings from him. He made us go out and get our own stick for him to use on us. We had to be careful what we brought back or he would go out and find one.
The last time I remember him slapping me was when I was 17 and in the twelfth grade. i had sloughed school and hitch-hiked to Salt Lake to see Leo. I was picked up by the truant officers and taken back to school. We had to tell our parents and bring a note from them.
Papa hated to see his daughters start dating. When I went on my first date he said he would leave home if I went. I told him he could leave. I cried and cried before I left. Leo and I passed him about half a mile from home. i was so glad to find him at home when I returned.
When Papa got older he would get together with Ilene and Connie and me once a week for lunch. We would spend the day talking and eating. The last week we were together, as I took him home to Jasper's he asked if I wanted to kiss him good-bye. A few days later he died.
My earliest memories of Mama are of what a hard worker she was. We didn't have much in the way of material possessions, but everything was always clean. Saturday mornings she would work with all the girls cleaning cupboards, scrubbing walls and floors. I'll never forget fly season. We would open all the doors and shoo in as many flies as we could. Then we would spray the whole house with fly spray. We swept up dust pans full of dead flies.
We all worked together during canning season too. The one with the smallest hands washed bottles in the big wash tub and watched the pressure cooker, making sure it didn't get too hot. The rest of us would help get the fruit and vegetables ready for canning.
We all took our turn making bread, 7 or 8 loaves every other day. Mama taught all of us by being a good example.
She made sure all of her children went to church. I can still hear her saying, "you better get going or I'll call your Dad." She stayed home and cooked and wonderful chicken dinner.
After World War II was over and I had two little girls, Mama got so sick she had to stay in a hospital bed in their front room. I talked Leo into selling our home in Compton and living in a trailer in Mama's back yard. I had my only son while living there. I would lay him on the bed next to Mama while I did the washing, which took hours, and cleaned the house.
Although we didn't receive a lot of outward expressions of love, like hugs and kisses, we knew Mama loved us. She was a very special person.
Donna was quite the tom-boy. She loved to climb trees, steal fruit, heard cows and play with the neighbor boys. She was even willing to put on the boxing gloves and fight with them, for fun of course.
Papa was proud of his strong, athletic daughter. He bet one of the neighbors that he couldn't catch Donna in a race. She was about 11 years old. The man took the bet and the race was on. They ran down through the field, across the road and down through Swenson's, Donna in the lead. The man called out and asked Donna to let him catch her. "no way, No way."
In the 9th grade, Donna went to California and lived with Elva for nine months to help out.
In the 10th grade she won a trip to Chicago, all expenses paid, for her achievements in 4H club. She had worked in 4H for 6 years. When she returned from Chicago, Leo came over for a date. As they drove up to the Manila church house, Leo couldn't keep his eyes off of her. As he told her how cute she looked in her new hat, watching her instead of the road, he ran right into the ditch. They had to go find a neighbor and ask him to get his horse and pull the car out.
The high school had a posture parade every year. The girls would go into the gym at lunch time and march around. About 30 of them would be chosen for having the best posture. Donna was always last.
She enjoyed sports in high school too. She was on the school base ball team, the girl's football team, and the basketball team. She loved competing with the other schools.
In the 11th grade, Donna was chosen Queen of the Gold and Green Ball. Not having a dress fancy enough for the occasion, she borrowed a lovely dress from Edith's sister.
When Donna was 17 years old and a Senior at Pleasant Grove High School, she told Mama and Papa one day that she wouldn't be home after school. She told them she was going to spend the night at her girl friend's house, June Pearl West. Instead of even going to school, Donna and June hitch-hiked to Salt Lake to see Leo.
Leo lived in a trailer behind his brother's house. He wasn't home when the girls got there so they went in the trailer to wait for him. As they entered the trailer and shut the door, they found it had locked and they couldn't get it open. Donna proceeded to clean the trailer (does that sound typical?) washing dishes and sweeping the floor. When that was done she started looking for a way out. She found an opening under the bed, a small door for packing things from the outside. Donna and June both crawled through the little opening and sat outside the trailer until Leo came home.
Donna met Leo at a basketball game in Pleasant Grove High School gym. Pleasant Grove was playing American Fork. She had noticed Leo standing on the top bench of the bleachers. He was tall and skinny and was wearing a stocking cap. After the game she was standing by the doors and he asked her for a dance. She said "I don't dance", so they went out in the hall and talked. He took her home and lined up another date. His mother asked him how the evening went and he told her he had lost his crank to the car, but had found another. Donna went with Leo for three years before he told her that he loved her. She had a job offer in California working as a housekeeper for a Dr. Judd. Leo asked her not to go and she said she wouldn't, but she changed her mind. She told Leo she would wait for him and he sent her an engagement ring through the mail. The day her ring came, she ran to her room and put it in the dresser drawer. That evening she opened it. Of course it was beautiful and she had a good cry. She was supposed to work for the Judd's for a year, but after four months Leo came and got her. They were married in September.
Donna enjoyed being a wife, keeping her little house clean. She would often surprise Leo by washing car parts and having them all laid out on the sidewalk. Leo overhauled cars to make a little extra money even though the $80.00 a month he made working at the railroad depot was enough to pay the rent and eat well.
When World War II broke out, Donna and Leo both worked at the small arms plant in Salt Lake City. They saved their money and bought their first home, 1362 South 2nd East. But the good time didn't last forever. Leo was soon sent over seas, and Donna was expecting their first child. While Leo was in Africa their first daughter was born. After the war ended he came home and saw their daughter, who had just turned two.
"My happiest days of life were having precious children and caring for my family. I was blessed with five daughters and one son. Leo had always been a wonderful husband. I know it was him that kept me close to the church. We still have great times when we're with our loved ones. I enjoy my 28 grandchildren and love each one dearly.
I love the Gospel and I do have a testimony. One Sunday when I was sick and home alone, I was reading the Book of Mormon and I prayed to know if it was true. It's hard to explain the feeling that came over me, but I know it was the Holy Ghost telling me it was true. Without the Gospel, life would be meaningless."
Donna
Leo went to California to bring Donna home from her job as a housekeeper and nanny for Dr. and Mrs. Judd. They got home the first part of September. The wedding date had been set for September 24th, so there was a lot of work to be done. The wedding announcements were purchased and delivered and preparations made for the reception. Donna, the little homemaker she had always been taught to be, even took time to bottle 3 or 4 dozen quarts of peaches for the winter.
Leo, in the meantime, was being the responsible groom-to-be. He was looking for a place he and his bride could call home. His brother, Ferron, and his family were in the process of moving to California so Leo bought Ferron's furniture and made arrangements to rent Ferron's home. The home was at 1158 E. Browning Avenue in Salt Lake City.
Donne wondered where she was going to get her wedding dress. Her Mom and Dad didn't have much money so she didn't expect them to buy her one. Leo and Donna visited quite often with his brother, Pete, and his wife, Pat. Pat had bought a lovely white dress in hopes of going to the temple herself, but it hadn't happened and the dress hung, unused, in the closet. She asked Donna if she would like to use it to enter the temple. Just like in Cinderella, the dress fit perfectly.
The wedding day came. September 24, 1941. A beautiful, sunny, September day. Leo drove to Donna's house to pick her up at about 5:30 in the morning. Donna's mother was not able to go to the temple with them but she wanted to be as near as she could, so she went with them. They drove to Salt Lake and took Donna's mother to a friend's house ( the Southwicks). She would wait there for them.
Leo and Donna drove to the Salt Lake Temple and entered hand in hand. They went to the dressing rooms and changed into their white clothing. Everything was so beautiful. Just being in the Temple brought a peaceful, happy feeling. Leo and Donna felt like they were in heaven. Everything went smoothly and they were sealed to one another for time and all eternity.
Leo and Donna left the Temple as man and wife, sealed to one another for time and all eternity, happier than they ever thought they could be. They picked up Donna's mother and started back to Utah county.
The reception was held in the Manilla Ward House. Leo's mother had made all the arrangements. There was a band to provide music for dancing and a program had been planned. One of the neighbors, who knew the couple and their circumstances, had written a poem. They called for Leo and Donna to come to the front to stand while the poem was being read. Leo was no where to be found. So Donna stood by herself and smiled as the poem was read.
Leo was off hiding his car. He well knew what was in store if his friends got hold of it. Another tradition that had them worried was the stealing of the bride. Donna had decided earlier that she wasn't going to wear the borrowed wedding dress to the reception for fear of it being ruined. Instead she wore a pink formal. Sure enough as the evening came to a close a group of young men from the ward tried to steal Donna away. The idea was to get her away from the groom, take her some distance from the reception and leave her to walk back. Sounds pretty cruel and pointless to me, but each generation has their own idea of a good time. With all the pushing and pulling the beautiful pink formal was torn.
Leo managed to get Donna into the car and they sped away. But they didn't go far. They parked in a nearby orchard and waited until the coast was clear to return to the ward house and collect some of their things. They hadn't set things up in their new home, in fact Donna hand't even seen it. They retrieved some of their gifts: dishes, pans, bedding, etc. then headed for Salt Lake. Donna was very pleased with the little house when they got there.
Daughter of Linel John Larsen and Elnore Jane Peck.
BIRTH: Also shown as Born Fairview, Sanpete, Utah Territory, United States.
DEATH: Also shown as Died Provo, Utah, Utah.
BURIAL: Also shown as Buried Provo City Cemetery, Provo, Utah, Utah, United States.
Leah Miner Stansfield - Obituary
Leah Miner Stansfield 1919-2015Leah Miner Stansfield, age 96 of Springville [Utah], died Tuesday, September 29, 2015 at her home surrounded by her loving family.
She was born July 1, 1919 in Fairview, Utah to Lester and Sylvia Anderson Miner, the fifth of six children. She married Russell Neil Stansfield of Mt. Pleasant, Utah on November 2, 1946. Their marriage was late solemnized in the Manti LDS Temple.
She received her early education in Fairview and graduated from North Sanpete High School. After graduating from B.Y.U. in Elementary Education she worked in Salt Lake City, and then joined the war effort working in San Diego, California and later transferring to Colorado Springs where she worked for the Second Air Force. After her marriage and five children later, she spent the next twenty years teaching kindergarten and first grade in the Alpine and Provo School Districts.
She was an active member of the L.D.S. Church and held both teaching and leadership positions. She and her husband both completed an LDS Mission in 1981 serving in St. George, Utah where they rotated among the church historical sites and the St. George Temple Visitor's Center. She also served as an ordinance worker in the Provo L.D.S. Temple.
She loved the mountains, camping, hiking, children, her faith and missionaries. She was devoted to her children and their families, calling them the "greatest joy in life".
She is survived by two sons and three daughters: Russell C. Stansfield (Darlene), Camille Palmer (Terry) of Mapleton; Molly Anderson (Gary), Cynthia Kuhni (Dallan) and Michael Stansfield (Mary) of Springville; 19 grandchildren and 50 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, her son-in-law Dallan Kuhni and her three brothers and two sisters.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, October 6 at 11 a.m. in the Hobble Creek Stake Center, 495 South Canyon Road. A viewing will be held from 9:00 to 10:45 a.m. Tuesday prior to the funeral. Burial will be in the Springville Evergreen Cemetery.
Condolences may be sent at www.wheelermortuaries.com.