Mary Ellen Jensen

 

Ella was the oldest sister of our great grandmother Vilate. I adding a story, newspaper clipping, and letter. They all tell of her getting scarlet fever, dying, and being brought back to life by Lorenzo Snow. He was her uncle, married to her father's, Jacob, sister, Sarah.

Ella Jensen

Ernest Percy Smith

 Ernie is Grandpa George's older brother. Pictured Ernie and George Smith during a Wyoming spring.

Ernest Percy Smith born 26 Mar 1914 in Dykes, Texas, Missouri; died 19 Dec 1998 in Benton, Oregon. He married Clara Bell Allen in Houston, Texas, Missouri in 1935. They moved to Idaho in 1942 and lived in Idaho and Washington until 1979. Clara died in 1975. He married Irene Pugh in Idaho in 1976.

His wrote a life story. It is here.

Vilate Durfey

 

Jacob, her father, wrote of Vilate’s birth in his journal “Eva Vilate was born as a little ray of sunshine to our home.”[1]

Vilate was the ninth child of Jacob and Mary Althea Wight. She kept a book called Treasure of Truth. My copy belonged by my grandma Beth. I have scanned it and attached it below.

Click here to see the scrapbook.

Vilate's information from the family narrative "Gone Too Soon: Eva Vilate Durfey."

Eva "Vilate" Jensen born 16 Dec 1888 in Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah, to Jacob Jensen and Mary Althea Wight and died 22 Sep 1936 near Willard, Box Elder, Utah.[2] She was buried in Beaver Dam Cemetery, Collinston, Box Elder, Utah.[3] She married 9 Oct 1912 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, to Henry Oakley “Oak” Durfey.[4] He was born 29 Feb 1888 in Beaver Dam, Box Elder, Utah, 30 Mar 1964 in San Fernando, Los Angeles, California.[5] He was buried in Beaver Dam Cemetery, Collinston, Box Elder, Utah.[6]


[1] Jacob Jensen, from the journal of Jacob Jensen, (unpublished manuscript), date written unknown, transcription author and date unknown, microfilm 100005015789, item 8, MS 12138, p. 3, held at Church History Library, Salt Lake City, UT. [note: Minnie Snow, Jacob’s niece gave a transcription to the Church History Library.] 
[2] “Utah Death Certificates, 1904-1965,” Willard, Box Elder, Utah, death of Eva Vilate Jensen, 21 Sep 1936, file number 104, digital image, image 4 of 7, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org: accessed 6 Mar 2022) citing Department of Health, Office of Vital Records and Statistics, Death certificates, 1904-1965.
[3] Find a Grave entry for Eva Vilate Jensen Durfey, Memorial #38983501, death 21 Sep 1936, Beaver Dam Cemetery, Beaver Dam, Box Elder, Utah, FindaGrave (http://findagrave.com: accessed 6 Mar 2022).
[4] “Utah Marriages, 1887-1935,” Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah, marriage of Eva Vilate Jensen to Henry O. Durfey, 9 Oct 1912, certificate 1190, digital image, image 486 of 512 FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org: accessed 6 Mar 2022), citing FHL microfilm 4540840. Image must be viewed at FHL or FHC.
[5] “Henry O. Durfey,” The Salt Lake Tribune (Utah), 2 Apr 1964, p. 32, col. 5, Newspapers (https://newspapers.com: accessed 11 Mar 2022).
[6] Find a Grave entry for Henry O Durfey, Memorial #38983494, death 30 Mar 1964, Beaver Dam Cemetery, Beaver Dam, Box Elder, Utah, FindaGrave (http://findagrave.com: accessed 6 Mar 2022).

Carol Durfey

Carol was the last child of Vilate and Oak Durfey. Debbie, her daughter, recorded the video of Carol telling her life story. I am grateful to Debbie for digitizing the video and allowing me to have a copy. With her permission, I share it.

Click here to see the video. 

The information about Carol is from a family narrative I wrote "Gone Too Soon: Eva Vilate Durfey" I thought it might give some context to her scrapbook.

carol durfey born 27 Jan 1929 in Logan, Cache, Utah, died 11 Sep 2014 in American Fork, Utah, Utah[1]. She was buried in Beaver Dam, Box Elder, Utah.[2] She married (1) 22 Jun 1946 in Elko, Nevada, to archie l. brown.[3] She married (2) 22 Mar 1955 in Orange, California to walter dan johnson. She married (3) 17 Sep 1983 in Los Angeles, California, to edward j kislan.[4]

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[1] Blessing certificate, Beaver Dam, Box Elder, Utah, blessing of Carol Durfey, 14 April 1929, no. 16, original in personal collection of redacted for report. Funeral Card, Beaver Dam, Box Elder, Utah, funeral of Carol Durfey Kislan, 16 Sept 2014, original in personal collection of redacted for report.

[2] Find a Grave entry for Carol Durfey, Memorial #204938512, death 27 Jan 1929, Beaver Dam Cemetery, Beaver Dam, Box Elder, Utah, FindaGrave (http://findagrave.com: accessed 25 Apr 2022).

[3] “Nevada County Marriages, 1862-1993,” Elko Marriage licenses 1944-1947, Elko, Nevada, marriage of Carolyn Lee Durfey to Archie L. Brown, 22 Jun 1946, certificate 6667, digital image, image 1894 or 3976, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org: accessed 18 Mar 2022), citing FHL microfilm 5247202.

[4] “California Marriage Index, 1960-1985,” Los Angeles, California, marriage of Carol D Johnson to Edward J. Kislan, 17 Sep 1983, certificate 31688, digital image, image 197 of 269, Ancestry (http://ancestry.com: accessed 18 Mar 2022) citing California marriage Index 1980-1985.

 

Phyllis Durfey Scrapbook

Phyllis was the firstborn of Vilate and Oak Durfey. Jolene Barton, who lived for Phyllis for a time,  put together this scrapbook of Phyllis's life. I am grateful to Jolene for assembling this book and allowing me to scan it.

Click here to see the scrapbook. 

The information about Phyllis below is from a family narrative I wrote "Gone Too Soon: Eva Vilate Durfey" I thought it might give some context to her scrapbook.

phyllis² durfey born 17 Dec 1914 in Beaver Dam, Box Elder, Utah, died 20 Mar 1999 in Orem, Utah, Utah.[1] She was buried in Timpanogos Memorial Gardens, Orem, Utah, Utah.[2] She married (1) 22 Dec 1936 in Cache, Utah to lucius melvin hale.[3] They divorce 8 Dec 1950 in Idaho Falls, Bonneville, Idaho.[4] She married (2) 29 Mar 1957 in the Los Angeles Temple, Los Angeles, California, to loomis julius richardson.[5]

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[1] “Phyllis Durfey Richardson” Orem-Geneva Times, (Utah), 24 Mar 1999, p. 4 col. 1, digital image, Newspapers (http://newspapers.com: accessed 18 March 2022).

[2] Find a Grave entry for Phyllis Durfey Richardson, Memorial #8686799, death 20 Mar 1999, Timpanogos Memorial Gardens, Orem, Utah, Utah, FindaGrave (http://findagrave.com: accessed 6 Mar 2022).

[3]“Utah, County Marriages, 1871-1941,” Cache, Utah, marriage of Phyllis Durfey to Lucius Melvin Hale, 22 Dec 1936, p. 531, digital image, image 666 of 1472, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org: accessed 6 Mar 2022), citing FHL microfilm 4540829.

[4] “Idaho Divorce Index, 1947-196,” Bonneville, Idaho, divorce of Phyllis Hale and Lucius M. Hale, 8 Dec 1950, certificate 2515, digital image, image 5028 of 10842, Ancestry (https://ancestry.com: accessed 18 Mar 2022), citing Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics; Boise, Idaho; State Divorce Index, 1947-1969.

[5] “California, County Marriages, 1850-1952,” Los Angeles, California, marriage of Phyllis Durfey Hale to Loomis Julius Richardson, 29 Mar 1957, certificate 7462, digital image, image 1463 of 3136, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org: accessed 18 Mar 2022).

Durfey Documents

Vilate with Daughters

Beth, Vie, Phyllis, Carol, Vilate, Iris

Taken during the Francillo Durfey reunion in Logan Canyon

This blog will be for posting Durfey Documents. I will put up a collection about once a month. It will be linked to a Google folder. 

Everyone will be allowed to download whatever documents or collections they would like during the month. The next month a new post with new documents will be uploaded. 

I plan to begin on July 1st.

Hope you enjoy

Allyson Smith-Maughan