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| Trent and Dale Ray September, 1971 |
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| Baby David Anson and Shirleen |
It was Dale's turn to pick a name. He had already decided on the names he liked. Maria if it was a girl, and David Anson if it was a boy. David for his Great Grandfather David Timothy and Anson was his (Dale's) own middle name. I really liked the choice of name. It really felt good! It has always fit him. David is calm, wise, and loves being with the youth. The youth take to him easily. He is an excellent father. He clearly loves his girls.
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| Dale Ray, Shirleen and Dale David Anson and Trent D. |
On 11 January, 1972 another baby had tried to crowd in front of David's birth miscarried. We were six to seven weeks into maybe getting a new baby in September or early October 1973. I had taught a Relief Society lesson earlier in the day and wasn't feeling my normal self. Almost as soon as I entered the house I could plainly tell I was gradually feeling worse and showing signs of hemorrhage. Dale was not at home. Mother and Dad came to my rescue. Dad took the boys home with him and Mother and I went to the hospital.
During my lifetime I have gained a personal belief that life begins at conception. Mother had five miscarriages and so I had learned and felt that this belief was right. Mother was told as a young girl that she would have ten children. She had ten children and raised only five. I prayed some years later that I might know the gender of our two loses. I was shown that this one was a boy. Another between Michelle and Rayma was a girl. It is pleasing to think of our family, as consisting of four boys and four girls. We have chosen to name this one Anson Dale. The name is English meaning Anne or Agnes' son, son of God. His name bearer following him would carry his name also, David Anson. David is Hebrew meaning beloved. David put the tile in one of our bathrooms and tiled in the star of David to finish it off. One would not notice unless shown. It makes the beautiful work even more special. When Dale and I were dating he would not tell me his middle name. I felt that he did not like it. I like the uncommon and seldom used names. As I write this paragraph I have a soft warm feeling, witnessing what I'm typing is true.
Like his brothers, David became acquainted with his extended family. There were those that came occasionally from Salt Lake City for special holidays, weekends, or an occasional visit. Even though Dale Ray was our only child at the time the picture below was taken, it does contain many of the Van Leuven family.
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| Back left to right - Ray and Valerie, Dale and Dale Ray, Kent is a single guy. Middle left to right - Jeanine, Grandmother Vera Van Leuven, Shirleen. Front left to right - Jerry Ray, Lauri. |
Kent married Karen Lee Pederson on 1 November, 1974. A year after David was born. They began their married life in Springville, Utah after purchasing a nice new home. I remember thinking how lucky Karen must have felt. They later sold their home and moved to Salt Lake City.
Born to them were Kimberly and Kory. They were the 4 Ks, Kent, Karen, Kimberly, and Kory. Kimberly started Kent and Karen's family by being born 26 May, 1976. Maria was born a year ahead on 31 May, 1975.
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| The 4 Ks Karen, Kent, Kimberly and Kory. |
Shirleen's side of the family was expanding also. Those already here were Chad, (Jeanne's), Jerry, Danette, (Vonae's), Shannon, Nicole, and Micah (Lanette's), and Lance (Raymond's). And of course Dale Ray and Trent. Birth dates and other important dates can be found in the family genealogy files and records in the care of Dale and Shirleen Van Leuven.
I have a story or two to tell on David and myself. If I don't, then my family will surely embarrass me at my own funeral. The only fairness will be that I'll have the veil drawn between them and me. They will not be able to see my blushing cheeks. One is about a coat and the other is about a mop. Okay the coat first! I had purchased two warm winter furry coats for Dale Ray and Trent. One was blue and the other brown (Dale Ray and Trent called them the bear coats). Really nice coats! At least I thought so! Mothers want their children to be warm during the winter months. I was no exception. Once the boys out grew them, I passed them on to the next child. One day as we traveled home from Vernal, David was on my lap and we all were eating Cheetos. I can't believe we were eating in the car because normally Dale forbid eating in the vehicles. Never! Not-ta! Or a severe tongue lashing! Likely Dale was thinking that he'd be cleaning out the car anyway that day or soon. Otherwise, it would not have happened. Dale liked a clean car inside and out!
Oh, by the way...an interesting side story that I'd like to share. Uncle Duayne Johnson was the one responsible of introducing the infant car seat before it became law to the Utah legislatures, while serving with Governor Calvin L. Rampton. Duayne was part of the Utah Senate. Anyway, back to us eating Cheetos. I hate anything on my hands! The bear coat that David had on was conveniently in reach so I wiped the Cheetos mess on it. I rationalized in my mind that I needed to put it in the laundry when we got home. His older brothers discovered David had become a rag causing them to laugh and point at him. David's strange looks back at them caused a ever living memory that will not erase from the minds of Dale Ray and Trent. It took a few minutes for me to discover what was causing the stifled commotion. At least I have never wiped their noses on the tail of their shirt. The dust from Cheetos is a lot less threatening! The coats had been through many a wash and came out looking like new. So what makes this an ongoing story?! They have never let us forget! The story still gets shared with reoccurring giggles. I believe it grows with every retelling!
On 14th of December, 1974, we added to the colorful Christmas lights in our home by having our garage near the house catch fire. Dale had been burning weeds during the day and apparently a spark was still alive and remained hidden until after dark. Dale Ray first noticed the sounds of bullets exploding before the rest of us became concerned. Dale Ray was not too young to remember this bit of Christmas excitement. Dale Ray had gone to the window to see who had closed a car door. Dale told him not to be peeking out the window and whoever it was would be at the door shortly. Dale Ray waited but no one knocked so curious he returned to peer out again, saying the garage is on fire. The garage was a total loss with many stored boxes full of memories, bullets etc. We were lucky that the house did not catch fire before it was put out. Many neighbors came to our assistance or we could have easily lost our home. Thank goodness the garage was not attached to the house! It sat forward and apart to the west of our newly remodeled home.
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| David, Dale, and Trent. Taken in living room of our first LaPoint home located on the LaPoint Road May 1975. Dale Ray was taking piano lessons. Picture taken close to the time of the brown (bear) coat. |
David attended LaPoint Headstart, rode the bus to Maeser Elementary, Vernal Junior High School, and Uintah High.
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| David - Kindergarten His darker hair at birth faded. He is sporting his adorable freckles in this photo. The freckles also disappeared over the years. |
David had freckles across his nose and cheeks in his earlier years, but no one seemed to mention or notice, because it was his calm, pleasant, cheerful, kind, and caring personality that stole the show.
Family traditions continued on both sides of the families and family reunions continued to be held each summer. These activities kept our families close.
The Young family moved back to LaPoint and built a home that Vonae still lives in today. Her two children have families of their own and Bert has passed away.
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| David's 6th birthday cake. Picture taken at Grandmother Van Leuven's. |
David was always a good student. He took responsibility for his own homework without prodding. His report card was most often worth the positive comments we gave him and his teacher's always had nothing but pleasing comments. A young man in our ward told us one time, "I wish I had David's personality. He can be around other kids and have fun, be cheerful, funny, and be a positive leader. All the young people, also adults respect him. He is naturally an all around super guy." Then he told of a time David arrived late at a choir practice in the ward that illustrated his comment. As he entered the room the feeling he brought with him lite up the whole group. "I would like to be able to do what he does."
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| One of his identification cards. This one was when he was eight. They were done for each student in the Uintah School District. |
David is a scientist at heart. He quite often was doing some kind of experiment. Some of those that haven't been forgotten are; leaving an orange in his bedroom window until it dried hard leaving the seeds to rattle inside, floating tuna fish cans in the bathtub with a burning candle inside the open empty cans afforded him bathing by candlelight. David would come home wet to the knees from wadding in the creek. The creek was home for many insects, birds, water snakes, and other wild animals. It also was a miniature jungle which was and is still a fun place for the town children. They roam in the heavily grown trees and sagebrush which created a mysterious place to play. Many bike trails and jumps have been created over the years. We are sure the water skitters, birds, and water snakes were carefully observed and studied in their habitat by David. Saint Bernard's quote fit him well, "You will find something more in woods than in books. Trees and stones will teach you that which you can never learn from masters." But, David hasn't shun the books either. They have had their place in his studies.
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| David and Natalie Jones |
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| David and Jalyn Hartle |
He graduated from Uintah High School in 1992. After graduation we helped him purchase his first car. It was a red 1992 Pontiac Grand Am. David loved his
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| David graduated from Uintah High School in 1992 |
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| 1992 Grand Am |
car and pampered it. He felt really bad when he nearly ran off the road coming home from Altamont, Utah after a date. The roads were wet and the car hydroplaned and got a scratch on one side. Then a few years after he was married, a Native American pulled out in front of him and his family as they were coming home for Thanksgiving. It happened near the Fort Duchesne turn-off on Highway 40. The insurance company said it was a total loss. His family was not hurt. We could tell he felt bad that the car could not be restored. Otherwise (knowing our son) he would have had that car for many more years.
His career choice and interest was to become an electrical engineer. We enrolled him in I.T.T. in Salt Lake City. While attending school, David lived in the home we had purchased in Orem, Utah. We purchased it so my parents would have a place to stay while they served as ordinance workers in the Provo Temple. They had some near misses and quite serious accidents in their traveling back and forth. It was a three hour drive each way for them weekly. They had hit an elk, experienced another near accident when an avalanche missed them about 3/4 of a mile before they arrived at the point of the slide. It blocked the road for awhile before traffic could flow again. Of course, they were late for their temple assignments. Coming home late one night, as they were accustomed, Dad dozed causing them to have a fairly serious accident.
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| Orem, Utah home |
When the girls were asked what could be added to David's story, Maria said he had O.C.D (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder), he had to have things perfect. Once Michelle was eating next to him enjoying her food. David said to her, "Are you hungry or is it going out of style?" Maria said it sounded so funny she could not help but laugh until tears ran down her cheeks even though she felt that it hurt Michelle's feelings. Trent remembers him shaving a stray cat to look like a lion. The owner posted a sign in the LaPoint Post Office asking who had done such a mean thing. David's own dog fell victim also. Was it a coincidence? He remained silent with a smile. His dog benefited during the hot days of summer and the cat was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
One more story worth mentioning; Dale, David and a friend had a summer job at the LaPoint Great Lakes Saw Mill. Before his friend arrived at work one day, David painted his friend's hardhat the colors of a ladybug and added the final touch, antennas and legs. His friend loved it and wore the hard hat with much pleasure for several minutes, until some of the men started to call him LADYBUG. The hat was quickly replaced with a new one. Yes, David could be a tease, but seemed to be able to keep it from getting out of control. He knew when to step back while everyone was smiling, most of the time! He liked things perfect but wasn't perfect!
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| David and Richelle |
He married Richelle Ames, the daughter of Rodger and Linda Ames, 20 May 1995 in a double wedding ceremony with Richelle's sister, Charlotte. Charlotte married Jesse Atwood. David and Richelle first rented an apartment in Provo and then eventually moved into the Orem home. Dad's health was not good so mother and dad decided that they needed to give up their temple assignment and move back home. All four of David and Richelle's
girls were born while they lived in the Orem. He worked at Alcoa in his field of training, and took additional classes at Utah Valley Community College. He worked his way up to a responsible position in the company. Eventually, we sold them the home in Orem. They had a desire though to move home to the Basin. It was accomplished when David got a job with Questar as an electrician. He earned his journeyman license at Utah State in Roosevelt. He is now E and I Foreman (Electrical and Instrumentation Foreman), which is now called Tesoro Logistics. The company has changed its name three times since David was hired on.
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| Vernal LDS Temple Samantha (Sami) and David Adrianne (Dee dee) and Richelle |
David has had a couple of noticeable refining moments in his life. When Sami was born a picture was taken of him at just the right moment showing a tear on his lower lid. The other, a more serious experience, was that Faith McKay his last daughter was life-flighted to Salt Lake City after her birth. Richelle was kept in the Orem hospital, and David went with their baby. There he remained until all was well and he could take her home. David is a caring, kind, compassionate father.
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| David and Kinleigh |
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| I love this picture of Samantha following in her father's footsteps as she entertains her ill great-grandmother. It made my heart soar when I saw it on Facebook. |
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| This quote is a nice way to close David's story. |
David has not accomplished the good things in his family alone. Richelle is a special mother, wife, and excellent example for their girls. They are a special family.
After Cody's need of needing someone to take care of Callie became apparent David and Richelle took her into their family. She melted into the family as one of them.
David and Richelle's children are;
Samantha Arlene, October 1, 1998 in American Fork, Utah County, Utah
Adrianne A., May 31, 2000 in American Fork, Utah County, Utah
Kylee Shiree, May 5, 2004 in Orem, Utah County, Utah
Faith McKay, January 9, 2006 in Orem, Utah County, Utah
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| Left to right back: Samantha, David, Richelle, and Adrianne Left to right front: Faith and Kylee |
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