STAR VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY HISTORICAL BOOKS INVENTORY DETAILS 1. Overview Title: History oflucy Luvilla McCombs Thurman Author: Subject: Personal History Publisher: Publishing Date: 1955 Number of Pages: 12 ID#: 542 Location: Website 2. Evaluation Evaluator's Name(s): Kent and Polly Erickson Date of Evaluation: December 2014 Key Words: Cbhurch ofjesus christ of Latter-Day Saints, Included Names: Andrew Carlos McCombs, Ellen Gray, 3. Svnopsis More than one author contributed to this history. The first one section is by her husband Ray Stewart Thurman. Others who contributed: Lucy's sister, Ella Van Leuven, Reita Thurman White, Helen Thurman Newswander, Lucile Thurman Cook, and Charles A, Thurman. Each author shares memories about Lucy Luvilla Thurman. She was born in 1888 in Afton, Uinta, Wyoming. She married Ray S. Thurman in 1909. They raised their family in Grover, Wyoming. She was active in Church auxiliaries. She passed away December 28,1938. 4. Other
History oflucy Luvilla McCombs Thurman A sketch ofthe life oflucy Luyilla McCombs Thurman, wife ofray S. Thurman. Lucy Luyilla McCombs Thurman was bom at Afton, Uinta County, Wyoming, on October 12,1888; she was the daughter ofandrew Carlos McCombs and Ellen Gray McCombs. Her family liyed in Afton - part ofstar Valley - for a few years after moying from Cache Valley, Utah. They then moved to a ranch which was later called the McCombs ranch. It was four miles north ofgroyer, Wyoming. While Hying here they were members ofthe Groyer, Ward, Church ofjesus Christ oflatter-day Saints. Lucy spent her early life living on the McCombs ranch. On the fifth ofjune, 1897, she was baptized by Hans J. Nelson and was confirmed a Member June 6, 1897, by James Jensen Jr. Throughout her life she was active in the Auxiliaries ofthe Church, holding positions in the Relief Society, Sunday School, Mutual Improvement Association, and Primary. She studied the organ under Sister Emily Call in Afton and became organist for the Grover Ward Sunday School, which she continued to do after her marriage to Ray S. Thurman on April 8,1909, in the Salt Lake Temple. President John R. Windor ofthe First Presidency performed the ceremony. She and Ray made their home ingrover, Wyoming, and onthe 19'^' ofjanuary 1910, their first child, Reita Luvilla, was bom. She had dark hair and brown eyes and, according to her parents, was very sweet and could not possibly be equaled by any later children. This opinion was proved to be wrong with the next child, Nellie Maurine. Nellie was bom on the 17^ day ofjuly, 1911 ingrover. She was a lovely child with blonde hair and large blue eyes. Both Reita and Nellie were loved very deeply. On July 27, 1913, the first son was bom to Ray and Lucy. He was named Stewart M. Thurman and had a light complexion with blue eyes and a strong build. His parents were anxious to see him grow into a strong man. On the 10^ ofjune 1915 Ruth Mina was bom atgrover, Lincoln County, Wyoming. She was a blonde with large blue eyes. Some fiiends and neighbors said, "Well, Reita and Nellie are good looking girls, but we think Ruth Mina is equal to them in every way." Ruth was pleasant with a good disposition; we loved her and our affection for our four children grew.
On February 12,1918, Helen Lucy was bom at Grover, Lincoln County, Wyoming. She had quite dark brownhair and brown eyes. She was smallerthan the older children. The formula we gave her for food didn't agree with her. Lucy was unable to nurse her. Up until Helen was three or four months old we had to care for her day and night; she was ill most ofthe time. The more attentionwe gave her, the greater was our love for her, until we would nurse her all night endeavoring to ease her pain. Doctor Lafyette Reese suggested that we use Delmis powdered food, which brought excellent results. Soon she became well and grew rapidly. On September3,1919, Ray McCombsThurman was bom. His eyes were blue and his hair was light brown. From the time ofhis birth he resembledhis father in looks and actions. Being our second son, he was admired very much; our affection and love for him was equal to that for our first son. He was a good naturedchap and family affairs went along in a good manner. On September25,1921, Lucile Ellen was bom. She weighed more than 13 pounds at birth, and she was a strong healthy baby. She had a good dispositionand seldom cried. Our love and affection extended to her as to the other members ofour family. Another daughter, Florence Hattie Thurman, was bom to us on the 18^ ofapril, 1924. She had a bright mind, a keen intellectand developed rapidly while in mortality. On the 11^*^ of Febmary, 1927, she died ofpneumonia, having contracted the disease on the latter part ofjanuary. We labored hard and prayed often for our Heavenly Father to restore her to health and life. Every member ofthe family mourned our loss in her departure from us. On the 26^ ofaugust 1926, Byron McCombs Thurman was bom at Grover, Lincoln County Wyoming. He was the third son. His hair was medium brown and his eyes were blue. He was large and tall for a baby and resembled very much the Stewart family ofboys, and he remained the same during his life to manhood. His grandmother was Femina Besella Stewart before she married my Father, Edward Moroni Thurman, and Byron's grandfather. Byron has enjoyed health and vigor all his life. Marvalene Louise Thurman was bom at Grover, Lincoln County, Wyoming, July 2,1928. She resembled her mother more than any ofthe children bom before her. As
she grew older the members ofour family knew her for her sincere affection toward her parents and brothers and sisters. On June 29,1931, Joyce Lovina Thurman was bom at Grover, Lincoln County, Wyoming. She had dark brown hair and eyes; she resembled very much her grandmother, Ellen Grey McCombs; and she has continued to be much like her grandmother. She likes to study and is an apt student. The eleven children who were bom to our home were all made welcome and cared for to the best ofour ability. As our family grew in years we gained in our ability to give them proper care, to be interested in teaching them the principles and ordinances ofthe Gospel, to guard their environment, to give the opportunities for good schools, activities in auxiliary organizations in the Church, and in teaching and striving to set a good example in our home. We were also able to give them the necessary food, shelter, clothing, and many other items. The eleven children had various gifts and talents, but our affection and love for each ofthem was equal. There are many important matters connected with the life oflucy Luvilla McCombs Thurman while she lived with her parents on the ranch. It was in the early pioneer days. They encountered many privations and hardships. The family ran a dairy, milked cows and made cheese, developed their raw land, etc., to grow hay for horses and cattle and sheep. In the early part ofher married life, she was in the presidency ofthe Grover Ward Primary - which position she held for a number ofyears. She also labored in various positions in the Sunday School, Relief Society, religion classes, etc. During the constructionofthe new church, she hauled fi-eight for the new church from Montpelier, Idaho. She was a good, true wife and mother. She gave our children every opportunity for education and training, and was always concerned about their health, dress, and culture. She wanted very much to have our children look well and act good at all times in society. Written by Ray Stewart Thurman, Husband oflucy Luvilla McCombs Thurman, in 1955.
Following - written by Aunt Ella Van Leuven, Mother's (Lucy) Sister, in 1954. Your mother and I rode to school in a cart drawn by one horse; we had to go five miles. Edward M. Thurman (who later became Lucy's father-in-law) was your mother's first school teacher. We went to school bare footed because we attended school in the summer because the people lived so far apart and the snow was too deep in the winter. In those days, children went bare footed in the summer. In the winter the snow was so deep that the fences were all covered. Thus it would be impossible to go to school in the winter through the snow. When your mother was real young, she had to help scrub the floors. It was made ofwhite pine. We burned quaking aspen wood in the stove. Mother used to take the ashes and put them in a large vessel and pour water over them. When the water was clear and the ashes had all settled to the bottom. Mother would take the clear water offand we girls would use it on the floor for lye. The commercial lye turned the white pme floor to a reddish color while the ash lye kept it nice and white. Ifwe didn't join our pieces good, mother would make us clean those dark spots. We always scrubbed the floor twice a week. Your mother would help with the washing; she would take the second suds, and I the first; we washed on the board and it took us all day to do the wash. One day afl:er we had the wash all done, we decided to hang it out ourselves. We got it all hung out, and then Mother came to inspect it; she took one look at it and she said "She wouldn't let the wash hang in that shape; she didn't know what the people passing by would think ofsuch a sloppy job; and she knew she didn't like it." We had to take it all down, and she gave us our first lesson on hanging out a wash. It had to be neat and in order to please MOTHER - all the sheets were hung together, all the pillowslips together, all the towels, etc. Your mother started working in the field. First she drove derick horses, then she raked hay with the side rake, then she raked with the dump rake. She had the name of being a good clean raker.
Following - related by Reita Thurman White in 1955, about Mother (Ellen Gray) by Aunt Ella. When Elmer was a baby in arms, in fact Mother was still nursing him, Ben Welsh was reported missing by his wife, so Father and his brother Alvin McCombs and Joe Hepworth, along with other men went to look for Ben Welsh. It was reported that he was somewhere up Willow Creek. The snow was very deep; the fences were all covered with snow and it was very cold. Mother and the children sat up and waited for Father to return. Mother fell asleep and fell on the kitchen stove and burned her hand. She was burned rather badly; in fact it took a long time to heal those bums. (I recall that Mother always had scars on her hands.) When Father came home his clothes were all covered with snow, and it was so cold that they were frozen stiff. Ben Welsh was found in Afton playing cards. When I and your Mother (Lucy) were quite small we made ourselves some small aprons. One day Mother was out on the porch washing chairs and she called in and asked us girls to put some wood in the kitchen stove. Lucy was combing her hair and it was hanging loose around her shoulders. Her hair was real long. She always had a lot ofhair as did all ofmother's girls. Lucy picked up her little apron and took hold ofthe stove handle with it and lifted the lid. The flames came up and caught on the apron and then her hair. We children were fnghtened and screamed; then Elmer and I ran and hid under the bed. Mother, hearing our screams, came in; she took her apron, which was damp, and wrapped it around Lucy, smothering out the flames. IfMother hadn't been here, Lucy would no doubt have been burned badly or even to death. Following - written by Helen Thurman Newswander about Mother (Lucy). Mother always used to pluck the geese before they lost their feathers. She said, "I would rather have the feathers than the fround." She used to make pillows with the feathers from the geese. Mother always upheld Father in his Church duties. She used to stay at home and do the work so Father could attend to his Church duties. Father was gone a lot ofthe time so she had to take the responsibility ofthe home and the farm. A lot ofthe time she
helped milk the cows, and put up the hay. In fact, a lot ofthe time she milked the cows alone and then, when we children got old enough, we helped her. Mother was afflicted with a big tumor on her neck. Dr. Beal, our family doctor, thought it was an ordinary tumor, and so he wanted to operate on it. She had to have her teeth extracted so she went to Dr. Procter, the dentist, and he broke a needle offin her jaw and couldn't find it. Because there was no x-ray machines in Star Valley at the time, Arvid McCombs took her to Montpelier, Idaho, for an x-ray so the needle could be removed. The doctor in Montpelier saw the trouble in her neck and asked ifhe could examine her. He told her she had sinus corroded tumor and that there was no doctor around that could successfully operate on her. He told her not to let Dr. Beal touch it; if she did, she would die. This was the winter of 1933, shortly after Ballard White was bom, as Reita was still in bed with him. Ballard was bom Febmary 12,1933, on my birthday. I think it was the following summerthat Mother went to Salt Lake City, Utah, to consult with the doctors there. Dr. Ralph Richards, one ofthe best doctors in Utah at that time, along that line, told her no doctor he knew ofcould successfully operate on her. After returning home, she worried a lot about her condition. She often cried about it when she thought no one would see her. Mother was that way, she never wanted to worry anyone about herself, and she kept her troubles to herself and would always say, "I am just fine." Dr. Beal consulted with the Mayo Brothers about Mother's condition, and they said they couldn't help her either. During this time, the tumors grew, and she was in a lot ofpain all ofthe time. Dr. Beal gave her some sleeping pills, and so did Dr. Trealor - after Dr. Beal had passed away. However, she would not take them. She said she was afraidshe wouldbecome a dopeaddict. At nights she had to be propped up in bed,as she could not breath lying down and the pain was more severe than in the day. She was told she may hemorage at any time and die or that she may have a slow lingering death. After several years. Dr. Trealor heard ofa doctor in Chicago who could operate on Mother successfully, but that at that time he was in Europe studying. As soon as he came home, it was decided that Mother should go to him. This she did, but the operation was not successful.
Following - taken from Reita White's diary. On November 8^, 1938, Mother left for Chicago accompanied by Father. On the 20'*' ofnovember, we received word from Father that Mother had been operated on and was recovering from the first operation sufficiently that the doctor felt she would continue to improve and that all would be well with her. They had removed the small tumor. After a few weeks ofbuilding her body up, the doctor who was Doctor Nealy, would operate and remove the larger tumor. Monday, 26^, we as a family fasted and prayed for Mother, as she is going to be operated upon this morning at 8:00 a.m. Father telephoned us, and he was in Cokeville, Wyoming, with Mother's body. Mother passed away Wednesday, 28^ ofdecember 1938, atabout 11:30 a.m. in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Father sent us a telegram; it was never delivered so we didn't know about Mother's death until Father telephoned us when he arrived at Cokeville. We went to meet Father as quickly as we could get there. I never attended a better fimeral than we had for Mother; there was the most heavenly spirit there. The music was beautifully rendered, and the speakers spoke as if by inspiration ofthe Lord. Mother has lived a most useful life; she has lived a life of good deeds and service to others. Her funeral was held January 2,1939, in the Grover Ward chapel. It will be a sad life for the children at home not to have a mother. Joyce is the youngest - she was bom in June 1931, so she is only seven years old. Marvalene is ten years old, and Byron is twelve. Lucile and Ray M. are at home too. I'm sure it will be difficult for Father also; he has depended on Mother for so many things. She has been a wonderful Mother and wife. I hope I shall be worthy to meet her when my time comes to be called Home. (RTW) Following - Written by Lucile Thurman Cook (Faith Stories) Stewart M. had an abcess on the liver, his appendix broke and caused the abcess. He was ill a long time. The doctor could not decide what the trouble was. After weeks ofillness, the doctor decided he had an abcess, so they operated and they found that his appendix had burst and caused the abcess. Drs. Byron and Lafette Reese operated on
Stewart. The nurse said she didn't dare to go to sleep because she was afraid he would die while she was asleep. Mary Welchman was the nurse. Father, John F. Astle and Arthur Burton administered to Stewart. In fact, he was administered to many times and was fasted for and prayed for many times. The Lord saw fit to answer their prayers. So through faith and prayers he was healed. As I, Reita, write this, I recall that for a long time Stewart was ill in his crib. He had a drain in his side for a long time too; he even had to leam how to walk over again. Stewart was very ill with kidney trouble. Dr. West was caring for him and he continued to grow worse daily. Finally Father and Mother called him. Dr. West, and told him they wanted him to come and to bring another doctor for consultation; which he did. After a thorough examination, my parents were told that Stewart couldn't live until morning. Lucile said that Father said he heard a voice say, "Your son isn't dying nor is he going to die." That evening they called Grandfather McCombs, Uncle Charles Thurman, and Uncle George Hepworth into our home. Father and Mother told them that they wanted Stewart to be dedicated to the Heavenly Father and that whatever was His will Father and Mother would willing accept. Stewart had been administered to many times before during his illness. The following morning the doctor called, and Stewart was so well that the doctor couldn't believe his eyes. Once again my parents were blessed and Stewart was healed. When Stewart was about seven or eight years old, he had to have his appendix removed. (He was about three years old when he had the abcess on his liver.) Mother took him to Ogden to the Dee Hospital. After the operation, his temperature was real high. Mother had Stewart administered to, and he immediately improved. When Helen was quite small, one morning she was by the stove, in front by the grate ofthe kitchen stove. It was a stove which burned wood or coal. Before Mother knew what Helen was doing, Helen picked up the stove poker or lid handle to the stove and put it in the grate. We think a spark flew out and hit her in the eye; at any rate, her eye was burned. I, Reita, remember this well. Ofcourse Helen immediately screamed with pain. As soon as possible, she was taken to the doctor. There was a blister covering her eye completely, so it was rather serious. The doctor said ifshe were not blind, she would have a very bad scar on her eye. Her eye was completely healed through faith and prayers. Today one cannot tell which eye it was.
When Ray M. Thurman was a small boy, he was stepped on by a horse. It seemed that this was a very serious injury, as the horse stepped right on his stomach and hoof prints were left on Ray, He was blessed at this time too, and was healed. When he was about twelve or ten years old, he was shot in the foot with a shot gun. His foot was fiill ofbeebees. On this occasion, the doctor was very concerned about him. Again faith and prayers were exercised in our home, and Ray was healed. Our family was indeed blessed ofthe Lord. (Helen told her family that Ray wouldn't go to Church but instead went with his friends and the accident happened at this time.) Automobiles were not developed enough for Father and Mother to have the privilege ofgoing to the temple often, as they lived a long way from any ofthe temples. Mother was very eager to do temple work. Many times she would tell me to write sheets for her ofher decendents. She always said that when the family got old enough, she was going to go to Logan and do temple work. Economies - Grandfatherwas very poor in the early days ofstar Valley. Father's and Mother's economic condition was average. The necessities oflife were always available to them. However, Mother had to can, bake, sew, make soap, card and wash wool to make quilts, cut hair, and many other tasks. Everyone in the family had a task to do to help support the family. All the clothes for the family had to be made at home. All washings were done on the board by hand. The clothes were ironed by flat irons which were heated on the stove. The washing would take a good part ofthe day, and the ironing was a long tiring job too. Electricity came to Star Valley in the fall of 1939 and the winter of 1939. It was the same fall that Father and Mother went to Chicago. Mother had a real large raspberry patch, and she worked hard to keep it cultivated and pick the berries. She always had a big vegetable garden too. She raised all the vegetables that we used. She canned peas and beans, and stored carrots and potatoes. Following - written by Reita Thurman White Mother felt that Byron was an extra fine spirit because she said that when he was bom, the room seemed to be filled with Heavenly beings.
Mother used to say to me that it doesn't matterhow muchtrouble you have or what happens to you in this life. It is how youtake those experiences that matters. She was a very wiseand prudent person. She was extremely particular aboutthe company we kept. She oftensaid that you arejudged by the company you keep and by the booksyou read. When we started to date the opposite sex, Mother's first concern was the type of a person he or she was. To Mother, their character was much more important than money or anything else. One otherimportant thing she used to saywas that idleness is the Devil's work shop. At all times shewanted us to keep busy andtry to improve our minds and learnto be useful people and to be ableto do all things which might be required of us. Shetaught her daughters to be good housekeepers andmothers, andher sons to be good, kind and noble husbands. She taught all ofus to be thrifty and above all, kind and considerate of others. I can truthfully say that Mother put first things first in her life. She was a true Latter-daySaint, a wise and prudent Mother, and a woman of extreme wisdom. Following - written by Charles A. Thurman Dear Niece: It is with pleasure I write you a shortletter. You were asking me if I could contribute some incident about your motherthat would help in writing a sketch ofher life. Lastnightas I lie in my bed an incident came to me that is veryworthy of her. In the year of 1909 whenmy sistercamera died and lefta largefamily in the care of mybrother-in-law, George W. Hepworth, your noble mother came to that home and worked for several days doing the work that had been neglected during sicknessand preparing the homefor thosewhohad beenrobedof a noble mother. I can see her now as she went cheerftilly to the task doing everythingin the home that had to be cared for. Very few young women of her age would venture thatjob, but she wentwillingly at the task. I think Ray and your mother were marriedthe following spring, in the temple. Heaven bless her memory for that noble task so well done. 10
We send our love to you and your family and hope that the Lord v^dll bless you in compiling a biography ofyour noble mother. Ifmore incidents come to us we will most vdllingly send them to you. /s/ Your Uncle Charles and Aunt Zilpha Thurman Following - related to Reita White in 1955 by Aunt Ella VanLuven This story happened when Mother was a little girl but I felt that I wanted it in her history -R.W. The Indian Scare The Indians from Blackfoot reservation and in surrounding areas in Idaho used to leave Idaho in the spring ofthe year and come up to Jackson Hole, Grays River, Willow Creek, Svdft Creek, and all through that part ofwyoming. The fishing was real good there and there were wild berries, etc. The Indians would dry fish and berries for the winter. In the fall they would return to Idaho for the winter, as the winters in Idaho were more mild than those in Wyoming. Will Davis shot an Indian. Fred Hale went up to Jackson Hole and came back to Star Valley with the report that the Indians were on the war path and were on the way to Star Valley to kill the people there. This scared everyone. So all the people in the Valley met at Afton in the church house. Grandfather did not believe this story so he wanted to stay on the ranch. People from the Lower Valley would stop at the ranch on their way to Afton and try to beg Grandmother to take her children and go to Afton v^th them. Finally Father and a neighbor, Carl Lowder, put Mother and Sister Lizzy Lowder and their children on a hay rake and took them to Afton. Father and family stayed at their home in Afton. This home was the first home in Afton to have wood floors. Father made the floors by hueing one side ofthe logs flat. The round side was placed on the ground and the flat side was used for the floor. Well the McCombs family stayed at Afton that night. The next morning Father and Carl Lowder went back to their ranches to milk their cows. Father saw Indians camped across the river from his ranch, so he went over there. They were scared and very afraid offather. However, when they found that he was their fnend, they were happy and shook hands 11
and gave him some beads. They were on their way back to their winter home. They were going in haste, as they were afraid ofwhite people. Because ofthis scare the Government sent some Negro soldiers to Star Valley to protect the white people from the Indians. They camped across the river from the McCombs ranch. Mother said she was much more afraid ofthe soldiers than ofthe Indians. Father used to go over there and sell them butter milk, milk, eggs, and butter. Your Mother and I would go with him. Father would drive down between rows ofthe Negro's wagons and dip up the milk for the Negros and pour it in a cup for them and they would drink it then. They didn't want to keep it because they didn't trust each other. Your Mother and I loved to listen to them sing. They would stand around the camp fire and sing at night. However, after Father had given them all milk and had delivered his other produce to them, he would return home, so we didn't have too long to listen to them. The soldiers left the Valley before winter set in. This happened the fall before Laura was bom. She was bom September 1898, so I was 13 years old, and your mother was 10 years that October. 12