Meeks & LaWanna Morrell Home

Great Grandpa Meeks with Great Granddaughter Sadie

On August 11th my grandmother LaWanna Jane Morrell passed away at the age of 84. She was an angel. When I told Penn that Grandma Morrell passed away and showed him her picture he exclaimed: "Oh no! She was my VERY favorite person." She was a lot of people's favorite person and for good reason. She loved others. She served, loved, cared for and taught so many during her 84 years on earth. She was born on February 26th, 1929 to James Collier and Hazel May Oldroyd Turner. She grew up in Lyman, Wayne County Utah. She was a member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, a member of the Relief Society, and a wonderful wife and mother. Janie Mae Morrell her second daughter is my mother. There are so many wonderful things I could say about my grandmother. In fact, I am sure I could write a book about her history, character, and christ-like qualities. 

A few of the qualities that I admire so much about my grandmother are first and foremost her ambition. She was a WORKER! She woke up every morning early, and put on clean and freshly pressed clothes to begin her work day. She was a great seamstress, cook, gardener and a wonderful housekeeper. She was neat and tidy, organized, and talented. She always made time to make home made dresses for her daughters, and also crocheted, quilted, and hand stitched, several blankets for all of her grandchildren. She even hand sewed- and sequined our Christmas stockings! I cherish mine. 

I remember when I went to her home- she would say that the word bored was like a swear word and if I ever said it- she would quickly get me doing housework. I remember distinctly saying this once- and a few minutes later my grandmother handed me a rag and some cabinet oil and instructed me to wipe down all the cabinets in her kitchen until "you can see your reflection." She was a busy and ambitous woman and no grandchild of hers was going to sit idle while there was plenty of work to do! I remember vacuuming, scrubbing, and sweeping out the garage in her home several times. Through her I learned to LOVE work. It is a joy - and a necessity of life. 

Secondly, she was faithful to the church. She served through out her life in the church in various callings. She was the relief society president, served in the primary, and often played the piano at many church meetings. She devoted her life to the gospel of Jesus Christ and emulated the characteristics of the Savior. 

She was a woman of great wisdom and humor. She read the scriptures and prayed. She read the Book of Mormon several times and gained a strong testimony of it.  She had a personal relationship with the Savior- and she had tremendous faith in His plan for her life. She stayed true to her covenants by serving others through out her life. She often brought  home made  treats and meals to those in need. She was kind, she was positive. On one occasion my cousin Madison was telling her about the senior trip that she took with her classmates to Disneyland. My grandma got a big smile on her face and said: " Oh that sounds so nice, when I was a senior Meeks and I took our senior trip to the Utah State Mental Hospital and afterwards we got to take a tour of the prison!"  She then related what a lovely picnic that they all had afterward and that it was the first time that she had really even left Wayne county. She then laughed and laughed telling that story. 

She was a life long learner and enjoyed reading and studying works of literature and music. She especially loved poetry- as her mother  Hazel was a great writer and poet.

She always looked very classy and smelled lovely. My cousin Allyson described her always smelling yummy like peppermint! Its true, she really did. 

A few little phrases that she used to say are:

When something didn't go just right: "Dear me doctors"

When something exciting happened: "I bet you are just tickled pink"

When we showed up after swimming at the Bicknell pool: "You look like a drowned rat."

When we accomplished something she was proud of: "It must be genetic."

When there was work to be done: " Many hands make light work."

When it came to church: "Never miss a meeting if you can help it- you don't want to be caught with the Sunday sickness."

When it came to gratitude: "We have been given ever so much haven't we? The Lord has sure been good to us."

When it came to serving others: "you'll never regret being a little too kind."

There are so very many things my grandmother taught me. I loved her. She was my childhood. She gave me confidence, her kind heart, her time, and shared her talents. She practiced piano with me- every week. She encouraged me to do my best- to love others, and took care of me when I was sick. She was easily my best childhood friend. I lived just a small bike ride away from her- and that was a blessing. We bottled plum and strawberry jam together. We watered the garden and planted flowers together. We took rides up to Jacksonville together to help grandpa brand the cattle. We had quite the friendship she and I. She was always so excited for me when ever I excelled at school or music. She came to my baptism, my merry miss activities, my piano recitals. She came to school plays, and we sat together at church. We rode to Richfield at the end of the summer to buy school clothes for the upcoming year. We would stop by her sister Mabels home and eat home made chocolates. She took me with her to get her hair done in Loa- I would swing on the tire swing and look at hair magazines while she was getting beautified. 

We sat on her front porch and shelled peas from her garden. We shucked corn and ate fresh carrots. She taught me how to make perfect chocolate chip cookies, & her famous chocolate cake with home made icing. I learned how to make a yummy pot roast. She gave me some advice when I got married that if my husband got home early from work and dinner wasn't quite done- that all I had to do was throw some cut up onions and butter in a pan and simmmer them quickly and then it would smell like I was making something delicious while I thought of something scrumptious to eat! I laughed then- but I have done exactly that on more than one occasion. 

Well, I loved my grandmother and I'm grateful for eternal families. I know that through the principles of the gospel I will see and live with her again. 

My greatest hope is to live my life to make her proud of me- to become more like her and to carry on her legacy of love, kindness, and ambition. If I could be like my grandmother LaWanna Jane- I would consider my life a success. What a beautiful legacy she gave us. Until we meet again- my truest friend. My Grandma. 

My Mother kept a Garden

A Garden of the Heart

She planted all the Good things 

That gave my life its start

She turned me to the Sunshine 

and encouraged me to dream

Fostering and nurturing

The seeds of self esteem

And when the winds and rain came

She protected me enough

But not too much because she knew--

I need to stand up strong and tough

Her constant good example

 Always taught me right from wrong

Markers for my pathway 

That will last a life time long.

I am my Mothers Garden

I am her Legacy

And I hope today she feels the love

Reflected back from me.

- Author unknown