Category Archives: Uncategorized

Keith John McClellan

Leave a reply

Keith (Kiko) John McClellan was born November 23, 1943, in Salt Lake City, Utah, and left this life on March 24, 2024,at home in Blanco, Texas. Keith is predeceased by his father, Jasper Ray McClellan, his mother, Rula LaVina Price McClellan, and his brothers Rulon Edwin McClellan and Boyd Ray McClellan. Keith is survived by his wife, Gail McClellan, her children, Nelson White and Page Warren (Jon) and Keith’s children (Diana Johnson Asay), Derek McClellan, Shane McClellan (Rachelle), Tara Byrd (Johnie), and Jillian Jolley (Bryan), and his brothers, Jay R McClellan (Beverly) and Dale R. McClellan (Dana). Keith has fifteen grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.


Putting Keith’s life on paper proves difficult as he lived life to its fullest and had
many adventures and accomplishments. Keith never met a stranger and loved all
people. A dual citizen (United States and Mexico) most of his life, he loved to
travel and see the world and deeply valued getting to know people everywhere he
went. Keith led a life of service to his family, his church, and his community. He
loved the Lord and was a faithful member of the LDS church his entire life.

Keith had the most beautiful bass voice and loved to sing, participating in church
and community choirs as often as possible. He was an avid photographer and loved
to write. Over the years he contributed many articles and columns for local
newspapers. Most recently his column “Mustard Seeds” which he began writing
for the Van Horn Advocate in the 1980’s, appeared in the Blanco and Johnson City
newspapers.


Keith received his high school diploma in 1962 from the Academia Juarez in
Colonia Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. Earning an academic scholarship to BYU,
Keith graduated in 1968 with a BA in Latin-American Studies, Sociology, Spanish
and Secondary Education. During his undergraduate years, he spent two years as a
missionary in Uruguay. Following graduation, Keith spent time in the highlands of
Guatemala, doing educational research as well as in Mexico, where he supervised LDS church primary schools across the county. He went on to obtain a Master of
Education degree from The University of Texas at Austin in 1974. His career
included being a principal at various high schools, middle schools and elementary
schools, Director of Fine Arts and more. He concluded his educational career as a
part time substitute teacher in the Blanco and Johnson City school districts.

Keith dedicated much of his life to Scouting. He worked and became an Eagle
Scout. He served in Scouting leadership roles in both Mexico and the US. Keith
was a life member of the National Eagle Scout Association, held a Master of
Commissioner Science degree from Boy Scouts of America and was Woodbadge-
trained at Philmont Scout Ranch.


Upon retirement, Keith became a gentleman farmer helping his wife, Gail, to
wrangle goats, horses, cows, chickens, and other livestock in the Texas hill
country. He volunteered in the community and always made himself available to
help anyone who had a need. His love of family, community and country spurred
him into public service, serving two terms as Alderman for the town of Horizon
City, Texas and three terms as a member of the Blanco City Council in Blanco,
Texas.


Three of Keith’s most noted characteristics were his sense of humor, his kindness,
and his desire to be of service. So, in lieu of flowers, he would be grateful if you
would do a kind deed for someone and make the world a better place. Services
were held at the Crofts-Crow funeral home on March 29, 2024. His burial will take
place at Elysian Burial Gardens in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Donn Bowman

Leave a reply

Donn Seymour Bowman, beloved father, grandfather, great grandfather, Scoutmaster, builder, teacher, and friend, passed away peacefully on Thursday, 2 February 2023, just a week short of his 99th birthday.

Donn was born on 9 February 1924 in Colonia Dublán, one of the Mormon Colonies of Mexico, to Claudious and Jennie Bowman. He was the sixth of their nine children, seven sons and two daughters.

Donn was full of life and fun. He appreciated and loved all his teachers, even though he caused them some grief because he also loved mischief. He, along with his brother Keith, Dan Taylor, and Moroni Abegg, formed a club they called “The Winged Four”. They built and test-piloted model airplanes, using the clubhouse they constructed as a study hall and laboratory for that hobby and many other adventures. They also formed bonds of friendship that lasted for over eighty years.

Donn gave the valedictory address at his eighth-grade graduation and then attended high school at Juarez Stake Academy in Colonia Juarez. He enjoyed the twice daily bus ride from Dublán, singing, laughing, and studying with his friends. He was elected editor of the school newspaper his senior year. His first official date with his future wife, Maurine Lunt, was to their graduation dance in May 1942; he described her as “the most beautiful, vivacious girl in school”.

Donn financed his first two years at Brigham Young University by cutting weeds around campus and working as a night watchman. He was then called as a missionary in the Mexican Mission from 1943 to 1946. Maurine served in the same mission until the summer of 1945. As Donn put it, “The mission rules weren’t broken, just strained a little” while they served in the same area for several months. Later Donn became editor of the mission magazine and other publications. It was at his suggestion that President Arwell Pierce asked President David O. McKay for permission to use the name “Liahona” for the mission magazine. This change became effective with the January 1945 issue. The Liahona was eventually published throughout South America and is now the name of the Church’s worldwide magazine.

When Donn returned to Dublán after his mission, he found Maurine engaged to someone else; but, with encouragement from his father, he won her heart and they married in the Mesa Temple on 26 April 1946. After a summer working at Jacob Lake, they returned to BYU and struggled together as he continued his education. Maurine worked as a waitress and took in boarders, while Donn taught Spanish classes at BYU, worked swing shift at a cast iron pipe company, and sold a one-volume encyclopedia. They had two children before he graduated from BYU in May 1949, majoring in Chemistry with a minor in Zoology.

Having taken pre-med classes, Donn applied to the University of Utah School of Medicine and was accepted as an alternate. With help from family members, he bought a house on First Avenue in Salt Lake City in the same ward as President David O. McKay. They had two more children during their years there. To pay off their loans as well as meet the expenses of a growing family, Donn worked as a laborer in construction, sold and installed tile and formica, and held a job as a chemist.

When Donn’s father was called as President of the Mexican Mission in 1953, he asked Donn and Maurine to sell their home in Utah and move with their four young children to Dublán to live in the family home while he was gone. Donn took over the operation of the flour mill, which had been rebuilt after a fire in 1951. When his father was killed in a car accident in 1958 while traveling on mission business, the move became permanent – but the job wasn’t.

The mill had been sold in 1957, and Donn had turned to construction to make his livelihood. He built up a business that included carpenter, structural iron, and machine shops and a building materials store. He trained men to do plumbing, electrical, and masonry work. He designed and built and/or remodeled most of the homes and swimming pools built in Nuevo Casas Grandes and the Colonies during the next 15 years. His work included partnerships with Church supervisors to build schools, a gymnasium, and new chapels. He planted an orchard out on the flat, which he later sold to his brother Claudius. He and his brother Keith developed a successful cattle ranch out near the lakes.

Tragedy struck when the Bowman pioneer home burned down in 1973, but Donn was always optimistic and positive about life. He and Maurine held a family council with his four youngest children, all born in Mexico and still living at home, and the decision was made to use the insurance money to first build a pool and tennis court and then build a new home.

In the fall of 1969, Donn began teaching at Academia Juarez. For the next 19 years he taught English, American History, and shop classes, including carpentry, auto mechanics, welding, printing, and mechanical drawing. To improve his teaching skills, he attended summer classes at BYU. He worked with the BYU technology department to transfer their outdated equipment to the JSA. Besides shop equipment, he helped acquire a multilith printer and a Veratype machine. He stopped teaching at the end of the 1988 school year.

Donn’s lifetime of service in the Church began soon after he moved to Dublán. He was called as a counselor in the Dublán Ward Bishopric from 1953 to 1956, and again in 1985. He served as a counselor in the Juarez Stake presidency from 1956 through 1968. He was a Gospel Doctrine teacher and Ward YMMIA President, and he and Maurine served as Branch Presidents in Hidalgo from 1978 to 1983.

In addition to these callings, Donn volunteered to be Scoutmaster in 1967 and spent 19 years serving in that capacity for countless young men. He then became stake scout director in 1986 and built up scout troops in every unit of the stake, as well as working with units in Nuevo Casas Grandes and Ciudad Juarez.

Donn and Maurine served a full-time mission together as directors of the Church Visitors Center in Montevideo, Uruguay, from 1989 to 1991. Donn also traveled around the country to encourage implementation of the scouting program there. After returning home, they moved to Mesa, AZ in 1992 to be closer to their children. They served as workers in the Mesa Temple, but loved to return “home” to the Colonies at every opportunity to visit family and friends.

Another trial began in 1995 when Maurine was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of cancer. Her death on 4 January 2002 was a painful loss after 55 years of constant companionship and love, tempered only by the knowledge that they would be together again.

Donn continued to serve in the temple, where he eventually met Nancy Iacoi, whom he married in the Mesa Temple on 19 April 2003. They were able to travel extensively together both before and after serving in the Cochabamba Bolivia Temple Mission from January 2004 to July 2005. Nancy passed away unexpectedly from the effects of a brain hemorrhage, on 25 April 2008 in Scottsdale, AZ.

One benefit of Donn’s call to serve in the Cochabamba Temple was that President Faust set him apart as a temple sealer. This gave him the opportunity later to perform sealings for over 20 of his grandchildren and other family members.

Lonely once again, Donn eventually began dating Dorothy Kalember, whom he married in Scottsdale, AZ on 2 January 2009. They took many trips together, but by August 2012 her battle with dementia was becoming increasingly obvious. Donn continued to care for her in their Scottsdale home until a fall sent him to the hospital for ten days in May 2019 and then to a rehabilitation center for physical therapy. Dorothy was placed in a respite
facility; she never was able to speak after his accident and passed away on 8 June 2019, before he could resume caring for her. Donn moved to the Citadel in July 2019, where he lived until the time of his passing.

Donn was the last surviving member of his immediate family. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers Claudius, Bob, Wesley, Keith, Maurice, and Tracy; his sisters Dorothy McClellan and Kathleen Criddle; his three wives, Maurine, Nancy, and Dorothy; his son-in-law Gerald Cardon, and three of his grandchildren, Brett and Rae Dawn Bowman and Donn Carlos Brown.

Donn is survived by his eight children: Marza Cardon; Greg (Kathy) Bowman; Renee (John) Hatch; Dan (Kellie) Bowman; Harold (Alicia) Bowman; Donn (Nancy) Bowman; Roxie (David) Brown; and Rhett (Colleen) Bowman; 42 of his 45 grandchildren; and 118 great grandchildren (with more on the way!). He will be missed by the extended Bowman and Lunt-Taylor families. Many will especially miss his birthday and Christmas cards,
packed with pictures and inspirational messages.

A viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, 15 February 2023, at the Bunker University Chapel, 3529 E. University Drive, Mesa, AZ. On Thursday morning, 16 February 2023, a viewing will begin at 9 a.m. and services will begin at 10 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 4640 E. Holmes Ave.,  Mesa. Interment will be in the Mesa City Cemetery following the services.

Josiah Guile Hardy

Leave a reply

Josiah Guile Hardy

1813-1894

 Josiah Guile Hardy was born March 17, 1813 in Bradford, Massachusetts, the son of Sylvanus and Polly Boynton Hardy.  He as a boy was robust and equal to any size in athletics.  He learned to work early and was industrious all his life.  He learned as an apprentice the carpenter and shoe making trades, but followed carpentry all his life.

He was religious and as early as 12 years left the Presbyterian faith for the Freewill Baptists, and at 19 turned to the Methodist congregation where he held the office of Steward and Clap Master.

On March 17, 1835 at the age of 22 years he was married to Sarah Clark.  They were converted to the LDS faith the sixth of November, 1842.  He was ordained to the Priesthood and held positions in the Church at Bradford.  He left for the West on May 10, 1850 after enduring hardships incident to religious persecution he arrived in Salt Lake City on August 20, 1852.

He was active in military and police duties, being a member of the Bradford Light Brigade for seven years and missed only two drills during that time, being orderly sergeant for five of these years.  In Salt Lake City he was a member of the city police for six years and as such was present at the breaking of the ground and laying of the cornerstone of the Salt Lake Temple. Also in this capacity he was present at the funeral of Jedidiah M. Grant.  He served in the First Independent Rifle Company and the reorganized Nauvoo Legion and served during the Johnston Army episode.  He was adjutant in the Legion.

He was sealed to his wife, Sarah Clark, in the Endowment House in 1855 and in 1857 he married as a second wife Ann Denston and was sealed to her by Brigham Young on October 23, 1857, also in the Endowment House.

Ann Denston was born February 24, 1838 in Birmingham, England the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Wardell Denston.  She and her mother with her stepfather William Taylor were converted to the Mormon Church in England and emigrated to America via New Orleans.  William Taylor declared on hearing that polygamy was being taught that he would turn back if this were true.

Yellow fever prevented his carrying out his threat as he was buried somewhere between New Orleans and the plains.  Ann Denston Hardy relates that as a girl of 12 with her widowed mother and younger half-brother, she continued their journey across the plains.  A son was born to Elizabeth and alone she with her he children landed in Great Salt Lake City. 

To Josiah Guile Hardy and Sarah Clark were born nine children and to Ann Denston ten came to grace their home.  Josiah Guile Hardy and his son Warren were called to St. George where they spent years of service on the St. George Temple.  Josiah’s services and contributions were generous and even though he had a large family and his flour was coming from the tithing office along with other contributions of loyal members.  He and Warren did most of the turning work on the St. George Temple.

In 1892 Josiah Guile Hardy and his wife Ann and sons George, John, Aaron and Abel and daughters Laura and Mary moved to Mexico.  He died in 1894 in Colonia Pacheco of dry gangrene of the foot.

Left widowed, Ann Denston Hardy turned to her rug loom and quilting to help the family income.  Few are the homes in the colonies that were not carpeted by her.  He loom remained in the colonies to do service after she left them and others were trained in this unique trade.

Josiah Guile Hardy and Ann Denston left an impression on the lives of the colonists in their devotion and faith and set an example of energy and thrift to be emulated.  They raised a family of faithful and stalwart sons and daughters and their posterity live to do them homage and bear their name and faith.

Ann Denston Hardy was with the Saints in the Exodus during the 1912 Revolution and after a short stay in Douglas, Arizona went to live with her son John in Orderville, Utah, where she passed away at the age of 77 years.

Lucian M. Mecham, Jr. grandson

Stalwarts South of the Border, Nelle Spilsbury Hatch pg 219

Chuichupa Mormon Colony in Mexico book

1 Reply

Jess Martineau’s book Colonia Chuichupa Mormon Colony in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico gives first-hand accounts from the colonists of Chuichupa.  It is interesting when you see the same event given from multiple points of view.

I think my favorite parts of the book are where we get a glimpse of Colonies’ life and how closely, at times, it mirrors our own.  We get to see that people are people no matter in what year or situation they were born into.

One amusing example of teens being teens to their parents’ consternation is found when a mother ran to the Bishop horrified that his daughter was sitting on her son’s lap.

Another example is when the teenagers of Chuichupa weren’t allowed to dance the Waltz.  After a party one night, the teens were late in returning home.  As a mother searched, she walked passed the church and heard music softly playing. Entering the church she found a pianist playing by low lantern light while the town’s malefactors (teens) danced the Waltz.

Nelle Spilsbury Hatch also lamented the fact that in Colonia Juarez church leaders limited dances to the Quadrille and other square-type dances. Apparently the leaders thought Waltzing would cause participants to lose all inhibitions and turn a wholesome community dance into a Roman bacchanalia.

This book is full of first hand accounts of Indian raids, desperados, and ferocious wild animal encounters. Colonia Chuichupa Mormon Colony in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico tells the heroic deeds of men, women, and a dog named Bacon all of whom carved out an existence in wilds of the high Sierra Madres in Mexico.

Jess still has approximately 20 books so if you are interest get one soon because they are going fast.  The final costis $50/copy plus $5 shipping.

Make Checks payable to:

Jess Martineau

10854 S. Green Ridge Dr. Sandy Ut 84070

Be sure to include a complete shipping address

If you live in the area and want to save $5 then you can pick up a copy.

Rita Skousen Johnson obituary

Leave a reply

Rita Skousen Johnson

June 9th 1913 – February 20th 2015

Rita Skousen Johnson was born on June 9th 1913 in Colonia Juarez.  She was the seventh of 12 children born to Daniel Skousen and Sarah Ann Spilsbury Skousen.   She was born at the “Old Mill” a mile south of the old elementary school.

After graduating from the Juarez Stake Academy in 1931, Rita attended Gila Junior College in Thatcher, Arizona where she graduated in 1934.  After Gila Junior College Rita attended B.Y.U graduating in the class of 1939.

Rita taught at the Juarez Stake Academy for 20 years.  She and Leroy served several missions including missions in Mexico City South, Mexico City Visitor’s Center, Saucillo Chihuahua, and Ecuador North.

She married Leroy Johnson on June 9th 1942 in the Mesa Temple.  She and Leroy were the parents of eight children.  Rita Maree (Johnson) Vance, Joan (Johnson) Jameson, Daniel Leroy Johnson, Linda Lee (Johnson) Payne, David Owen Johnson, Lester Floyd Johnson, Walter Lynn Johnson, and Greer Fay Johnson.

Fahy Spencer Robinson

Leave a reply

Fahy Robinson
1928 – 2012

Fahy Spencer Robinson, age 84, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Aug 1, 2012 at his home in Lakeland FL, after a four year bout with cancer.

Fahy was born on March 7, 1928, in Mesa, AZ. He was an Army Veteran, serving in Germany from, 1955–1956. Fahy spent 25 years at Stevens Henager College, 10 years as President and Owner. Fahy was a dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He served a full time mission in Mexico and Central America from 1948-1950. He later served as Director of the LDS Genealogical Microfilm Project in Mexico City from 1960-1962. Fahy served in many callings in the LDS church such as High Priest Leader, Young Men’s Pres., Sunday School Pres., Scout Master and Choir Director, Branch President, Stake High Councilman and patriarch for the Spanish speaking saints in 6 stakes. Fahy grew up in Dublan, Mexico, in the Mormon Colonies where he farmed and played basketball. Later he played basketball for Texas Western University and the U.S. Army in Europe. While playing in an all-church basketball tournament he met Ethel Louise Burks of Salt Lake City, UT. They married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 15, 1953.

Fahy was a world renowned homing pigeon racer and breeder, his famous “Fahy’s Fabrys” bloodline won races worldwide for decades. The author of 2 books: “Connecting The Dots To Find Original Christianity”, 2011, and “Road To Breeding World Class Pigeons”, 2010.

Fahy loved his family and friends, touched the lives of thousands from Old Mexico to Texas, to Salt Lake City, to Ogden and to Florida. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him. We rejoice with him. Fahy and Ethel spent many happy years in Pleasant View, Utah where they raised 4 children.
In the summer of 1991 Fahy lost his beloved wife Ethel to A.L.S. (Lou Gehrig Disease). Fahy was heartbroken, but Ethel made him promise he would find another sweetheart.

In the fall of 1991 Fahy met a wonderful woman, Carol Haymon, who had just moved from Germany where she worked for the Dept. Of Defense as a Speech Pathologist. Fahy and Carol were married in the Ogden Temple Sept. 14, 1991. Fahy and Carol made a wonderful life together. Six years later they moved to Lakeland, FL, where they lived the last 15 years. – See more at: http://www.myers-mortuary.com/obituary/Fahy-Robinson/Lakeland-FL/1098498#sthash.GmdKLhO8.dpuf