Willard HEAPS

                   THOMAS ALMA HEAPS--81, 7444 South State Street, Midvale, Salt Lake, Utah, died
   of natural causes Thursday at 4:50 am, in a Murray Nursing Home. Born Aug 31, 1884, Esclante, Garfield, Utah to Willard  and Beatrice Twitchell Heaps. Married Sarah Edith Shurtz, Feb 25, 1903, Escalante. Solemized Manti LDS Temple. She died July 6, 1963. Survivers: sons, daughters, Clifford, Salt Lake City, LaMount, Los Angeles, Alma A.(Lon), Mrs. Doyle(Dema)Nunley, both Union, Raymond B., Kearns, Mrs. Ward(June)Ashby, Midvale; 20 grandchildren; 34 great grandchildren; Brothers, Sister, Dewain, Joseph, both Springville; Errington, Pherron both Payson; Delbert, Salt Lake City, Mrs. Vista Mangum,Midvale; Funeral Saturday, 1:30 pm, East Midvale Second Ward chapel, 465-6th Ave. Friends may call 36 E. 7th South, Salt Lake City, Friday 6-8 pm. Ward chapel Saturday one hour prior to services. Burial Lake Hills Memorial Park, Sandy, Utah.
                  

                   Has other marriages.
                  

                                          AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF ERRINGTON HEAPS

       I was born the 17th of February, 1902, in Escalante, Utah , Garfield County, to Willard and Beatrice Twitchell Heaps, being the tenth of twelve children.  I was blessed 3 April 1902 by Edwin Twitchell.

       I learned to walk alone when I was about eight months old with the help of my sister, Val.  She was thirteen years older than I,and she seemed to enjoy taking care of me.

       When I was six years old I attended the Escalante Elementary school.  This two-story brick building is still standing today.  Around the school is a large playground where many hours of my youth were spent.

       The church was a big thing in our lives, and as I reached the age of eight I was baptized.  I was baptized on July 10, 1910, in the old canal above town in Escalante.  Daniel Wilcox baptized me and Ernest A. Griffin confirmed me a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

       One of the most entertaining things we did as boys was to ride calves, not always being able to stay aboard.  We would go home with aches and pains in our bodies and with our arms and legs hurting.  The story we would tell Mother was that we must have rheumtism.

       My folks had a ranch in the upper valley where we milked a large herd of cows, about 100 head.  We stayed up there until fall and drove them back to town for the winter months.

       Mother and my sisters would make the best cheese and butter from the milk.
    We also had plenty of milk for cooking and drinking, as well as giving to others.

       Mother was even good to the Indians who came around.  She would also feed them.  I remember one time when an Indian called Mustoch came home to our house.  He had been drinking and he came there looking for his squaw.  My mother had hidden the squaw and baby in a safe place away from him.  She was not afraid of the Indian at all when he came and she grabbed a broom, hit him with it, and drove him away.

       My job was to run the calves.  This job turned out to give me a chance to earn my first calf.  This was quite a challenge for me and a great opprotunity for me to have something of my own.

       On February 8, 1914, I was ordained a Deacon by Ambross Shurtz.

       On February 25, 1918, I was ordained a Teacher by Leslie George who was our Bishop at the time.  We were living in Esclante.

       I went from a Teacher to an Elder, being ordained August 31, 1924, by Leslie George.

       At the age of 17 or 18 I went to work in Salt Lake City, Utah, at the Bingham Mines.  While working there I had to have my tonsils out and also my appendix.  A Dr. Richards did the surgery for me.

       While working there I also received my mission call to the Southern States Mission.  I was 21 years of age.  I left for my mission on September 24, 1924, traveling by car from Esclante to Marysville.  From Marysville I traveled alone by train to Salt Lake City to the mission home.

       I had worked to build up a large stock of cattle so they could be sold to keep me on my mission.  This was done through the help of my folks.

       Bad times came while I was away and many of my cattle died.  On my return from my mission there were no cattle left.

       I labored in the Florida and Georgia Mission under Pres. George A Challis, a member of the Coucil of Twelve.  While Serving on my mission in Jacksonville, Florida and Atlanta, Georgia, there were many new chapels dedicated.  What a choice experience.

       May incidents happened to me in the South on my mission.  I truly had my testimony strengthened.  The first funeral at which I had to speak was in the Gulf of Mexico.  This is where the Swanee River empties into the Gulf.  This experience in speaking was something for a young Elder, but this was how we grew and developed our testimonies.

       We had to rely heavily on our Father in Heaven for guidance and protection.  We did a great deal of fasting and praying .  We had been threatened, jailed, and run out of town for preaching the Gospel.

       When I returned home I started to work over at Boulder, Utah, to run cattle for John King on his cattle ranch.  I also took a job for the Government, working as a forest guard.

       To make more money I started to pack the mail by mule from Esclante to Boulder. It took a full day to go from Escalante to Boulder.  I made three trips a week doing this.  It was quite an experience traveling this distance alone in all kinds of weather.

       On October 20, 1930, I married a Widstoe girl, Nola Adair.  She was the daughter of Orson and Lydia Adair.  We were married in the Salt Lake Temple by Apostle George F. Richards.  We made our first home in Esclante, Utah.

       Our first child, a boy, was born on December 6, 1931,and we gave him the name of Arnell Errington Heaps.  Two years later we bought our first home in Esclante, on November 1, 1933.

       On November 20, 1933, we had our second child, a girl, and named her Jerlie N. Heaps.  We went through many trials at this time, trying to save Nola's life and our baby girl. But with the Lord's help, Nola was spared to me to help raise our children.

       One of the worst falls I ever had was when I was with my brother Alma, trying to rope a wild mule. My horse stepped into a hole and fell, driving my head into the dirt bank, causing my head to be pushed down into my body, nearly breaking my neck.

       About a year later as I was just ready to lay my rope to a five-point deer, my horse fell again and I suffered the same experience.

       I was riding with Allen Pollick hunting for wild cattle.  We hadn't gone very far when we jumped a herd on the slope of Pole Spring Mountain.  Allen was on a race horse and was eager to chase them.  We hadn't gone too far when I soon raced ahead of him.  Just as I did this, two large steers fell down, sliding down the side of the mountain.  I soon followed suit, running the horse so fast down the mountain. I didn't dare to pull him back for fear he would lose his footing.  As we came to the bottom of the mountain and into the wash my horse and I just about buried ourselves into the bank on the opposite side of the cattle.

       I spent most of my early life on the range with cattle and sheep, ranging from the Henery Mountains to Lee's Ferry along the Colorado River.

       In 1934, I accidently shot my wrist with a rifle while climbing a cliff.  I was herding cattle with my brother Joe, who was 15 years older than I was .  Were down in the Esclante Desert, 20 miles southeast of Escalante.  We had to ride horseback from Slick Rock through Horse Canyon and up to Right Calats to Escalante. My fever was getting higher and higher.  As we passed through the streams of water I needed a drink of water.  My brother Joe took off my boot and dipped it into the water for me to drink from, for we had no container with which to get water.  How cool and refreshing this was to me. As we rode on to Escalante for help we passed several men from Esclante going into the desert.  They offered no assistance whatsoever to help us.  What a strange feeling of no compassion from our fellowmen.  When we reached Escalante, Joe helped me off the horse and into the house.  Some friends took me by car to Richfield, where Dr. McQuary had to remove my left hand.  It was a miracle that the artery had closed in my arm.  The way it was shot, I could have bled to death.

       I have served in many Church positions.  I was a Councilor in the M.I.A. in Escalante North Ward.  I was cxalled to serve three short-term missions in the Garfield Stake: one to Antimony and Kingston, Utah, February 11, 1927; one to Circleville, February 15, 1929; and one at Junction, February 6, 1944.  While serving my mission in Junction there was a fire in the courthouse.  My companion and I went to help.  While we were helping a window blew out from a door, throwing glass everywhere.  I was right by it and glass cut my right wrist very deeply, cutting the tendons in my hand.  What a trying experience, with having only one hand anyway.  But with proper care, determination and the Lord's help, the full use of my right hand was restored to me.  I had learned to do with my one hand the tasks of life that anyone could do with two hands.  It was quite a handicap to overcome.

       On August 28, 1940, I was ordained a Seventy by Antoine R. Ivins of the Council of Seventies.

       On April 23, 1944, I moved my family to Payson, Utah, Nebo Stake, moving into the Payson Second Ward.  Our home was on 5th West and 7th South.  We lived there for a few years until I purchased a home at 230 South 6th West from Cottoms, where we have since made our home.

       As the 2nd Ward and 3rd Ward were divided, I served as Secretary to the 15th Quorum of Seventies, later as one of the Seven Presidents of Seventies.

       I have served with the Adult Aaronic Priesthood and in the Geneology Department in 1954, all while in the 2nd Ward.

       I was ordained a High Priest on May 27, 1956, by Darrell B. hill of our Stake High Council.

       The year 1956 was a choice year for doing a lot Temple work.  My wife and I did work in the Manti, Logan, Salt Lake, Los Angeles, St. George and Mesa Temples that year.  Since then we have been to Canada, Provo, Oakland and Idaho Falls.

       While driving a large dump truck loaded with gravel, I was hit by a Union Pacific train on December 9, 1956.  This happened in the Spring Lake fields as I was coming from the Keigley Quarry with a load of gravel.  I moved on to the crossing where the engine of the train and the engine of the truck met. Gravel  was flying in the air as if a new oil bed had been struck.  The truck and i were carried some distance down the track, finally being dumped off on the side of the railroad tracks.  I was taken to the Payson Hospital and treated for shock and a large scalp wound, also minor cuts and bruises.  I soon recovered from the ordeal, but my truck was demolished.  What a loss

       I have served as a Home Teacher ever since the program was initiated into the Church.

       I was assigned to do initiatory work for the dead at the Temple.  This was a choice experience.

       My family's livelihood depended on farming.  I did work at Geneva Steel for a while, but quit to keep my farm up.  I also worked for Payson City, scraping snow off the sidewalks in the winter months.

       On May 14, 1960, I lost my right eye due to an accident on my farm.  I was fixing a bridge going into my farm when the shovel handle slipped out of my hand as I was prying with it.  It hit me on the side of the face, knocking me to the ground.  When I could get up, I got into the car and drove to the house, feeling very sick and dizzy.  Nola got Dr. Oldroyd and he sent me to a Dr. Jorgenson in Provo.  Jerlie took me to the doctor and they had to perform an operation immediately to save the sight in the other eye.  It was hemorrhaging on the inside.  I had had cataracts removed from both eyes a few years before and the impact of the handle had torn the incision open.  I spent 21 days in the Utah Valley Hospital to recover.  I also had blood clots form in my legs.

       When I recovered from this Nola and I went to Phoenix, Arizona to stay for a while.  We left February 7 and stayed until March 8.  We visited with Nola's sister, Luella and Quinn, and stayed with their oldest son and wife, Bernell and Ann and family.

       I did many "first things" while we were there.  Bernell took me on my first airplane ride, motor bike ride and made our stay one to long remember.  What a choice family

       Nola and I attended sessions at the Mesa Temple while we were there.

       Coming home to Payson I felt like a new person.  I was fitted with a glass eye to make me look complete again.

       Our daughter Jerlie was married in December, 1950.

       Our son Arnell went on a mission in 1951.  He served an honorable mission and went into the service of our country.

       Nola and I joined with some friends from Provo, the Wilford Allens and took some very exciting trips by truck and camper. We traveled to California, Arizona, New Mexico, Old Mexico,to Canada, Oregon and all along the coast.  While on these trips to see points of interest we also attended the L.D.S. temples where there was one, making our trips even more enjoyable.  We have been from coast to coast, going on trips with the Senior Citizens also. We went to Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills and all through the East to New York.


       My daughter took me to Mexicali, Mexico for some special arthritis medicine for my arthritic condition.  This was quite an experience for all of us.

       Since living in Payson in the same area and home we have been in the 2nd Ward, 6th Ward.  When we built the new Stake House we were in the 11th Ward and when our Stake was divided again we were back in the 2nd Ward.

       We now have four L.D.S. stakes in Payson. When we moved here in 1944 there was only one and it was called the Nebo Stake.  Now we have Payson Utah, Payson East, Payson South and Payson West Stakes.What growth right here in our little community of Payson and in the L.D.S. Church.

       In 1973 we built a new home on a corner lot north of our place.  We moved into it that fall.

       My wife Nola took sick with cancer and she died on March 10, 1975. What a loss to me and my family.

       In February, 1976, I had a stroke on my right side.  I was hospitalized for four weeks.  Then I was sent to a convalescent center to get back the use of my limbs.  I was at the Central Utah Convalescent Center in Orem.  My daughter came every day to help feed me and see if I needed anything.  I was released six months later to come home for Payson Onion Days Celebration.  What a wonderful feeling to be in my own home.

       I was able to stay there with the help of my daughter and some good neighbors, Bernell McAffee and Jean Hancock, who are very choice people.

       I attended the Senior Citizens program and enjoyed meals every day at lunch with my friends.

       In 1977 I had a Plastic ball joint put in my hip.  Mine had completely worn out. Dr. John Mendenhall was the doctor.  It took me several months to get on my feet again and to walk well.

       My knees keep giving out on me and letting me fall down.  I needed some more surgery but due to blood clots, the doctor won't do it.  I fell several times, putting me into the hospital again.  When I came home the doctor didn't want me to stay home alone.

       My daughter took me to her home and I lived with them until I took sick December 26, 1980 and ended up in the hospital again.  I also had a partial stroke again.  This time when I was released from the hospital they took me by ambulance to the Evergreen Rest Home in Provo, where I have since made my home.

                                       -- January 1982
                  

                   Pherron Heaps, 86, passed away September 28, 1990, in a Provo care center.
Born January 25, 1904 in Escalante, Utah, a son of Willard and Betrice Twitchell Heaps. He married Alene Adair, April 23, 1925 at Junction. Their marriage was later solemnized in the St. George LDS Temple. His wife died May 27, 1984. He had been a catttleman and a farmer for many years. He retired from GATX of Provo in 1970. He survived by children; C. DeLynn Heaps, Provo;P. LaVell Heaps, Orem and Mrs. Frank(Kenna) Holm of Payson. 16 grandchildren, 46 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, LaMayne A. Heaps, nine brothers abd two sisters. Services will be held Tuesday, 11:00 a.m. in the Payson 11th Ward chapel, 780 West 500 South. Friends may call at the Walker Mouruary, 587 South 100 West, Payson, Monday, 6-8 p.m. or at church Tuesday, 1 hour prior to the services. Interment, Payson City Cemetery.
                  

                   Burley, Idaho, Oct 23, 1937--Two ranch hands were killed 12 miles southeast of here early today when their car failed to negotiate a curve, sheared off a bridge railing and plunged unto an irrigation canal. The two men Eugene Mulvaney, 22, of Lisbon, North Dakota, and Lenton Heaps, 32, of Escalante, Utah. Broken necks instantly killed both men.  According to Sheriff P.D. Pace, Mulvaney and Heaps were returning from a dance at Delco, Idaho, to the ranch of Dr. Frank H. Weeks where they were employed. The car tore the entire south railing of the canal bridge off, plunged into the west bank of the canal and was half submerged. Both men were unmarried. Heaps' mother is said to be a widow residing at Escalante. The bodies rest at the Johnson Mortuary. Sheriff Pace received a telegram from relatives of Heaps requesting the body be sent to his home in Escalante.