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> I loved working at the Frost Top (not sure that was how it was spelled) for Uncle Kenneth. It was really fun to roller skate to & from the cars. Especially when I didn't fall down! Uncle Kenneth finally made me give up the skates & just walk back & forth (liability?). I'm not sure if he was concerned about me or the cars I was falling on. I was in junior high school, made good money in the summer & lots of cute boys came in. Ahhh, the good old days of the 60's! Oh yeah, that's my age now - yikes!!
> Cecile

Gary: You were always the favorite of all the Aunts AND Uncles (of course, we know they had 67 favorites). Joane

Laneil: Thank you for sharing your childhood with the Gardners. I remember how beautiful you and all your sisters were and are. Of course, Nola Jean tried to babysit me and I was the biggest whiner ever. I, in turn, was privileged to babysit Claire, Debbie, Jeana, Kurt and Krissy. I loved your sweet mom and Aunt Lorene was the kindest, sweetest woman I think I ever meant. I loved going to your old home and your mom would be washing TONS of clothes, Joel was always practicing basketball and all you sisters were always getting "dressed-up" for dates. Your mom was down on her knees using a big, old brush to scrub the floors. She also taught me in 5th grade and was the best teacher who was compassionate, smart and loved her students. Uncle Delos was the principle when I was in high school and he was always pretty upset with me--but he always took care of grandma, his children and all his brothers and sisters. Joane

Gary here: Gen, Cumora and Maxine sang "Give me strength" at my farewell. When I see them I would always say give me strength. Gen always had to ref play fights between Les and me. Cumora was the one that always wanted a cheer and that has been going on for many years. I used to tend JoAnn's kids and always liked to because they had potato chips which we never had. It has been fun to talk to Aunt JoAnn about Vern and the many people I have met who knew him and I shared stories with her and she always listened intently. All three aunts have always been very kind to me. I guess I was their favorite nephew. Keep up the good work. Gary

I do have some memories of the aunts and uncles. I remember Aunt Maxine and Aunt Gen when they were in the service and came home on leave. They looked so awesome in their uniforms. Grandma Gardner lived along the main highway in Afton and we would congregate there to see them. They would take us out in the yard and lead us as we marched around.

When I was in high schoool, Dad and the uncles purchased the Orange and Black Drive-In in Rock Springs. We spent several summers working in Rock Springs. The first summer I lived with Aunt Marguerite and babysat Leah Rae and Al Dee. I actually lived with them. The next two or three summers I worked at the drive-in. Aunt Gen and Aunt Dorothy worked there, too. What fun we had!! Aunt Gen was married to Uncle Les and Aunt Maxine was married to Uncle Van. They both lived at Stansbury, which was a mining town just out of Rock Springs. Kathy and Kirk were the cutest little kids. It was so fun to go out to Stansbury and visit them. I don't think the town even exists anymore. Aunt Gen always took my side if there were any difficulties--I remember one time when I got into trouble with Aunt Marguerite and she slapped my face. Aunt Gen was there to coddle me until Dad came from Afton. It didn't take him long to defuse the situation! Aunt Dorothy had such a fun sense of humor. We have such fond memories of those days.

I got into trouble another time. Aunt Beatrice and Uncle Darrell lived close to us. We lived in the old Will Gardner home and it was just down the road from the old Gardner home where Uncle Darrell and Aunt Beatrice lived. Anyway, Aunt Beatrice called on the phone and wanted me to babysit Mike and Linda. Now, they weren't the easiest kids to babysit and I said I didn't want to babysit them--along with some other choice comments. I didn't realize Aunt Beatrice was still on the phone. When Mother hung up the phone, she was so angry with me. I had to go up to Aunt Beatrice's and apologize. (I must admit that that wasn't the only time my "mouth" got me into trouble!)

I was in high school when Uncle Vern reached his fame at the U. I kept a scrapbook of every newspaper article that I could find about him--which I gave him after he finished school. It was several inches thick. I was such a fan!! I remember when he courted Aunt JoAnne. He was so in love. The song "The Girl That I Marry" was popular then, and we heard it about a million times. She was a beautiful young lady and is still beautiful today. Uncle Vern wasn't too much older than we were, so we especially have fond memories of him. We always went to Grandma Gardner's house for Christmas and slept upstairs. One Christmas morning I wasn't fast enough for Uncle Vern, so he grabbed me around the waist like a sack of sugar and literally carried me down the stairs to the parlor.

I learned what a sense of humor Uncle Lincoln and Aunt Phyllis had when they came to visit us in Rapid City. I was really embarrassed with my kids when they short-sheeted their bed and stuffed paper in Uncle Lincoln's boots. Uncle Lincoln and Aunt Phyllis were such good sports and laughed about it.

We are so fortunate to be from such a loving family. I have nothing but good memories of all of the aunts and uncles.


LeNiel

Les with the girls.

I found this great picture. It was a fun trip for them. They drove down to Az to see us. Does anyone have a good memory about the Aunts or Uncles?

Favorite memory of Grandma Gardner
Each summer Dad and Mom would take me to Afton to stay with Grandma Gardner for a whole week. I have many memories about Ivory Soap, bottled cherries, sitting on a red stool eating fried chicken, a singing canary, watching Grandma do wash with her old ringer washer, sleeping on the feather bed, watching The Price Is Right every morning. One night Cecile and I decided to go out late and see what was in the neighbors gardens and just have fun. Our plan was she would come after dark, knock on the bedroom window I was sleeping in, and then I would crawl out. Well I went to bed dressed and waited for Cecile. She finally came and I just got out of the window, when I heard the window shade open with a loud FLAP, FLAP, FLAP!! There stood Grandma Gardner in her night gown looking very frightened........ "I, thought there was a burgler coming to take you away," she said. Boy did we get into trouble the next day!!! The aunts where all at Aunt Dorthy's crying and talking about what we had done to scare poor Grandma Gardner. I don't know if she liked me much after that. Do you remember this Cecile?? Cousin Patty

I spent a lots of nights with Grandma because she didn’t like to stay alone. She was particularly afraid of thunder and lightning. That old feather bed of hers needed a lot of beating with a broom. It took some time to please her. Some times I would slough off to see what she would do. Pretty soon I would find her in the room with a broom beating it herself.. Julia