1020. I CAN DO THIS ! Emma Lois Smith, my beloved first cousin, survived 76 years with Cerebral Palsy!

I have had a dear cousin for 76 years, who has been an inspiration to me!  The small necklace hanging over her photo on display at the funeral has a story!  The pearl is unusual, in that it changed colors according to what she was wearing.  It was given to her by a male admirer, but for some reason, she wasn't interested in him!  She also had it fixed so the diamond from her mother's wedding ring was attached.  She wore it every day!

 My mother, Ruth Allen Miles, had a sister just older than her, LaVern, who was Emma Lois' mother.  My aunt LaVern was such an unselfish person!  Their father, John Butler Allen, had died when they were young children, leaving their mother a widow with 8 children.  As they grew up, they were very close, and helped each other, with 6 of the 8 graduating from college, and becoming school teachers.  When my mother Ruth, who had a beautiful soprano voice, was in college taking vocal lessons, she worked in the home of her vocal teacher to pay for the lessons.  When Ruth got exzema on her hands, my dear Aunt LaVern took over the cleaning to help pay for Ruth's lessons!  That is an example.

The 2 pictures below were taken when they were in college, in the 1920's.

LaVern married Phill Smith, and they found they were not able to have children, so they adopted 2 sons, Garland, and Stan.  In time, LaVern became pregnant, and the doctors were worried for her health, in being able to have a child.  I'm not sure of the exact circumstances, but it was a difficult birth, and Emma Lois was born with birth defects.  They weren't immediately noticeable, but when Emma was 3 years old, they told them she would never walk or talk.

Here is her obituary, in the Ogden Standared Examiner, this past week:

September 28, 1941 ~ April 10, 2018

Emma Lois Smith returned to her Father in Heaven and her waiting family on April 10, 2018. She was born to Philip Otto Smith and LaVern Allen Smith on September 28, 1941, in Richfield, Utah.

Born with Cerebral Palsy, at age three the doctors told her family she would never walk and would never talk. Emma's mother was not going to settle for that and was the push and cheerleader throughout her life. With an unwavering determination and continual practice, wearing blocks of wood on her shoes, she learned to walk. A wonderful speech teacher, Mrs. Gee, gave her training and confidence to speak. Writing was too difficult, so Emma began to use a typewriter and then a computer. Her memory was astounding and her life became a hallmark and example for all. Nothing seemed too hard to her. She was forever an optimist. She loved a party, enjoyed a good joke and liked shopping. Emma loved her cats, black licorice, chocolate and coke.

Emma lived over sixty years on 1000 South, in Clearfield. She attended Davis High School, Weber State University and Utah State University, where she earned a Master's Degree in Sociology. She worked for the IRS and served as a District President in Toastmasters. She earned numerous awards and honors along the way. She encouraged and gave strength to many friends in life and she was blessed to have kind people to serve and help her.

Emma was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her testimony of the Savior was bright, always trusting that a loving Heavenly Father would provide all that she needed.

Emma is preceded in death by her parents, Phill and LaVern Smith; and her two brothers, Garland and Stan Smith. She is survived by many loving cousins, nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at Aaron's Clearfield Mortuary, 1050 S. State, on Saturday, April 14, 2018. Viewing from 10 to 10:45 a.m. and Funeral at 11 a.m., followed by Interment in the Clearfield Cemetery.

Aunt LaVern simply wouldn't take no walking or talking for an answer.  As it tells above, she simply willed Emma to walk and talk by doing any and all therapy, physical, speech, etc. that could possibly help Emma.  I remember as a child visiting them, and seeing Aunt LaVern rubbing Emma for hours with cocoa butter, on her legs, arms, etc., to strengthen her muscles.

A school picture of LaVern is below:  She was a school teacher many years, as was my mother Ruth.  

Uncle Phill was also a school teacher, and this family picture was taken when their son Garland was in the military.  I'm not sure exactly when -- I believe it was in the 1950's.  Both Stan and Garland have passed away, but their children were there at the funeral, and spoke of their love for their Aunt Emma.  One nephew told of when they were children, visiting with their grandparents and Emma, that Emma would want to do things with them that Aunt LaVern thought she wasn't capable of -- and Emma's answer to her mother was --- 

 "I CAN DO THIS!"   It could be going on the roller coaster, playing minature golf, and many other activities. 

 She got so she could walk, with some awkwardness during those years.  In later years she was confined to a wheel chair.  She had to wear heavy shoes with a support to the knees.

Emma lived with her mother until her mother passed away, and then very surprisingly she lived in the same home for about 15 years before she had to go to a care center.  For many years she worked at the IRS, and she also joined "Toastmasters", an organization which helps a person develop an amazing ability in public speaking.  That became her social life, and she excelled for many years in their activities.  I'm not sure which honors she did receive, but they were national, and she was appointed by the governor to be in charge of a group for disabled people in the state of Utah.  I wish I knew more details, but she was truly a dynamic leader in so many ways.  She had a brilliant mind, and studied and learned, and had definite opinions about life, and society.  Her Master's Degree in Sociology was truly used in her life.  

My dear sister Mavis was less than 2 years older than Emma, and for many years (30 to 40) Mavis called Emma every night, and they talked about all kinds of things.  They went to lunch together, shopping together, etc., and had a wonderful relationship.  Mavis spoke in the funeral and told many of the things they had done together.  Mavis lived in Salt Lake City and Emma in Clearfield.  I lived in St. George, and would visit her when we came up north.  But just a week or so after I moved to West Bountiful, Emma was moved to a care center in Bountiful, and I was able to visit her quite often.  She loved to play Bingo, and go to the various activities at the care center.  She participated in the social activities with all the residents, and they knew her well.  One interesting thing is that at the age of 76, her hair hadn't gone grey!

     When my husband Wayne and I were married in 1955, Emma was a bridesmaid, together with my 2 sisters, and Wayne's youngest sister.  Emma is 2nd from the right in the picture below, and would have been 14 years old.

        Emma loved beautiful things, and they were displayed at her funeral.  

Emma always asked about our family, by name, and remembered situations, weddings, birthdays, etc.  She really felt a part of her extended family.

She had tremendous faith.  And I'll end -- saying I could add so much to her story, and she lived a remarkable life.  My son Wayne and his wife Julie would visit her often when she was in the assisted living in Clearfield. 

 One time she was complaining to them that those who were supposed to help fix or adjust her leg brace were not doing their job!  (It may have been a slightly different problem, but the story shows her faith!)  She asked Wayne and Julie to fast with her that she may get the help she needed.  She couldn't actually fast, but she said she would forgo her orange juice that morning to be her sacrifice for the fast.  They did fast together, and very soon Emma called them and told them that the next day people came and fixed her problem!  She told me often of Priesthood blessings she received from her bishop, Stake President, and also home teachers.  She just knew those blessings would be realized, and they were.

SHE WAS TRULY AN ELECT LADY!  I BELIEVE IF SHE HAD NORMAL HEALTH, SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN A GREAT LEADER AMONG WOMEN IN HER GENERATION!