Friday, August 21, 2009

Percy Harold and Bessie Morgan Rex, Part 5

Percy Harold and Bessie Morgan Rex family members in Randolph, Utah in 1937, left to right; are John Morgan, Bessie, Percy, Helen, in front, Flora Elizabeth and Maeser Morgan.

Harold Morgan Rex is on the left. It appears he is with a companion while serving his mission in Brazil, 1936-1938.


In 1938, after three years training, daughter Winifred graduated from the Salt Lake General Hospital in nursing. That is her on the right.

Percy and Bessie wrote to Harold nearly every week while he was in the mission field. Their newsy letters were encouraging and kept him abreast of the family. Harold kept all of the letters he received from home. His wife, Diana, and then his children preserved them further. Thanks to their family, I have copies I will share here from time to time. This letter from Percy to his son Harold was written in November 1936.



[The following is part of a letter Bessie typed to Harold.]

At home, Sunday evening.
May 30, 1937.

My very dear boy,

… Your sister is some tap dancer. You’ll see when you come home.

Floyd Kennedy is leaving this year. He didn’t get a contract to come back. I am sorry. I wanted her to take music from him. Oh, between Helen getting her English lesson, and Flora trying to write you a letter I am all mixed up. Daddy and the boys have gone to the field to milk. I do hope they wont
[sic] get too wet. They were soaked this morning. Morgan had a new pair of gray trousers and white shoes to wear today. I think he will surprise you when you get back. He has grown so.

I think Winnie is coming home for the 12th of June, our wedding day. I shall be so glad. She hasn’t been up for some time, and I surely get homesick to see the pair of you, but that is all the good it does for you. Well, the time is flying by, when you look back, but an awful long time to look forward. I can’t get any inspiration from the weather today. It gives one the blues to look out at gray dripping skies. I always do think of this little verse of Longfellow’s.

“Be still sad heart, and cease repining.
Behind the clouds the sun is shining.
Thy fate is the common fate of all;
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.” …

(To be continued.)

Pictures are from Helen Rex Frazier collection. Copies of letters to Harold Morgan Rex are from his descendants.

2 comments:

  1. Wow, this is so neat! I am a grand daughter of Harold and Diania and am so happy to see this all. Some of these pictures I have never seen before. Thanks for all your hard work!

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  2. I'm so glad you found, and enjoyed this history, Precia. Thank you for leaving your comment.

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