Life Story -- Mail -- Grandma Anna

Written Saturday, March 8, 2008.

What does the mail mean to you?  Are you a good letter writer?  Who have you corresponded with?

"I love to get mail.  Good mail, that is.  Not all the junk mail that comes every day.  I thihjnk I'm a good letter writer to some people.  I write to our twin grandsons who are on missions every week.  I write to my 93 year old aunt Marjorie Berry as often as I can.  I have a good friend Mable Hoffman in Mississippi that I write to quite often and I used to write to a nurse in Tucson who took such good care of our Matthew, but we have kind of forgotten each other, but I think I will start writing again and keep that friendship going."

Marjorie Berry about 1937

Life Story -- Home -- Grandma Anna

Written Wednesday, March 5th, 2008

Where would you most like to live and why?

"Just where I am.  It's called the town of friendly neighbors.  We have had so many move in since the Coronado Power Plant has been built  that some want to be friendly and some don't, but it's still a nice place to live.  Very small, little traffic, no stop lights, only signs.  If I could have a choice and could afford it I would live in Eagar, Az, or Snowflake.  The temple is in Snowflake, and Eagar is at the foot of the mountains.  They are both beautiful places."

Life Story -- Admiring Woman -- Grandma Anna

Written Saturday, February 16, 2008

Describe a woman you admire.  What could you do to be more like her?

"First is my mother.  She was so kind and gentle spoken.  She did a lot to help others, especially with her beautiful seamstress ability, and the gentle way she took care of all her children.  I know she had already make a place  in the Celestial Kingdom before she passed away.  I kno9w her election was made sure because she was always wonderful.  Also there were and are others I felt were special.  Mable Shumway, Lavelle Despain, Rosemary Anderson, Sue Keezer and I know there are others."

Life Story -- When I Grow Up -- Grandma Anna

Written Friday, February 15, 2008

What did you want to be when you grew up?  What did you grow up to be?




I wanted to be a movie star.  They always seemed so beautiful.  Then I learned beauty wasn't everything.  I wanted to be an ice skater like Sonja Henie, but couldn't do that.  I didn't have money to buy skates and  besides that I never was very graceful so that was out.








I couldn't go to a vocational school or college so I went to work at the Telephone Company in Tucson, and I was good at that but became ill and had to go back home.  If I hadn't I would have never met Bill so I'm happy - Very thankful I came home.

After our children were all in school I worked at the court house first for LaVere Connolly in the treasurer office then transferred to the assessors office and worked for Mr. Ben Slade.  After he passed away, Arlo Lee was the Assessor.  When he retired I became the Assessor for 20 years, then retired.  I was in the assessor's office a total of 32 years.  I have since then served in the Concho Branch with Bill for 12 years and 10 months at the present time.  I told the Stake President, Eric Broadbent I wanted to serve a mission and he commented, "Where do you think you have been all these years?"  As I have been serving the Lord.

Life Story - Siblings - Grandma Anna

Written Friday, February 8th, 2008

Do you wish you had more sisters and brothers?

"No! I think 16 children was enough for one family.  We have a McCray family reunion every year on the 1st weekend in August in the mountains and most of the time they can't all come but those that do have a good time.  Bill and I would take Mike and Marc with us until they were out of high school and went away to college then on their missions.  Then we took Kurtis (Trisha's oldest son) one year and last year we took both Kurtis and Jon.  Now we have Kurtis ask almost every time I see him, when is the reunion.  We've had some good times and some not so good times.  But those will pass.  The same thing happened when we were growing up.  Some good, some bad.  The bad turned into my having compassion and love for the needy and affected.  So it was not all bad.  My only regret is that my mo9ther was brought up in a very religious family, we were not.  But how could she have had the time or energy to have gotten us all ready for church or prayer or scripture study or anything else.  She was a wonderful mother and I know the Lord and Heavenly Father loves her very much for bringing 16 spirits into this world.  I love the gospel - I love my family.  I love our reunions and our get -togethers."

Life Story - Birthday Party - Grandma Anna

Written Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Do you remember a special birthday party you have given or been to?

I always had nice birthday parties for my 3 children.  Linda's birthday is May 4th, Jim's is Oct 29th, and Matthew's, July 4th.  He always thought the flags that were put up across the streets were for his birthday.  They all always invited their whole class to their parties.  They all liked to play pin the tail on the donkey.  I always made a large cake and lots of punch and ice cream.  There was never any left but that was good.  Matthew passed away May 2nd, 1974 after 14 months of cancer and leukemia.  Jim passed away August 10, 2007 from gangrene in his foot that part of it got cut off., and cardiac arrest.  We still have Linda.

Life Story - Exciting Place - Grandma Anna

Written Thursday Jan. 31st, 2008

Where is the most exciting place  you have ever been?  What made it exciting?

The Temple in Mesa, Arizona.  It was exciting to know we could be a forever family.  The first time we went I didn't understand all of it because they didn't give Temple Prep Classes.  In fact no one mentioned the Temple.  I later learned the things that could be taught to new members going through for the first time.  I learned there are things not to be talked about.  Not because they were a secret but they are very sacred.

Life Story - Embarrassing - Grandma Anna

Back in the days when all women wore a girdle (fat or thin0 it was the fashion. I was in the Southwest Indian Mission with LaRue Waite, Aunt Elda Brown, and Jessie Mangum and Ruth Goodman.  We met every Saturday and Sunday with different branches on the reservation.  some with the Hopi Indians and some with the Navajo Indians.  On one visit we got to the building early and visited with the mission Presidency and their wives.  About the time for church to start I realized I needed to go to the ladies room so I hurried out.  The opening song was being sung and we were on the front row so down the isle I went and when I sat down the seas was cold and I realized my dress was inside my girdle and I had walked down the isle having everyone laughing.  I just think they all had compassion for me but it was still very embarrassing.  Very embarrassing.

Life Story - Favorites - Grandma Anna

Written February 29th, 2008

What are your favorite colors, flowers, food, hobbies, activities?

My favorite color used to be red but it has changed now to blue.  I have more than one favorite flower.  They are roses, daisies, hibiscus, peonies.  Because I am lactose and gluten intolerant my favorite foods have changed.  Now I like tacos, ground round with corn starch gravy and grilled fish and chicken.  I like Pinto Beans and baked potatoes.  I love to crochet, knit, and cross stitch on counted material.  Socials at the Concho Branch and Family gatherings and reunions.

Life Story - Father - Grandma Anna

Dexter Lee McCray 1918-1919 World War I

Written January 28, '08

Do you and your father share any interests?  Tell about your relationship.

No.  I was always afraid of my father.  There was never a closeness between us like there was with my mother.  I even think she was afraid of him.

Life Story - Animal - Grandma Anna

Written Sunday January 27, 2008

If you could be an animal, which one would you choose and why?

Mom, me, dog, Dad

 "I would choose to be a dog.  Because a dog is a mans best friend.  You can scold them, ignore them and they will always love and protect you even at the peril of their own life.

Life Story - Child Rearing - Grandma Anna

Written Saturday Jan 26th, 08

Tell about your parents' philosophy of raising kids, discipline, rules, etc,

"They mostly taught by example.  I was afraid of my dad.  My mother like her mother was a gentle, kind and loving person.  I don't remember ever being spanked or yelled at.  Not that I didn't need it, but that's just the way it was.  She was a wonderful seamstress and made all of our clothes from old things people game her for sewing for them.  With 16 children she couldn't spend all of her time disciplining."

Life Story - Old wive's Tales - Grandma Anna

Written Friday January 25, 2008

Tell about an old wives tale your mother told you.

"When I child is choking never pat them on the back, it will just lodge whatever they are choking on.  But our daughter,  Linda, was going to school in Tempe, Az.  She went during the week and came home Friday evening and went back Sunday evening.  She was learning to be a Dr's assistant and each time she came home she told me what she had learned.  She learned that when a child was choking you grab them by the feet and whirl them around as fast as you can for 3 times then put them on your knee and slap them on their back and the lodged piece will come out.  Mike was chocking.  He couldn't cry but was turning blue so I picked him up by his feet whirled him around 3 times, sat him on my knee and slapped him on his back and he started crying.  The bodged clock leg he had swallowed hit the wall.  I was grateful that Linda had just told me that."

Life Story - Courting - Grandma Anna

Written January 24, 2008

How did you become engaged to be married?

"I met Bill at a dance in the Sanders' High School Building.  Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys were playing.  I went with a friend, Myrna Jolley and her sister and Brother-in-law Delma and Nello Shreeve were our chaperones.  Bill was with some of the boys I went to school with, Casper Naegle, Chad Wilhelm, Ernie Hudson.  When we went to the door, Bill said I'm going to marry that girl that just came in the door.  they asked him if he knew me and he thought he had seen me before but he didn't know where so he said, "no but I'm going to marry her anyway."  We went together for 3 years and talked about what kind of ring I would like.  That's as close as he proposed.  We were married in Gallop, NM 10-28-50."

Life Story - Famous encounters - Grandma Anna

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

LaVern W. Parmley

Have you met any famous people?  Where, when, etc?


Sister Parmley, General President of Primary at a Primary Conference in Salt Lake.  She was personable and kind.  The date is not remembered but it was about 1959 or 1960.











 I met Miss America 1946 at my Uncle Wilford's place.  He was her body guard.  I was surprised to know they needed a body guard.  This was in Tuscon, Az.

Marilyn Buferd

President Monson and other apostles that came to conference.  He wasn't President at that time but was an apostle and came to Gallup to ordain Bill a High Priest and set him apart as 1st counselor to Bishop Stanley Shumway.

Thomas S Monson

School -- Grandma Anna

Grandma says at the beginning of her memory book, "I'm late getting started with this but I realize the importance of it so I will begin and hope I can make each day a good one."
Describe a typical school day as a child in elementary school.
Written January 28th, 2008
"We always met outside where the flag was and said the pledge of allegiance.  We also had a prayer then we marched into class and began with reading, writing, spelling, arithmetic and other classes as we got older.  We also had mus9ic and band.  I always took music but our family could not afford an instruments.  We had a 20 minute recess both in the morning and in the afternoon.  Our school started at 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. We did go home for lunch.  the white kids went to the Pioneer School and the Mexican and Spanish went to the Coronado.  we all went together in High School.  We also sang Happy Birthday to those who had a birthday.

Grandma Anna's Life Story

Here is what I was asked to say at Grandma Anna's funeral.  My Great-Aunt Kay called and asked me the night before.  I used what things I could remember, and things I asked Bompa and others about.

"Grandma Anna was born Anna Louise McCray on 26th of October, 1928 to Dexter and Euphemia.  She was the 8th of 16 children.  She was very bright.  At the age of 4 she was allowed to start the first grade, for she was already reading.  She excelled in school.  She participated in Pep Squad, Girls Glee Club, Dramatics Club, and a Capella Choir.  She graduated in 1946.
She met "Bompa" at a dance in Sanders, where he vowed, "I'm gonna marry that girl."  They courted for 3 years and were married 28 of October 1950.  They lived in Adamana for maybe 2 years, until Bompa was drafted into the army.  Grandma went home with Linda, then on to Tuscon, where she did office work.  She came home after bompa was released from the army.  Bompa was hired at a ranch, but Grandma stayed because she was carrying my dad.  She moved down to the Ranch and they stayed there for 2 to 3 years.
Their house burned down when they lived at Crater Ranch.  They lost everything, but not their hope and gumption.
She started working for Apache County for 12 years prior to being elected as County Assessor for 20 years.  During that time she learned how to speak Navajo, so she could converse with those living on the reservation.
She is known for her church service as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Grandma has served int he Primary, Young Women's Association, and Relief Society, as well as the Ward Chorister.  She served for 18 years in the Concho Branch with her sweetheart, Bompa.
I remember making Prayer Rocks with her.  She taught me how to bottle fruit, make jam, and tried to teach me how to make rolls.
Grandma is patriot.  She road in many parades.
Grandma loved family history.  She would tell us stories about family members and make them feel more real to us.
Grandma is musical.  She sang in the ward choir and played the piano beautifully.
Grandma is crafty.  She taught us grand kids how to quilt, crochet, do bead work, draw and paint, do cross stitch, needle point, and ceramics.
Grandma lived by and taught the motto "Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do, Or do without."
Grandma is survived by her sweet heart Bill, her daughter Linda.  Siblings Terry, Phillip, Colleen, Correnne, Kay, and Kathy.  Her Grandchildren Suzanne, Mandy, Kris, Lori, Garrick, Brandon, Trisha, Brian, Jason, Marcus, Michael.  Great-Grandchildren Elyse, Julia, Ari, Jayden, Katia, Delta, Emma, Michael, Kandace, Hailey, Shelby, Megan, Savannah, Ethan, Dustin, Meranda, Makenzie, Marlee, Brooke, Clay, Corbin, Cagern, Paxtyon, Kimber, Harper, Cheyenne, Kurtis, Johnathan, Annastatia, Kortnie, Graham, Liana, Emmit, Kaitlyn.  And her Great-Great-Granddaughter Addison."

McCray Family