Gpa and Gma MacFall 1937 (?)
Gpa was a man of few words, unless it was about mechanics, technology, mathematics, investments, etc., or about the gospel, ... or about his girlfriend. When he thought of Gma, his whole face lit up and beamed with love for his "gal." I never heard him speak romantic mushy stuff, just the "L" word, but his countenance spoke volumes of his love and respect for Gma. He had a similar glow for his family, for his grandkids, but brightest for Gma.
During the depression, he had come out to California for work and to hopefully finish college, and she had come out here to stay with her married cousin Claire and to go to college. Gma and Gpa met at church and they began dating. He proposed, she accepted, and she was going back home to her family that summer and he said he would call her and he would come there and they'd be married in the temple. (this next part Gma told me) Her family had a shop in town and they had a phone there, but no phone at home. Phone calls were very expensive and it was the depression, and Gpa's not a real talkative person who makes frequent casual phone calls, but he finally did call and he came out and they were married and sealed in the temple and visited with family before returning back out here. (I've done the math - her college semester probably ended in May and they were married in September! Lesson to young men - CALL more frequently than that! even in a depression).
Gpa & Gma Ki
Spring 1942
As a little girl, I had always thought this was their wedding picture. It is actually a picture someone (Shirley?) took of them before a formal dance (the Green and Gold Ball?) at the church which was near the time of their wedding. They do not have traditional wedding portraits and I have never even seen any candids. I've heard/known their wedding story as far back as I can remember. My favorite telling of it was by Gpa, sometime after Gma had passed away, when he was missing her and reminiscing.
He was in the military stationed in California and Gma had come out here to live with her older married sister Shirley and to work. Gma had a boyfriend who was gone on his mission but Gpa was determined when he met her. When the boyfriend came back home, Gpa offered to drive them places because he had a car and the boyfriend didn't - wasn't Gpa thoughtful? Soon, it was just Gpa and Gma. And soon after that (in the Fall of 1941) he asked her to marry him, but she didn't answer "yes" right away, in fact not for a few months. Those few months were the reason he was AWOL for their wedding - so you see, it was her fault for not saying yes BEFORE Dec 7, 1941 (this is how Gpa lovingly put it). She did say "yes" and they both wanted to be married and sealed for all eternity IN the temple of the Lord. They weren't anywhere near a temple right then though and Gpa kept putting in requests for a brief leave so they could be married and come right back. His commanding officers sympathized, but at that time, it was out of the question. Gpa did have time off but he wasn't supposed to leave town, but he just decided to go anyway and he and Gma got on a bus (when I thought about it and asked - he'd said the busses then were VERY crowded and made tons of stops in little towns all along the way) and they told their families where to meet them and to make arrangements for their temple wedding and sealing. They got there that morning, did some paperwork, were married, and then needed to get right back on a bus so he'd be back before he was missed. (this part Gma had told me) Gma's family offered to have a little reception for them but there wasn't time, unless Gma stayed there alone and went back to California later, but she was sticking with Gpa and they cuddled all those long hours back on the crowded bus. Then Gpa had to report back, no reception, no honeymoon. They were always so happy that they had been married in the temple and that it was that important to both of them.
Gpa & Gma Mac and Gpa & Gma Ki loved the gospel and their families and their community. They ended up in the same stake and then ward at church and were good friends. Gma Mac and Gma Ki were in the Primary Presidency together, both couples served missions, and for awhile, the 4 of them worked in the temple on the same day together.
Gpa & Gma Ki
Gpa & Gma Mac
their 50th Anniversary
3 generations - me, Dad, and Gma Mac
(one of my all-time favorite pictures)
I love it whenever anyone says I look like Gma, it's such a compliment, and isn't she beautiful at 73! (and wow - check out my bangs - that must have taken a whole can of hair spray) Dad went and picked up Gma and Gpa and drove them up around to the top of the cement bleachers to see my graduation and helped Gma down those treacherous steps to me.
Michael - 2 1/2 months old, Gpa & Gma Ki
Gpa Ki
(with his "weapon" - the toe killer)
They have all passed on now, first Gma Ki, then Gma Mac, then Gpa Ki, and now Gpa Mac. I'm sure they are so happy up there together, and young, and non-ailing. We miss them being right here though to ask them, "tell me again about the time ..."
