The obituary of my maternal grandmother:

On August 9, 1921 twins, a boy and girl were born to Charles Richard and Lily Flayvillie Norton Scott in Pomerene, Arizona.  Beatrice, the girl was very quiet but Byrl, the boy cried strongly.  After four hours his spirit returned to Heavenly Father.  They were the fifth and sixth of seven children born to Charlie and Lily.  From that weak beginning, her life has been filled with volumes of experiences.

Bea, as she was called, was reminded by her mother at an early age that she needed to accomplish enough in this life to make up for the life of her twin.  Her father died when she was five.  His dying wish was, “Bea, always be a good girl”.   These expressions from her parents were the incentive for the full and active life that she lived.  When she was 11, her mother married Lorenz Hortnagl and the family moved to Long Beach California.

Bea always enjoyed singing.  A choir director, Mrs. Parsell, recognized the quality in her singing voice and made it possible for her to take voice lessons at age 13.  Her voice teachers included Joseph Ballentine and William King Driggs, father of the King Sisters.  She had the opportunity to sing in many places:  KTYL, Southwest Broadcasting System, KOMO Seattle, NW Broadcasting System and community productions.  One of the highlights of her singing career was learning in Japanese the part of Suzuki in Madame Butterfly with her dear Japanese opera star friend.

She married John (Jack) Lester Robins on 2 June 1941, her first love at 15 and the kind and loving companion of her dreams.  They were sealed for Time and All Eternity in the Mesa Arizona Temple on 12 May 1942.  Their common interest in music and genealogical research has helped them realize many more of the cherished hopes and dreams of life.

Bea and Jack were blessed with two daughters within the first 2 years of their marriage, and then Jack was drafted into the Army in 1945.  After the birth of their son, Jack was released from service in 1946.

Bea’s desire for education was realized in 1952 when she graduated with a Medical Assistant Certificate and worked as a lab technician for the City of Long Beach Health Department for 24 years, mainly testing dairy products and water.  She retired in 1976.

She served many years in many capacities in the LDS Church including genealogical researcher, Gospel Doctrine teacher, Los Angeles Temple worker, Relief Society President and served in many other callings in the Church.  She and Jack served a full time mission in the Billings Montana Mission.  Serving others, along with providing compassionate service, was a great joy to her.

In 1980 they moved from Long Beach and bought their home in Santa Clara.  They spent these years compiling 2 family history books, traveling to many countries of the world and spent many hours in the Family History Center teaching others to do their research.  Bea was an active and contributing member of the DUP for many years.  She was the genealogist for the Andrew Hunter Scott Family Organization while recording the ward history, compiling the ward directories and preparing the Sunday programs.  Bea faithfully fulfilled her responsibilities until two years ago when she became ill.

At this time, she and Jack moved to Ridgeview Gardens Assisted Living Center where they have been cared for by many loving workers.  The family would like to thank these kind workers at Ridgeview and also the nurses at Rocky Mountain Hospice for the loving care they provided.

Early in the morning on May 29, 2011, Bea left her family here on Earth.  It is certain that she has been greeted on the other side by her parents, her twin brother, and many individuals for whom she did research and temple work.

Bea is survived by her eternal companion of 70 years, Jack, her children Patricia (Vernon, deceased) Clark of Santa Clara, Cathy (Howard) Shaffer of St. George and Michael (Ruth) Robins of Ivins, 21 grandchildren, 75 great grandchildren, one great great granddaughter, a sister, Grace (Bill) Laing of Springville and a sister-in-law Fern (Charlie) Attaway of Seal Beach, California and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

She is preceded in death by her parents, brothers Glendon, Norton, Albert and Byrl, her sister Zelta, and one great grandson.

Funeral Services will be held Thursday, June 9, 2011 at 2 PM at the Santa Clara 6^th Ward Chapel at 3815 West Rachel Drive, Santa Clara, under the direction of McMillan Mortuary, 435-688-8880.   Viewings for family and friends will be held on Wednesday evening 6-8 PM and Thursday 12:30-1:30 PM.  Both viewings will be at the Rachel Drive Chapel.

Levi S. Shaffer

It was recently discovered that Levi S. Shafer’s gun was used to fire the first shot of the great battle at Gettysburg during the civil war.

Levi Shiffler Shafer/Shaffer was born in Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania on October 13, 1837.  At 23, he enlisted in the Union Army on September 18th, 1861 joining Company E in the Illinois Calvary.  He served his country for 3 years, 8 months and was involved in some of the most famous battles of the war, including: Antietam, Yorktown, Gettysburg, Culpepper and Brandy Station.

Levi’s obituary, posted in the Naperville Clarion on June 30, 1920 states,

His gun was the signal gun for the opening of the great battle of Gettysburg, which marked the turning point of the war.

Battle of Gettysburg

According to several sources, Lieutenant Marcellus Jones of Company E was initally reported to of the oncoming confederate column.  Afterwhich, asked to loan the carbine of Sgt. Shafer wishing the “honor of the opening ball.”  He then raised the weapon and rested it on a fence and fired at  an officer on a horse.  At approximately 7:30am on July 1st 1863, the shot was fired and the battle begun.  [marker]

Levi survived and once honorably discarged from active service in Oct 1864, he returned to Naperville, Illinois and on December 7th 1864 married Miss Anna E Naugle (b. 09 Dec 1848 in Naperville, DuPage, Illinois).  Later, he become the proprietor of a planing mill in DuPage County, Illinois.

Levi died June 23rd, 1920 in Napersville, DuPage County in Illinois.  He was survived by his wife, Anna and six children, three sons who died young and three daughters.

Information has been discovered linking Martha Alice Ireland as the daughter of Silas Ireland, once a Michigan state politician.  Mr. Ireland was born 10 Nov 1818 in Concord, Ohio.  He later married Matilda Michael on 3 Mar 1842 in Berrien County, Michigan.  They had quite a large family.  From what I can gather, The Ireland family consisted of 8 boys and 3 girls, while census records indicated 12 total children.

According to the Michigan Manual,

Silas Ireland,
Representative from the First District of Berrien county was born November 10th, 1818 in the own of Concord, Ross county, Ohio.  He received his education mostly by his own exertions, and removed to Michigan in October, 1839.  He married in May, 1842, and located on a farm five miles east of Berrien Springs, in Berriend County, where he now resides.  He held the office of Supervisor in Berrien township five years, from 1850 to 1856.  He was Superintendent of the Poor of Berrien county for twelve years, and acted as one of the committee to draft and make specifications for the county jail, sheriff’s dwelling, and poor-house;  he also superintended the building of the county poor-house in 1869.  His occupation is that of a farmer and surveyor.  He has been engaged as guardian for minors and others, and settling the estates of deceased persons for the last twenty-six years.  As Republican canididate he received 1,610 votes; S. R. Hughes, Democrat, 1,394.

Conrad Shaffer is son of Joshua Shaffer, who is my great-great-grandfather on my father’s side.

The record shows a death date of 24 November 1905 at the age of 54 years, 5 months, and 28 days, by cause of Cardiac Insufficiency.  Born 26 May 1848 to John and Sarah Coulam, both from England.  He was indicated as married, but the name is absent.

He lived at 453 East 2nd South in Salt Lake.  His burial was on 26 November 05 in the Salt Lake City Cemetary.

Click HERE for his genealogical record: