Story of John Willis and Fern Ferguson Tuckett by Cherril and William (Bill) Tuckett

Contributed By

John Willis and Fern Ferguson Tuckett

1.Birth date and place:

Willis born October 16, 1916 at Teton, Fremont County, Idaho

Fern born April 12, 1916 at Lake Shore, Utah County, Utah

2.Physical features, eye and hair color etc.:

Willis had brown hair with hazel eyes

Fern had brown hair and “skim milk” blue eyes

(Mama’s hair started graying in her late twenties so she touched it up throughout her life.)

3.Marriage date:

1 June 1936Sealed in Salt Lake Temple 21 October 1937

(Bill sealed to them at this time)

4.Children’s names:

William “F”

Cherril

Janice

Maureen

Carolyn

Dennis “J”

Joseph Steven

5.Church callings:

Willis was in the M.I.A.and Sunday School Presidencies. He was also in the Elder’s Quorum Presidency. Worked on the remodeling of the Lake Shore Church for many months up until his death. He would spend many hours after working at the Pipe Plant and after his farm work to help with the remodeling and worked even though he had headaches at the time due to his brain tumor.

Fern worked in the M.I.A., and other auxiliaries, throughout her life. She had the opportunity to work at the Provo Temple and taught Relief Society after moving to Spanish Fork after Daddy’s death. Was in the Singing Mothers for many years and always was a faithful Visiting Teacher.

6.What they did for a living:

Willis was a farmer and also worked at the Pacific States Cast Iron Pipe plant as a

Millwright. His shift was usually the graveyard shift so he wasn’t able to attend graduations or other school or church programs at night. The family remembers his carbide lantern fastened on his hat so he could take his water turn at night, sometimes after working a full shift at the Pipe Plant. He was a very hard worker and tried to pass that trait on to his children. We spent many days in the field with him tending to the beets, corn and hay from the planting to the harvesting. We didn’t have much free time during the summers.

Fern began working at a very young age to help bring money into the home because her father died at an early age. She spent some time in California working for a family and sent part of her paycheck home to help her family. She worked at the Lake Shore Store after getting married. She worked in Spanish Fork at the Foodliner as a cashier and at Jack’s Café as a cook. She was very good math and could add a long column of numbers in her head and get the answer right.

7. Hobbies or special interests:

Willis loved to watch the swallows build their nests each year around the barn and outbuildings. He protected the swallows and even would leave the garage door open when they would build a nest inside the garage. The younger kids remember getting a switch on their backsides one time when they broke some of the eggs that were in one of the nests. Needless to say they never did it again but learned to love the swallows too. He loved to watch “George Gobel” on TV and would roll on the floor laughing. He also liked “Victor Borge”. He had his favorite TV shows and it was always fun for kids and grandkids to watch with him. He was a fun dad and would get down on the floor and roll around with the kids and grandkids and lift them up on his legs and bounce them around. He was also a pretty good contortionist when he walked on his hands with his legs all twisted around backward around his head.

Fern was a very good cook and enjoyed cooking for the family. She also enjoyed knitting and crocheting and didn’t watch TV without some handiwork in her hands. She liked to bowl and was in a few leagues and did quite well. She took an oil painting class and was able to paint enough paintings that each of us has a painting in our home. She loved “Lawrence Welk” and everyone knew that the TV had to be tuned in each week to her favorite show. They both enjoyed the Card Club they belonged to in Lake Shore. The also enjoyed camping with the Card Club group at Payson Lakes almost yearly while kids were young. Later the camping and fishing trips included the kids and grandkids.

8. Personality traits, sense of humor, etc.:

Willis had great sense of humor. Carolyn remembers one time when she was feeding him after his brain tumor surgery. He had a hard time talking and she had asked him if he wanted salt on his food. He didn’t respond after she asked him a few times, so she said “Hold up your finger if you want salt on it”. After a pause he said “I don’t want salt on my finger!” Even though he was very sick his sense of humor came through. After visiting each of us he would always say “Happy Day”.

Fern was very close to her brothers and sisters and loved to spend time with them.

She loved to have kids and grandkids come down to Lake Shore on Sunday Night and she would be sure to have dessert to eat. We always enjoyed Christmas at Lake Shore with much laughter and good food. Grandma loved to see kids and grandkids open their presents around the Christmas Tree. She spent a lot of time choosing just the right gift for each of us.

9.Special accomplishments:

They would probably say that they didn’t have any special accomplishments, but as a family we appreciate all they have taught us. They taught us to work hard and to be good members of society and of the church. They helped us to love one another and to serve those around us. We have a close family and extended family that enjoy spending time with one another. Daddy didn’t feel like he was a rich man but he was rich with those things that are worth more in this world and the world to come. We love them and the rich heritage they gave us.

10. Death date and place:

Willis died at Mt View Hospital in Payson, Utah on the 9th of July 1976. He had surgery for a brain tumor and was able to spend a few months with us after chemotherapy before the tumor grew back. Towards the end he was unable to talk.

Fern died in Salt Lake City in the hospital after Bypass Surgery. She didn’t recover from the surgery.