Wedding story

Hollis continued to work in Nevada, Iowa , at a tv repair shop. He returned to Keosauqua the night before we were to leave for Arizona and our wedding in the Mesa temple. A July storm had centered over the area and buckets of rain had come down. The road to his parent's farm was being prepped for back topping and dirt and gravel now a mucky, rutted mess. He needed to return to his parents home to get written permission to be married . Arizona had a law that women must be 18 or older and men 21 unless notarized permission signed by parents.

Hollis had not quite been a member for a year and his temple recommend needed to be signed by the Mission President . We all got into dad's big Mercury and our first stop was in Independence, Missouri were Hollis got his temple recommend signed. Mother had bought me this cute sleevless sundress earlier that summer and I was wearing it when the mission presendent had me come join Hollis. His eyebrows went up when he saw my attire; gave me a brief lecture about from now on I would have to wear more modest clothing. I assured him that I understood.

We stayed at Aunt Bessie's home in Casa Grande. Kathy and I slept with mother and the night air was hot and still. Aunt Bessie had some of those big black fans that were placed in the room to cool and stir the air. Hollis had to sleep with Dad.......He had , nor had he had any pajamas.. but while still at BYU I had jokingly sewed a night shirt with cap for him and that is what he wore to bed..sleeping with my father..Dad never said a thing.

Mother did not give me any preparation for what would happen in the temple. There were not temple preparation classes either. So I was shaking like a leaf when the first ordninance of washing and annointing done...I don't think I understood a thing.

My wedding dress was second hand , purchased from Dad's Utah friends while I was there..It had a full skirt that was to be worn over a hoop skirt. Of course this was not worn in the temple so the dress came way down on the floor. You have to understand that at that time Mesa did not have the film that allowed participants to stay in their chairs as the endowment progressed. Instead we were moved from room to room and the murels on the wall were magnificent. However my dress was frequently stepped on. At one time someone whispered to ''Keep moving!'' and I had to whisper back, "I cant', you're standing on my dress!" So much of the time I was simply mortified that so much attention was being directed at me.

Hollis took me through the veil and we gathered in the Celestial Room. My family was gathered around and then dad turned to Hollis and with a very serious face asked if he really wanted to do this. (I think he was meaning marriage for eternity) Now was the time to back out if He wasn't sure. WHAT!?.... Dad witnessed the marriage certificate.

Mother was elated. During the gathering in the Celestial Room mother and dad got to greet several friends that remembered them . One of dad's friends asked if Nellie was his daughter..mother was dying the grey in her hair and dad had not....

Dad then drove us to Uncle Lynn's house just around the corner from the temple. He gave us the keys to the Mercury and his gas credit card. Kathy, mom & dad were to have Uncle Lynn take them to the train station for their trip home. I carefully laid the wedding dress across the back seat and Hollis and I took off. We got out of Mesa and Hollis stopped to have the oil changed before the trip home...It took hours! Hollis told me the attendants at the station so the dress in the back and decided to postpone our honeymoon for as longs as they could.. I think we were there for 3 hours.

We got back to Ames, Iowa with fifty cents between us. After a small reception we set up housekeeping in a sublet apartment in Ames. That first week all we had to eat was leftover wedding cake....Hollis told me before we got married that he could support himself while going through school but if I wanted to eat , sleep or have a bed I would have to support myself...so I did..I became a stenographer at Iowa State University , Library, Order Dept.. For this I was awared a PHT (Put Hubby Through) certificate.

We were active in the Ames branch at Church. I was called as a BeeHive teacher....and so the story will go on...later.