A Life’s Story – John Willis Tuckett By Madge H. Tuckett

A Life’s Story – John Willis Tuckett By Madge H. Tuckett

Ten children were born to John and Marian Mendenhall Tuckett. Their early-married life began in Mapleton, Utah but in 1908 they moved to Idaho to take up farming there. It was in Teton, Fremont County in that state, on 16 October 1916 that John Willis was born. This family moved from Idaho to Lake Shore, Utah in 1920 at which time Willis was 3 ½ years old. He had 5 living brothers who were a close-knit group in both work and play. Although Tom only, was younger than he, Willis was usually included with the older boys. Perhaps his ready acceptance was due in part to his quiet unassuming disposition and his willingness to adapt to the suggestions of others without any outward resentment.

The years of his youth were of grave financial stress for his parents. The only advantage of farm life in those depressed years were that there was plenty of food for all and Willis’ mother was skilled in concocting palatable meals for her family to whom she was devoted. Willis’ father was a gentle kindly man, small in stature but with an immense capacity for work. A quality not often compatible with one so small. From him, his sons learned the joy of work and the will to do any given task well. These characteristics so deeply engendered could also account for their insatiable appetite for participation in sports as well as hunting and fishing, none of which had been part of their father’s life or their own youth. As adults these boy enjoyed these activities to the fullest.

In Willis’ childhood the outstanding summer event was the 24th of July celebration. This was customarily held on the shore of Utah Lake. Here anyone could swim in its clear unpolluted water, paddle or wade, as the small children were allowed to do, on its clean, sandy beach. There were horse races, ball games and sports for every age. This occasion always included a family picnic and sometimes homemade ice cream was part of the menu but always there was fried chicken.

Close friendships were made with neighborhood families; consequently Willis was included in the neighborhood games of Jones and Allen Francis and Grant Jones. The big attraction at the Francis home was their croquet set.

Hunting sparrows was an approved sport for young boys. These birds were thought to be carriers of disease and also they ate from the grain bins and their droppings were a problem. These hunts often required preparation. A hoop was made of wire shaped in a circle. Cheesecloth or part of an old sheet was secured to it, and then at night the boys would go into the barns or to hunt the birds in the haystacks where they would be roosting. The hoop bag was then held up to the spot where the sparrows were found and the birds were then alerted causing them to fly into the bag. A bounty of a few cents was paid for the dead birds by the Lake Shore Ward and a prize of a beach ball for the most sparrows caught was the coveted award.

Another sport of Willis’ youth was stabbing fish. When the snows melted in the Spring and the run-off found its way to the Utah Lake, the water would often flood up near the fields or at least in the grass surrounding it. At such times the carp could be seen swimming or floundering around in the shallow water as they attempted a path to the river for spawning. Boys of this area armed themselves with pitchforks and a “gunny” (burlap) sack. They often brought home the sack as full as could be carried. Willis’ mother was always happy for such a contribution for her table. After scaling them she would fill them with sage and bread dressing before baking them in the oven.

Boys of Willis’ day derived great pleasure in going to a friends place to sleep over night, not in beds, but in the haystack. Often they enjoyed this primitive activity and by morning admitted they had talked most of the night. Swimming in the wide spot of the irrigation ditch at the Elwood Dimick corner was a sport of which in summer the youth never tired. Another feature for entertainment was the getting of a coil of fine, copper wire, which could be found, on any old model “T” car. This would be removed and when thrown over the electric light wires it would pop and spark on contact.

Another sport in which Willis and his brothers commonly engaged was rabbit hunting in the Elberta and Goshen area. These animals then were so numerous that this sport was considered a necessity. Rabbits would peel off the bark from young trees causing shrubs or trees to die. They also invaded haystacks devouring such a quantity, which really diminished the farmer’s supply of feed for his stock. Men and boys would unite to make drives of large numbers of rabbits, killing amounts which ranged in the hundreds. Of course this became a greatly anticipated sport. Participants were sometimes divided in teams and the losers usually treated the winners, those getting the most rabbits, to a specified type of home-cooked supper.

Kite flying was another activity of Willis’ youth. Carpet warp was had in quantity in most households so this was used as string. Some of these kites, usually constructed by one of his brothers, would be five feet tall plus the added tail. When a favorable wind blew, such a kite might be seen floating as far away as Tom Wrides land in Benjamin, a mile away. There was keen competition between the Tuckett and Francis boys in this sport.

Willis’ father set a firm example of strict attendance at all church meetings and Willis advanced in the Priesthood regularly in steps appropriate to his age. His family usually had 10 or 12 good horses. These were often used as transportation and like the other boys Willis was a good horseman. Riding thus to M.I.A. or Priesthood meeting with the other members of the family.

There was a close relationship between Leonard and Willis in their growing-up years. Leonard had had some success at Boxing in High School and took pride in introducing this sport to Willis and helping him develop this skill. Fenton Reeves was the High School Coach and knew Willis carried a “knock-out” punch. Willis probably was listed on the Boxing card, which was to be held at the Winona Theater in Spanish Fork.

The Tuckett brothers often dated together. This of course excludes Jesse who was married and Tom who hadn’t developed a taste, until later, for this “sport”. I remember stopping in front of the Ferguson home waiting for Willis to come out with Fern after she had finished the last details of her grooming. She was always particular about that. Then came the shifting and settling which was made necessary to add the last two people for a total of eight in the little brown Model “A” Ford always driven by Lawrence.

Willis was a good student taking more interest in his studies than the average teen-ager. Fern and Willis had no specific interest in each other until after high school.

Willis had a good high tenor voice and sang with his brothers in a quartet, which was organized, taught and accompanied by his sister-in-law Verda who is also Aunt Verda to Fern. He once sang at a Francis Reunion with brother Jesse, Uncle Arch Francis and Allen Francis and also to many ward and family gatherings.

His speech was never boisterous but soft and quiet. He was a good listener and when he did join in a conversation his contribution was worth the listeners attention. Relatives commented on his mechanical mind, which often was referred to as bordering on that of a genius. Willis and his brother Jesse shared their mature years on many projects, which involved exchange of work and the sharing of farm machinery. When a machine broke down Jesse had difficulty at times in discerning its need for repair but Willis could always figure out how it should be solved. He would describe in detail what needed to be done to Jesse, who could follow and do as instructed.

Although Willis and Fern were married somewhat younger than some, they were a courageous couple as all needed to be in those depression years. Their first home was two rooms in Willis’ parents home, who then lived in the two-story red brick house with which all the family is acquainted. A Ben Franklin stove once owned by John Tuckett senior, which would be today a treasured item, was their source of heat in their small bedroom, and the tool chest, also John’s gave storage space. The large kitchen became a combination kitchen and living room for them. This arrangement was maintained until Willis’ parents moved out in order to give them the needed space for their family. This occurred after the purchase of the small home once owned by Joseph Adamson on Center Street.

The source of water at this first home was from a little hand pump, which stood in the front yard. This was used for many years.

Willis worked on the farm with his father and then took it over completely as his family was increasing and his father was aging rapidly.

Willis in time found good employment at the Pipe Plant in Springville. His first concern was for his family and this provided the means by which they were able to have a new home and lovely furnishings. Fern and Willis had many friends who they enjoyed but their family life centered on their own children and grandchildren.

Without much warning in 1975 his health began to fail. Although technical surgery was performed, Willis never regained his buoyant characteristics or strength. Fern stood faithfully by him making that last year together as pleasant, under the circumstances, as possible. They traveled some and enjoyed these visits with family and friends.

Although his death July 9, 1976 seemed at the time untimely, the sweet assurance that Willis was needed for a loftier mission and was called to it by our Father in Heaven will forever be a comfort to thei