Here I am, almost 69 years old and starting to write a history of my father, who died almost 60 years ago, November 5, 1915. I suppose I have never felt capable of putting in words what he meant to me, But there's two things I have in my heart that I would like to say and have always remembered, First, if I could choose any man in this world to be my father it would have been George M. Guest, He was able in 9 years of my life to mold an impression that would last a lifetime. The second is that I would like to leave my children the honor, the humor, and warmth he gave to me.

He was born may 7, 1875 to Edward Francis Mailon Guest and Jane Walton. His home was at 3500 South West Temple (where, Sefco Furniture is now located). The property belonged to his mother, through the Walton Estate (West Temple property which has become very valuable).

His mother died from childbirth when he was a very small boy. His father did not live too many years after she was gone. His father was several years older than his mother. He was born in Cork County, Ireland. When he was a young man, he joined the navy. His mother and father had died, but he did have two sisters. The story goes as follows: When he came back from sea duty, his sisters had moved. He became disturbed at this and made no effort to locate them. How he ever got to Salt Lake City and met and married Jane Walton I'll never know.

In the Guest family there were ten children: Edward, John, David, Orson, George (my father), Charles, Mary, Elizabeth, and Jane. Jane was the baby and died shortly after her mother.

My father's life was a hard one. I can remember him telling about the day of his mother's funeral: he being one of the younger children did not get to go. He was out in the yard playing with his dog when the cortege left their home, little knowing that his life would never be the same again. His sister Elizabeth told me years later that she, Uncle Charlie, and my father clung together like little birds. As the older boys married and the older girls left home, she had the full responsibility of the home and, never having the training of the mother, made a poor job of it. Her sisters-in-law ridiculed her instead of trying to help. (She never forgave them for that. When Uncle John died, she came from California to the funeral but said there was no one left she would come back to see, She died years later and they buried her in the City Cemetery by her brother, Charles, I loved her a lot because of the adversities of her youth. She was good to us after my father died.)

My father went to work at the Murray Smelter when he was about sixteen years of age. They worked seven days each week from sun up to sun down. The long hours and poor diet (I'm sure) contributed to his health problems.

He met my mother at Calder's Park (where Nibley Golf Course is now located), It was a dance and their song was "Coming Through the Rye. They were married in the L. D. S. Temple October 8, 1902.

For a number of years, they lived at 2900 So. State (where Safeway Store is now located). At that time, it was Hustler's Flour Milt The dust from the floor, plus the long hours were problems for his health. Owning several acres of land on State Street, they decided to go into the dairy business, building a nice brick home and a big barn. So, this is where my memories are. My sister and I were born at the Hustler's flour location. He, by the way, was foreman or manager for the mill, Five of the other children were born at our home on State Street. Three died when they were babies.

My mother said that when my sister (Leona) was born, my father was so happy he just couldn't leave her alone. I don't think he was quite so elated when I came along (they had wanted a boy) but he had the ability to make me feel like I was his favorite.

After a few years in the dairy business, he sold out to Uncle Dave.

When he was a little boy going to school (Carlile School 3900 South West Temple), his teacher was so impressed with his mathematical ability that he personally wanted to send him on to school. But there was no one at home who cared or was interested. I remember when I was a little girl he would sit at the table and work problems just for fun. He really should have been an engineer.

When he was thirty-five years old, his health broke and he almost died, My mother pulled him through, The doctors were shocked that he ever recovered, but they did tell mother that if he ever got sick again, he would go. His heart could not take it.

The year before he died, he had not worked during the winter months, This made him despondent and he told my mother, "Never again." Red work if it killed him. The next year he got a job as a custodian at Blaine School. The work, although it was light, was too much for him. I remember his face going purple with the least little exertion, It lasted only a few months. He died November 5, 1915. He got the flu and was sick three days.

My father was only forty years old when he died. He and my mother had only been married thirteen years,

My mother died on January 9, 1972. She was 94.
Leona died April 4, 1938- age 34 1/2.
Melvin died December 18, 1915- age 7 1/2.
Charles died October 15, 1964- age 50.