Excerpted and Edited from His Journal by C. A. (Roe) Jernigan

J. V. Roe--1971

[Excerpted and edited from his journal by C. A. (Roe) Jernigan]

Italics by the editor

On the inside page of this Diary was written: Merry Christmas, with love to Varley. Dec. 25, 1970 from Rhea

31 Dec. 1970

Evening of 31st Dec. 1970 nice day for this time of year lot of snow but not that cold wind we had in Chicago. We had a very nice Xmas evening and Xmas day at Allan & Naoma in Orem, Utah. We are expecting all of them up here tomorrow for dinner. There is a storm coming in early in the morning I do hope it's not to bad for them to drive up here in.

I do hope I have a better year. Was in and out of the hospital enough 1970. So hope 1971 I can stay out and have better health I got down to 170 with my cloths. Now I am 183 striped

Each week I go up to the University Hospital go get a blood check then over to ward 4 where Dr Joseph M. Quaglaine is and get an injection in the hand or arm of 5 fluoruracil.

1 Jan. 1971

22 degree for low 33 for high Got up at 5:00 A.M. I just was not sleepy. Look out and no storm as of yet. Like to have Allan, Naoma & kids come up so hope it doesn't storm. Allan Naoma and kids did not get here until 5:00 P.M. I enjoyed them a lot the children are lovely.

Jan. 2

The weather is colder. I walked over to the little store about one block. It felt more like Chicago, but not the damp cold wind. I spent a lot of time at the drawing board, drawing keeps my mind busy and passes the time. 9I do enjoy planning things. I find that people that just sit are miserable. So I hope I can always do something until I die. Would like to live nearer some of the kids and grandchildren.

Jan. 4

Cold 1 above zero this morning. The Carpenters Union has paid off for me and us. I or we would have had a ruff time if it had not been for the Carpenters Union.

Jan. 10

There is a cold wind blowing and it is a strong wind but it is melting. We went to church at 3:00 PM with some sidewalks covered with ice it is hard to walk. Rhea had to stop going and come back and take he gleserne pill as she was getting pains in her chest. About 6:30 Nancy Berger and her two boys came in. She stayed about two hours. We had a nice visit with her & boys.

Jan. 12

I am making a drawing of six steps inside of the building to be built in Chicago. I never drew a fancy set of steps like this or what I want. This is about as a high type mausoleum I ever tried. I do hope they will let me go ahead with what I have in mind. I think this will be as nice a mausoleum as I know of and hope I am designer enough to draw it. My mind will give me the Ideas if my hands can draw it. I have worked with a hammer and a hand saw too long to produce drawings I would like to.

Jan. 17

Helen came down at 3:00 P.M. We three went to church. Allan, Naoma and family are coming up for dinner at 5:30 P.M. Allan is going to talk at a fireside at our ward. They did not get here until 6:30 P.M. Rhea had a nice dinner. Naoma stayed here with the children. Helen, Rhea, Allan and I went to the fireside. Allan gave a very good expiation of how young people land in jail. The young people seamed to take it all in. I feel Allan has a lot on the ball, and he seams to get to young people very good with his quiet way of talking. I was proud of him and I enjoyed it a lot. I wish I knew more when I was young.

Jan. 21

Mr. Henning called, but I had gone to the hospital to get x-rays and see my doctor. The doctor seems to be amazed as to the progress I have made. I have big hands and big feet or very wide feet. I have to get a size EEEEE 11 or 11 1/2 shoe due to a wide foot and a high instep. They keep looking at my bone structure and seam to think some gland in my head is causing my bones to keep growing. They seam to want me to come to the hospital and let them study me. I would like to oblige them but I have got to work. I have had big feet and hands most my life.

Jan. 22

Noon Rhea and I went up in town had our lunch and backs just to get out, as we still don't have a car.

Jan. 24

Rhea is having some trouble with chest pains from her hart.

Jan. 25

It is 53 degrees out today. I went up in Salt Lake City, pick up some maps to send Mr. Henning and Mr. Beach of the airport and the city, so when they fly here they will know something of Salt Lake City and Valley. While there I walked over to the blue print place, got some drawing paper and few things, then down to State St. and 4th south to get the bus. I must have missed it, so I went to the city & county building, got a book on this block, as here is where the Mormons landed and camped for few years coming into the valley.

Jan. 26

Elaine: sent me three pages in regards to my operations and my sickness, and caring for my ailments. She is a great person. She has lot on the ball if she only knew it. Disappoint in life has cut her a lot, and seam like I was never where I could give her a hand when she needed it.

Jan. 29

Up drawing as fast as I can to get ready for Mr. Henning and Mr. Beach. They arrived about 2:30 P.M. and stayed until about 5:00 PM, I had drawn in two sarcophagus crypts out side of each side of the chapel. I was afraid they would not go for it but they seam to go for most of what I design.

Jan. 30

Mr. Henning and Mr. Beach arrived this morning about 8:30 AM and stayed until approximately 9:45. They want me to give them some figure on cost with out a plan or on what I have. This will be quite a job. I am to get $700.00 per month and work 4 hours a day, and $500.00 office expense, and pay my expenses to and from Chicago if they ask me to come there.

Jan. 31

I have a lot to do on drawing and figuring. Hope Rhea will stay well so I can get my mind on these drawings. I work from 8:00 AM until 6:00 PM except eating.

Feb. 3

Working long hours too tired to write. Allan came to give me a little lift.

Feb. 4

Was up to the Hospital from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. I worked on plans from 8:00 AM to 12:00 noon. Then Allan was here; we ate then started figuring cubic yards of concrete for the new Rose Hill Mausoleum with what plans I have. We have put in 6 hours the last two nights. I am very proud of Allan.

Feb. 5

DESERT NEWS, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH ASTROS LAND RIGHT ON TARGET TAKE A 5-HOUR MOON WALK (from a newspaper clipping)

Helen, Heinz, Rhea and I went to a show in the evening then out, had a hamburger.

Feb. 15

My side is so sore. I am trying to figure the cost of this mausoleum in Chicago. My side or around my colostomy being so sore changing bandages. Make it hard to think and to figure.

Feb. 17

Allan picked up my concrete figures to run through his calculator. Nice to have his help as I still figures Escalante style. Lot by guessing. Then checking myself by plane old figures. The width times the length times the height, then divide by 27 for concrete, marble, granite and etc. Then keep up with prices which is a job. Different marbles and their class and price seem to stay with me.

Feb. 22

I sit here figuring and figuring on this Chicago mausoleum. This is a very nice job; one anyone would like to get. I have not got all my figures together yet look like it is going over $1200000.00.

March 5

This is a very disappointing day. I worked on the Rose hill cemetery job until noon. Then went up to the University Hospital to get my weekly shot of 5 fluorouracil. Then at 2:00 AM I was to see Dr. Lawrence Stevens about having my Colostomy closed up. Dr. Stevens told me they thought best to not do it, as I have part of a blockage in my colon. So now if I will have any more trouble with that, I wonder.

Got my second paycheck from Rosehill Cemetery today.

March 26

Took drawing to have some prints made to send to Chicago. I was so tired I was wondering some if I was getting a cold or working to long hours as this drawing was one of the main drawing and after I had put four days on it I found I had made a big mistake and had to throw it away and start all over.

March 27

Went to city to mail off plans. Found the post office closed. Union Pacific office in down town was closed so we went down to the Depot to get our tickets to California then found out our check book had no checks so had to come home empty handed.

March 10

Went back to the Union Pacific depot. We could not get a bedroom or birth on the train. So we gave up went up to the Hotel Utah got airplane tickets to Las Vegas for Friday Apr. 2nd hoping to get to Barstow California train or bus where Jim will pick us up and take us to Inyokern to stay with them for a few days.

Special Data

Drawing, drawing, drawing! Will be glad to get this finished so I can take a rest and have a trip to see all those wonderful kids.

April 3

Jim, David and Stephen came at 9:00 so we started for Inyokern. It is nice out here. The desert flowers are out and a very bright sun. I hope I can get some color in my face. I feel fine.

April 4

We are here at Carol & Jim's with the best kids little Daniel looked me over for a while. I was afraid to rush him, might scare him away, but about a minute he began to smile and wanted to come to me out my hands. He finally came to me, now he is my boy. Deborah has grown a lot, what a pretty blond she is. After noon we all went to church except Carol she didn't feel good, when we got back she had a big two chicken dinner. I like it here but wonder if we are a burden or additional burden.

What nice kids, guess I am spoiling them. In church Daniel got up and loved me.

April 5

The sun is out bright and I feel good, hope this desert sun helps me improve my health. I am doing a lot of walking, maybe more than I should. But I feel good! Noon Carol made a very nice lunch and drove us out to a base park, this was nice. I am trying to get a tan. These nice kids they are so loveable every one of them.

April 6

This is a windy day here on the desert, quite a few clouds and warm but not like yesterday. Walked up to town and back. Rhea and Carol went to Relief Society. Deborah went with them. I stayed home with the boys they were very good. I love these grand kids.

April 7

Out here with Carol, Jim and grandkids. I mostly sit and tease the kids. They are very good kids oldest to baby. I am trying to sit in the sun. I usually walk to town twice some time three times to get some exercise. I sit here and daydream. Carol called and made an appointment with Dr. Shull for tomorrow to get a shot in the arm.

April 8

Inyokern to Long Beach California

I hate to leave the grand kids and this desert. The kids are like these wild flowers shutting forth, young and tender with loveliness. Mike got out hereabout 2:00 we visited a while then headed for Long Beach. Had a good visit and was nice getting better aquatinted with mike. I feel my sons in laws are good men, like my son, and Naoma is like a daughter.

We arrived in Long Beach. I was not as tired as I figured I would be. Rhea laid down in the back seat and slept some.

April 9

Sat around most of the day with Carol, Jim and those grandkids on my mind would like to be back out there with them in the shifting sand. I talked to Elaine and Marilyn. Cloid and Alice will take us down to Marilyn's Saturday night.

April 10

We went out for a walk. We went past where we life at 410 E. Mountainview. Where we first lived when we sold our Glenview Ill. home back in about 1951 about 5300 North near El.

We are just back from going over to see Sunnyside mausoleum and down in Long Beach to see Queen Mary ship. We left Long Beach about 4:30, stopped in Santa Ana had Dinner, then on to Marilyn & Bob's. Was nice to see them all ok. How Alan and LuAnn have grown. Nice children or should I say young people? Alan is almost as tall as I am.

April 11

We had breakfast out in their back yard, little cool this morning. Have been laying around and taking things easy and trying to soak up the sun. It is now 3:30 and won't be long until we will be at Elaine & Mikes.

Bob took us to Elaine's He always seams good at least he is nice to Rhea & I. So he seams and is a nice person to me. We got to Elaine's about 7:00 now we have seen all of our grandchildren.

April 12

Elaine had fresh ground wheat mush tasted very good I had two bowls. Nice to see Elaine, Mike's kids pray and say blessing same as Carol and Jim's.

Went over Whittier by bus, drew out 100.00 from bank. Then went over to American savings and loan and got some lecture on, if we started taking so much out each month. Then back by cab.

Called a Real Estate man went out looking at homes, $$21000 to $24000 homes. What a mess, I was rather disgusted with them.

April 13

When little Mike came home for lunch, Elaine and Rhea was not here. They went to take Lydia to her school. I was looking over some old papers Elaine set out. I did not hear him. I was in a back bedroom. Little mike came in and put his arms around me. What more could a Grand father ask for.

April 14

Took little Mike over to Sears Roebuck to get him something. Hr is a nice kid. We walked and looked. Finally he said Grandpa I don't know what I want. Why don't you go sit in those chairs and rest while I look some more? He had been told I could not walk far. I was tired, as I had been chasing out to the mausoleums at Rosehill in Whittier. I have to keep up with mausoleums as this is my work, but I just can't see these holding hands in death as they call them. Pair of crypts with opening from one crypt to the other. They have sold thou.

April 15

Mike took me to Whittier and I mailed off my dirty clothes and some of my history of my self that I picked up at Carol's. Then we went down to get my plane flight fixed, then on to Dr. Bruff where I got a shot, then back home here in La Mirada. Nice to be here with Mike, Elaine and kids and the kids are very good kids.

I have a case of laryngitis sore throat. I can't talk very well.

April 16

I was to leave today but changed planes and went or should say Elaine took us to forest Lawn Hollywood Hills and Glendale Mausoleum she also took us to a Jewish cemetery. After we got home Rhea went to bed then we went and got my ticket fixed up to leave tomorrow. Evening she took us out to one of her clubs where they talk over their problems. We got home about 10:15 PM Big Mike played some of his records which I enjoyed. I still have laryngitis.

April 17

Up this morning 6:45 to pack and get ready for Mike, Elaine and children to take me over to the LA Airport. Now to leave all of them and the wonderful children. Left Las Angles 11:05. My throat is sour and I have a headache.

April 18

I still have a cold, headache and laryngitis. I have wrote to most all. I am having trouble with my eyes. They seam to water or tears in them with this cold.

April 19

I got a new sheet of paper on the drawing board but I don't see to good. So I am not doing much I work about 2 hours.

This evening Carol called and told me David broke his arm in the elbow. They seam to be having their share of sickness. David is a worker; Jim will miss his help for a while. They have such nice kids how I miss them.

April 24

Rhea came home from her vacation. Rhea's plane was on time we got a cab home. We talked until 3:30 she went to bed and I went to the store one block away then I went back to my drawing.

April 25

Bill and Guenn Swinyard were over to see us nice to have them drop in. They live here now we knew them back in Skokie Ill.

April 27

Have been pushing myself all day would like to put these drawings to one side for a few days think about my grand kids. I finely finished this terrace floor drawing at 7:00 PM. Will start to revise the main floor tomorrow

April 30

These days trying to draw and my eyes won't let me. I keep trying to get a little. Seams like since I got my cold and back from California my eyes ache, water and smart.

May 1

Tried to draw for awhile. Rhea got up about 8:30 and at 10:30 AM we went down to Roadway Inn to a colotomy club meeting. They had two sessions where Drs. Talked and then answer and question session. We left at 2:00 PM had a nice dinner.