Those Moccasin Days

When I think of Moccasin, I think of Grandma Heaton. She was a strong force in the life of every one of her children and grandchildren; I have fond memories of Grandma Heaton. She presided over her large family clan with a quiet, firm hand. She never missed much that went on around her. She kept everything running in an orderly manner, and expected an evening visit from each son, every day, even if he was married with a family of his own.

Grandma had a large library of books that filled all one wall by her fireplace in the living-dining room. She always tried to see that we children read the proper books for our age level. She was interested in the welfare of each grandchild. She taught the kindergarten group of children in Sunday school for many years and excelled in telling Bible stories.

Grandma loved beautiful dishes. She made fancy quilts and gave each granddaughter lace for pillowcases when they were married, while she was alive. All of her pillowcases were edged with lovely knitted lace.

Her bay window was always a mass of beautiful plants. She truly had a green thumb.

I remember sleeping up to Grandma's when she was alone. I always slept on huge down pillows and a feather mattress out on the side porch. Generally, I stayed for breakfast. Grandma and I sat at one end of the long dining table and a large yellow cat lapped cream from a saucer at the other end. Grandma's breakfasts were very satisfying, usually hot cereal with real cream, hot biscuits, butter and honey and jelly.

I have always been thankful that Grandma Heaton was part of my "growing up". Grandpa Heaton was a church and civic leader, and with two families to manage he didn't have much time for grandchildren, He would often sit with his face buried in a paper or book during the evenings, seemingly oblivious to family, friends or visitors.

I do remember a little incident involving Grandpa Heaton. He bought one of the first (if not the first} touring cars that came into southern Utah. When he drove into Moccasin in this car, it was a real event. He took everyone on the ranch for short rides.

When some of us were chugging up the sandy lane one day, we saw a coyote skulking along the ditch, at the side of the road. It would hide behind the tall Lombardy poplars which grew the full length of the lane, The men folks located the coyote and shot it. They thought it had rabies, because it was so skinny and had very little hair on its body.

- Edna H. Stapley