The Payson Chronicle Newspaper
Wednesday, December 29, 2021
#savethisphoto
Payson 2nd Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, AKA "The Green Church" (circa 1930-1940)
Happy New Year
Tuesday, December 28, 2021
Mourning the Passing of Friends: Forthcoming Funeral Service
"What we have once enjoyed we can never lose.
All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.”
~ Helen Keller
VIRGIE HASKELL
Virgie Haskell, loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Surrounded by her loving husband and children, peacefully returned to her Heavenly Father on Sunday, December 26, 2021.
She was born to Amos and Mary Mecham on October 20, 1944, in Murray, Utah. She later moved to Charleston, Utah where she attended Elementary and Junior High School. Before her sophomore year, her family moved to Spring Lake, Utah where she attended Payson High School. It is here she met the love of her life, Stanley Jay Haskell. Soon after, her family sold their farm in Spring Lake and planned to return to Charleston. Virgie did not want to leave her sweetheart, so the two chose to marry on October 20, 1960. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Provo Utah Temple on December 7, 1982.
She was a devoted and faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, serving in various callings, including primary, young women and relief society presidencies and served as the Relief Society President. She loved every opportunity to serve, diligently fulfilling every calling given to her. She loved her Savior and Redeemer with all her heart and looked forward to seeing him again.
She worked full time for many years at Signetics Corporation in Orem and a short while at Utah Valley Hospital as an operator. Both places she was known as a hard worker and a loved and respected co-worker and friend. Her greatest career in life was that of wife, mother and homemaker. She kept an immaculate house and created a home, where all felt welcomed, loved and accepted. She was a devoted wife and mother. She loved Stan with all her heart and raised one son and two daughters, who loved and adored her. She supported them in all they did and was their greatest cheerleader. She was later blessed with grandchildren, whom she thoroughly enjoyed and dearly loved. She welcomed the opportunity to tend and spend time with them, any chance she got. She especially enjoyed spending time with her sweetheart, Stan. She felt great joy in supporting him, in all he did. She also enjoyed vacations, car rides to Spanish Fork, Provo and Payson Canyons. One of her favorite trips was going to St. George in the winter months, where it was warm and sunny.
For many years she suffered silently with physical pain, that would eventually take away the quality of life and good health she once enjoyed. She endured all this with great dignity, strength and humility. All the while, with her loving husband and constant caretaker by her side, she rarely, if ever complained. Despite her physical limitations, she always had a smile & positive outlook on life, finding ways to joke and enjoy the simple things that brought her joy. This example, along with her devoted love to her husband, children and grandchildren, will always be remembered and known as her greatest legacy.
She is survived by her husband, Stanley Jay Haskell, son, Scott (Chris) Haskell, Monticello, Utah, daughter, Lynette(Blake) Mortensen, Payson, Utah, Son in Law, Victor Camp, Idlelyd Park, Oregon, Sister, Janet (Randy) Maestas, Orem, Utah. 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Amos and Mary Mecham, daughter, Wendie Tingey Camp, brother, Jack Mecham, Sister, Arlene Widdison Chandler.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Maple Creek Hospice and especially Chris Haskell for their loving care.
A public viewing will be held on Wednesday, December 29, 2021 from 2:00 to 2:45 p.m. at Walker Funeral Home, 587 South 100 West, Payson, Utah. A private family and close friend funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. following the viewing. Interment will be in the Payson City Cemetery.
Wednesday, December 22, 2021
Centuries Old Love Affair With Poinsettias
by Emily Edman
From Aztec kings to the local florist: Our centuries old love affair with poinsettias. The Christmas plant that Mexico and Central America gifted the world.
Bright red poinsettia plants are everywhere this time of year and a cheerful reminder that ‘tis the season of Christmas and cheer. Hard to miss, the red-leafed seasonal wonders are at the entrance of many stores so as to remind us to take one home as we make our purchases. Poinsettias are a Christmas staple; it wouldn’t look like Christmas without them. They decorate entryways, border fireplaces, and are included in many Christmas displays and flower arrangements. Once purchased, we may read articles on how to best care for the plant or look up one of the several Youtube videos that show us how to keep it alive and well. After all, a wilted or sad looking poinsettia would not match the joyful spirit of the season.
So how did this plant that so expertly coincides with the Christmas colors of red and green come to be a Christmas must-have in our homes and offices? Where did these plants originate? Poinsettias are native to Mexico and Central America. They are found at moderate elevations from southern Sinaloa down the entire Pacific coast of Mexico to Chiapas and Guatemala. They are also found in the interior of Mexico in Guerrero and Oaxaca. (source: https://web.extension.illinois.edu/poinsettia/facts.cfm. It is a wild and perennial winter flowering shrub that can grow anywhere from ten to fifteen feet high whereas it doesn’t typically grow much beyond 3 as a potted plant. There are currently over one hundred varieties of the plant including white, pink, burgundy, marbled and speckled with red being the dominant color option.
In Mexico and Guatemala the poinsettia is aptly called, Flor de Nochebuena (Flower of the Holy Night or Christmas Eve ) or in Spain, la Flor de Pascua (Easter flower) because it has a different holiday attribution. It is said that the shape of the poinsettia flower and its leaves are representative of the Star of Bethlehem. Some believe that the red colored leaves represent the blood of Christ and the white leaves of the white poinsettia, his purity.
According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the plant “was named for Joel R. Poinsett, who popularized the plant and introduced it to floriculture while he was U.S. minister (ambassador) to Mexico in the late 1820s. What appear to be petals are actually coloured leaflike bracts (modified or specialized leaves) that surround a central cluster of tiny yellow flowers.”
(source: https://www.britannica.com/plant/poinsettia)
The Aztecs referred to the plant as the “flower that withers” or” flower on fire”. In the Nahuatl language, the flower is called "Cuetlaxochitl” or “flower that grows in residues or soil.” The Aztecs used the Poinsettia bracts to make a dye for fabrics, and used the sap to control fevers. Montezuma, the last of the Aztec kings, loved them so much that he would have the poinsettia plants brought into what is now Mexico City because the plant could not be grown in high altitude. Luckily for us, we don’t have to special order nor do we have to travel far for us to enjoy them since they are readily available at several local stores and flower shops. We buy these delicate plants as if to usher in the holiday season and tenderly care for them even if it is just for a short period of time.
In brief, thanks to an amateur botanist who brought a flower home from Mexico, the poinsettia beautifully adorns our homes and workplaces, creating a colorful and festive display, this and every holiday season.
Children’s books- The following two are available at Payson library:
The legend of the poinsettia / retold and illustrated by Tomie dePaola.
by De Paola, Tomie.
A few local places for purchasing poinsettias:
Karen’s Floral Designs
Olson’s Garden Shoppe
Walmart
Smith’s
Additional information about poinsettias
https://web.extension.illinois.edu/poinsettia/facts.cfm The Poinsettia pages: University of Illinois Extension- History, Facts, Selection, Care, etc.
Youtube:
Poinsettias for Kids Youtube video
The Miracle of the First Poinsettia A Mexican Christmas Story 🎄 CHRISTMAS STORIES 🎄 Christmas Story book read aloud on Youtube by KidFunCo
Monday, December 20, 2021
2021 Payson Crèche
This year was the first in which the annual Payson Christmas Crèche encompassed multiple faiths. Diverse groups were invited to join together in the nativities’ creation for a multi-site presentation that wrapped up earlier this month. Pictured here are some of the depictions of the birth of Christ celebrated as the event played out in Payson before wrapping up last week.
#payson #interfaith #nativities #creche #christmascreche
#paysonchronicle #thepaysonchronicle #readthepaysonchronicle
#christmas2021
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