Stirling Newsletter March 2002

A blast from the past...

The Southern Utah News
August 5, 1986

"My family is the best. They do too much for me," said Thelma Stirling, 85, life-time resident of the Hurricane area.

This past July 26-27, Thelma's family held an open house and birthday celebration for her.

Forty attended the birthday party. She says they all 'put it together' and bought her a color TV set.

"They tried to surprise me, but one of the girls accidently let the cat out of the bag. A few days before, I told them "I'm too old and don't want a party, but I'm so glad they didn't listen to me," said Thelma.

Of the open house on July 27, Thelma said, "I'm so highly honored because so many people came to see me."

One of her grandchildren, Sandra Croft, honored her by writing a poem for her:
Grandma
We have a Grandma,
Small, white-haired; which was once red,
Someone who has a kiss,
For each small and big head.
She likes to wear pretty dresses,
Clip earrings, and a smile,
But most of all she loves the times,
When family members come for awhile.
Eyes dim with age,
But memories, laughs and a joke shared,
Are never to be forgotten,
Because Grandma is one who always cared.
Grandma, today it's our turn to brag,
So this program is just for you,
We want to wish a happy birthday,
and say, "We love you, too!"

Thelma's parents, Jacob Louis Workman and Mary Catherine Redd Workman, operated a hotel and boarding house, during the oil boom in Virgin.

"People from all over the country stayed there. I was only five years old when we left Virgin, but I do recollect all the hustle and bustle of the exciting times of the oil boom," Thelma said.

The Workans moved to Hurricane in 1906, and were the third family to arrive and settle in the area. Jacob set up a tent near where the brick house now sits on Main Street.

He first built a two room house and used one room to open the first post office in Hurricane. He was the first postmaster. Both of the Workman's were school teachers. The school also served as a church meeting place and was located on the corner of Main and State, where the "old white church" was eventually built.

The first family in Hurricane was the Morris Hinton family. They resided in a one-room house, where Dixie State Bank is now located.

The Anthony Jepson family was the second family to arrive, and Thelma said she can't recall exactly where they lived, but they did live on the north side of town.

Mary Catherine Workman served as the very first Relief Society President for 20 yeasrs. Thelma laughed, saying, "When you got in back in those days you were in for life." Mary also served as a postmistress during the time Jacob went on an LDS Mission to Houston, Texas.

Thelma fondly remembers her school days when she attended high school in St George. She said they had to ride a horse or buggy on Monday mornings and return home for the weekend.

I recollect the first car that arrived in the area. I don't remember who owned it, but I do remember they would let us ride down Main Street for 10 cents a ride--now that was exciting!"

Thelma met and married Rex Stirling in 1924 and they moved to Leeds, and lived there for 17 years. Rex was called on a mission to the Denver, Colorado area when they had been married for about 6-8 months. Thelma said their first born, Mary Marquetta, was born while he was on his mission.

She and the baby came back to Hurricane and the family home, while Rex was gone. She helped her mother in the post office.

Her father finished their beautiful home and passed away in 1911.

Thelma and Rex had four daughters and three sons. Their first born, Mary, passed away in 1974. Another daughter, Sue Olds, lives next door and, as Thelma said was the "instigator" of the big hullaboo of a party and open house of 50 children and grandchildren and great grandchildren.