New Marker for Emma Covert’s Grave
From Matthew Turner (Emma Covert), written May 2004.
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The location of Emma Covert’s grave was unknown for many years. John Morgan is a great grandson of Emma Covert and Milo Andrus through their son William Spencer Andrus. He and his wife Sandy found the grave in 2004 at the “other” cemetery in Salina, Utah, the Eastside Cemetery, 600 E. Main St. She is buried next to her second husband, John Holden. The plot numbers are OP-13-2-7 for Emma and OP-13-2-8 for John. Both graves each only had a small cast aluminum marker, so John Morgan decided to have a proper monument placed on Emma’s grave and to have a dedication ceremony.
May 29 was a somewhat stormy day in Salina. The weather went back and forth between rainy and sunny, windy and still. It even hailed a little before the ceremony’s scheduled start time of 1:00. But the rain eased up by that time, and we were able to have our meeting without getting wet. The new monument had barely been delivered to the cemetery and was not yet properly set, but had been placed temporarily on top of the old marker. When it is properly set, it will have a longer piece of stone under it, with a stone vase on either side of the monument stone. The back of the monument lists Emma’s seven children. Emma had said that if she died in the summer, she would like wild roses on her grave, and if she died in the fall, she would like scarlet tinged maple leaves on it. Inspired by this romantic wish, John and Sandy had wild roses and maple leaves engraved on the monument, and John’s sister-in-law, Rilla brought silk roses and real oak leaves to decorate the grave.
We were a small group. Of the 17 people present, 12 were Emma Covert descendants, and the other 5 were spouses. All of the Emma Covert descendants present were descended through her only son, William Spencer Andrus. Two of William’s children, James Milo and Juanita, were represented. I had been praying that someone besides my own aunts, uncles and cousins would come, so even though we were a small group, I felt the turnout was a success, because others of Emma’s descendants were there.
We gathered in a circle around the grave, and everyone who wanted to speak was given a chance to do so. The grave was then dedicated by John’s brother Ronald Morgan, invoking the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.
The cemetery in Salina, Utah. [Click to enlarge.]
Emma Covert’s new grave marker. [Click to enlarge.]
Back of new grave marker. [Click to enlarge.]
Second husband John Holden grave marker. [Click to enlarge.]
I have posted more pictures to the following website:
http://photos.yahoo.com/honder1
Comments
4 Responses to “New Marker for Emma Covert’s Grave”
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Thanks for all of your hard work and the information and pictures. I am a decendant of William Spencer Aundrus (1874)and Rose Victoria Bateman (1876). My Mother is the daughter of James Milo Andrus (1902) and Florence Crystal (1904).
Looks like my Nephew, Wife and two children are in the group picture. Glad they could be there!
I just stumbled across this and was very excited. 20+ years ago my family lived in eastern Idaho, we have been living in Kennewick for over 20 years now and have lost contact with most of the decendents I knew of James Milo Andrus (1902) and Florence Crystal (1904), my father is one of their son’s. With my children all raised, I have been thinking I should dive into my family history, this is an exciting discovery.
GOOD JOB MORGAN FAMILY ! I am sure all you Aunts and Uncles are very proud of your efforts
I’m old in the Milo Andrus Family but new to the world of email. Would be happy to catch up with all of you if you were to sent me a note. cabrower@q.com
Hello, I am descended from Emma through my grandfather Jesse Andrus, son of William Spencer Andrus. We will be making a cross-country trip next summer and will be stopping by her grave site. Thanks so much.