The Utz Family Tree
My Great Grandfather Newton Byrn as a Young Man and as I knew him.
Newton in front of children Howard, Edith, and John Ranson Byrn
Sister Florence Byrn, wife of Newton Byrn united with the RLDS church March 9, 1894, being baptized by Elder George Jenkins and confirmed by Elders M. T. Short & George Jenkins. All of their children would eventually join the church: Howard, Ben, John, and Edith. My grandfather John born May 29, 1890 would later write "My mother was a Latter Day Saint. She took me to Sunday School when I was a boy. I thought Sunday School was for small boys." He would not unite with the church for another 36 years. Perhaps he had reservations like his father Newton who did not join the RLDS until Nov 7, 1926 about 18 days after John R & Hazel were baptized October 24, 1926.
Other than the Byrn Family reunions I don’t have many memories of Aunt Edith, at least no personal ones. Aunt Edith married Clifford Langford. She named her children often from words that she had read: Jean Capitola, Freeda LaVerne (Tuny), Jack Sheldon, Mary Juanita (Mickey), Harry Dale and James Richard (Jimmy Dick). Freeda Laverne, Sandy's mother, married Russell Harrison, Sandy's father. She later married Carl Hartman and had three more children. And still later she married John Franklin. When she died she was not married. Aunt Jean married Floyd Engleman, and they had two children, Vickie Sue and Barbara Joan (calling her Joanie).
Edith May Byrn suffered with heart dropsy later in life and it was hard for her to get around. She loved the Church and often said “I go up to the church for the singin’, I like to make a joyful noise.”
Charles Huffman, Mary Juanita (Mickey's) husband, Elfie, James Richard's wife & Jim -Her son Eric Langford and Elfie's FB Picture -
Newton's gravestone in the Byrneville Cemetery
I am uncertain how Ephraim Byrne fits in my geneology
My Grandfather Albert and Grandmother Emma Davidson Utz
Albert Utz and Emma had 4 children; Aldon, Bernadine, Lavern and Robert Chafton.
Albert divorced Emma early on in their marriage and left her to raise the children alone.
My Grandfather John Ransom Byrn and Grandmother Hazel Pictures
I was born in their home, delivered by country Dr. G.D. Baker. The doctor told my parents that I would surely die before sunrise as He had done all he could to save me. Grandfather was an Elder and the Pastor of the Byrneville RLDS church from 1930 - 1953 and my parents asked him to administer to me. He anointed my newborn head with consecrated olive oil and his prayer of faith as the scripture promises saved my sickly body. God did not choose to heal me as the weakness in my body caused me to have pneumonia 12 times before I was 2 years old.
John R. & Hazel in front of Store - Hazel holding me with John R. - Al, John R. Linda David - John R holding me on his lap
John Byrn Family (Alma Louise & Owen Kenneth)
Alma Louise Byrn & Owen Kenneth Byrn
Grandmother Lily Hazel Byrn's Family
Hazel Marie and Lily Hazel William G and America Naomi (Oma) Leffler
"Mr Bill" was a hunter, trapper and fisherman. They lived in another century in a tin roofed home with no electricity, kerosene oil lamps, a cast iron stove, icebox and a feather bed!
Picture on right is my grand Uncle John Ivan Leffler, we called him Uncle Ivan.
He was married to my grandmother Emma Davidson for a short time.
My Mother and Father, Alma Louise (Byrn) and Aldon Davidson Utz
Mom was the Belle of Byrneville!
Dad was from Mottown, near New Salisbury, and asked my Grandfather John if he could court his daughter Alma Louise and My grandfather said No! because Grandfather knew that he smoked and danced.
Dad quit both!
Pictured on the sofa in their living room sometime between 1972 - 1975, when Mom became ill from a one in ten million disease called,"Olivo Ponto Cerebellar Atrophy." Mother went to Paradise to be with our Lord Valentines Day night 1975. Mom and Dad's love was truly a love for the ages, cut much too short!
Mother and Father were married at an RLDS District Reunion; They spent their Honeymoon night in the Mansion House Nauvoo, Illinois, then went on to Independence to see the headquarters of the church.
Mother and Dad where faithful to the Lord all their lives and sang praises as often as they could.
Dad was lead singer in the Bow-Tie Southern Gospel Quartet, Mother played Piano and my sister Linda was the mascot. Linda held that over me until her death always saying "you know why I got to be the mascot and you didn't?" It was because I would get bored and go to sleep on a church pew. I suppose I earned the distinction of having slept on most every church pew in southern Indiana and Louisville, Kentucky area.
The Bow Tie Quartet were specialists in gospel singing and the singing of spirituals. The group was organized around 1948 by the children of Virgil and Myrtle Maymon. Myrtle and my mother Alma Louise were cousins. Left to right in the photo. . . Alma Louise Utz - pianist, Linda Kay Utz - mascot, Leroy Maymon - tenor, Aldon Utz - lead, Doris Maymon Byrne - alto, Harley Maymon - bass.
The copy in the Corydon Democrat article contines . . .
The Quartet appeared between acts at the New Salisbury Senior Play on April 18. They have been singing together for 6 months at this publication date and have made appearances in Oakland City, at various Louisville Churches in Harrison, Floyd and Clark Counties. They also appeared in Memphis, Indiana.
All the Utz family gathered in the front lawn at Linda & Al's Wedding.
I performed the ceremony for Linda & Al, the Alfred David Family, my first wedding.
Utz Family My Wedding day with Mom & Dad, Uncle Kenny-Aunt Norma-Kathy-David Utz Family High School
With My Father, Aldon Davidson Utz
One of the ways that Dad entertained guests who came to "Tinker-Hill",
the name the local people called the Aldon & Alma Louise Utz home up on the ridge,
was by BBQing chicken, 12 split fryers at a time using this sauce:
This was often complimented with fresh made icecream and persimmon pudding.
With My Mother, Alma Louise Utz
My Academic Hood
Indiana University B. S.in Education
Me With Mom & Dad and Mother, Aunt Norma and the 4 of us at her wedding
With Grandfather John
Pictures of Johnny Utz ages 1 to 2
Several family and individual pictures
Linda-Beverly-Johnny Johnny 2 weeks old
Johnny's 1st Christmas Fabulous 4: Johnny, Linda Kay, Beverly Ann, Judith Rose Johnny-Linda-Beverly
Stair Steps in Elementary School with Dad Linda-Beverly-Judy Johnny-Linda-Beverly
J0hnny -Favorite Toy 4th or 5th Grade At Play with Bow & Arrow
Johnny Cleans Up Good
My Grandfather Elder John R Byrn baptizing me on my 8th birthday Sunday June 30, 1949 with this prayer: "Having been commisioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, Amen."
Grandma Oma with Johnny and Patty K Kline Hazel Marie, John and Patty K
Utzes w/cousins Bobby Gene & Sandra Byrne and Louita Byrne Rutherford
My mother's brother Owen Kenneth with us Kenny on military leave holding Linda with me on the bumper.
John "Jack" Wight, Missionary Seventy, good friend of Kenny's holding me at 6 months of age. As a young teacher I did summer camps with Jack & Janie Wight, Jack leading and Jane as camp nurse. Camp Tingana in Tennessee was one I remember, I was a cabin counselor, and I had a model rocket which I launched called the Tingana Tiger. It had a parachute recovery system built into it and everyone enjoyed the launch. I played a baritone ukelele at that time and one of the campers was Jack & Janie's son John S. Wight and I taught him how to play. He is President of the Seventies now.
John "Jack" Wight John S. Wight (Jack & Jane's Son)
Left picture, older boys in town called me grandpa snazzy because I liked to dress up,
Loved wearing crazy hats, bermuda shorts and white knee socks.
2nd picture shows my goatee, my first beard, and the 3rd is the Utz Children Instrumental Quartet - Beverly french horn, John tenor saxophone, Linda piano and Judy the glockenspiel
Right picture is our cousin Irma Maymon holding Beverly, with Linda and John in front.
Dad with all grandchildren, colored Pic - Dawn playing for Dad, John Tenor Sax & Linda Cornet and Dad and Linda
on left Beverly, Alfred David and Dad with JoAnna Linda and Benjamin in front
on right Dad Beverly, Linda and Judy with Dawn, Darin and Benjamin
My little sister Judith Rose "Judy" as a majorette and her senior picture and cheerleader
Beverly, R.N. St. Anthony's Nursing School - Beverly, Brady and Bella and I - Missy with Dad - Beverly at Missy's wedding
I wanted to recognize Beverly's Love and Kindness to me, Dorrance (Dee) & Beverly
Lower right photo, Utz Family Portrait, when I was a senior in 1959, with
My Mother Alma Louise, Beverly Ann, Aldon, Judith Rose (Judy), John Aldon, Linda Kay
Upper left Linda in her high school Operetta attire
Upper right photo, Early Utz Family Christmas, when I was 15, we were
with Dad, grandfather John and grandmother Hazel Byrn, mother took the picture.
Linda & Beverly * Grandmother Hazel Byrn with John & Linda as babies
The 4 of us were reunited for this picture at Linda's Bloomington Home.
On My 65th Birthday
with a Walking Cane fashioned by Dee, Beverly's Husband
On the right I am in the same room, Corydon's Bed & Breakfast.
A Special Surprise Birthday Party Buffet to honor my 65th Birthday,
as a gift to me from my dearest of friends, Darlene Gettle, who I loved dearly.
It was a most touching, emotional, and humbling experience for me.
On my 75th Birthday with birthday gifts, bronze casts of the Stone Church and Auditorium
Near my 78th Birthday with Judy and Beverly My Beautiful Sisters at Missy's wedding
During the time when Al & Linda lived in Bloomington
Beverly & Dorrance (Dee) Kelly Family and Friends Tom and Nancy
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During the time they lived in Portland, Oregon
Linda's Favorite Ornament for Her Flower Garden in Bloomington
Linda & Alfred, too, had a Love for All Time.
The David Family: Linda, Benjamin, Alfred and Margo David
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Marriage May 17, 1970
Alyce Sue (Gibbs) and John Aldon Utz
Best Man, Terry Auker, Alyce's sisters Crystal and Judy, Richard "Dick" Wright, Best Man
Our beautiful daughter, JoAnna Marie Utz, was born September 11, 1971
and to the right is JoAnna's 1st born Julia Danielle Utz
JoAnna and Julia are Boggle Champions, Brandi comes next and Me Last!
Bruce and JoAnna's Wedding
JoAnna's Wedding Song
(Sung before the vows by Alyce and I with guitar accompaniment)
Lord, we come to you and pray,
on our children's wedding day,
and our prayer for them is love,
grace and peace from courts above.
Refrain:
May they always seek your face,
may they live within your grace,
may their love and patience grow,
blessed forgiveness may they know.
Lord, around your altar now,
JoAnna and Bruce express their vow,
to live their covenant lives as one,
desiring that Thy will be done.
Refrain:
May they always seek your face,
may they live within your grace,
may their love and patience grow,
blessed forgiveness may they know.
Take them, Lord, into your care
watch, protect them everywhere,
Holy Spirit come in power,
bless the purpose of this hour.
Refrain:
May they always seek your face,
may they live within your grace,
may their love and patience grow,
blessed forgiveness may they know.
Tag:
Give your blessing now we pray,
to their union on this day,
seal on them their marriage vow,
bless their home and children now. Amen.
©2012 John Aldon Utz
The Baker Family
https://photos.app.goo.gl/rdfWZ3fw8YmHf1qE7
Husband Bruce & My daughter JoAnna Baker with her son Harley and daughter Madison
Julia with Harley Harley graduates and Julia, Bruce and JoAnna in San Diego
Julia, Madison, Harley & Anna in back; Julia, Manager at San Diego Walmart, Elizabeth, Madison & Julia
Maddie-birthday with Anthony
Anthony & Madison
My Great Granddaughter Lanae Rose born 7-14-21 at 8:07 AM weighing 7 lbs 8 oz
Selfie on right with Granddaughter Elizabeth (Lizzie) at her Concert Choir Performance
Clip of Elizabeth Singing with Van Horn Concert Choir
Granddaughter Elizabeth’s Birthday Party
Julia, my granddaughter
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with Madison and Elizabeth and JoAnna
After leading a special Maunday Thursday Service at Grandview Community of Christ
JoAnna, the Love of my Life!