Me at age 2.
Me: Today 
My name is Grace Emily Lay Walbom Gilgen
Me at age 2.
Me: Today
My name is Grace Emily Lay Walbom Gilgen
On April 20, 1939, my mother, Jennie Estelle Walton Lay, went to the 
Cottonwood
Maternity Home in Murray, Utah. My Aunt, June Bradshaw, her sister,
took her there. I was born the next day and they admitted my aunt
with labor pains. My cousin Larry was born four days later. My father,
Amos Earl "Doc" Lay was not there at the time. He was a giant of
a man working as a superintendent of steel erection ( Iron Workers).
I have one brother,
Dale Earl
and Mom raised my nephew, 
Ronald Earl Lay as our own.
I went all over the country with my parents
on job sites until I started school at Highland Park Elementary on 27th
South in Salt Lake City, Utah. I attended many schools early in life until
the fourth grade. My father came home one afternoon to tell my mom he had
sold the house and we were going gold mining just out of Idaho City, Idaho
in 1947. Mom followed Dad and we lived in a tent for three months.
You could say gold mining was in the Lay family blood, just like iron work
was.
We lived in a cow pasture for two weeks in Glenns Ferry, Idaho
trying to get enough money to get back to Salt Lake. Needless to say, we
didn't strike it rich in gold.
My parents bought a home at 15th East and 30th South in Salt Lake and stayed
there until I married in 1958. I attended Libby Edward, Central Jr.
High and Olympus High School. I worked as telephone operator for Mountain
Bell and the Gold Strike Stamp Co. where I met and married my husband,
William N. Walbom.
We had five beautiful children, two boys and three girls. Also
I raised William Kregg Walbom from Bill's previous marriage.
I soon met my present husband, 
Jack Merrill Gilgen and have had an adventure. twenty two years of surprises.
Living on a farm so different from the city life was wonderful. We
have raised everything, including any stray children or adults. I
hunt, fish, camp, raise a beautiful garden to preserve, as well as a beautiful
flower garden to enjoy. Together we work seasonal jobs such as Skinning
Mink.
Jack and I were partners for fifteen years shearing
the valley sheep. He sheared and I tied the fleece. Some times
we worked with a crew and I tied for five shearers.
In 1977, I opened the Cauldron Costume Shoppe (rentals).
I enjoyed that business for fourteen years. Sewed most of the costumes
with the help of my children. We costumed for productions at Utah State
University, Unicorn Children’s Theatre, various High Schools, Church functions,
Centennial for Utah Senate, and the Festival of the American West. Worked
with the Special Olympic group in Salt Lake. My life has been full with
grandchildren and now a great grandson. And life goes on.
My many hobbies are first love- genealogy, gardening,
sewing, crafts, art, classical music, grandchildren, and serving probably
more coffee to friends in a day than most cafes.
We are blessed with so many friends
.
The Complete Ancestry of Myself, Husband and my Children.
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