Ray Richey pg 3
Mary Ann Chapman Richey
Born: 22 Apr 1872 at Parleys Park, Sunset, Utah
Died: 3 Jul 1973 at Show Low, Navajo, Arizona

Mary Ann Chapman Richey (Grandma Richey) was a product of the early pioneer era of Utah and northern Arizona. She was born at Parleys Park (near the present day city of Park City, Utah) and moved between Parleys Park and Sandy, Utah. They lived in Manti, Utah, and later her father was asked by Brigham Young to move to St Johns, Arizona to help build that community. Her mother, Mary Adeline Potter died when she was 2. When she was 4 her father married Harriet Zelnora Marsdon. Harriet died when Grandma Richey was about 12. Her father married Harriet Ann Davis. Grandma Richey was never comfortable with her second stepmother. Grandma Richey and her sister Elizabeth Amelia (Lizzie) worked in the homes of other families so they would not be around their stepmother. While she was working for the Farr family she met James Moroni Richey. James asked her to marry in the spring of 1888 (She received a ring on 1 May 1888).

James brother, Benjamin, was getting married to Alice Platt so the four of them traveled from St Johns, Arizona to St George, Utah to be married for time and all eternity in the St George Temple. It took them 5 weeks to make the round trip. The had two wagons and teams, on the way up the girls would sleep in one wagon and the men in the other, on the way back they slept as couples. Halfway up they buried grain for the horses, and built a fire over the spot to hide it. That way they did not have to carry the grain all the way up and back. They were married on Wednesday 12 Sep 1888, he was 39 and she was 16.

Mary Ann and James had 12 children, Mary Lucinda (Lou), James Welcome, Elinor Ruth, Moroni Forest, Hugh, John Montgomery, Emily Elizabeth, Leigh Montrose, Josephine, Vivian, Leslie Jay, and Daisy.

James died on 12 Feb 1930 leaving Mary Ann a widow for 43 years, until she died at 101 3 Jul 1973. Grandma Richey always kept busy caring for herself and visiting with her family. The attached quilt block was some of the things she made for her children and grand children. She also made matching pillowcases for her grandchildren. In reading her journal she states over and over her love of Heavenly Father, for the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and his church the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She testifies that without the blessings of a loving Heavenly Father she would not have had the strength to endure the hardships she had to endure.

We hope you treasure this memento of your Great Grandmother Mary Ann Chapman Richey. By touching this you have touch the hands that have touched the hands that touched the hands of the Prophet Joseph Smith and the others of the Restoration.

Your Grandmother, Mable James Richey gave one of the quilt blocks to Diane in 1967 when we were on or way to Ft. Rucker, Alabama, and the other three in May 1973 when we were on our way from Alaska to New Jersey (when the photo on the front was taken).

Mom and Dad 28 November 2003
Diane Marie Sheffer Richey
Leslie Ray Richey