A Glimpse Into the Life and Times of

MAURICE DWIGHT BOWMAN

(with an imaginary prologue)

It was a particularly bright day in the Heavenly Realms, and the usual hushed excitement was evident in the comfortable and spacious waiting rooms. Here and there small groups of Spirit Children discussed their future, as they awaited their call. In one corner, near the beautiful flowering plants, a notably shy Spirit was speaking quite comfortably with a lovely companion. Suddenly an Angel stood before them, and smiling at him, said, "The time is right for you to pass through the veil, and become accustomed to your newly prepared infant body before your scheduled day of birth - which has now been set for July 8th, 1928 according to earth time. You will be born on the afternoon of what on earth is called 'the Sabbath Day.' You may now take leave of your companions."

His companion, tenderly taking his hand, asked quietly, "Can you tell me where you'll be, and which family you will join? Will they be followers of our Lord and Savior?" He replied, "Yes, I can now share some of these precious secrets with you. I'll have the great blessing and privilege of being born the 8th child of Claudious Bowman and Jennie Stark Robinson, who are true followers of our Lord and Master. Isn't it wonderful? To have all those great brothers and sisters will be a blessing indeed! I will be taught the Plan of Salvation! And although my place of birth is a small country town called Colonia Dublán, in the State of Chihuahua, in a land called México, life will be wonderful, I'll have many freedoms, and be able to enjoy the beauties of the Creation.

"'Tis enough," she replied, "I know now that you will be in good hands! And now you must go, but I will follow soon. I know not yet where on earth I will be sent, but I do know that, despite the veil of forgetfulness, our promise to look for each other will remain in our hearts and somehow we will meet, and when we do we will know, and our love for each other will begin to burn in our human hearts. Then, with the Lord's blessing, we will form our eternal union through God's power, and we will be together forever." They embraced, feeling both great joy and sadness as they said farewell.

Because of complications with the placenta, and no competent medical help available, the new baby's mother was very sick during the first month of his life, causing him to suffer a degree of starvation. His constant crying was thought to indicate "the colic," and he was given a diet of "soda-pop." In the second month, the mother's health was restored and he soon became a healthy, happy baby, receiving a blessing and a name from his father, Claudious Bowman on October 7, 1928. (The names Maurice Dwight were chosen by two of his older brothers, Claudius Jr. and Bardell, respectively.)

His childhood and youth were filled with the kinds of activities and experiences that might be desired by any boy with a zest for living and doing. He was forever fixing things; creating and making toys and all manner of implements "necessary" to a boy's life. When his baby brother, Tracy Reed, died as an infant, his mother seemed to consider Maurice as the "baby of the family" and his father gave the rearing of the boy over to his mother. This might account for some of the similarities in personality of mother and son, and the fact that Maurice was never close to his father. Sadly in fact, being shy in nature, he feared his father and would sometimes spend hours getting up the courage to ask any permission or special favors.

He enjoyed a lot of freedom, but was not "wild." Generally obedient, he only "played hooky" from Primary a couple of times, by hiding in the "out-house" with some friends. They were pulled from this hiding place by Hannah Call--Primary President--and that was enough to solve that problem. Being taught the Gospel, as in the plan, he was baptized at the "Ojo" or Warm Springs (down in a small concrete room where water fell from the huge electricity-producing turbines in the room above) on July 9, 1936. He received the Aaronic priesthood--office of Deacon, July 7, 1940; Teacher, July 11, 1943; office of Priest, July 15, 1945. He served as secretary to the Deacons' and Teachers' quorums, and fulfilled all other Priesthood duties quite faithfully. All during his Aaronic Priesthood years, he took upon himself the job of carrying the sacrament bread to church on time twice each Sunday--his mother always supplying the bread, which always had to be "white," and with the crusts trimmed off.

Growing up, Maurice was privileged to meet many of the General Authorities of the Church, as they visited in the home once or twice a year - his father being the Stake President. At one conference-time, when Melvin J. Ballard was the visitor, Maurice was suffering from a severe ear infection. He recalls sitting by the big kitchen table, wrapped in a quilt, with a great buzzing in his head and the sensation of floating about the room. "Apostle Ballard can make me well," he informed his mother. Soon, Elder Ballard entered the kitchen, laid his hands upon his head and blessed him. By evening all pain was gone, and a young testimony strengthened.

The Dublán Grade-school supplied the first eight years of formal education, as well as many opportunities to participate in school programs and activities. At an early age, Maurice showed interest, and a certain amount of ability, in music and art. He learned some guitar from his mother, harmonica from his brother, Wesley, and like Wesley, would sing and play guitar, or play both instruments together--the harmonica being held by a wire contraption over his shoulders. In the 8th grade, he enjoyed playing in the "guitar-harmonica band" initiated by his teacher, DeVee Haws. During that same year, the eighth grade had several fabulous puppet shows, and also constructed a loom on which they wove a woolen "sarape" which was presented to Bryant R. Clark Superintendent of Schools.

But being very self-concious, it was difficult indeed to get him to perform his music for the many visitors that came to the home. In later grade-school years, however, his performing came a little easier, and he performed on the family's piano-accordion, and even the violin (on which he had taken two lessons). When young, he had a high clear voice, and in one Christmas program, sang "Star of the East" in duet with Linnie McNeil, which seemingly, was remembered for some time. That same year, he studied clarinet on his own, and played a clarinet solo for 8th grade graduation. Maurice's parents had him take piano lessons for three years, but he greatly resented the pressure put upon him to practice. Every night, in order to go to bed upstairs, he had to pass in front of his Dad's chair. Almost without fail, his father would ask, "Have you done your practicing?" Needless to say, many tearful hours were spent at the piano late at night.

Maurice learned some early art lessons from his mother. He studied perspective by drawing the kitchen stove under her direction, and tried some water-coloring in the same manner. While in the 4th grade, his teacher, LaPrele Bluth, gave him the morning off to "paint a picture of the famous Pajarito mountain," to send in to a Weekly-Reader art contest. Maurice and Percy Pratt saw their chance, and mounted on "Chapo"--Percy's horse--spent the day climbing and exploring the mountain. Like Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer, they had a ball exploring a cave that had some drawings on the walls, and they even found a shallow mine-shaft where they could see a vein of "silver' running down the rock wall. It wasn't until evening that Maurice remembered the assignment, and spent the waning moments of the day frantically trying to produce the picture. (No prize was received; but, remarkably, no scotch blessing either.) His interest in art continued, but there were no art classes to be had in High-school either, so the young lad enjoyed just doodling, and trying to draw horses. A watercolor of a couple of horses being ridden in the hills--that Maurice did in his early teen-age years is still in the family.

It was when Maurice was a 5th-grader that a Mexican boy, two years older than he, came to live with the family. He was Manuel Fernández Balbuena, the son of a farmer friend of his Dad's, who lived in Ascensión and who brought his wheat to the Bowman-run flour mill. On that first afternoon, when Maurice saw that scared-looking boy with tear-stained face standing in the back yard, he felt sorry for him. And wanting to make him feel more at home, he invited him to climb into a little wooden two-wheeled cart that his brother Keith had made, and which was pulled by their big yellow dog, "Scrappy." The ride started out just fine until Scrappy saw some cows a block away. The chase was on, past the mill and across the railroad tracks, the cart bouncing hard and high. For some reason, Manuel wasn't very happy with the well-intentioned introduction.

Since the Fernández family traveled by team and wagon in those days, Manuel would only return home in the summer, or for very special occasions. He lived with the Bowmans many years (never paying Mother Bowman a cent) until he graduated from High-school. He learned perfect English and was like a brother to Maurice, sharing many experiences and activities, including Church-sponsored ones, such as the "Junior-dances," especially for kids from 9 yrs. old to High-school age. Unfortunately, Manuel didn't show much interest in the Church and would seldom attend, despite numerous invitations. It has been a source of some guilt feelings, that not more was done to teach Manuel the gospel. It was Manuel, feeling sorry for Maurice, that suggested that they climb up the ivy that covered one whole wall of the two-story house, in order to avoid the inevitable "practice" question at bed-time. That attenpt almost ended in disaster, and was also ineffective, since his father's booming voice soon brought the boys down the stairs to stand trial.

The Juárez Stake Academy was the scene of his secondary education. He would arise after his mother had warmed the kitchen with the old wood stove, run over to Uncle Harve Taylor's to milk the cow, enjoy a hearty breakfast, and catch the school-bus to Juárez, carrying books, lunch-kit and clarinet--which he played in the Band. It was a bumpy, dusty 45 min.--to an hour ride to school . . . unless the bus broke down (which happened quite often). The bus had four long bench-type seats, that ran front to back, the center two sharing a common back-rest. There were two rows of kids on each side, facing each other--a woven tapestry of legs intertwined, and in winter, hands went between legs to keep warm. There was always a lot of talking, and plenty of singing, especially coming home after a dance. Maurice was one of the friends who called themselves "The Magnificent Eight," and who enjoyed palling around together. They had adopted the distinctive habit of each chewing on the end of a match-stick.

The bus would generally "stay up" after school when there was a dance or other activity, so the Dublán kids had to roam around the town until time to get ready for the dance, which they did in the gymn shower room. Some of the boys, and all the girls were invited to go to friends houses to pass the time. Occasionally, when some boys didn't care to stay to the activity, they would walk down to the "Tinaja" and try to catch a ride home on a lumber truck. Maurice was often one of those, since he was afraid of girls, and didn't much care to dance with girls so much taller than he was--as almost all of them were.

Maurice was a pretty good student, but could have been better if he had applied himself. Because he was so short for his age, he didn't go out much for basketball, but did enjoy the usual gymn classes, baseball, (he loved to play 1st baseman) and tennis. He did win the "pole-vault' in the track-meet his senior year, vaulting a mere 8 ft. 6 in., and using a heavy, solid-wood pole. (He and Manuel would practice vaulting on the Bowman back lawn. Ouch!) Each Spring, the Bowman boys would fix up the clay tennis court on the Bowman lot. . . leveling, smoothing, sprinkling, rolling--with a huge roller that took two to push--and painting the lines with "cal." Maurice was never as good at tennis as his brothers, and his temper would show whenever he'd make a mistake. But tennis was another fun part of the growing-up years, including that played at the JSA.

Speaking of fun times of his youth, Maurice really enjoyed the many trips to the mountains, as a Scout, Explorer, and later as Asistant Scout Master, and Explorer leader. Many of these were horse-back trips, riding all the way from Dublán to several destinations. Claudius and Keith were the experts when it came to "packing-out." The longest trip he remembers was a Stake Scout and Explorer outing--a huge group of youth and adults--riding horse-back from Dublán and Juarez to Trout Creek, and which lasted 15 days! The day before they left, Dad Bowman took Maurice up to Romney's store, and bought him a most beautiful saddle for $250 pesos. (He had always had to borrow saddles before that.) He fit so well in that saddle, that he "didn't even get sore" after riding all day long. (Uncle Loren Taylor--the consumate cowboy--was always trying to buy that saddle, he liked it so well.) They returned from that trip around 11:00 o'clock at night in a big summer thunder and rain-storm. (Everyone was so anxious to get home, they didn't want to camp out another night to come in the next day.) After putting the horses away, and taking a warm shower, peaches and cream never tasted so good!

Back to the subject of school: The auditorium arts attracted Maurice, and he was privileged to act in several plays, two operettas, and numerous programs. He was elected to be editor of the school paper, "El Eco Estudiantil," after running into the packed assembly hall crying, "Extry, extry, read all about it!" and passing out the one-sheet newspaper he'd just finished printing. (In those days the students campaigned for two weeks and then general elections were held to choose student officers.) For his graduation on May 25, 1946, Maurice's Dad & Mom took him to El Paso, and bought him a beautiful light-blue gabardine suit (his first) in the "White House" right next to "Hotel McCoy," where they always stayed.

Jacob Lake, Arizona was his next stop, where he spent the summer working for his uncle Harold I. Bowman at their beautiful tourist resort among the pines of the Kaibab Forest. He slept and worked at the gas station, but loved to haul away the trash, which gave him the chance to drive a truck out among the pines. He enjoyed watching old "Uncle Billy" Hamblin, who had a string of horses, and would take the tourists on trail-rides. He was the picture-perfect old cowboy, with his bow-legs, weathered hat, chaps, and gray mustache. Maurice bought a .22 pistol from a highway maintenance crewman, (their camp was across the highway) and when the opportunity arose, he and his Nixon cousin would saddle-up and ride horses into the forest, shooting at about anything. Late one evening they treed a bobcat and shot at it a few times even though it was getting dark. They decided to gallop back and ask Uncle Harold for his powerful flashlight "to feed the horses with." They found the tree in the dark, but not the cat, and when they got back to the barn, Uncle Harold was waiting there with a stern lecture on always telling the truth!

From Jacob it was on to BYU, where he moved in with Donn and Maurine (who were taking in boarders) and got a part-time job on the school's grounds maintenance crew. Probably due to the fact that Maurice was very immature in every way, he didn't apply himself at the "Y" and when he returned home for Christmas vacation, stayed to work with his brother Keith, who was raising peanuts out on the flat. It was there that an incident happened in which he feels that his life was miraculously preserved. He was working a John Deere tractor pulling a scraper, cleaning out a big ditch. He unwisely turned to exit the steep ditch-bank and the front end of the tractor flipped up, but was kept from falling completely backwards because it caught on the scraper. Maurice fell beneath the scraper and tractor; and as he looked up, he couldn't figure how he had fallen clear to the ground without being crushed between the scraper bars, tractor, and the big wheels. Aside from being greatly shook-up, the only injury was a bump on the head from a big wrench that had fallen from the open tool box at the front of the tractor. No one else was around, but not too long after, an old man in a wagon happened by (another miracle), who was able to help right the tractor, and by hooking the horses to the machine, and with the help of the tractor's motor (which started despite all the oil and fuel that had leaked down) they were able to get it out. It was also at this time that Maurice was "breaking" the first of the "outlaw" horses that he would get from his brother Claudius: "El Moro." Claudius would buy up a bunch of horses that people wanted to get rid of, slaughter them and grind them up in this huge machine, bones and all, dry the meat and bones and run it all through another grinder with the other ingredients to make his special kind of chicken feed.

Before leaving for Provo again that fall, he was interviewed by Elder Marion G. Romney, who was visiting the Stake, and was ordained an Elder by his father, 21 Sep. 1947. At this time he also received a Patriarchal Blessing from Anson B. Call. (Patriarch Call had seen that Maurice was "running around" with a girl everyone called "Torchy," who was an import to the JSA from Phoenix, so he gave him a searching interview before the blessing.) Once more in Provo, he took a job at Geneva Steel plant to earn money with which to have another try at college work. This he did that Winter Quarter: January - March, 1948. Still not much into the school business, he quit to go to work at Pacific States Cast Iron Pipe Co. until May. Donn helped in the purchase of a '38 Chevrolet coupe, which he drove to work. Dad Bowman then suggested that it was time Maurice followed the family tradition of going on a mission, (all seven brothers and sisters had fulfilled honorable missions) so the ex-student traveled home alone in his little car, to await his mission call. He hadn't thought for a second about crossing the border, and when he got there, they told him that since he was a Mexican citizen, he couldn't take in the American car. Not knowing what to do, he just drove on toward home anyway. They caught up with him a little past the river, and told him he had to go back. After talking to the head "Aduana" oficial, and standing around in his office for several hours, the big boss (who seemed to know Maurice's Dad) finally said in exasperation, "Bueno, vete pues." By then it was getting dark, and lo-and-behold, the lights wouldn't work! So he pulled off the road and spent the night in the coupe, traveling on into Dublán in the morning. Note: while home, he painted his neat little coupe a beautiful forest green!

The call soon came, with instructions to report to the "Mission-home" in Salt Lake for training before going to serve in the Mexican Mission. His sister, Kathleen, and their friend, Leona Farnsworth, traveled with him in the coupe, heading for Salt Lake City. On the "Los Lunas, N.M. cut-off" they came to an "S" curve winding up a small hill where the low sun and shadow merged, and were hit almost head-on by a drunken driver, demolishing the car, but luckily, escaping serious injury. (A passenger in the other car lost his nose as he flew through the wind-shield.) It was a wonder how the cops got there so fast, but after checking out the skid-marks, etc., they could see how it happened, so the three sad travelers were released, and they hitched a ride on a flat-bed truck on to Gallup, where they waited for the next bus to Salt Lake, about 11:00 p.m.

The mission training ended with a temple session, and the new missionaries were endowed on 22 June, 1948, and then being set apart as a "minister of the gospel" by Elder Joseph Fielding Smith. There was quite a group of missionaries traveling to the Mexican Mission, among whom were his cousin--Fahy Robinson, a distant cousin--Dee Lamar Jensen, and several other good mission buddies. By special permission, Maurice stopped off at home for a few days, leaving for Mexico City by plane, (a twin-engine DC-3, 20 seater) on his 20th birthday - July 8, 1948. He was sent to labor in north-eastern Mexico, at Reynosa, Tamaulipas, where the July day-time temperatures ranged between 110 - 120 degrees. After the glamour wore off, he had quite a hard time adjusting to his companion and to the work the first eight months or so, probably due to his immaturity and extreme homesickness. Things changed dramatically, however, when he was called into the mission office to serve as editor of the "Liahona," then the oficial magazine for both the Mexican and the Spanish-American missions. It was a very interesting job, and he learned a lot about the printing business, and how to put a magazine together, etc. (Quite different from just printing the JSA paper). Brother Arzate, the printer, was quite patient with him and helped him with suggestions. Later in life, Maurice felt bad that he had put: "Traducido por Mauricio Bowman" on almost every article, and wishes now he hadn't done that.

While living and working in the mission home, Maurice acted as "errand-boy," along with the mission secretary, Jack Farnsworth, and would drive the mission cars to pick-up new missionaries, take Sister Pierce to market, chofer the President and any guests, do the necessary running around for the magazine, and would even go out with Elder Farnsworth once a week or so to take educational movies (from the U.S. consulate) and show them to member congregations in the little "pueblitos" all around Mexico City. (He also went alone a time or two.) It was quite an experience driving in that big city, with one foot ready on the brakes and the other on the gas, while tooting the horn at each intersection. It was during that special time that Maurice--with some help--found a little guitar factory on the east side of the city, behind the flea-market, that made beautiful guitars. He bought a gorgeous "rose-wood" guitar with beautiful sound. He loved that guitar, and would play and sing--alone or with some of his colony buddies, forming a trio whenever they could get together. Boyd Fenn, Laurence Martineau, and Maurice even went to a recording studio downtown, and made a record of some of their songs. The recording technician asked if they were performing somewhere in the city! ha. Maurice made the mistake of leaving his precious guitar on top of the clothes closet in the glassed-in porch where he slept. The heat from the sun ruined the guitar, and being beyond repair, he bought another just like it before leaving the mission.

After a little over a year as editor of the "Liahona," Maurice was sent back to Tamaulipas, serving first in Tampico, where they baptized the first 10 members there in the Gulf of Mexico. A side note: Kathleen and new husband Dale visited him in Tampico while on their honeymoon and, despite his warning, were sunburned to a crisp as they enjoyed the beach. Maurice was transfered to Ciudad Victoria--further inland; became district president and branch president there. He was released from his mission after serving 2 1/2 years, a few days before Christmas, and arrived home 23 Dec. 1950 in time to be the "Santa" for the traditional Christmas-eve party.

During the following year, Maurice fixed up the old chicken coop next to the tennis court, and went into the chicken business, raising 500 chickens. He hired an elderly gentleman from down south--"Don Panchito," to care for the chickens and gather the eggs. He augmented this meager income by working with Claudius in the Poultry Association as assistant secretary for a time. He also resumed his "work" with horses, breaking and training--or trying to--some pretty "onnery critters." A recent count of the horses in his life came to about 21, including "Humphrey" the mule, and a burro he called "Thro-bred." But his favorites were "Ardillón" and "Sapo."

The all-Church M.M. basketball tournament in Salt Lake City, February 1952, included a great team from Dublán, and Maurice went along for the ride, as a bench-warmer, and when the team headed for home, he decided to stay in Salt lake (as a wet-back) and work with his brother, Donn, who was remodeling bathrooms and kitchens, and installing plastic tile. It was during this time, that he received the sad news that his chickens had contracted "Newcastle's disease" which wiped out the whole flock, leaving only about 9 hardy hens.

Shortly after April conference, while attending Sunday School at the 27th Ward (Donn and Maurine's ward, as well as Pres. McKay's), Maurice saw a couple of cute girls on the bench in front of him, and the cutest one kept looking back and smiling at him. Mother Bowman, who was sitting with him, commented, "She surely has a pretty complexion!" As time came to separate for classes, he passed her again in the hall--talking to someone, but she looked so tall that he thought, "Forget that, she's too tall!" But lo-and-behold, she came and sat by him in class, and spoke to him in a cute foreign accent. They talked religion as they walked home together, Maurice acting as if he were a non-member, and it was evident that she had strong faith and testimony. When they met again in Sacrament Meeting that afternoon, she was much shorter (wearing flats), and they decided to go to choir practice together, which must have frustrated the choir director, since they talked more than they sang.

"Nellie" invited him to go to the Deseret Gymn during the coming week to watch her swim in competition there, which he did. She would hand him the trophies she'd win, even though the mother of the missionary she was "waiting for," was also among the spectators. They shared a sandwich from her lunch while sitting on the lawn, then decided to go hear the Tabernacle Choir rehearsal. Sitting on the back row, he reached over and took her hand. . . it was electrifying, and the choir suddenly became a choir of angels, filling the air with the sweetest sounds. A few days later, Nellie called him up to ask if she should keep a date with another guy! (A guy that claimed he knew, by revelation, that she was the one for him!) Maurice told her that it was her choice. She broke the date. From then on, it seemed, they spent every possible moment together, talking, (talking freely with a girl--a first for him) sharing experiences--past and present; Maurice would play his guitar and sing songs in Spanish, such as "Bésame mucho." The word "marriage" was mentioned in about the 3rd week (by Nellie) but after about three months they talked seriously of a December wedding, then opted for September, and finally on July 25th, 1952 they were married in the Salt Lake Temple by Temple President ElRay L. Christiansen. Dad Bowman couldn't attend because it was wheat harvest time at the mill, but he sent 200 dollars for wedding expenses; Mother Bowman was there, of course. Nellie's mother was the only one of her family in the temple with them, as Maurice and Nellie had taken her to the Logan temple the week before to receive her own endowment--the Salt Lake temple being closed at the time. A wedding "Brunch" was enjoyed at the "Hot Shoppes" and then a lovely reception, arranged by Bowman relatives and staged in the famous "Bowman's Bowl" the beautiful terraced garden of Uncle Thel Bowman in Salt Lake City.

The happy couple traveled to Dublán in Maurice's red '49 Ford, via Jacob Lake, the Grand Canyon, and 'hot' Mesa, where they finally had their wedding picture taken. Nellie was surprised and shocked at the terrible dirt roads into Mexico--cow-trails she called them--and she did a little complaining, so Maurice stopped in front of a little adobe house in Ascención, and said, "Well, here we are!" They finally did arrive at home in Dublán at about 10:00 that night. In a "getting-acquainted" conversation, Nellie ended up arguing with Dad Bowman, because he insisted that there could not possibly be "pine" trees in Holland. It seemed that Dad Bowman enjoyed their interchange, and came to admire her "spunkiness." Another reception was held in their honor in the Dublán Gymn, which seemed to be really well attended. The people may have wanted a closer look at "Maurice's little Dutch girl."

After a brief stay at "home," they traveled back to Jacob Lake, where, as pre-arranged, they would work for Uncle Harold and Aunt Nina--Maurice at the gas station, and Nellie in the curio shop. Nellie was a great salesperson, but having had a few disagreements with Aunt Nina, they decided to not stay through the fall deer hunt, and so returned to Salt Lake. Maurice got a job in the electro-plating shop at Hill A.F. Base, Utah, but since he had stated--honestly--that he was not a U.S. citizen, an FBI check found that, indeed, he was an "illegal alien." It was a scary thing to have two FBI agents wake them one early morning, arrest him, and haul him off to jail. He spent one night in the county jail, but thankfully, was not put into the "tank" with a whole bunch of other creeps, but was treated more as a trustee. With the help of Uncle Harold and his lawyer, a few character witnesses, and a $25 bond, Maurice was released and allowed to voluntarily leave the country, which they did about 12 April, 1953, riding home with Dad & Mother Bowman who had been in Salt Lake for April Conference. It was a wild ride home, and not too comfortable for Nellie, who was in an interesting condition. And knowing the ride over those terrible roads would be even more of a trial for Nellie, she and Maurice flew from Ciudad Juárez to Casas Grandes on "LAMSA." A picture taken at the J.S.A. graduation that year shows a very pregnant, uncomfortable Nellie.

They fixed up the upstairs in the Bowman home as their apartment, including a little gas stove that Dad Bowman bought, and Maurice started helping out on the family properties. Then, after a terribly hard labor--a breech presentation--which surprised Dr. Hatch, as he exclaimed something like: "there's not a hair on his head!" only to find out it was his buttox, Maurice Jr. came to join the family on 5 June, 1953. What a joy to have a little baby--a son! It was something they hadn't really prepared for, but which added a new, deeper dimension to their life together.

Maurice's father and mother were called to preside over the Mexican Mission that year. Keith was given charge of the farm and ranch land, and Donn would take over the mill. (Donn and Maurine had moved down from Salt Lake, lock-stock-and-barrel, and were to live in the Bowman home. Not seeing much future in the situation, Maurice and Nellie decided to immigrate to the United States. A Mexican passport was one of the needed items of paper-work, but Maurice didn't have a "cartilla." He met Uncle Harve Taylor in Chihuahua, who called his friend ("mi general Quevedo") who called someone else, and the passport was issued.

Joe Taylor kindly agreed to drive them out for their appointment at the American consulate in Ciudad Juárez, taking the shortest road through "the sands and lake bottom." When they got to the Chihuahua highway, there were soldiers there who informed them they couldn't use the highway because it was the day of the Pan-American road race, and the speeding cars had already left from Chihuahua! After some pleading, the soldiers relented, and the travelers moved out, only to be stopped again in Zamalayuca. This time, the story of a sick baby (little Maurice was running off some) got them on their way, and they sped along, the people lining the highway cheering as they passed. "How We Won the Pan-American Road Race" was the title of the story Maurice wrote and sent off to the Reader's Digest. (It wasn't printed.) The little family spent Thanksgiving day in Cd. Juárez, and after their swearing in the next day, entered the United States--legally, this time, and began the journey north in a little old Chevy pick-up they bought for the $200 dollars they had borrowed from Uncle Harve Taylor. One of the first things they did after arriving in Salt Lake, was to take their little son to an eye specialist, Dr. Smith, to see what could be done to correct his crossed eyes. (He had contracted the three-day measles when he was three months old, and the disease caused his optic nerves to atrophy, and also caused his eyes to cross.) Eventually Dr. Smith operated on his eyes and straightened them somewhat.

Maurice was blessed with a good job with Bechtel Corp., the company that was constructing Utah Power & Light's new plant, but it didn't take the draft board very long to find him, and he received his "greetings" letter. It was during the Bechtel period, that Nellie suddenly became very sick with acute stomach pains. They made a quick trip to Dr. Jeppson, who told them to rush to the hospital immediately. The car's fuel pump was having trouble, and would stall going up the hill, but they finally got to the LDS Hospital by backing up all the way. They did exploratory surgery, and found a hemorraging cist on one of her ovaries. According to Dr. Jeppson, if they'd waited a couple of more hours, she would have died. Thanks to the donations of Maurice's co-workers at Bechtel, and a generous check from Mom & Dad Bowman, they were able to meet the doctor and hospital expenses. Bechtel Corp. had arranged for a one-month deferment, and he was drafted into the U.S. Army on August 2, 1954. This was the first separation of their married life, and was very hard on Maurice and Nellie, who were on an "eternal honeymoon."

Basic training took place in Fort Ord, Calif., and Nellie and son were able to travel to Calif., where they rented the upstairs apartment--some member friends having the downstairs--of an old house in Pacific Grove. Maurice, like his married buddies, would look forward to, and enjoy the week-end passes. For Christmas they "borrowed" a branch of a nearby everygreen, bought some tiny ornaments, and gave each other one gift, with one little pull toy for baby Maurice. But the greatest gift was just being together, and being grateful for the Savior and all His blessings, because it was just before Christmas that Maurice was hospitalized with tonsilitis, running a fever of 106 deg. The LDS chaplain gave him a blessing, and he began to improve. That week's stay in the hospital prevented him from being shipped out with his company to the Far East, and his new company would then be assigned to Europe, which was a great blessing, since Nellie and son were able to join him in Mannheim, Germany. (No wives were allowed to go to the Far East.) But once again they parted: Nellie and son got on a plane to Salt Lake, and the soldier-boy on another to a processing center in New Jersey, Maurice spending New Year's Eve in New York along with a buddy, Don Swensen.

It was Maurice's first experience on a ship, traveling to Bremerhaven, Germany; pulling "KP"duty--cracking hundreds of eggs, and peeling sacks of potatoes--he was only a little sea-sick. He and his buddies were assigned to the 28th Transportation Batallion, stationed at Turley Barracks in Mannheim, where Maurice worked in Battalion Headquarters as a clerk. (This "kasserne" was originally the home of a famous German "Panzer-tank" division.) When Nellie and little Maurice arrived, Maurice applied for, and was given permission to live off-base. They rented a downstairs apartment with Don and Nola Swensen from "Herr Schnell," a rich man that Nellie insisted must have been a Nazi officer. It would upset Nellie, when they would leave for the week-end and turn off the heat in the house, including the downstairs apartment. It was while living there, that little Maurice met--and played with--his first little girl-friend: "Renata;" that they had real candles on the Christmas tree; and they would often go on long bike-rides through the German country-side. (Maurice had traded packs of American cigarrettes--which were at a premium and which he bought in the PX on base--for an old bike, which he also rode to work on good-weather days. At other times he'd ride the "strassenbahn." On Fridays, Nellie and son would also ride the strassenbahn to the Kaserne, to watch the Battalion on parade. Maurice Jr. loved the drums and would stamp his feet in rhythm. Nellie would have to hold onto him, as he wanted to dash out and join the troops. When Herr Schnell decided renters were an inconvenience, the little family moved in with a German family--the Waltematte's--sharing the bathroom and kitchen. Herr Waltematte was an avid chess player, and his son, Holly, was even better at it. About every day, the father would approach Maurice with: "Eine partie?" It was while living with them that Nellie's heart was softened toward the German people, as she realized that they had suffered much in the war also, and they all go along so well.

Looking back, the Germany experience was an enjoyable, interesting time, and a blessing in their life. They were paying off some of Nellie's back debts, so couldn't do some of the things that other friends did, such as buy a car and travel quite a bit. But they did make some fun trips: twice to Holland--once by train, and once in a rented car, and to a wonderful regional servicemen's conference of the Church, held in beautiful and quaint "Berchtesgarden" in the Bavarian Alps. It was in one of the sessions--a testimony meeting--that Nellie bore her testimony before hundreds of servicemen and their wives, and Church leaders, including apostle Spencer W. Kimball. Nellie is such a vibrant, interesting speaker, and her sweet spirit and testimony always are an inspiration to those who hear her, that on that occasion, as at other times, she received many compliments. A ferry-boat ride down the river Rhein with the members of the Mannheim Servicemen's Branch was another fun activity. Such beautiful sights such as the famous "Lorelei" rock; the just as famous "Mouse tower" on which the Pied-Piper story was based; as well as the many castles and vineyards, made for an interesting day. The army also sent Maurice on "TDY" to "Lengries" a ski-resort town, for a seminar on certain clerking skills, and another 6 week bivouac to the coast of France with his transportation battalion: "operation Nodex." (Thus, the pictures (slides) in their collection of the Eiffel tower, Notre Dame, and many other Paris sights, as well as the French country-side.) A couple of other important events of the army period were: 1) little Maurice was operated on in the Heidelberg army hospital, eliminating all traces of the crossed eyes. 2) A new army regulation provided the opportunity for Maurice to receive U.S. citizenship because of his army service, and he took the oath of citizenship in Frankfurt/Main on August 1, 1955.

As the tour of duty ended they went to Heidelberg to board the train to the sea-port. But arriving at the station, Nellie discovered she'd forgotten her purse. She rushed off with the Waltemattes back to Mannheim to get it, leaving a very nervous, upset husband. Holly, in the meantime, came riding up on his motor-scooter with the purse! It came time for the train to leave, the officials gave the signal, and still no Nellie! Maurice frantically found the conductor, and tried to explain in his poor German that they couldn't leave without his wife! (German trains were always on time). Surprisingly, they delayed departure, and after about ten very confusing, anxious minutes Nellie finally arrived just as the man announced that they couldn't wait any longer. What a feeling of gratitude to the Lord, as they settled into their seats, together again and safely on their way. Finally in Bremerhaven, they boarded the 'USS Upshur"and headed for the U.S.A. Maurice was allowed up on deck a few hours during the day with his little family, but had to sleep with the troops in the lowest forward deck, where the up/down movement of the ship made it hard to sleep, or even to stay in the bunk! Seeing the Statue of Liberty was a thrill once again. They were able to stay with Tina and Art in their mobile home on the outskirts of New York while Maurice was being processed out of the Army. He became a "civilian" again on 12 July, 1956. Then a bus-ride to Detroit, where they made arrangements with a car dealer to have them drive a cute yellow convertible to Salt Lake, which they did, stopping off in Dixon, Ill., to visit Bob, Rickie and family.

Arthur Brothers had conned an old farmer into selling him a part of his property in Taylorsville, despite the objections of the man's family, and he offered to rent the house to Maurice & Nellie. It was about the last house toward the west on 6200 south, and Maurice liked the "country-feeling" of it, not to mention the tools and treasures he found in the old barn. They also enjoyed attending the Bennion ward, and although they were struggling financially, they felt very blessed. Art also sold them an old yellow Plymouth coupe, which Maurice would take to school (the U. of U.) and to his part-time job. It was here that, after a long wait, a beautiful dark-haired baby girl--Patricia Gay--was born to them on Dec. 1st 1956! What a blessing for Nellie to have a "normal" delivery, and what joy to have a little girl! Even Maurice Jr., who was 3 1/2 years old enjoyed his little sister. It was soon after Christmas that Maurice had another attack of tonsilitis, and again ran a very high temperture--to the point of having blood stains in his garments--as Nellie said: "Like sweating blood."

In the fall of the next year, Dorothy and Hugh and family decided to take a job in Peru. (They had heard from Marion & Maurene Robinson, Rey and Erma Whetten who were there also, that they could make good money there in the mining industry, and Hugh was sick of his welding job, anyway). And so Maurice & Nellie moved into their home on Whitlock Ave. The early-morning job that Uncle Paul had helped him get in the Safeway cold-storage dept., didn't fit the school schedule too well, so Maurice took a civil service exam, and got a job in the Post Office as a mail clerk, working the evening shift, usually 3:00-11:00. He often took two lunches, leaving early morning for school and returning late, to face unfinished school work at times. It was a time of sacrifice like for many young families, but also a time of joy, love, and happiness. And adding to that joy was the arrival of their 2nd baby girl, Terry Jeanne, on March 7th, 1958--this time, a blondie! They were saddened when the doctor told them of a congenital hip problem, and that she'd have to be in a cast for 6 months. They turned to the Lord in fasting and prayer, and a short time later the doctor announced that she would be fine. Praise to the Lord for extending such a wonderful blessing!

With the help of the GI Bill, and the full-time job, they were able to get a better car, and Maurice also bought a neat BMW motorcycle from a fellow postal worker (who had been an FBI agent). After digging it out of the chicken-coop, cleaning off the manure, and fixing the flat tires, he realized what he had: a sweet machine! He fixed it up with a new bigger seat, made a windshield, bought a helmet and leather jacket, and wow. . . what a fun, economical way to travel to school and work. Maurice and Nellie even took a day's trip on it up into the Uintah mountains; climbed Mount Baldy and visited Mirror Lake. He had tried two other smaller two-cycle motorbikes before, but they gave him too much trouble, and were sold. It was also while living at the Whitlock home, that Maurice built the "Sailfish" sail-boat one summer, and the little family would tie it on top of the car and travel to Bear Lake with Nellie's family members to enjoy camping at "Ideal Beach." (Nellie had introduced Maurice to sailing when they visited Holland, and did some sailing in "Loosdrecht.") A trip to Lake Tahoe was also a highlight for them all.

On May 18, 1958 they received a call from Uncle Thel Bowman, advising them that Maurice's parents had been in a terrible accident on the Puebla highway, and that Dad Bowman had been killed. What a shock! Dad Bowman had remarked that he was enjoying the mission so much that he'd like to spend the rest of his life there. Little did he know that he would do just that.

As Maurice and Nellie lay in bed considering the news, Maurice Jr. crawled in with them and asked why they were crying. When he was told the sad news, he said something like: "Please don't cry, Grandpa is with Heavenly Father now, and he is happy." Little Maurice was only 5, and his great faith in the Lord often astounded them. Farming out the two oldest, and taking two-month-old Terry, they traveled to Mexico for the funeral. The saddest part was seeing Mother Bowman, so bruised and broken. But even with all her pain and suffering, and having lost her companion, she showed such inner strength! What a wonderful, sweet, loving lady--truly an angel on earth. She recounted how Dad Bowman had come to her in the early morning, telling her that he was happy, and not to grieve or worry about him. Just three months later when Wesley's wife Alleen passed away, Mother Bowman, having recouperated somewhat, was there to help Wesley in his time of need, and to help care for his four young children. Her life has always been a life of service and sacrifice, and a great example to all.

(To be continued....)