FERN HREINSON SULLIVAN was born 19 Oct 1914 to John Sigurmunder Hreinson and Ethel Singleton. She was the second of six children. She was the daughter of a coal miner and moved back and forth from Castle Gate, then Clear Creek, back to Castle Gate, Winter Quarters and Sunny Side. On March 8, 1924 there was a mine explosion at Castle Gate killing 172 men. The Hreinson family returned to Castle Gate to help with mine rescue. They then remained at Castle Gate, Utah to raise their family.
When Fern was almost five years old she was playing with her friend Arthur Christensen. They were running on opposite sides of the old push lawn mower that Duane Christensen was using. She stuck her fingers into the lawn mower cutting her finger off to the knuckle. Duane and Arthurs sister carried her to the doctor, screaming and yelling with blood spurting all over. Her father was called out of the mine to care for her.
She tells the story of when she was five her mother had left her and her baby brother Paul in the front room while she did the washing. Paul began to fuss and cry so she picked him up and sat in her little rocker to rock him. It wasn't long before he was fast asleep. When her mother returned she said, "What did you do that for? Look how dirty his face is." Apparently he wasn't suppose to sleep with a dirty face.
On 10 March 1938 Fern Hreinson married James Harold Cousins in Provo, Utah, Utah. They ended up in Watonga, Oklahoma where a son James Hubert Cousins was born on 18 July 1938. It wasn't long until she returned to Castle Gate to be with her family never to see James Harold Cousins again.
On the 12 October 1942 she married Eddie Nutter and moved to Denver, Colorado. Upon arriving in Colorado Eddie disappeared. Fern remained in Colorado and worked at Lowry Base. Here she met Ira Mack. He was in the Air Corp. and stationed at Lowry Field. They had a short relationship and he was shipped out. Fern then returned to Castle Gate where she worked in the Company store. She missed Colorado and her friends she had made there. She was able to return a couple of times to visit with them.
On the 9 March 1954 Fern married John Sullivan and moved to Orem, Utah, Utah. She has lived there since. They had three children Paul, Kathy and Don born to them. They shared 23 years of their lives together. There was bad times but there was a lot of happy times and experiences. On May 6, 1977 John died of a blood clot and bronchitis. He is laid to rest in the Orem Cemetery.
Daily Herald - Provo, Utah
OREM - Fern Hreinson Sullivan, 85 passed away in her home Sept. 8, 2000.
Fern was born Oct. 19, 1914 to John and Ethel Hreinson in Castle Gate. She married John Sullivan on March 9, 1954.
She attended schools in Carbon County and graduated from Carbon High School. Fern enjoyed many kinds of needlework, including crocheting and needlepoint, and created many beautiful pieces of art throughout her life right up to the time of her passing. She shared these gifts of love with many and her pictures hang in many homes and are treasured by all.
She loved to read and when her eyesight failed, her love of reading led her to enjoy books on tape. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and her happiest time in life was when she served for many years as a temple worker in the Provo LDS Temple.
Fern is survived by children, sister, 16 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, Sept. 12, at 11 a.m. at the Geneva Heights 2nd LDS Ward Chapel, 590 N. 900 West, Orem. Friends may call at the church one hour prior to services. Interment, Orem City Cemetery under direction of Sundberg Olpin Mortuary.
Our family is very interested in learning more about Ira Mack. If you are related to him or have any other information about him please e-mail Kathy Hamaker
BackThe Herald, Provo, Utah, Sunday, May 8, 1977
John Sullivan, 57, of 681 N. 800 W., Orem, died Friday, May 6, 1977, at his home of a heart attack.
He was born July 20, 1919 in Sanish, N.D., to Edward and Louise Waterberg Sullivan. He married Jacquline Sullivan and they were later divorced. On March 9, 1954 he married Fern Hreinson in Provo.
A carpenter, Mr. Sullivan served with the Marines in the South Pacific during World War II. After his discharged from the military, he lived in Idaho and then in Houston, Tex. In 1954 he moved to Orem, where he has resided since.
Survivors include his wife; three sons and one daughter, stepson, step-daughter, mother, one brother, and four sisters.
Funeral services will be held Monday at 10 a.m. at the Orem 9th Ward LDS Chapel, 590 N. 900 W. Friends may call at Berg Mortuary of Orem tonight from 6 to 8 o'clock and at the ward chapel Monday one hour prior to services. Burial will be in Orem City Cemetery.
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