Joseph Jolley Jensen & Emma Isabella McGavin
(Parents of Caroline Oleta Jensen, mother of Alan J White)
Joseph’s daughter, Oleta, described him as follows, “Father was more stern than Mother. He loved a good time. He was very nice looking with lots of curly hair; even when he died at 86 he had lots of white curly hair. He loved to dance and was a beautiful dance and won many prices for his waltz. He and Mother made a striking couple when they danced. He always wanted to make a good impression even when he couldn’t afford it. Mother was the stabilizer and when she passed away he put his responsibility on my shoulders and he left. He worked away from home which he shouldn’t have done.”
(Parents of Caroline Oleta Jensen, mother of Alan J White)
Joseph’s daughter, Oleta, described him as follows, “Father was more stern than Mother. He loved a good time. He was very nice looking with lots of curly hair; even when he died at 86 he had lots of white curly hair. He loved to dance and was a beautiful dance and won many prices for his waltz. He and Mother made a striking couple when they danced. He always wanted to make a good impression even when he couldn’t afford it. Mother was the stabilizer and when she passed away he put his responsibility on my shoulders and he left. He worked away from home which he shouldn’t have done.”
Known
as “Belle”, Emma Isabella McGavin grew up in Star Valley. She took life very seriously when she
was small and was very dependable and a big help to her mother. When she was
less than six years old she could do chores about the house that sometimes
older children had not been taught to do.
She was always loved for her ability to be genuine and sincere. Belle
was always happy when she could pull a prank or tell a good story on someone,
but she never maliciously hurt anyone.
Belle passed away when she was only
41 years old, living six children ages 3-19. The youngest was sent to live with
relatives, and the oldest was already off on his own. Her husband, Joseph, was
brokenhearted at her passing. He left home and left the oldest daughter, Oleta,
to care for the other children.