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Show Mary Henrie and Rea Dodds have spent their first 90 years as dear, close friends. They'll be starting on their second 90 as they celebrate their 90th birthdays together at an open house this week in Panguitch. As Close As Sisters. They're Celebrating Their First 90 Years PANGUITCH "Lifetime neighbors, best friends, world travelers, almost closer than sisters" all well describe describe the lifelong close relationship between two Panguitch women, each of whom will mark her 90th birthday this week. Mary Sevy Henrie and Rea Workman Dodds will celebrate their first 90 years on earth with a shared open house Saturday, Jan. 13 from 2 until 5 p.m. at the Panguitch LDS 2nd3rd Ward Cultural Hall. A delight to visit with and with unending stories to tell, the two women remain sharp, articulate and filled with memories of their exploits together. Both were born in 1906 in Panguitch, Mary on Jan. 1 1 and Rea on Jan. 14. They went all through school together, graduating in 1925. Each married fairly young, reared large families and each, after her family was reared, served an LDS mission. Each celebrated her 70th birthday in the mission field. Rea served in the Denver, Colo, mission and Mary traveled to Independence, Mo. Mary Henrie is a daughter of Tom and Amy Sevy, one of 14 children in her family. She married Gerald V. Henrie June 9, 1926, just out of high school and after attending the agricultural college in Logan for just a short time. Gerald was an electrician who worked with Telluride Power. He died very young, at 42, after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage. After Gerald's death, Mary had little time for depression or worry. She was quickly drafted by the local elementary and pressed into teaching third grade. Over the next 10 years she taught kindergarten, third and sixth grades, attending the University of Utah as she could, finally earning her degree in 1952. She subsequently served as superintendent of Garfield County Schools for another 17 years. The Henrie's had five children, all of whom are still living: John N. Henrie and his wife Carolyn live in Salt Lake City; Geraldine and her husband George Robinson, reside in Ogden; Vera and her husband David Hatch live in Cedar City, Amy and her husband LoRell Stephenson reside in Boulder City, Nev.; and Mary Ann, wife of the late Clem Church, lives in Panguitch. Mary Henrie has 18 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren. Rea Workman, one of 12 children, had five brothers and six sisters. She is a daughter of George A. and Rhoana Workman, who fell in love early in life with a local boy, Thomas Dodds. They married June 29, 1922 with a couple years still to finish in high school for Rea. Thomas left immediately to fulfill an LDS mission to Germany which lasted three years. In his absence Rea was able not only to finish high school but also attend LDS Business College for one year. Rea served as unpaid secretary to her husband for 16 years while he served as Garfield County Clerk. When he retired, Rea was elected to serve in his place. She has, at one time or another, worked every job in the courthouse over her 36 years in that building, departing only when she was unsealed in election. Thomas Dodds died in 1971. The Doddses were parents to five children: George T. Dodds and his wife Aleta live in Lancaster, Calif.; Mamie and her husband Howard Hatch and Maloy Dodds and his wife Carol live in Panguitch; Shirley Ann and her husband Mont Swapp live in Cedar City; and Mary Jean, the wife of the late John Oldham, lives in Whittier, Calif. Rea has 30 grandchildren, 78 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren. Despite their 90 years, Rea and Mary, each now still lives alone, independent from family members. After their missions were completed, the pair started traveling the world together. They have been to the South Pacific Islands, New Zealand, Mexico, Australia, England, Eng-land, Germany, a Mediterranean venture which included Italy, Greece, Turkey, Egypt and Ilhe Holy Lands. They have also made several trips to Hawaii. Both have been to almost every state in the United States as well. Most recently, Rea's older son John, a physician who is serving an LDS mission with his wife, Carol in Vietnam, took both Rea and Mary to Japan, Korea and China. The ladies were 85 years young and spent several weeks ' traveling inland on various junkets. They say they wouldn't change a thing in their lives but need to slow the pace a bit because the "old eyesight isn't what it used to be." They have decided since they are getting up in years to be "grounded" for a time, but that won't curtail their friendship or their time together. They still share interests such as flower and vegetable gardening (both had large gardens last year) and quilting. They have both served in nearly every auxiliary in the LDS church and both are past presidents of the Panguitch Business and Professional Women's organization (PBPW), and they can still "talk up a storm." They have seen literally every "first event" that ever took place in Panguitch, such as the advent of television, automobiles, trains, and planes. So many advances, in so little time. But it's time to slow down now, just a bit, they say. |
