On a few occasions as my mother was driving myself and my brothers around the west end of Ogden near the railroad tracks; we would happen upon a railroad sign identifying a railway spur that veered westward across the Weber River. As we were traveling reasonably close to the railroad tracks, mom would point to the sign with the black distinctly identified letters of “EVONA”. She’d then declare that the sign and accompanying railroad spur was her namesake. She explained that as her mother was carrying her towards birth; Grandpa James Ford happened upon the area and observed the sign. Stricken by the beautiful sound of the name; he decided that if his next child were to be a girl, he’d name her after the word. Nevertheless, he wanted to put his own ‘spin’ on the name and chose to alter the name to personalize it and lend it a more feminine sound. So, he altered ‘Evona’ to be ‘Arvona’. And thus, she was named. A bit of research identified the spur as a short extension across the Weber River and to the small town of Evona approximately 1.1 miles westward into Weber County. The spur sign remained at its original location for a number of years; and I observed it on numerous occasions. I’d never realized that the town of Evona existed; and discovered it as I recorded mom’s namesake.

                      Evona Railroad Spur                                                                                                                          Evona, Utah

Of particular note is the fact that mom was not born into the covenant as a member of the church. Though her father had been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since his childhood (and even sung in the Ogden Tabernacle Choir), he was completely inactive and engaged no affiliation for any of his children. Thus, Len, Duge, George, Marzetta, Albert and Arvona were not raised expressly in the culture of the Church. And James’ second wife (Ida Mae) was not a member of the church either.

Ida Mae (mom’s mother) would direct her son, George, to get her work (i.e. proxy work) completed as the last few words she expressed prior to her death in our home in Sunset, Utah. Uncle George confirmed this story directly to me; and he stated that Ida’s children had completed her temple work within a few months of her passing.

Inasmuch as mom was born into an inactive family, she was not automatically afforded the opportunity for a ‘name and a blessing’. Rather, a gentleman down Stephen’s Street (where mom was born) performed the ordinance in behalf of the infant daughter of James Albert Ford and Ida Mae Ford. Amidst that blessing, the gentleman pronounced that mom would be married in the temple!

An interesting story ensues from that ordinance. Although my mother had never joined the church throughout her childhood and youth; she’d exemplified an affinity for the gospel and embraced it (at least culturally) as a young woman. As she was engaged in her courting years; a young man of the Navy took a distinct interest in my mom and eventually made known that he might soon propose marriage. My mother’s retort was telling and direct to the young suitor. She said, ‘I can’t marry you.’ (It was understood that the young man was not a member of the church.) ‘I’m going to get married in the Temple!’ With that the young man’s interest waned and the union was not to take place until she’d met my father and joined the church amidst their courtship.

                                  Dad & Mom                                                                                                             Their Headstone

Interestingly, mom was very seldom called by her given name. Rather, (I suspect) friends and family found the pronunciation of her given name difficult and abbreviated it from Arvona to Von. Von would’ve been much easier as a single syllable name and easily referenced. As her nickname became commonly used; it’s reasonable to see how children may have ‘morphed’ Von into Vonnie and then Bonnie. It was Bonnie that I’d always known my mother to be called by her siblings, parents and associates all her life. In fact, my father assured that her nickname of “Bonnie” would be prominently displayed as the name she was known by on her headstone.

“Bonnie and Don were married 61 wonderful years. She fulfilled her role as matriarch with honor and dedication. She was loved by all who had the privilege of knowing her. Some of her favorite things were sewing, caring for children and gathering with family and friends. Bonnie was a woman of great faith. She loved her Father in Heaven and Savior very much.”

Because mom had been a member less than a full year prior to their anticipated temple marriage; Mom and Dad had to get special permission from the first presidency of the church to be sealed. Upon receiving such permission; they were sealed together in the Logan Temple. Hence, the blessing that had been pronounced at her obscure earthly ‘Name and Blessing’ ordinance had been truly fulfilled – she was married ‘for all time and eternity’ in the Temple of our Lord!