Mom was a sleep walker.  One night her mother found her outside chopping down a tree with the ax.  This could have been very dangerous had not mom learned to chop wood.  Mom was thirteen when her father passed away.  That left mom to keep the wood stove supplied with wood so she learned how to use an ax.

Mom loved to play ball.  She spent many hours playing ball with her friends.  She was good at it.

When mom was in her teen years, her brother Grant married.  Mom became the chief house cleaner for them.  She hated it.  Her sister-in-law, Leone, didn't like her very well and at times treated her badly.  They wouldn't even let her go to their wedding.

When mom was fourteen, she entered the work force and started her career at ZCMI in a restaurant and later on selling hosiery.  One day when mom was working at the restaurant she forgot what she was supposed to say going through the swinging doors.  While carrying a tray full of food, nothing was said, and a man was coming in from the other side.  Mom, being the smallest, got the worst of it.  There were food and trays all over the place.  That was very embarrassing.  Mom never forgot that incident.

Mom had a good friend named Eva Dunn.  Eva's husband, Lynn, was her boss at Kelley's.  She and Eva worked together for Kelley's making chocolates.  They remained friends through their life time. 

One day mom and her friend Fern went to Liberty Park and they’re met Anthony Morelos Brown.  He and a friend asked the girls, or was it the other way around, if they wanted to go for a ride in the boats.  This was the beginning of a friendship that would last through eternity.  After the dance Tony, as he was called, and his friend Cliff was walking behind mom and Fern, and Cliff dared dad to ask mom to marry him.  Well, dad wasn't shy.  He hollered a block ahead, "Hey Nellie. Will you marry me?"  Mom and Fern laughed all the way home.  They thought it was a joke.  Dad got kind of angry because it wasn't a joke, which mom found out at her home later on that night. 

One evening, during their courting days, dad was sitting with mom on mom's front porch talking,  (I guess they were talking).  The last street car that dad could catch was at 12:30   a.m. before the street car went back to the car barn.  Dad missed that 12:30 bus and had to walk all the way from 24th South to Center Street which is by the Capitol Building.  It took him til 3:00 a.m. to get home that morning and he had to get up at six for work.  That was probably a long day for dad.

Dad and mom were married in the City and County Building in Salt Lake the next year, August 18, 1925.

As they started their lives together, they were happy.  Things were not easy for them.  Dad lost his job at the Army Store in 1928 when they had been married three years.  Jobs were hard to come by and it was hard to make a living.  There were times when all they had to eat was a little bread.  They had to use candles because they couldn't afford to have the electricity turned on.   Times were very hard.  This was just before the depression but they were a strong and determined young couple and had a lot of love for each other.

Dad and mom were married five years before they had children.  Grandpa Brown, dad's father, Orson Pratt Brown, came up from Mexico.  Looking at Nellie he told dad that she would never be able to bear him children because she was too small and fragile.  Mom was only 5'2" tall and weighed 108 pounds.  That prophecy didn't come true because through the years fourteen children were to make residence in the Brown Family. 

Mom gave birth to her first child on 27 March 1930.  She was a beautiful little girl.  They named her Elaine Brown.  How proud her parents were. 

Times continued to be hard.   Dad worked several different jobs to make ends meet.

On the 20th of August 1931, mom gave birth to a beautiful baby boy.  They named him Gaylen Weiler Brown, Weiler after mom’s maiden name.

It wasn't long after that when she became pregnant again and she felt that she had been pregnant forever.  She was having a hard time and really didn't want to be pregnant again.  She gave birth on the 12 of February 1933 to her third child and second son.  They named him Kenneth Weiler Brown.  He was not to stay long in this life and was taken back to his Father in Heaven eight hours after his birth.  This was a heart rendering experience for dad and mom.  Dad started    drinking which didn’t help much, and part of his paycheck was used for this indulgence.  Mom and the children suffered greatly because of this.  Mom told Grandma Brown about his drinking and she didn't believe her.  Mom told her to stay and see for herself.  When dad came home late that night, he had a surprise waiting for him.  There was his mother.  The color drained from his face and it sobered him up real fast.  He got a talking to from his mother and that was the last time that dad ever drank.  He had a great respect for his mother.

The family moved to Whitlock Avenue in South Salt Lake.  It is here that mom met Eva Cowley and they became fast friends and spent many hours together. 

It was here that Ray Anthony Brown came into the Brown Family on the 28th of June 1934.  He was an added blessing to this family.  He carries dad's name.   

Over the next few years other children joined the family as mom continued to struggle to make ends meet.  Suzanne Brown was born on the 29 of December 1935.  Martha Dianne Brown, named after Grandmother Martha Diana Romney Brown, was born 29 July 1937. Clare JoAnne Brown entered this life on the 16^th of June 1939.  On December 20, 1940, mom gave birth to me (Leona Lee Brown) named after her sister-in-law Leone.  I was the first child born in a hospital. 

Shortly following my birth the family moved to Princeton Avenue in Salt Lake City.  They belonged to the Garden Park Ward.  Dad became interested in the church and the family started attending sacrament meetings together and were preparing to go to the temple.  Grandma [Martha Diana] Brown came to live in the basement of our home.  I don't remember her.  She passed away on the 16th of January 1943.  Grandma Weiler took up residence in the basement following Grandma Brown's passing.  She lived there until we moved again.  Mom looked after them.  

In 1941 World War II started and many things were rationed.  One day mom sent JoAnne and me to the store with war coupons to get sugar and butter.  The butter was white.  However, it came with a little yellow coloring package that was mixed into the butter to  make it yellow.  At that time we had a little dog and we begged mom to let us take the dog with us but she said no.  With a little more begging, she finally gave in, probably tired of our begging.  Anyway, the dog got loose and he was hit by a car.  We learned a valuable lesson that day from mom.  We had gone against mom's premonitions and lost a friend.

Russell Arland Brown was born 18th October 1942 making four boys and five girls to the family clan.  He recalled coming home  with  two broken arms  and told mom that he had fallen from a tree.  He was  afraid he was going to get a licking.  He learned a great lesson that day of a mother’s love.  Actually, he fell from the via dock and fell onto the railroad tracks.

October 25, 1943 was one of the most happy days in the life of the Brown Family.  Mom and dad were sealed to each other for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple surrounded by eight of their living children and one by proxy.  I'm sure that Kenneth was present at this joyous occasion.  They were sealed by Gaskell Romney, dad's uncle.  He also gave mom and dad their Patriarchal Blessing later on.

Dianne often said that mother had been an angel throughout her life.  Mom was always there when Dianne needed her.  The thing that Dianne remembers most is going to the temple, kneeling at the altar and being sealed to mom and dad.

In 1944, dad got a job working for Sears Roebuck and Company.  He worked there for twenty years or more.  This was a blessing for mom.  With eight children I'm sure that a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders to know that dad had a good job which helped make things a little better.  He still worked other jobs to help support his growing family.

Mom brought another son into our home.  Orson Pratt Brown was born in 1945, May 26,  making the sex's even.  Orson was named after dad's brother Orson.  Orson was the first child to be born under the covenant.   

Michael Dewey Brown was born 2 June 1946.  OOP's, uneven again.  Mike was named after dad's brother Dewey.   When Mike was ten years old  there were small gangs in the neighborhood and the two groups got together and had a little fight.  One of the boys went home to his mother.  The mother returned and beat the tar out of Mike.  By the time he got home he was in very bad shape.  When mom found out about it she took him by the hand and took him back to the boys home and did she ever give the boy’s mom hell.

In 1946 mom and dad purchased a home at 2137 South West Temple in South Salt Lake.  It was a large home with a loft.  The loft was divided in two sections.  The west side for the boys and the east side for the girls.  The kitchen was large with a trap door leading under the house where the fruit was kept.  We kids didn't like going down there.  I remember the day when a big truck took all of our belongs, along with the family, to our new home.  It was a happy occasion.  Mom finally had a home of her own.  She had a half acre of ground for her tribe to play in.  I asked her years later why she didn't have a garden and she told me that she just didn't have time and that she couldn't get any help from us.  We did have a few chickens and pigeons.  What we really wanted was a horse.  Dad always said that if we could find a horse with a for sale sign tacked to his behind that he would buy it for us.  No such luck.

We lived in the Burton Ward and mom was called to teach primary, a job she held for many years.  She was always supportive of dad and his many callings in the church.  Dad once said of her, "It takes a good woman and especially a young one like Nellie to go through hardships such as these and to stay true and loyal."

Over the next few years three more children were born to this couple.  Toni Kathleen Brown was born on 29 Mar 1948, Kathy being named after dad's nickname.  Kathy said of mom.   “When I was growing up, we invited our mothers to our primary class  to have lunch with us.  It was a special time.  Mom wrote a special card for me and in the card was a white hankie, hand made by mom.  She told me that the hankie was white and pure just like I was and she hopes that I would be able to take it to the temple someday.  I always take it to the temple with me and it gives me goals to go by.”

Miles Gordon Brown was born on 25 October 1949, being named after dad's brother Miles.  Miles said when he was visiting mom in St. George he asked her jokingly if he was one of her better children.  Mom laughed and said, "Are you kidding!"  He recalls the 1949 Chevy mom had and he went to the grocery store with mom.  There was a broken door handle that you could spin around but could never get the door open.  She kept telling him all the way to the store not to play with it because it might come open and he might fall out.  As she pulled into the parking lot the door flew open and out he came. 

Miles said, “When the other kids would leave home I wanted to go with them so mom would tie me up to the pear tree to keep me home.  I did get away once and our neighbor saw me walking along State Street and brought me home.”

Clyde Weiler Brown was born on 6 September 1952, being named after dad's brother and carrying mom maiden name.  Mom was a very busy mom raising all those children.

Daughters: Elaine, Clare JoAnne, Suzanne, Guy Hafen, Nellie Diane, Leona Lee, Toni Kathleen
Sons: Clyde Weiler, Russell Arland, Orson Pratt, Anthony Ray, Gaylen, Michael Dewey, Miles Gordon,
(Kenneth Weiler - deceased)
Circa 1982

Grandma Weiler came to live with us sometime in 1950.  She was ill and needed mom to take care of her.  She slept on the couch in the dinning room.  I don't remember how long she stayed with us but I do remember waking up one morning, going down stairs, and finding the couch empty.  Mom said that grandma had passed away during the night.  She passed away on the 5 December 1950.  I remember how sad I was, I really missed her.

Mom enjoyed playing cards and every Wednesday, come rain or shine, she and Eva Cowley got together and played Canasta.  One week it would be at our home and the next week at Eva's.  This was probably the only out mom had.

Mom did drive a car for twenty‑five years without a driver’s license.  One day she decided to get her license.  I remembered her coming home very sad and disappointed.  She had failed the driving test and would have to take it again.  Can you believe?  Twenty‑five years without a ticket or accident and she failed the test.  No wonder she was so disappointed.

Mom did a lot of sewing to keep her children in clothes.  She always made Easter dresses for us and pajamas at Christmas.  Elaine said of mom.  “There's a lot of things that I remember growing up.  One of the things was the baking of home made bread we used to come home too after school.  I also remember mom sewing for me and one of the dresses you sewed was an apricot colored taffeta.  You made this dress for me especially so that I could give a talk in Sunday School.  I was so proud of that dress.  I went right next door to show the neighbors and immediately fell into their cesspool pool.  I don't think that I ever wore the dress again.”

JoAnne was seven years old when she recalled, “One Sunday morning mom had her curling iron out and got us all ready to go to Sunday School.  She shooed us out the door and had a sigh of relief that she would have an hour of peace and quite.  When we went shopping, she would say that it would be our turn.  She would get her flour sacks out of all different colors and patterns and we would choose which one we wanted.  She would then make us a skirt or a blouse out of it.”

Christmas was always a joyful time in our home.  Mom and dad would line us up in the hall way, youngest first, and lead us to the front room and tell us which pile was ours.  I could never understand how they knew who belonged to what and what belonged to who.  I know that it must have been a great sacrifice on their part to provide Christmas for so many of us.  We never went without and we didn't now that we were poor because we had each other and parents that really cared and loved us.

Sue said of mom,  “I remember coming home from school and mom would always be there.  That meant a lot to me.  I remember when I didn't do what mom wanted she would tell me that I couldn't go out with my friends.  I could always talk her out of it.  I had a way with mom.”

I believe mom was the greatest cook in the world.  Coming home from school to the smells of bread, canning and other goodies penetrated the air.  I still get nostalgia in the fall when canning is in progress or when I smell the baking of bread.

Later in years Ray said that mother loved buttermilk and Ray and mom would sit down together, drink buttermilk and eat sardines.  Mother taught Ray a great lesson one day.  Gaylen had a bunch of pigeons and he had one.  Ray took his Beebe gun, shot his pigeon, took it into to mom and asked mom to cook it for him.  She sat him down and gave him a good talking too about killing helpless things.  He was about ten at the time.

On Thanksgiving mom would bake pies.  Many pies.  She would always put them in the kitchen on top of the cupboards.  I can still see them there.  Thanksgiving was always a special holiday.  The table was filled with delicious food.  No one went hungry.  If they did, it was their own fault.

I remember when dad was in the bishopric.  The entire bishopric would get together once a month for dinner.  When it came time for mom's turn, the house became spotless, a wonderful dinner was prepared, and the kids sent to their rooms for the night.  The evening was a wonderful success and Bishop Graff praised mom for being such a gracious hostess and for a wonderful evening.  That made her day. 

The summer of 1947 must have been a trying time for mom.  Six of mom’s children came down with whooping cough.  Mom would spread newspapers all over the house to help keep the house clean.  Kathy was so little that she almost died.  The doctor would come by our home to check on us.  He had mom make a cough syrup out of honey and whiskey.  It didn't taste very good.

In 1951 a surprise came to our home.  Dad’s two brothers delivered a brand new green Chevy car.  They took mom and dad for a ride. When they returned home, they gave dad the keys and said it was theirs.  How thrilled they were.

In 1958 mom and dad sold their home on West Temple and moved to Murray on Utahna Dr.  By this time six of mom's children were married and had children of their own.  Only seven more kids to go.

Orson said of mom,  “I remember mother always getting up early in the morning.  When we lived in Murray mom would get up early and do the watering.  She would always come over to my bedroom window, spray the window and wake me up for the day.  When I would come home from school, mom would have baked bread and Russell would take the top off one of the loafs and if I was lucky I would get the bottom or the end and Mike would get the inside and the rest of the kids would get what was left.”

Mom taught Primary for many years.  She  was also the In Service Trainer in the Murray 10th Ward where we lived.  She held other jobs in the church and was a faithful Visiting Teacher.

Mom's birthday often fell on election day.  She worked for many years at the polls and we would take a cake or presents for her to the polls and sing happy birthday.  Mom enjoyed working at the polls.  It gave her an out and also some spending money.

I was a senior in high school the year mom broke her leg.  I returned from school to find mom laying on the steps leading to the back yard.  I don't remember how long she laid there but she was very glad that I came along.  I took her to the doctor's office and he put a cast on it.  He then gave her some crutches to use.  We made it as far as the parking lot of the doctor's office when mom fell.  That was the last time she used her crutches accept to get in the house.  She went to bed and stayed there for the next several months.  I took on the responsibilities of the family.  I don't know how mom ever made seven lunches every morning but I hated it.  

Mom also belonged to a club which met monthly.  They played cards, had dinner, and enjoyed each another's company.  They took turns having it at each others home.

I guess the family didn't end there.  We needed one more boy.  Bob Small came into our lives.  He lived with us for three years and mom treated him like a son.  Bob said, “to have two mothers is a great honor to him.”  When he went to St. George for his work once a month it was like going home.  

While I was on my mission dad bought mom a piano.  I remember her telling me that when she was a little girl she had piano lessons but didn't continue because she would go home and play the piece that she was working on the way she wanted too.  Her teacher told grandma that mom couldn't be taught.  Mom played the piano beautifully by ear.  That was a wonderful gift.

Mom and dad sold their home in Murray in 1969 and moved to St. George, Utah.  There they enjoyed warmer weather and a lower altitude which helped with dad's asthma.  Mom enjoyed her years in St. George, making many wonderful new friends.  Their home was always open to everyone and they had a mirrored hosts of people.

There were times that dad was so ill that mom had to shoulder the responsibility of taking care of her large family.  Dad passed away February 16, 1970 of a heart attack.  The days and months that followed were lonely and difficult for mom without the man that she loved so much.  But her testimony was strong and she had the knowledge that she and dad would be together again, so her life went on. 

Miles was still on his mission when dad passed away and Weiler was still living at home.  Mom went to work for the school district working hot lunches. 

In 1970, DeWayne and I took mom to Seattle for a vacation.  We went to Victoria to see the Butchered Gardens which mom loved.  She liked it so much that when she married Guy they were going there on their honeymoon.  Mom said that it rained so much that they didn't make it to Victoria.

Mom started attending parties at the church for the singles and there she met another wonderful man, Guy Hafen.  Mom didn't know at that time that she would marry again and have happiness, sharing her life with another.  

Weiler said, “When dad was dying, he asked me to promise him that I would take care of mom after he was gone.  When mom was dating Guy Hafen, me and my friend had come home one evening and noticed a white car in the driveway.  I didn't know who could be visiting mom that time of night. I thought that perhaps it was mom's boyfriend.  We decided that we would drive around town for a while and then return to see if the car had left.  I had work the next morning and didn't want to stay out much longer.  When we returned, the car was still there.  I tried the back door but it was locked.  I tried every window in the house with no luck.   I decided to go in.  There was mother in this sexy dress sitting on the couch with Guy.  I had never seen her in a sexy dress before.  I said hello and walked to my bedroom.  Later on a special thing happened.  Guy had asked mother to marry him and before mom consented she came to me and said, ‘Son, Guy has asked me to marry him.  Do you think that would be all right with you?’  I said, ‘Sure, why not’.”

Mom and Guy were married in Caliente, Nevada by the Stake President, Wesley Holt, on the 5 June of 1972.  Standing with them was Clyde Weiler Brown and Mr. Forbes, a friend, Lawrence McMullin and his wife of two weeks.  The McMullin drove over to Caliente in their car and signed as witnesses to this marriage and returned to St. George.  Five days later Lawrence was killed in a car accident.

The following was taken from writings of mothers’ following her marriage to Guy Hafen. 

We proceeded from Caliente on our honeymoon trip and stopped at Ely, Nevada the first night.  The next day we proceeded on to Carson City and visited Virginia City on the way.  Next day we made the long drive to the south side of Lake Tahoe.  There was lots of activity on the Nevada side, a great build up to accommodate the crowds of pleasure seekers.

The following day, leaving in the afternoon, we went to Willies, California.  The next day to Brookings, Oregon.  We enjoyed the Red Woods and the Mystery Trees and the ride along the shore.

We passed by Portland and stayed that night at (?).  It rained every day and was cold so we went as far as Olympia, Washington and visited the state capitol grounds, this being Sunday. We turned back and got as far as La Grande, Oregon.

The next day, Monday, we arrived at Greg and Patricia's (Guy's son) place in Hagerman.

Tuesday we went to Wells, Nevada, June 13 and then on to Salt Lake City.

July 18 to 26, 1974 - Tour Trip in company with Claud and Leah Adams 

We took one week vacation trip somewhat over our honeymoon trip.  Claud was not very well, having a cantankerous condition hang on, but he got along very well and we all had a nice trip.  In all we traveled 2500 miles in our car.  The ladies did the driving.  We averaged about fifteen miles per gallon, with gas prices running around about fifty cents to sixty cents per gallon for regular.

We left home on the morning of July 18 and traveled that day to Fallon, Nevada, via Pioche, Ely, and Austin, Nevada.

Next day we went to Lake Tahoe, taking in Virginia City and Carson City.  Next day clear to Lalee (?), California.  Next day to Crescent City, California on the shore.  Next day to Bend, Oregon. Next day to Hagerman, Idaho.  Spent most of the 24th of July with Greg, seeing the parade and the rodeo, and then went on to Logan, Utah that evening.

The next day we went to Preston, Idaho, visited Leona.  Dianne wasn't there.  Then on to Salt Lake City that day.  The following day, Friday, July 26 we arrived home having stopped at Cedar City for an afternoon Senior Citizens Convention..............

Mom sold her home and her and Guy built a home together in the vacant lot next to Guy's home.  Mom enjoyed decorating her new home and working in the garden.  During  mom's years with Guy her talents blossomed.  She played the piano, learned to play the harmonica, the guitar and spent a lot of joyful hours entertaining others at senior citizen parties, nursing homes and for family home evenings.

Guy passed away on April 25, 1983 leaving mom alone once again.  They shared eight years together, each having lost their eternal companions.  Mom felt blessed to have the support of her family and friends at this time in her eternal progression.

Following Guy's death mom continued to serve in the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, and  coordinate the programs at the Senior Citizens Center. 

Mom remained active for several years.  Her health started to decline in 1991.  She suffered a heart attack at the Health Clinic in St. George on October 22, 1992.  Her children immediately left whatever they were doing and headed for St. George to see her.  The hospital staff couldn't believe the influx of people that were at the hospital that night.  What love we (her children) have for her.

Mom spent some time in the hospital but was soon in her own home taking care of the many obligations she had.  She had to slow down at this point and let others do those things that she could no longer do.

Mom passed away on February 26, 1992 in St. George, Utah.  Suzanne, Dianne, and I were visiting with her that day.  We left for home and upon our return home found that she had died in Kathy's arms.  She is now with dad and Kenneth and other family members.

Mom was a wonderful example for her children.  She taught us the gospel, which she lived.  She taught us how to work. She taught us to be honest.  She was there for us.  One day we will all be together again.
   

To the Family of Nellie,

Sorry we couldn't be with you for your Mother's Services. Know how much she meant to each of you. You are blessed to have such warm memories.

The Guy Hafen Family appreciated her gentle care of daddy during their years of marriage. She opened her heart, home, refrigerator and pocket book to each of us. We realize the worth of her generous nature. Even our grandchildren were remembered on their birthdays with a card and money. Her goodness has brightened many lives. We, with you, will miss her and her giving ways, but will always remember her with fondness.

Elaine and Marucie Briggs

We have truly enjoyed visiting with Nellie. Each time we visited her we felt we had been benefitted and had learned much from her. She was a very choice lady with a most beautiful spirit. Visiting Teachers

Mary Ann McDonnell M.D. and her staff of the Southern Utah Heart Institute donated a name-plated brick to the Jubilee Home in Honor of Mom. The brick is inscribed as follows: NELLIE B. HAFEN

Hugs to all of you. Nellie was certainly one of my good friends from Home Health. I loved her. Maggie Hansen

Your mother was a very special lady! We share your loss. Cody Nellie was a very special lady. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Hazel

Really enjoyed Nellie. Know she's in a much better place now playing a harp. Julie

On November 3, 1979 mother wrote her Testimony.

I leave them my testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ, that it is true. I hope that all of my children will go to the temple as a family so we can all be together in the here after. There is no other way. If you think enough of your husband or wife and especially your children, you will get this done. You are responsible for your own doing and not what other people do or how they live. It is how you live.

I am so thankful for being raised in an LDS Home and having the knowledge I have of the gospel. Things change in the world but the gospel is forever. Families are forever also. Don't wait until it is too late. The Lord gives us troubles to test us. Some have more than others. I love all of my children equally. I am very glad that I had all of you. All of you have been very good to me and have made me very happy.

Nellie Weiler Brown's nine children with spouses - 2005 Tony Reunion

Sources:

PAF - Archer files = Orson Pratt Brown + (1) Martha Diana Romney > Anthony Morelos Brown + Nellie Weiler < .Jacob Malin Weiler + Lillian S. Nicholson < Joseph Weiler + Mary Adelaide A. Chaffin.

Written, compiled , and submitted to this site by Leona Olsen Aug. 2000

Bold, [bracketed information], and photos added by Lucy Brown Archer

Copyright 2000 www.OrsonPrattBrown.org