Marian Joy Crockett Brereton

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Marian was born June 10, 1926 in the home of her Grandmother Comish of Franklin, Idaho. Her parents were Earl Clarkson Crockett and Della Comish Crockett. Joy, as she was know in her younger years, came into the world with the aid of the doctor, paid with a sack of potatoes, and her father, who served as her Mother's anesthetist. She was put into a white wooden cradle which was used for all the babies of the family born there. Soon Joy's parents took her to Salt Lake City where her father worked on completing his University studies. He worked at many part time jobs, including being janitor for the University of Utah. One day Joy's parents took her with them for this chore. She was missing a while and when she turned up - - she was covered with dust - - had crawled into a closet not yet cleaned by Daddy. Sometimes Joy and her parents visited Lund, Idaho where her Aunt Elva and cousins Lou, Dean and Mae lived.

In 1928, when Joy was two years old, the family moved to California. In California, Joy's father was working on his PhD degree. As a side line, her Mother and father ran an apartment house. Joy became well acquainted with some of the tenants and one gave her a treasured toy violin. Joy remembered a model T Ford. Though only five when she left California, Joy had made several friends and recognized them and brought them home from the park when encountered four years later. The family next moved to Grandforks, North Dakota. Joy's father was now a college professor at the University of North Dakota. Here Joy started school. The winters were very hard with lots of snow and deep drifts. The summers had dust storms which made it seem as dark as night in the middle of the day. Joy's parents were anxious to leave this country which was hard hit by the depression.

On the way west, they traveled through Yellowstone Park. It was Joy's eight year old birthday and her mother stopped along the way and bought a chocolate cake. The family had a picnic at the head of the Falls and celebrated the birthday. The next day they went on to Logan, Utah where Joy as baptized in the Logan Temple.

At Boulder, Colorado, Joy started the third grade. At this time she felt she would rather go by her first name so from then on was know as Marian. In a new town, her friends and teachers all called her Marian, but for years when she returned to other relatives in Idaho, she was know as "Joy". Marian made many friends in Boulder. She took piano lessons for several years and in 1941 played in the National Piano Playing Auditions at which she and on of the other 16 pupils of her teacher won the highest honor of superior. She also participated in camp-fire girls.

In 1940, when Marian was in the 9th grade, she was elected by the Junior High student body, as the "Head Girl". During the year she introduced assemblies and presided over student government meetings. A square dance club was a favorite activity at this time.

The spring of 1942, the war was in everyone's mind. Marian's father accepted a job with the War Production Board in Washington, D.C. There Marian attended a high school of several thousand students. In the summer she set out to look for a job and felt very excited when her application was accepted to clerk in McCrory's 10 cent store. Here she worked on the drapery and stocking counters.

The family attended the Capital Ward which met in the garden house of a large hotel. It was very near the Nation's Capitol building. Marian conducted a Sunday School class during sacrament meeting for 6 year olds. Many points of interest are visited in Washington, D.C. After a year and a half, the family was home-sick for Colorado and so when her father received an offer to return to the University, all were anxious to return.

The very first Sunday back in Boulder, the Branch needed an organist and Marian was asked to play. She held the job for several years, seldom missing a time .

In 1944, Marian enrolled at the University of Colorado. She also worked part time at the University Library. She sang for three years with the University Choir and participated in the Messiah. She belonged to the Women's Club and became head of the Fashion and Personality Group - - lining up speakers and programs for the group. She was elected the social secretary.

Marian also participated in the Player's Club. One day, she was painting on a set in the back of the Little Theatre when she overheard a young man say to a girl, "What do you suppose Professor Crockett will ask on his quiz?" The girl answered, "Why don't you ask his daughter, she's right over there?" The young man, Don Brereton, took this advice and followed through to the extent of marrying the professor's daughter. However, they were just friends for some time until Marian invited Don to a Delta Gamma forma dance. Don had already been asked to another dance to the Chi Omega dance, but he managed to break his previous date. Soon he had Marian assigned to help him on the light crew and they worked on many plays together. They also studied together at the Library and went to school dances and movies and hikes.

In June, 1946, Marian went to the summer session at the University of California and Don, her boy friend, went overseas to China. When they left he met in San Francisco. She had a wonderful experience being on her own and attended concerts and lectures.

In March, 1947, Don returned and at this time asked Marian to marry him. They decided not to become formally engaged yet however. Marian graduated in June, with a major in Economics and a minor in philosophy and literature. The following summer she went to Washington, D.C. to participate in a student government seminar sponsored by the Y.M.C.A. 33 college students from all over the country came to Washington for this project. During the day each worked for a government agency. Marian was in the Library of Congress assisting the specialist on housing .In the evenings they heard talks by government officials. After these, a group frequently went to a watergate concert or movie. On Sundays the group went together to different churches. They also visited Congress in session and did a great deal of sigh-seeing. It was a very stimulating and rewarding experience.

When fall came, Marian decided to go to New York City with a seminar friend, to look for a job. At first, it was very discouraging and Marian applied for graduate work at Columbia University. Just after she was accepted, she and her friend were given a chance to work as typist in the United States Mission to the United Nations. After a few weeks, Marian was transferred to the Documents Section and Reference Library of the Mission where the worked was very interesting.

At this time, Don was working in Schenectady, New York and made a visit to New York City every other week-end. Marian planned these week-ends ahead of time, obtaining tickets to plays, operas, concerts, etc.

In December, Marian went home and Don joined her there, where they had an engagement supper. Marian's engagement ring was set from a stone Don's father used to wear in a little finger ring. It was over 1½ carets.

In June, Marian and Don were married. Marian's mother made the formal gown of white satin brocade. Don's brother Jack was best man. His sister Jane was a maid of honor. Marian's brothers, Bob and Dave, were ushers and her sister, Margy was the flower girl. She was just over three and received much attention at the wedding.

During the reception, Marian's brothers and friends tied shoes and boots to the car (a red convertible). Marian and Don rode to the Broadmore Hotel in Colorado Springs. They were determined not to look like honeymooners, but when they drove up, the hotel door-man congratulated them. After getting out of the car, they noticed a black boot was still dragging and giving them away.

Don told Marian that he knew she should have liked to be married in the Temple, and some day they would be.

The couple had a nice honeymoon, stopping for several days in the Tetons, Wyoming and then driving on to Pittsfield, Mass. Where Don was to be on test for General Electric. Here they spent a nice summer taking many drives in their convertible up in the Berkshires.

In Nov. 1948, Marian and Don moved to Philadelphia. They were able to find a place 2 ½ blocks from General Electric and Marian used to meet Don at noon as he walked home for lunch. Soon they were joined by a baby buggy, for their first daughter Janet Lynn was born March 16. Marian's mother came to Phila. bringing Margy, age 4 to be with the new baby for three weeks. During their stay in Phila., Marian and Don attended church at the Phila. Branch Chapel.

When Lynn was 7 months old, the family moved to Schenectady, New York. They picked out paint and linoleum for a little house 6 mi. out of town where they were to live for 5 years.

In June, just three days before Marian's birthday, here first son, David Arthur, was born. Don brought some ice cream to the hospital where they celebrated her birthday. This was a very easy birth and Marian was conscious through all and was able to enjoy the thrill of the new spirit sent to her.

The summer of 1951, the Breretons went to Colorado for a visit with Marian's parents. After they had just arrived, Don had her sit on the piano bench facing everyone and said, "I have something to show you." It was a form requesting his baptism into the church. The tears rolled down Marian's cheeks and she could not read it to the group so she handed it to them so they could also see. During their visit, Marian's father baptized Don at the Denver Stake House with the rest of the family present.

Marian was Social Science teacher in Relief Society and worked in the Primary organization. She attended two Primary Conventions in New York.

In the next two years, Don and Marian lost the hopes for two babies and were very saddened by these experiences, but felt that they had gained in understanding and appreciation of the family they had. Don progressed in the church and they made plans to be married in the Temple.

In Sept. 1953, Marian, Don, Lynn and David were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. They obtained their patriarchal blessings and attended all possible general conference sessions which were very inspirational. Then they visited the Logan, Manti, and Idaho Falls Temples.

The next Mother's Day, Don took Marian to see a big gray house in the city not far from the Chapel in a lovely residential area. He said, "Here is your Mother's Day present." Two months later they moved into this lovely home with a fine yard for children. In June, Bruce George was born. Marian felt that the blessings she received in the Temple had made it possible for this choice spirit to be sent them after their long waiting. Bruce's middle name is for his great grandfather George Comish, who was a witness at the Temple marriage and Elder George Q. Morris, of the twelve Apostles, who married them.

The following summer, Marian's parents spent in Vermont at Lake Champlain. They Breretons visited several times and Lynn and David each had turns staying with their grandparents and Aunt Margy.

September 1956, Marian began serving as Genealogy teacher in the Schenectady Branch and became very interested in the project. She took her class on several trips to the Genealogy Library in Albany. On October 29, Steven Stuart was born. Six weeks later the family took him to St. Louis and Colorado for a visit with Grandparents. Marian and Don had the opportunity of making a trip to Salt Lake where they spent a day at the Genealogy library. Then they went through the Logan Temple and spent a night with Uncle Edwin A. Crockett to obtain Genealogy material.