A Life Sketch of

EVA MAY GRIFFETH (BODILY)

by her son, Dean G. Bodily

 

 

Eva Hay Griffeth was born February 14, 1880 in Hyde Park, Utah the daughter and eighth child of Patison Delos Griffeth and Sarah Elizabeth Gibson Roberts. Patison married (1) Elizabeth Carson on April 26, 1826 in Nauvoo, Ill. (2) Sarah Elizabeth Gibson Roberts on February 7, 1863, in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. A few years after Eva Hay was born, Patison moved the family to Fairview, Franklin County, Idaho.

 

Being that her father had two wives and persecution of the polygamist families was so severe, Patison moved Sarah’s family to Star Valley, Wyoming. They lived there five years and moved back to Fairview and lived five years. During this time Eva met Henry James Bodily. After a short courtship were married December 20, 1899 in the new Logan Temple.

 

They made their home in Fairview. After the third child was born Henry was called on his second mission for the Church. Eva Hay was left alone to take care of her children, and the things necessary to provide for the family. Times were hard and it was difficult, without help, to keep all things together.

 

About one and a half years after he got home from his mission, he moved his family to Preston, Idaho where he lived nine years. An opportunity came for the family to make a better living by moving to the Snake River Valley, near Idaho Falls, Idaho. After being there a short time a baby girl was born January 16, 1920. Through complications of childbirth Eva Hay passed away the same day. She was buried in Iona, Idaho January 20, 1920.

 

This left Henry alone with his small children to care for. He married an older sister to Eva Hay, Eleanor Elizabeth Griffeth, October 14, 1920. She took on the responsibility and cared for them as if they were her own. Although she had no children of her own, she lived to see them all married, except one, before she died, March 20, 1938. She was buried in lone, Idaho.

 

To Henry and Eva Hay, nine children were born-—three girls and six boys. A niece, Alice Albertie Griffeth, added this little bit to Eva’s history. ‘I would like to add that I worked for Aunt Eva a little and found her to be a faithful wife and one of the sweetest, most patient mothers I have ever met. I never heard her speak an impatient word. She had it so hard while Uncle Henry was on his second mission.”

 

To Henry and Eva May the following children were born;

Dean G. -— born October 14, 1900, Fairview, Idaho

Leon G. —— born November 2, 1902, Fairview, Idaho

Theo G. -— born September 24, 1904, Fairview, Idaho

Oral G. —— born June 29, 1909, Fairview, Idaho

Verl G. —— born August 12, 1911, Whitney, Idaho

Alba —— born July 23, 1913, Preston, Idaho

Darl G. -— born August 1, 1914, Afton, Wyoming

Edna -- born January 30, 1916, Preston, Idaho

Eva —— born November 16, 1920, Idaho Falls, Idaho