1989-90, Trip to Mexico

January 20, 1989 was Rob and Erika’s wedding day. A beautiful, but snowy and foggy day. They were sealed in the River Jordan Temple by my Dad. We were happy to welcome another daughter to the family.
Laurisa Romriell was born just a month later. We now have 18 grandchildren. Jenny, David, James, Ryan, Chris, Becky, Melissa, Alicia, Salem, Daniel, Tannie, Trent, Russell, Alex, Laurisa, Lauren, Sam, and Michelle. All great kids!
In June, Nancy was married to Jeff Wise. Two great kids came from that marriage, Ashley and Tanner, though it was not a happy time for Nancy. It ended in divorce a few years later.
Also in 1989 we had a Honey reunion. Bill and Kathy, Joan and families came and it was nice to be together. Leon prepared a booklet with pictures and stories of Bill and Leona for all the family.
March 23, 1990 was Mark and Sharon’s wedding day in the Salt Lake Temple. Dad was able to seal them; so special to have my Dad officiating. They had known each other ever since we moved to Utah, in 1977. Sharon lived right across the street from us. All of our children are now married.
In August, 1990, my Mom and Dad and all their kids took a trip to the colonies in Mexico. Dad had never been back since leaving Colonia Dublan where he was born. He was a toddler when he left. Gina and Keith; Fred, Carol, young Fred, Warren and Lexie; Mary and Rachel; and Leon and I made up the group. We took three cars.
We spent Sunday evening singing lots of songs, many of them having to do with Mexico. The next morning we drove to Tucson and found the old Mormon Cemetery in Binghamton, now a suburb of Tucson. We located my grandfather’s grave, Frederick Granger Williams, the 2nd though he didn’t go by 2nd. He died when my Dad was a young boy. We visited the granite monument to the Mormon Battalion in a park in Tucson. My folks were instrumental in organizing the dedication of the monument in 1937.
We drove to Columbus, NM on the border with Mexico. Leon filled up our car with gas a one pump and Keith and Mary filled up at another one. Then their cars wouldn’t work! We found out that diesel fuel had been mixed with the gas. After much hassle, the owner was contacted and he had the tanks cleaned out and filled with gas; no charge. By now it was late at night so we spent the night in Deming, 34 miles north.
Tuesday, Mary, Leon and I obtained Mexican insurance for our cars; Keith and Gina had obtained theirs earlier in Mesa. We drove to the border and had to wait for the Mexican border attendant to finish his lunch, then we were able to proceed on our way.
It was a slow 90 miles to Colonia Dublan, now part of Nuevo Casas Grandes. Roads were good in the country but terrible in the towns we passed through. Big chuck holes and unmarked large speed bumps.
We stayed at Motel Hacienda, formerly a Ramada Inn. It was built Spanish style around a large grassy patio with a swimming pool in one of the corners. Large trees and flowers made it a very pretty place. We ate lunch in the banquet room, very private and nice. It was fun being all together. Most of us spoke Spanish so we talked to the waiters and other hotel people.
Afterwards, we got into the cars and located some landmarks Fred had investigated. We located the corner where Nancy Abigail Clement Williams, my grandmother had lived, and where the blacksmith shop was located.
Dublan was much prettier than expected. Most homes looked like they had been transported straight from Utah. All the roads were dirt except the main one. The church block looked very prosperous, enclosed with a fence and a sidewalk. There were many trees and flowers. We met Fletcher Memmot, who had been a missionary in Argentina during WW II. He told us how to get to Colonia Juarez and the Academy. That night, he and his wife and two daughters visited us and brought maps, pictures and lovely peaches.
We drove to Colonia Juarez, about 8 miles from Colonia Dublan and saw all the beautiful orchards. We saw the Academy building, built in 1904. There are about 400 students, 80% LDS; a bishop’s recommend is needed and there is a long waiting list.
We drove back to Dublan before dark; it is not good to be out on the roads at night. The little Mexican towns are very poor and dirty but where the Mormons settled, the places are clean and neat.
Wednesday, Leon and I had to leave as we had planned on going east to visit Rob and Erika in Tennessee. The others stayed another day, locating the place outside of town where Dad was born. It was very special to have this trip with my parents, brother and sisters, and other family members.