Our Mother, Nina Black, was born Nina Stevens on May 18, 1913 in Mt. Carmel, Utah; and died of a stroke, peacefully in the home of her son Boyce on November 7, 2003 in White Salmon, Washington, seven years after her husband, Claude Elias Black (May 8, 2008- Thanksgiving Day 1996). Nina took her last breaths holding hands with Boyce and myself and surrounded by three generations of her descendants singing her favorite hymns to her as she passed through that veil between worlds. Claude had a quick heart attack after a Thanksgiving Dinner with the large family, and passed away on his own bed with his boots still on, just the way he would have liked. His last breaths went through me as I did CPR and I knew beyond doubt that he was ready to go, I could feel him so strongly.
As a young girl growing up in southern Utah, Nina remembered her first schoolbus was a horse drawn Sleigh in the winter. A trip to Kanab, 20 some miles away, took half a day travel time down the old creek bed, watching out for quicksand areas. Her Mother, Mabel May Stevens, always had flowers on their piano, and many of her 10 brothers and sisters loved to sing and play music. Their Father, Hyrum Wallace Stevens was a hard working man with a farm, and several cows. Life was hard but full of love, fresh garden produce and plenty of milk!
Nina grew into a lovely young woman
Nina as a young girl
and she met a handsome young man
Dad on his Mission to North Carolina
Claude was her School Bus Driver for awhile, and the day after Nina Graduated from High School they headed off to St. George to be married in the LDS Temple, Sadly, the car broke down on the way and by the time Claude got it fixed and they made it to St. George the Temple was closed. Claude had to be at Sheep camp the next day, so they found the Bishop and some witnesses and arranged a civil marriage. After the summer working at the camp (Mom cooked, Dad was a Sheep herder), they returned to the Temple and got sealed for eternity.
Claude and Nina on their wedding day April 15, 1932
The next 18 years found them moving around following work during the depression, having each child in a different town and in 4 states. After living in Utah (Dad was a mechanic in Glendale, Utah), California (Orange Orchards), Arizona, and Idaho, (Mechanic and driver on road construction), The Depression was hard times, often with so very little food for the family. One time about all they had was a little flour, and they found a 50 pound bag of onions laying by the road. They had baked onions, fried onions, onion soup, and were grateful. Claude brought the family to Washington in 1950 to help his brother Clell Black with a Service Station in Husum, and it became the home they had been searching for. Raising their teenage kids here was wonderful. Dad worked at Hunsaker’s and then at Ford Garage in Bingen, and I am told the house was always full of kids. Mom said she had to count the sleeping bags on the lawn or the living room floor depending on the season to know how many kids she had that day to cook for. To this day there are many who call Claude and Nina Mom and Dad, kids who stayed with us or came over for meals often, kids with troubled homes that my folks took under their wings.
I was fortunate to be born and raised in White Salmon, and went with Mom and Dad everywhere.
Mother was the teacher in life who most taught me to “Love one Another” by example, by actions. Love of beauty in nature was her legacy, seeing the Divine in others was her trademark. Humor was a joy shared with Mom and Dad… laughter and hugs filled our home. This amazing woman raised 6 children, and always had time for a hug and love… or cookies and homemade rootbeer, or homemade icecream.
Mom and me….
Mom and me
Nina and Darlisa at Long Beach
Daddy and Me. Can you tell I was Daddy’s Girl? I followed him everywhere, down cliffs, up waterfalls, and across rivers in search of fish and rocks; and I followed him into the deep woods hunting deer.
Daddy taught me how to handle a gun properly at a young age, but I never did shoot a deer… when I finally got my first deer in the scope, I put the rifle down and Dad asked what I was doing… I said “I’m really not hungry, Dad”. He laughed and said “you will be come winter!”
I don’t remember many times I was at Mosquito Lake in snow, but here is proof it happened!
Summers often found us going to Utah to see Grandma Black (Sarah Elizabeth Cox). These journeys were full of visits to amazing places and red rock parks, places my parents had not been to growing up in Utah.
My wonderful brothers sadly left home for Navy, Army and College by the time I was 4 and my sister had already gotten married, so at times it was like being an only child, but when they were around they spoiled me rotten.
Our Family after I came along
Claude and Nina lost their oldest son Sheldon in a hunting accident…and then had me 1 1/2 years later. My growing up memories were of a happy mother full of love and joy… willing to wade with me in the creek, throw a snowball at age 75, and kiss away all the pains. I have often wondered in recent years how she did it… and then I know. It was because of her absolute faith in God and in what comes after death. She knew she would see her son again, he was not really gone… and so the pain was less sharp. Her faith nourished her Husband, and all her Children; Nora, Sheldon, Dennis, Roger, Boyce, and myself.
My brother I haven’t met in this life, Sheldon (on the right) with my “adopted” brother Jimmy. Sheldon was killed in a freak hunting accident at age 20 in September 1956 by Jimmy, and as I grew up Jimmy was the other brother in our house… I remember him throwing me up in the air and laughing. Mother always said that she knew if she said one angry word to him about shooting Sheldon that he would have killed himself, so she simply took him in her arms.
I am always amazed at the strength of my parents… Not long before they lost Sheldon, Grandpa Alvin Black died of a heart attack in Husum where he had come to help his sons build a home for Clell and Allie. In the spring after losing Sheldon, Mom and Dad took their first EVER child free weekend trip to the coast, camping at Copalis Beach in Washington. That is where I was conceived just when they thought they were nearly done raising children. Mom was 45 and Dad was 50. Then, while pregnant with me, Mom’s Mom passed away back in Utah and she made the journey for the funeral. After all of this, still these amazing people said only kind things and raised me with joy and love.
Roger, Darlisa, Dennis, Boyce
Sister Nora and her son Gregory Jon at the Beach with us
Nora and Nina were pregnant at the same time, and David and Darlisa were born exactly 2 months apart
Mom and my Tippy Dog
Nina loved this land. Daily she would point out a lovely hat on Mount Hood or Mount Adams, or some lovely flowers blooming along the roads. Summers were spent wading in the Lewis River, filling our pockets with rocks while Dad filled his bag with fish. The smallest or largest moments of beauty around us were pointed out and appreciated.
Claude and Nina at Lower Falls
Dad fishing under Upper Falls on the Lewis River
Up until a week before her 90th birthday, Mom was still sewing patchwork quilts up on her old Singer Treadle sewing machine. Many of those quilts contained memories… as material salvaged from clothing was often used in her quilts.
50th Wedding Anniversary (I think, or 60th?) The Quilt on the wall may have been one of Mom’s
My friend Debbie, Mom and myself in around 1986. It was during this time that I was a single mother, and Dad became Grandpa Dad to my daughter.
My dad and my daughter
- Frosted Leaves and Mount Adams.
Perfect Crystalline Frost on the early morning plants reminds me of my Mother, who taught me to always notice the moments of beauty in all seasons. In the background on this photo, we see Mt. Adams, one of her favorites… and I see it now as her faith, enduring to the end.
Mother and Father, we love you!!!
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