Florence Isaacson Denham

Florence Isaacson Denham

B- March 18, 1893

St. Johns, Apache, Arizona 

Married – 30 March  1918

St. Johns, Arizona,

D- 18 February, 1982

Tempe, Maricopa, Arizona

Buried- 20 February, 1982

Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona

Wedding Portrait 1918

1916-1917

Elsina and Isaac Isaacson in the center with 10 siblings
Florence is on the back row 2nd from the right. 

1979.   Florence and Virgil 85 years old.

Questions Used on the Test State     Constitution 1928

These were the questions Florence Denham used in 1928 for the State Constitution Test she used in the Little Red Schoolhouse. She had a notebook where these questions were listed: (not an easy test)

1. State three reserved rights of the People

2. When, Where and for What length of time does legislature meet?

3. Describe the State Seal

4. Name the Departments of the State Government

5. In what is the legislative authority of the state vested?

 6. Give the steps necessary to enact an initiative measure. What is an initiative?

7. Explain how a referendum operates

8. Give the qualifications of Governor

9. What only shall the general appropriation bill embrace?

10. Name the officers of the Executive department? Where do they reside during their term of office?

11. Which officer may not cussed himself in office?

12. In what is the judicial power of the State vested?

13. What is the number of judges in the Supreme Court?

14. Which courts are courts of record and which are not?

15. May the Governor veto initiative and refer endue measures?

16. Our school system includes what divisions?

17. Our schools are open to what ages?

18. What members make up our State Board of Education?

19. What does the State Militia Consist of?

20. Tell about the Recall of Public Officers (a) Who are subject to recall? (b) What must a Recall petition contain?

Christmas Program 1928

Florence Denham had cute Christmas programs for the entire school. This tune is Jingle Bells. It was from her school notebook. She wrote the new words in the Year 1928 

Christmas time is here 

The season bright and gay, When o'er the earth,Both far and near, King Winter now holds sway. Old Santa goes about with pack so full of toys, He stuffs each stocking to the brim For all good girls and boys Chorus :Christmastime, Christmas time, Hear the children sing;
Christmastime, Christmas time, 
Time of mirth and cheer, 
Yes, Christmas is a merry time.
 Glad season of the year.
We'll never cease to love,
The story of the Christ Child's birth Grows sweeter far each year. 
Each star at Christmas time, Up in the sky of blue, A happy message brings to all; 
Be glad, be kind, be true. 
Chorus:
Christmastime, Christmas time, 
Hear the children sing; 
Joyously o'er all the earth Sweet their voices ring. 
Christmastime, Christmas time, 
Time of mirth and cheer, 
Yes, Christmas is a merry time. Glad season of the year.
Glad Christmas with its cheer, 
Joyously o'er all the earth Sweet their voices ring. 

My Birthday Letter

Letter written by Florence Isaacson Denham on her birthday.  Melvin Denham

found this letter in 1986 when they were clearing out the Snowflake Home

Dear Sons, Daughters, & Grandchildren

You have read a lot,                                          

In verse and prose

About the debt you owe to Mother

For life and birth;

Yes you can read,

 How I achieved a noble deed

That seems quite wrong

You do not owe me anything

In heaven or earth

Mine is the debt!

You have give to me 

Far more than ever I to thee

The joys, that I have known

My girls, my boys,

Since first I heard your baby cries

Is part of life that never dies

Your baby hands like petals curled

Were the prettiest sights

In all the world

No riches, Power, Adventure or fame

Can ever thrill me quite the same.

I love to bathe you in your tub

I loved your dimpled back to rub

I loved to rock you in my arms;

I loved to calm your small alarms

I loved the little socks to mend

And put back the buttons without end

I loved to brush your sunny hair

To see your smile,

Your face so fair

Still later I was thrilled to hear you read

And watched you grow & grow with speed

I worried that the time would come

When growth would take you far from home

It grieved me much, to leave my flock home

And take a teacher's roll

But it seemed the best during those days

In the depression of the 1930s

We were in need

Taxes, tithing and farm payments 

Had to be met

It was hard to leave my home

And my treasures from Heaven

But what a relief it was that you had

Such a wonderful sweet Daddy,

And dear Aunt Ella, who mothered 

Even better than I could

I was quite jealous at times

To see how my dear children would

Climb up in aunt Ella's lap whenever 

She came to visit us a few years later.

I am now forever grateful 

To my dear sister Ella

For the love she gave my children.

Now with my mind more mature

Many thoughts of your youth

Has stayed with me

I can smile and laugh with glee

But never  can repay the joys

That came through my darling girls,

My stalwart boys

With each of your wonderful families

And from you my granddaughters / grandsons

I love all of your dearly

Thank you for being the

Wonderful people you are.

My greatest desire is to be able

To live will all or you

In the Celestial Degree of Glory.

With love from Mother, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother

Florence Isaacson Denham  1893-1982

I retyped this history because it was hard to read.  However, in Family Search the history is on the United Bank of Arizona stationary (Dianna Hadlock, 2019).

     It is with some difficulty but a very special honer, that I answer the request of my wonderful mother and give a brief synopsis of her life here on Earth. We the descendants of the great 'Mother' are saddened by this separation from her at this time but we rejoice to know that she has been so faithfully and fully finished this phase of her existence in the great plan of Eternal Salvation as given to us by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  

     Mother not only lived well but died well.  Her last few uttered sentences are examples of her life.  A few days ago as my wife Kitty and I prepared to leave after a nice visit with her and she called my wife back and said:  "Kitty, tell everyone to "Enjoy Life while they can", and although she only voiced a word or two during the last two days of her life, and was miserable she stayed positive.  

Mother was not afraid of death.  During her long illness I never once heard her express any fear.  She sat down with me several months ago and calmly planned her funeral service for today. 

     We as a family are so grateful to our Heavenly Father that she was taken peacefully and without much pain.  We are also grateful that she did not have to remain long after a stroke that stopped most of her bodily functions about a week ago.

    Since being given the assignment of giving this history today I have been thinking as to the reasons of why we give histories at funeral services.  I have

come to the following conclusions:

A.  To recall the memories of the great events in ones life for those who have known them most intimately during their lives.

B.  To let their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren know what a rich heritage that has been left to them by this great person.

Because of these reasons most of my remarks toady are for them.

     Your Mother and Grandmother Florence I. Denham was born in St. Johns, Arizona on March 18th 1893.  She just lacked one month of being 89 years old at her passing on February 18, 1982.  Florence was the 6th child of 12 children born to Isaac Isaacson and Elsina Peterson Isaacson.  Two sons Andy and Tom Isaacson , Esther I. Rogers , and Maude are still alive today.

     Her folks were engaged primarily in farming and ranching activities and during her early live they lived out on a ranch know as "The Meadows" near St. Johns.  She attended elementary school in St. Johns, graduated from St. Johns Academy and then went to college at Northern Arizona Normal School at Flagstaff where she graduated in 1914 and was given a Life Time Teaching Certificate. 

     Mother spent most of her life in the classroom teaching school.  She taught a total of 32 1/2 years in St. Johns, Concho, Shumway, Taylor, Clay Springs, and Snowflake.  Most of her teaching years were spent at Shumway where she taught many years in the Red Brick School House.  This school is still standing and is presently in the process of being restored in Mother's Memory. Following her teacher retirement she served as Assistant Postmaster to my Father Virgil T. Denham for several years until he retired in 1961.  

     Mother married my father Virgil T. Denham in the Salt Lake Temple on March 30, 1911.  They then established a home on the banks of Silver Creek in Shumway Arizona, and Father engaged in farming and ranching and Mother taught school.  They were blessed with four children: Myrna, Melvin, Marlowe, and Melba.  They are also survived by 18 Grandchildren and 16 Great Grandchildren.  The last Great Grandson was just born yesterday afternoon.  He was named Jared Denham Hadlock in honor of my folks.  My daughter Dianna realizing that she had this baby birth scheduled for yesterday spent the day before yesterday following Mothers death with Grandpa, and the family in making funeral arrangements, selecting the burial clothing etc. as she wanted to be a part of the occasion.  Thus with the passing of Mother and the birth of the this new Great-Grandson we see the fulfillment of the scripture passage in Chapter 3 of Ecclesiastes which states."To every thing there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven, A time to be born and a time to die".

      Mother always was one to "plan her work--and work her plan".  And example is shown by the fact that she had all of her 4 children during the summer months so it did not interfere with her work as a teacher.  Mother was very active all her life in the L.D.S. church.  She served in the following positions:

Bishops Wife

Primary Counselor

YWMIA Counselor

Relief Society Instructor

Stake Young Woman's Mutual President

Counselor in the "Daughters of the Utah Pioneers"

     Mothers life was not easy.  In our Shumway home we did not have the modern conveniences such as  running water, refrigerators, automatic washers etc.  We did however have a happy life.  We grew up with some of the finest crops of fruits and vegetables that I have ever seen.  Mother spent nearly all of her out of school time putting up fruits and vegetables and making clothes, quilts to take care of our family. 

     When Myrna became high school age we decided to move to Snowflake. However we maintained our property in Shumway.  Mother was a very good manager and a good trader. Nearly all of out large home in Snowflake was financed by trading fruit, hay, etc for materials and labor to remodel our home.  

     I think she had a secret desire for us to be Doctors as she named all four children Myrna--Melvin--Marlowe and Melba Denham.  Another strong desire was for us to live good lives and be active church members.  I shall never forget 

while I was in the armed services, when I was home on furlough just prior to going overseas into combat, she put her arms around me and said "Son, I would rather have them send your bullet ridden body in a casket than for you to return home morally unclean which would keep you from receiving the blessings that you can receive in the Temple.

     Mother was always one to worry over her children and their welfare.  During the long years in combat, the victim of several wounds and a prisoner of the Germans my Dad said she sat up nearly all night day after day listening to the news , tracing my divisions activities and so concerned with my safety.  

     She received a severe blow in her life when my brother Marlowe was taken by early death six years ago this month leaving his wife and four small children.  Mother never doubted the Lord's will however.  I could go on all day telling you of the many special things that made my Mother such a great Mother and Grandmother.  Time will not permit today, but we were will try to share these experiences with you grandchildren as you continue to grow. 

     Mother was so appreciative of the love of her family, especially the devoted care and love extended by our Dad during her long illness, even though he himself is not in good health.  How many 88 year old women have their husbands with them right up until the very end!  Our last family tribute to our Mother was given to her last March 18 on her 88th birthday.  We had a lovely family birthday party in her honor.  At that time my daughter Kimberley whose husband is a fighter pilot in the U. S. Air Force in England sent a beautiful poem which we had put to music and the Grand and Great Grandkids sand it to their GRANDMOTHER at that time.  This expresses will their feeling toward their Grandma and I would like to close by reading this poem.  

                                            Grandma We Love You

Grandma we love you, Grandma we do

When ever we are far away we always think of you.

Your the greatest grandma, on this we all agree

Your always making nice things to eat , including rolls and bread

Grandma we love you, Grandma we do. 

When ever we are far away we always think of your.

There's no one quite like grandma, least not like Grandma Florence,

You always find time for each of us and never moan or groan! (much)

Grandma we love you, Grandma we do.

When ever we are far away we always think of you.

You are the coolest grandma, you know just were its at!!!

And now that you are eighty your neither old or fat!

Grandma we love you, Grandma we do.

When ever we are far away we always think of you.

There's no one quite like Grandma

This we can justly say

And so we sing this special song to make your perfect day.

Grandma we love you, Grandma we do. 

When ever we are for away we always think of you.