Cicely Janet White – Marjorie White’s Aunt
Cicely Janet White was born February 18, 1887, in
Northampton, England. At the time of her birth, her parents,
John and Sarah Ann Holton White, were investigating
Mormonism. After conversion and before arrangements could be
made to leave for America, it was necessary that she and her
brother Fred be vaccinated. Cicely's vaccination resulted in
a long and trying illness, so serious in fact that her
parents were warned by the doctor, relatives and friends
that if the journey was not postponed she would most likely
be buried at sea. However, the faith of her father and
mother prevailed and regardless of her condition, they left
for America on April 28, 1838. Cicely was fourteen months
old. Upon arriving in Salt Lake City, Utah, May 18, 1888,
nigh unto death, the child was given a blessing by Elder
Charles J. Thomas, in which he promised that due to the
faithfulness of her parents in accepting the Gospel and
undertaking the journey, she would be spared and permitted
to live and enjoy good health and fulfill an active career.
She immediately began to improve.
The family stayed with Richard and Ellen Holton in the
Seventeenth Ward, until a position could be procured for her
father, at which time they moved to Apricot Street. From
there they moved to First South, between Seventh and Eighth
East Streets, in the old Eleventh Ward. Later, her father
purchased a lot, and a home was commenced August 4, l890 -
No. 225 Iowa Avenue.
Cicely was baptized by Elder Williams in March, 1895 and
confirmed by Charles Livingston the following Sunday, in the
old rock building at the corner of First South and Eight
East. Her Church activities began in early childhood. From
1905 to 1906, as secretary of the Primary Department of the
Sunday School; 1907, as teacher in that department; 1909, as
teacher in the First Intermediate Class; July 1910 to
January 1916, as Kindergarten teacher until her resignation
to join the Theological Class that she might learn more of
the Gospel, under the able leadership of Daniel Livingston,
one who had a wealth of knowledge and was so imbued with the
spirit that tears would come to his eyes as he took off his
specs and twirled them around. This class met in the
basement of the Chapel. In 1921 Cicely again resumed her
teaching, this time in the Second Intermediate Class.
On October 3, 1922 Cicely was set apart as Second Counselor
to Emma Teudt in the Y.L.M.I.A. On May 25, 1923 she was
appointed as First Counselor to President Bessie Ramsey.
When the M.I.A. was again reorganized, on December 29, 1925,
she was made President with Thelma Weight and Carrie Parker
as Counselors. Later, Myrtle Dean (Wentworth), Vilate
McAllister (Frances) and Ida Bracken acted as her
counselors. They were all released September 2, 1928. During
this time, Irma Jensen and her sister, Florence White, were
secretaries of the M.I.A. She had a very well organized
Mutual, with such teachers as Mande May Babcock and Dr.
George W. Middleton. Sister Babcock had an average
attendance of ninety-two Gleaner girls. Dr. Middleton's
class - Special Interest Group - filled the entire middle
section of the Chapel, on Tenth East. Cicely loved all with
whom she worked, including Presidents Lydia McKendrick and
Bertha A. Sevenson, and the Stake Board. The Eleventh Ward
Mutual was rated top in all ward and stake activity -
anniversary celebrations, Stake Olympics featuring a
downtown parade, Road Shows, Gold and Green Balls, Drama and
Girls’ Chorus work under the direction of Ida Bracken, then
the Recreational Leader. Her counselor Vilate McAllister was
especially qualified in Beehive work, and with the
assistance of Luella Scott and a corps of sustaining
principally through proceeds derived from a weekly after
mutual dance. The balance on hand at the close of the season
was turned over to the Bishop. On the first Sunday of each
month the Mutual had charge of the meeting. Cicely had the
responsibility of arranging the program and seeing that it
was published in a booklet containing the progress for each
ward. She later arranged Sunday programs for Bishop
McAllister.
In October 1928, Superintended Richard M Madsen, Jr.,
created a new office in the Sunday School, that of Special
Feature Director. Cicely was appointed to this position,
which entailed the direction, and often the writing of 2½
minute talks by the children, preparing special programs for
Easter, Mother's Day, July 24th, Thanksgiving and Christmas,
also writing a one page "Reverence Thought" to be read each
Sunday by the Superintendent, with organ accompaniment. This
idea was to bring to the service more reverence for the
House of the Lord; it was read after the opening hymn. She
continued this work under Superintendents W. Mont Timmins,
Louis H. Callister, John Daynes, Karl McAllister and Raymond
Eldredge. Largely through her efforts the Sunday School
became very outstanding and drew people from different parts
of the City.
Cicely was editor of the Ward Bulletin, and prepared the
Annual Ward Reunion Programs. As a child she sang in the
Sunday School Choir under the leadership of James Hood and
Henry A. Tuckett. Later, she was a member of the Ward Choir
directed by Horace S. Ensign Alex P. Anderson, and William
Cox.
On February 22, 1924, Cicely received her endowments in the
Salt Lake Temple and has since done considerable work for
the dead. At one time, before high blood pressure made it
difficult to climb the stairs, she attended the Temple
sessions quite regularly.
Among those whom Cicely delighted to assign 2 ½ minute talks
in Sunday School were Grace’s two boys – Laurance and Paul
Cracroft. They were the two most outstanding little boys in
the Ward. When President Grant or any one of the other
General Authorities of the Church were coming, or when there
was a specific program, it was usually they who were
selected. The Superintendent would very often say, “Cicely,
we want the best, what about Laurance or Paul!” Cicely was
very gracious; she took the time to write a thank you note
to most of the speakers who consented to speak in the Sunday
School or Sacrament meetings, or performed in any way on her
programs. They, in turn, very often acknowledged receipt to
the Bishop, as did one who said, “It is a pleasure to see
this unusual interest for all that takes place in your Ward.
Your program director, Sister White, is one person out of
thousands who attend promptly to her work, and the very kind
way in which she has treated me is certainly complimentary
in every respect. Will you please extend to her my heart
felt gratitude.”
Cicely, as a little girl, was very obedient and energetic.
Every Saturday her mother prepared a hot dinner, put it in a
pail, wrapped it warmly, and handed it to Cicely, who
cheerfully walked from her home between 9th and 10th East
and 2nd South to town, that her father might have a hot
dinner. After he had eaten it, she would walk back home, all
alone. She was not paid for doing it; all she got was an
orange or apple from the grocery store which her father
charged to his account. She accepted responsibility early in
life and was very helpful to her mother. During the first
two years of Florence’s school life she couldn’t stand to
have her out of her sight. When the recess period arrived,
she would take time out to have an eye on her. Her two
sisters recall the cute things she did, for instance, after
they had gone to bed, she would slip a bracelet or a ring
made of beads under their pillow. She was the “fairy” who
put gifts under rocks after we procured “bows” from the
children on the block. She had no money for such things, but
would save coupons.
To earn money to enter the LDS Business College, she walked
to and from Bank’s, Millinery Store to learn the business
(as an apprentice she earned nothing) and did other things.
Finally she made it! She loved Stenography and did so well
that Mr. Funk, her typewriting teacher, placed her in
several temporary jobs before she actually finished. These
were happy days for Cicely. She was one of the “Rusty
Dozen”, which met for meetings every Wednesday at 3:15 in
Room 208 of the college. Following is a list of temporary
positions which she held (note the wages): Presiding
Bishop’s Office, 5 weeks, $46.50; Utah Light & Railway Co.,
5 days, $7.50; City Directory, 4 days, $11.26; Carstensen &
Anson Company, 1 day, $2.50; Utah Light & Railway Co., ½
day, $4.25. Her first steady position was at the YMCA. She
was an assistant to Ada Wilson (Chamberlain), who she
adored. Her employer, Oscar Cox, was a very stern person,
and it took her a little while to feel at ease in his
presence.
Here she met some very fine men, though none were members of
our Church. It worried her parents when she went on dates
with them, but they were all very gentlemanly and lots of
fun. There was one, particular who she really loved, but
they couldn’t agree on religion. The YMCA had a cafeteria
which served excellent food in the basement in what is now
the Public Safety building. Before going to the basketball
game she (and occasionally Florence) would eat at this
cafeteria. They were thrilling, especially since “Golden”
was the director. She never loved any one so much. She
continued to work at the Y until it closed its doors. She
then went to work for Daynes-Beebe Music Company, as Colonel
Daynes’ secretary. Here she acquired new friends who became
very dear to her. Cicely left a few months before the
Company “went broke”. She worked at the store from May 10,
1911 to January 15, 1929.
On September 1, 1929, (after having trouble with her hand,
until she received a blessing from Richard W. Madsen in
which he promised her that the condition could clear up) she
decided to open up an office of her own. Richard W. Young,
Jr., the employer of Florence, offered her the use of his
library in the Vermont (now the Beneficial Life) Building, -
at least it was, until torn down recently). One of her best
accounts was the Union Pacific, whose General Chairman of
Railway Clerks had his office adjoining hers. After a few
years, he was released and J. R. L Grayson and Al stone
occupied the office. They were very dear friends to Cicely,
as was Karl Little. She had a very fine clientele, many of
whom were presidents of stakes and bishops of wards. She was
a fine stenographer and very dependable. Traveling men would
very often save their work until they arrived in Salt Lake.
During those first years she worked so hard. In 1946, Dr. L.
A. Stevenson said she would have to slow down and take more
rest. So, at his insistence, she resigned her position in
the Sunday School, and did no more reporting for funeral
services.
Aside from having high blood pressure, Cicely had very good
health, but her troubles seemed to begin, when she injured
her leg while digging with a pitch fork in the garden. Her
foot slipped, causing a deep cut. Infection got in – this
was May 24, 1943. Mother died in June. On June 12 and on
June 13, Cicely attended the service of her mother and Uncle
John on crutches. On July 26, 1946, after a gas attack,
Cicely was placed in the LDS Hospital; it was thought
necessary to operate for a non functioning gall bladder, but
Bishop Ebenezer A. Child and her brother-in-law, Ralph
Cracroft, administered to her, promising that it wouldn’t be
performed, and it wasn’t. On September 17, of that year
Cicely consulted Dr. Castleton regarding a lump on her neck.
A complete examination disclosed lymph nodes in various
parts of her body. On September 21st the node was removed
from her neck at the Holy Cross Hospital. At the suggestion
of Dr. Castleton, he consulted Dr. Wintrobe, who, on October
29, 1946, gave her mustard nitrogen treatments. Dr.
Castleton advised her sister Florence of the seriousness of
her condition, saying that without the treatments she had
only a few months to live. Florence spent a week of her
vacation in Cicely’s office, which wasn’t too easy, knowing
of her sister’s condition. On April 23, 1948, she had a
second series of treatments. On October 3, 1952 Cicely again
went to the hospital for a series of X-ray treatments and to
have her lung tapped. These extended into November. By this
time her weight had decreased to 129 pounds. By November 6
she had had twelve therapy treatments. She went to Dr
Curtis, who was close by, for heart dysentery and knee
troubles, also for cough. She went down to 115 pounds. On
August 1, 1954 Cicely fell in the bus and struck her leg on
a steel plate in the floor. She also hit her head and her
knees. Dr. Curtis said a blood vessel in her left leg had
been broken which caused deep bruises. She put in a claim
and was paid $325.00, because of the negligence of the bus
driver. Periodically from 1946 Cicely had check up at the
hospital and X-rays were taken and given. In 1957 Cicely’s
cough was getting worse. In April she had some terrible
nights – sat up in a chair for three nights. Then her eye
became infected. Ralph Cracroft and Ques Larson administered
to her. On April 19, 1957 she went to the hospital again for
tests and treatments, including X-rays. On April 20 her
bladder was cauterized. Bronchial pneumonia set in. Ralph
and his son Paul administered to her. Bishop Joseph Wirthlin,
Jr., and Brother Clark administered to her. She returned
home May 6. Dr. Woolley came to the house every day for a
week to give her penicillin shots. She was able to go to the
office May 7, but couldn’t stay – too weak. X-rays were
taken again. On June 27 she had an injection of nitrogen in
the hands. She had chronic edema. On July 29, 1957 Cicely
slipped in the rose garden, filling her legs with thorns.
Our good neighbor Ralph Sylvester used his pocket knife to
cut out the thorns. Between him and Florence the leg was
soon free of pain and dressed. August 10, 1957 Dr. Frasier
cut out five black things (he didn’t know what to call them)
from her eye lids and treated both eyes for swelling. On
April 20, 1958 Cicely turned sick as she was eating ice
cream in Brigham City. But the real beginning of Cicely’s
last illness was when she tripped in her office May 27,
1958. That night we celebrated Kay Cracroft’s birthday at
their home. Cicely was so brave, although she was bruised
all over and hurt dreadfully she didn’t let any one know.
Her sister didn’t know until two days had passed, when she
noticed her arm. She apparently blacked out while a client
was on the telephone, though she wouldn’t admit it. This
lasted for about a half hour – no once came to her rescue –
although she said she screamed for help. Her knee swelled
badly. Thinking it was a sprain she went to Dr Hawkins, shoe
treatment seemed to worsen the condition. Dr. Burke M Snow
examined her knee and called in another Dr. Orme, who said
it was a previous condition and that Dr. Wintrobe had better
take care of her. Shoes couldn’t be had which were large
enough for her. Dr. Wintrobe was on a world tour, so Dr.
Cartright and the other doctors examined her, and decided on
X-ray Therapy July 9, 1958 – August 9, 1958. The treatments
were so severe they not only burned inside but outside as
well. She had a solid burn, which became raw, completely
around her abdomen – about four inches deep.
During this time, the Doctor urged her to go to the office
after each treatment. Each day was worse, but he said she
just couldn’t give up, her condition worsen if she did. How
sorry we all were to put her through this misery. Ashby D.
Boyle, Florence’s employer, was so thoughtful and
considerate. During that month he said Florence was to take
all the time necessary to be with Cicely. So each morning,
they took a cab to and from the hospital, and would leave
for home about 4 o’clock. Most of the time she had to take a
sedative and be propped up in bed – or sit up. All three
pillows would be drenched. Several times her sister thought
she was dying. Finally she could stand it no longer so she
called Dr. Cartright, but he said he was not allowed to come
out. She persuaded Cicely after two nights to return to the
hospital. An ambulance came at 1 p.m. August 22nd. They
started to work with her right away and she was finally
convinced that her sister had done the right thing, and she
was glad they had come. One quart of fluid was taken from
her lungs and transfusions were given. The doctor finally
decided the cause of all her misery was lymphocarcoma. A
rate disease, and which doctors know very little about.
There was a mass of tumor in the stomach, kidneys, and
bowels. Even the doctors knew there was nothing that could
be done for her, they insisted on experimenting, not for her
sake but for the sake of humanity. Pleadings against it were
of no avail. More X-rays were taken. We were called to the
hospital on the 28th and 29th. As they lifted her to drain
the lungs, her heart stopped. Emergency methods were used.
They then drew four quarters of fluid. Her screams were
terrible. From one end of the hospital to the other one
could hear her screams of “Oh! Oh!” which she kept up almost
constantly for days. She knew she was going to die, but said
“I don’t want to leave you.” In fact, when her sister Grace
slipped in to see her one night she said, “What are you
doing here, I am dead.” Fred and Ruth stayed all night on
the 29th. Ralph and Grace relieved them in the morning. We
all wanted to stay of the 30th, but the nurse said they
would call us – they did, after she died August 31, 1958.
They will never be forgiven for that - she died alone!
The above is given to show the courage which she exhibited
during those twelve, and more, critical years. Dr. Wintrobe
often remarked that she was his “prize patient”, no one had
ever responded to the treatments as did she. He and three
others were the founders of this nitrogen mustard, developed
after World War II, tiny drops of which when injected
produced violent vomiting, which acted on the lymph glands.
She loved life and it was her desire to keep this worry from
others.
Cicely loved to travel. Her first trip was made alone when
as a child to visit her Cousin Ellen Holton, who had moved
to Woods Cross. She hadn’t been there more than two or three
days when she became homesick. Without saying a word, she
put her clothes in a cloth sack and informed Cousin Ellen
that she was going home. Not expecting her, she had to walk
from the depot, more than a mile home.
Many of her vacations as a child were spent with Cousin
Jennie at Uncle Fred’s home in Brigham City. Jennie was
older, but she was very fond of Cicely and took her with her
wherever she went. Throughout life this attachment
continued.
Cicely took her mother on her first trip out of the State,
at a time when her mother was ill and needed a change. It
was a thrill for them to see the ocean from California, and
Cicely felt she was fully repaid, since it made a “new
woman” out of her mother.
Throughout the years she enjoyed many nice trips – one with
President and Mrs. John M Knight and the Western States
missionaries, when they made a tour of the mission,
including Chicago. Aside from that, all other trips were
taken with her sisters and brother, mother, or
brother-in-law, Ralph. Trips were taken many times to
California, the Northwest, to Sun Valley, the southern
Parks, Yellowstone, Idaho, Colorado, Nevada, and various
points in Utah with Fred, Ruth, Clif and Myrtle. While in
California in July 1953, she had her first hair cut and
permanent, much to the amusement of the operators and to the
surprise of her family and friends. The later trips were
more restful – at Carmel and Laguna - after her health began
to fail, but she was still good company and it was wonderful
to be with her.
Cicely was a person that everybody loved, respected, and
admired. She had a host of friends – church, civic, business
– in fact, she had no enemies. Her Mutual girls to whom she
gave such motherly counsel and advice never forgot to remind
her what she had meant to them. Scarcely a day passed that
she didn’t have someone’s problem to solve. No one left her
office without feeling cheered, consoled, and ready to face
any problem that might present itself. Her smile and her
laughter were contagious. She was the life of any group; she
loved people. As one person said, “Cicely, it is holy to be
at your feet!”
She loved poetry and beautiful thoughts, many of which were
clipped for her scrapbook. Among the many “Reverent
Thoughts” which she composed, and of which she left a volume
on all subjects, is the following:
“We are told ‘a merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance,
and also – God loveth the cheerful giver’. Have you ever
stopped to realize what real joy comes from cheerful giving
– even if your gift be but a smile! A smile costs nothing,
but gives much. It enriches those who receive, without
making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment -
sometimes less - but the memory of it last forever. We bring
it with us from the Eternal world on the day that we are
born - We hold it in reserve until we have the physical
power to pass it on – and usually it is the Mother who bore
us that is the first recipient of that infant gesture. Could
a child but realize how much that tender smile rewards her
for the price paid that it might have life! A smile is a
tonic thru life’s great way. No one is so rich, or so
mighty, that he can get along without it - and no one is so
poor but that he can be made rich by it.
“A smile creates happiness in the home – fosters good will
in business and society endeavor – carries one over many a
stormy path – and is the countersign of friendship. It
brings comfort to the weary – cheer to the discouraged and
much to the sad. It is something that has no value until it
is given away. Yet, it cannot be bought, begged or stolen -
it must be given through the soul of man. Some are too
thoughtless to exercise this gift of giving, until they find
the need of it themselves.
“So, let us be of good cheer, pleasant, helpful, and loving
toward each other. Christ has said, ‘Love they neighbor as
thy self’ can we better do this then by giving of our means
of the poor, our comfort to the sick, our advice to the
erring – our tenderness to the aged, our helpfulness to the
child – our encouragement to the doubting - our obedience
unto God.” By Cicely J. White
Written by Florence White
Florence and Cicely in 1947 at Iowa Street in 1946
Cicely J. White