2011 Fair Royalty

2011 GRAND MARSHALL

ARDELLA GUBLER DUNCAN HEINER

Ardella was the 12th child born May 23, 1919 to Henry Wickli and Susanna Pickett Gubler in La Verkin, Utah. She felt she was raised with so many bosses she should have turned out perfect!

She married her high school sweetheart, Willard D. Duncan in 1939 and they were blessed with three children, Jeanette, Leon and Willard, before Willard was killed in WWII in Europe.

With strength and great courage (now as a mother and a father to her children) she moved to Provo, Utah and graduated with a B.S. Degree in elementary education from BYU and began a 31-year career as a beloved teacher to nearly a thousand students–three years in Toquerville, Utah and 28 in Hurricane, Utah. She truly loved children and spent extra time with them and spent a lot of her own money trying to make school interesting.

In her early years at Hurricane Elementary, she pestered the principal until he finally consented to letting her have a dance festival with one stipulation–she had to be in charge of it. She drew and made beautiful

decorations and made up dances to peppy music. Every year until the principal retired he insisted she be in charge of it – that must have been the payoff for pestering him! People liked it and it is still going today.

Ardella’s fruit displays won many blue ribbons for LaVerkin at the county fair and she made some fun floats for the parades.

As if she didn’t have enough to do, she played drums in two different dance bands over the years: Perry Asay’s, and Gerald Gifford’s. They played free for many LaVerkin dances and played as long as people wanted to dance.

An actress at heart, she gave readings in programs and was Mistress of Ceremonies for church, school meetings, reunions, and wedding receptions.

She has served in many church callings on ward and stake levels including 10 years in the extraction program and a visiting teacher nearly 70 years!

Ardella married Lawrence Heiner July 3, 1973 and they had 16 years together. Her son, Leon died in 1987 which nearly broke her heart and her second husband died in 1989 leaving her a widow again.

Throughout her 92 years of life’s tests and trials, she has maintained a happy, positive attitude which she attributes to faith in God and a STRONG work ethic. It’s an honor to her to represent Washington County.

2011 PIONEER AWARD

MURIEL STRATTON CHURCH

I was born in Hurricane, Utah to Arthur and Pearl Wilson Stratton on December 23, 1920. In my early years growing up in a small town was wonderful. It was pretty normal. I had good friends and we had to make our own fun. At home we sent most of our time pitching in with the chores as we were in the depression years, and grew most of our own food and Mother made our clothes. I contracted scarlet fever and had to be quarantined from the rest of my family and friends, which was one of my many trials.

My High School was a time for learning and developing my talents and relationships. I had good teachers that influenced my love for reading, spelling, singing, drama, sports and piano. I performed in many choirs and was chosen as a cheerleader for my school. I participated in track for the girls, because I was a fast runner. Dancing was my all time favorite thing to do and I met my sweetheart also in High School.

I graduated from Hurricane High School in 1939 and attended Dixie College for a year.

I married Walter H. Church in 1940 and we made our home in La Verkin, Utah. We were blessed with six children and began the first grade A Dairy south of Provo, Utah. While Walter ran the dairy, farmed, sold insurance, and taught school, I raised our children, helped in the fruit, served in numerous church callings and later served on the City Council. I also took over the reading and reporting daily of the weather for the Department of Commerce and sent in the report monthly. I became really interested in the weather and took it for 25 years.

While on the City Council, I was over the Beautification of La Verkin. Our goal was to remove old barns, plant trees and clean up the city.

Walter and I supported our children in all their church, school activities and LDS Missions. After the children were raised and married, we had the great blessing of serving LDS Missions. We also served in the St. George Temple for 20 years.

I have loved my many hobbies over the years such as sewing, gardening, cooking, bottling and drying fruit. My beautiful rose garden is my favorite.

We have been greatly blessed with 34 grand children and so far 104 great grand children.
Our family has always enjoyed and participated in the Washington County Fair so this is a very special privilege for me and I thank you. In my later years, I STILL LOVE LIFE!