Week 4 - Personal History

Tell me about your mother (hers name, birth date, birthplace, parents, etc.) Can you share some memories you have of your mother?

JACKIE:
My Mother, is a very beautiful lady. She is from a family of two younger brothers, she being the eldest and only daughter. Her name is Beverly Jane Meyer. She is a Junior to Beverly Cronin Lloyd, Her Mother. Sharing the same first name, Beverly. Apparently Mom, used Beverly until she told me around high school or soon after High School, where because she was not on school records as Beverly, decided that she wanted everyone to call her Jane. She always liked her middle name. It is also the same middle name I used for my first daughter Elizabeth Jane Wallenberg. Using Family History as my inspiration in her name, and hopefully my daughter will use her name legacy to further family history in her own family someday. So, what can I tell you about Mom...hum. Basically, I just adore her. She is funny, smart, witty, unusually different (compared to those boring old ladies Moms elsewhere,) educated, delightful and very lovely. She cares so much about everyone, she puts her own cares aside, her cleaning work, her day to day tasks, just so she can be with us kids. (And husband, my father, in wanting to do things together.) The big things I remember, is so many things we did! (Other families just don't get to, do things like we did.) Like we saw Disneyland what...three or four times? We saw plays the Phantom of the Opera...what two times in the Capital Theater? Comedy shows, plays on stages, eating out and trying so many restaurants, going to different places. For example, we traveled to Washington, California, Nevada, and Idaho (to name a few.) Things we saw and did were things Mom wanted to do. She and Dad liked to gather the family for vacations. She has helped me find spirituality, remain true to the True Church, believing in the fundamentals that makes up our church (The Book of Mormon); The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and viewing the world as our ancestors would. God has given me a wonderful Mother. I am so very proud to have a wonderful Mom, like her. 

STACY:
My mom is Beverly Jane Lloyd Meyer.  She is the oldest of three kids with two younger brothers.  Her parents are Beverly C. Lloyd and John Hugh Lloyd.  My mom's birthday is March 24th 1948 and she shares a birthday month with my sister Jenny.  She always said that Jenny was her birthday present. 
I am really close to my mom.  I talk to her about every day.  She is a really funny and fun person to be around.  We like to be sarcastic.  I think that Johnny has inherited her funny sarcasm.  My mom also really liked her paternal grandmother Grandma Gerdy.  They would hang out together and joke around and try to outsmart everyone.
My mom is a smart lady.  She received her Master's of Education from the University of Utah.  She also received teaching certificates and endorsements in Gifted and Talented.  She taught 7-9th grade English, History and Journalism.
My mom moved over to my middle school Crescent View when I was in 9th grade.  She taught the honors 7th grade reading and English and I was her teacher's assistant that year.  It was fun to have her at the same school as me.   She even taught Jeff when he was in 7th grade.
I remember a time when I did terrible at an assignment in college.  I called my mom devastated.  She told me, "well did your arms fall off or did your eyeball get poked out?"  "I'm like no..."  so, that made me laugh and put everything into perspective.
I always have a great time hanging out with my mom.  We have traveled to different places together with my family or just us alone.  Just my mom and I went to Belize for my friend Oanh's birthday and had a great time.  We are planning on going together to Chicago for the AIA convention.  It is nice to have a vacation and shopping buddy.

Week 3 - Personal History

3. Tell me about your father (his name, birth date, birthplace, parents, etc.) Can you share some memories you have of your father?

JACKIE:

Our father was a really cool man. He is thirty years older then me, since I am his eldest daughter. This year he would have been sixty seven. I know because our son Brian Jr. will be 7 this year, and he passed a few weeks before his birth in 2007. Like Johnny (Brian Jr.'s cousin, son of Stacy, my sister, and John Hamm) who was also born on 2007 about a month and a week after that day of his passing September 10th. Now September 10th is a wonderful day, to celebrate for Paige (Stacy and John Hamm's daughter, our niece), who was born this exact day in 2011. She is very lively and fun. Its a blessing to have her, for we all were sad when he passed unexpectedly that September day.

The fun things I remember about Dad is that he loved to talk. Talk, and Talk and Talk. I wish I could talk like he could. He was friendly with everyone, and he seemed he wanted people to learn things. This is what I most remember, for anywhere he went, he was teaching people his Japanese characters, about the church, and the scriptures. He wanted people to know why certain Japanese Characters were drawn a particular way. One day, he brought out this book about Kongi and asked me to look at the characters. He wanted me to know, that each character was shaped a particular way like ART so, that it represented something. For instance, GOD was three strikes. Why? Because... there are three God heads. I always found what he knew so interesting. Dad was always telling his clients, and the friends that came into the office, the Japanese language, and always about the scriptures.

Dad and I liked to talk I talked about things I hoped to do. (Which now, my dreams seem so hopeless...haha) But, back then, my dreams were always so fantastic to talk about. He liked helping me with my Art projects. Maybe I forced him to help me, for it seemed he was the one that had some time to help me finish my sculptures, and such. Also, he seemed skilled in the tools area so, I was grateful to get him to help me with these challenging college projects. I am grateful for the time I could spend wth my father, at his office, or where I needed to do an art project. Whether, it was in the garage, in my room, at the U of U Art room, or backyard doing Art paintings or sculptures. Now, looking back, I don't know how he did it. Running an office, taking us places, helping us with homework, and getting my brother Jeff to his sports games. Dad was happy...well, most of the time (he hated our beagles.) And although I am sad he passed, I know by his Spirit, he lives on, not just in me but in all of us. By being a missionary like he was, his whole life, we should continue to live like he did.

 

STACY:

My dad was a great person and father.  He loved helping all of his kids with their homework and projects.  I felt a real connection to him because we both excelled at math.  He was a CPA and was really good at adding things expecially the grocery amounts in his head and getting it exactly right.  I thought it was funny when going out to dinner with my parents, my mom would never know how to figure out the tip amount.  My dad was really good at it, he would say, just double the tax.  He also was really particular about recording all the gas he put in his car and the odometer.  He would make the amount always be at a round number when the gas stopped.  Sometimes I find myself doing the same thing. 

 

My first memory of my dad was when my mom went out of town with a friend and our dad was left to tend us all.  I was about 5 years old.   I was so nervous and wondered, does my dad know how to tend us??  He did a great job because I totally remember him making cooked apples and I thought they were so delicious.  And I thought what an interesting thing for us to have for dinner. 

 

I have memories of him helping us make different projects for school. He would help us make our halloween pumpkins, our sugar cube pyramids and my models for architecture school.  He was always so patient and dedicated to get things done.  I would want to stop and take a break, but he would focus and get projects done whatever it took.  Jackie and I took interior design in high school and one day we were going on a field trip and our teacher Mrs. H (who also knew dad & his family) asked if any of us had a parent who could help drive us to the field trip.  Jackie raised her hand and said "my dad doesn't have a job and he can!"  I was so embarrassed and told Jackie that she said it wrong because he does have a job, just a flexible one that he can drive us anytime.  We were grateful that he was able to take us to school and do things for us because his schedule was more flexible than my moms. 

 

I miss my dad, but it is nice to see his spirit live on.  I tell Johnny & Paige Grandpa Drake stories.   It is nice that Johnny's middle name is Drake and my nephew is also Drake (we call him Drakie).   

 

JENNIFER:

My dad, Sterling Drake Meyer, was always kind and pleasant to be around. While going to college at the University of Utah, I had the opportunity to work alongside him at his accounting office. I helped my Dad input clients income and expenses into Quickbooks, and other times I helped make a binder of the client's receipts by taping the receipts onto pieces of lined paper.

Dad helped me with my French homework, also. I remember Dad typing my French homework onto the computer. I was writing about dolphins and the way the dolphins were trained with their trainers. The trainers developed a relationship with the dolphins. The dolphins jumped in the air and did tricks whenever the fishermen threw bait at the dolphins. I really appreciate Dad helping me with my paper, even when I had difficulty writing in the French language. Dad was helpful to correct my mistakes, and I think I got a decent grade on the paper.

Dad worked in the Jordan temple in the mornings. Dad loved going to the temple. I followed my Dad's example, and I go to the temple to do baptisms for the dead whenever I can.

Love, Jennifer

 

 

JEFF:

My Dad is Sterling Drake Meyer, born June 13^th, 1947 in Salt Lake City, Utah. His parents were Sterling Albert Meyer and Jeanne (Drake) Meyer. Dad was the oldest of four children, who were born in the following order: Dad, Kerry, Michelle, and Lou.

Dad was an amazing conversationalist, who could talk to you about anything. He listened well, and provided great advice and counsel when asked. He was a hard-working man, putting in nearly 60-70 hours a week at his CPA Practice, S. Drake Meyer & Associates, which he owned and operated for over 25 years. Dad was fearless when it came to talking with complete strangers, often waiters or waitresses at restaurants or common people waiting in line next to us at sporting events or checking out in line at the grocery store. Dad had a passion for learning languages, after his mission to Japan in 1966 (note: it was called the Northern Far East Mission at the time, and missionaries did not have a Missionary Training Center at the time, which meant that when you were called to serve, you went to the Mission Home in Salt Lake City of one week, and then you were put on plane to the Orient “helter-skelter” without knowing the language or being familiar with the customs, and also with the assignment to serve for two and a half years.) I remember Dad telling me about how he got off the plane in Japan and he couldn’t read one sign that was posted, all of it being in Japanese characters. It was there that he learned the Japanese language (which took approximately 6 months to learn) and he told me about how he used to wake-up early in the morning at 5:00 am to study and review Japanese language flashcards to start off the day. From there, he would attempt to speak with passers-by on the streets or on park benches, where they often laughed or commented on how his primitive Japanese language skills were below-par. For example, dad told me the story of how he approached an elderly gentleman there once, where he wanted to introduce himself by saying: “Watashi no-na-my-wa Meyer-choro-des.” The man looked at him puzzlingly, and replied: “You can’t say it like that… You need to say: “Watashi Nona-Mywah Meyer-Choro-Des! (With extra emphasis on the correct syllables.) Apparently, this experience left a memorable impression upon Dad, since he related that story a number of times, and also because Dad had a really good Japanese accent for the rest of his adult life. In fact, he continued to study the language until his passing, with the Japanese language books, and LDS standard works in Japanese resting upon his nightstand next to his and Mom’s bed until that time. Dad was a great example of one who loved the people of his mission – it was evident for the rest of his life, as he jumped at every opportunity to speak Japanese with people, and also to endeavor to speak conversational Chinese (which he was trying to learn in the last seven to ten years of his life) with people as often as occasion would permit. Dad also was conversational in Spanish (as he tried to learn that language as well) with the workers at local restaurants and among his clients and other friends, which is worthy of note. Dad’s love for people of all nationalities was present not only in his willingness and desire to pickup words and phrases of other languages here and there, but it was also apparent among his clientele at his CPA practice, some of which were from Bulgaria, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, India, Mexico, among other countries. Dad had a talent of communicating well with others.

Another great attribute of Dad’s, was his devotion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints all throughout his life. He was an active Church member throughout his entire life, and He and Mom raised us to go to Church every week, and to participate in Church activities. Dad served in the Temple for a number of years before his passing as an ordinance worker and a veil worker, and he started his temple shift in the early, every Tuesday and Thursday morning of each week. He served there with Hal Anderson (Aunt Shawna’s father) and the two of them became great friends over the years. In regards to his temple service, Dad related a story to me of one of his clients who was from Iran, who often came in the mornings to visit Dad, since they were great friends. The man was a professor of physics at the U of U, who also ran a business on the side, and he and Dad enjoyed a great friendship for a number of years. One morning, this friend came to Dad’s office on a morning where Dad hadn’t arrived… Puzzled, he later asked Dad where he had been. Dad, being modest, said that he had a part-time job on the side; upon which, the friend said: “What’s the problem – do you need more money?... Where are you working?” In response, Dad said: “Let’s just say that I work for Allah.” The friend then asked: “What do you mean?” And Dad proceeded to tell him about his calling as an ordinance worker at the Jordan River Temple, in a conversation which lasted for more than two hours. This friend was so impressed, that he contacted his local friends from Iran, who had professional camera and other video recording equipment, and they arranged to film a documentary about the Church, where they traveled to the MTC in Provo, as well as the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, and they also interviewed Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Ever since Dad told me that story, I’ve been impressed with the fact that we never really know just how much influence we have in the lives of others, as we follow the example of Jesus Christ in our daily lives.

I would refer the reader to listen to a copy of Dad’s funeral services which was recorded on a CD, and which Mom has the at the house. It contains a number of inspiring stories from Dad’s life which should be passed down from generation to generation.

With love, Jeff 

Week 2 - Personal History

Week 2:

When and where were you born? Describe your home, your neighborhood and the town you grew up in.

 

JACKIE:

I was born in Salt Lake City, Utah at the LDS (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) Hospital. (8th Ave and C Street Salt Lake City, UT 84143). I was born at 11:07 AM MST. (I believe. This is funny, for when Elizabeth was born she came at 6:11 EST, but in Utah it was at 7:11 -Just like the store!) I liked the time I was born for if reversed it would be 7-11. Anyway funny. I was a healthy baby girl, a little jaundice but nothing to be concerned about. It wasn't until I was a year old, that my parents noticed my eyes not lining up right and the left eye drifting. Sometime around age 2 was when I got the surgery for the "Crossed Eyes" or "Strabismus". (I don't know that much) Expect the surgery was done in California. One eye, got ruined, and lost a muscle, and by age 5, there was nothing more to be done. I wore glasses for a while, but as a kid I'd take them off. I was stubborn and would not wear an eye covering after surgery. Anyway, long story. But, the crossed eyes are not crossed anymore, but now I have a lower right eye, and a straight left eye. The left eye,I can see out of, but the right eye, I can only see colors and shapes. I can see out of my periferial vision that is why I was accepted to be able to drive, with the help of glasses for my left eye (near vision).

I lived in the same home my parents bought (almost 38 years ago) about a week after I was born. That is all I know. I'm not sure on the story here. But, Mom was in the hospital and they were moving everything so when she came home, I could have a room. I had a brown crib in (Jeff's room), then Stacy (when she came 1 1/2 year after me) shared that room with me, and we had mattresses on the floor. We also had a horse that was a bouncy horse, I remember, and we'd like to play together. When Jenny came, her bassinet was in our room but we hated the baby crying, and Stacy didn't like tending or being around her and was bad (as Mom puts it). So, eventually, Stacy and I were moved downstairs to (Stacy's room). However, when Stacy was always in my bed, (she hated sleeping alone) and kicking during sleep, I wanted my own room. So, again I was moved to a different room (once my dad's office, now my room) where there was wood paneling. And Jenny came to share that room with me since it was larger. Sometime, later because Jenny was snoring, I wanted the "Play Room" Jenny's room and convinced her to move, and during a Relief Society visit, I moved her to her own room by the Family room. I stayed in this wood paneled room from about age 12 - 29 until I got married.

I went to school at a preschool that was in the neighborhood on Bell Canyon Rd. It was the house directly across Mill Canyon Dr. I liked to go to the preschool and funny thing is, I still remember the table we had to do crafts, the food activities (like learning how to fry potatoes and make potatoes into strips), and walking home (which scared me). But Sandy, Utah was an awesome city. It was newer city so there wasn't much crime, and roaming the streets was okay, Stacy and I would ride our "HotWheels" bikes up and down the street, go on bike rides, go on walks, every day. We'd walk home from Altara Elemtary every day, and in Middle School, and High School. It seems now, we are more aware of scary things happening, so children are not outside much, compared to the free days when we didn't know about crimes and strange kids, and going outside was okay. We were always playing outside. It was a happy time, and care-free. As a child, life was fun and not stressful. We didn't have to worry about guns or odd things happening in schools. School was with our pals, and we'd laugh, tease (something they don't do much because of the anti-bulling campaign), and have games with teams. We'd play kick-ball, tether, jump rope, and four square. We play dodge ball, and use an tent colored circle to hold in the gym. I like Sandy, Utah. That is why also because of the mountains (I know what direction everything is related) I moved back from Minnesota after getting married, to Utah again. It was a time, I could be with family and that was what I needed most with young children.

So, that sums up Sandy and about me.

 

STACY:

I was born in Salt Lake City at the LDS Hospital September 4th 1977.  I grew up in Sandy, Utah a suburb of Salt Lake City.  We lived in a split-level home that was yellow.  My mom and Jenny still live there.  At first the basement was not finished, so all of us girls shared one bedroom.  It was wall to wall beds in that room, but we had a ton of fun together.  We would roller skate in the unfinished basement around in circles.  There was a picture of us in our underroos laying out in our room as if we were at the beach.

 

Then, we finished the downstairs basement area.  It created a bedroom, office for our dad, a bathroom, laundry room, playroom and a family room.  Jackie and I first moved in together to the bedroom.  It was located in the northeast corner of the house.  We would play drive up window and one of us would stand inside while the others would pull up on our bikes from the backyard.  Jenny and Jackie later shared a room together and then one day Jackie moved out Jenny to the room near the laundry. 

 

Our neighborhood was nice and we were located near a lot of kids our age.  Some of my neighbor friends were the Granges, Brandts, Cudes, Sovics and the Tuckers.  My best friend growing up was Teresa Tucker and she lived next door until we were in 7th grade.  Silicia Sovic was my best friend in high school.  She lived at the end of our street on Mill Canyon Drive and 11000 South.  We would walk up and down the street to visit each other.   

 

Sandy continued to grow and expand while we were growing up.  A lot of the homes built around us were done in the 80's and then they expanded the small town to the South, Draper.  I remember traveling down a curvy small road to get to Draper. Then, they created a direct road through 10th East south to Draper.  A lot of the kids we went to high school were from Draper.  I consider Draper as my other hometown because we lived so close to the border of it.  We were on 11000 South and Draper started at 11400 South.

JEFF:
I was born at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah on January 31st, 1983. I recall Mom telling me that I was born around 9:45 pm that night, but I should probably double-check with her to make sure that I got the exact time correct. In any case, January 31st is my birthday. I remember dad and I talking about the curious numerology between our birthdays, which was particularly interesting because dad was a "Numbers Guy" being a Certified Public Accountant; his birthday was on 6/13/47, and my birthday was on 1/31/83 - 6/13 being the diametrically opposite configuration of 1/31 (January is the first of twelve months and June represents the midway point, and "31" and "13" are direct opposites of each other.)
I remember Mom and Dad telling me about the interesting day of my birth. Apparently, Dad got a flat tire on the way to LDS Hospital while Mom was having the contraptions... They rushed to the hospital and parked in the parking garage just west of the main hospital entrance and made it in alright with no serious complications or other issues, but when Dad later came outside to the car, he noticed that there was a nail in one of the tires, laying flat... I don't know if he had a spare or not, and I need to ask Mom about whether or not Dad had to get the car towed that night, but notwithstanding, Mom and Dad mused at the prospect of getting to the hospital in time to start the delivery process, driving on a flat tire (and not knowing it.) I can't imagine how difficult it could have been if Mom would have had to deliver me in the car, at the side of the highway, but I would have been happy to "pop-out" there too. In any case, I've always loved the timing of my birthday. January is an interesting time of year, frequently being the coldest month, and just one month removed from Christmas. At a young age, I grew a love for winter sports. My memories take me back to fun times spent sledding with cousin Adam (including the all-too-memorable, yet uncomfortable experience of Jackie and I sledding full-speed down Flat Iron Mesa Park on Christmas Day one year (I must have been 7 years old at the time) when the two of us slammed into a younger child who was standing in the way of our sled in the middle of the hill, and upon hitting him, he completely flipped over the top of us, which ended the family outing to the park pretty quickly, as we all sensed the awkwardness of the scene when the boy's family attended to him and we sensed that we should probably get going...) Other winter sports interests included snowboarding during my high school years, which I spent a lot of time pursuing by traveling up to Snowbird for all-day skiing and Brighton for night skiing. I also played ice hockey during each of the three years in high school, which was fun to play during the winter months, especially the late Friday night pickup hockey games which my buddies and I attended for $5 each to play ice hockey at the Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center with a bunch of old guys who assumed a "player-coach" role with us. I use these examples of winter sports which I loved doing as a young man to illustrate the great times I had during the winter season, leading up to, and immediately following my birthday. Within the past three years, my most recent favorite winter sport has evolved into snowshoeing, which my wife and I love doing on a regular basis, and which we are planning on doing during the last week of this month for my birthday. I seriously wonder if my love for winter sports evolved to what it has become due to the fact that my birthday has been right in the middle of the winter season (and the birthday presents received, and the winter activities which I became accustomed to, all occurred during this time of year). My birthday zodiac sign is "Aquarius" which refers to a sea horse, which is particularly interesting, since January is often the coldest month of the year, which leads the imagination to think of ice and snow, instead of tropics and sea creatures. The Chinese Zodiac for the year 1983 is a pig, which I adamantly disdained as a young man (struggling with childhood obesity) and even disliked into my adult years, until I discovered that the Chinese New Year begins in February, which technically puts me into the "1982" category, which gives me the Chinese Zodiac of "Dog." Granted, it's equally insulting to be called a "dog" as it is to be called a "pig," so I hope future generations can kindly refer to this aspect of my birthday with generosity, by remembering me with neither of these titles. :-)

We grew up in a yellow-shingled and tan-bricked colored house located at 10889 Mill Canyon Drive, Sandy Utah 84094. I had two best friends growing-up, Steve Enger who lived on Lafayette Street, and Daniel Savage, who lived just down the street on Mill Canyon Drive. When we were eight years old, we played on the same soccer team along with cousin Adam, which dad coached – leading us to a record of 17-0-1. I still remember dad taking me to those games and wearing his “lucky hat” which helped us win… The one game we tied was the game that dad wore a different hat… As a result, dad vowed never to wear the other hat again. That season was very memorable; the parents prepared orange slices and also brought Gatorade boxes for us to slurp after the games, which were primarily played at Flat Iron Mesa Park, in Sandy (a few miles east of where Jackie currently lives on Galaxie Drive). In any case, I largely look back on my childhood with fond memories, with the only exception being that I was troubled by the fact that I had to stop going to the Cude’s for preschool when Frank was arrested by the police – I still remember watching the news as a preschool aged child on the night that he was arrested and seeing a fleet of police cars down the street… The following day, Mom and Dad enrolled me at the Herschey Center Preschool which was located on 1300 E. just east of Alta View Hospital. On a side note, I absolutely loved the Herschey Center – the white bread and butter slices, the popcorn, the nap time, the animals in their cages at the front, including chickens, a snake in its own separate cage, and the playground area in the back where I recall playing with my newfound friends. It was fun being there. Overall, I couldn’t have asked for a better community than Sandy to grow up in. It was a place where new homes were constantly being developed; typified by suburban living. The LDS Culture of our childhood was wonderful because there were several children in our area which I became accustomed to seeing on a regular basis at church and other youth activities. I’m grateful that I was raised by a family where both Mom and Dad were home with us, and where we always felt loved. I remember talking with Dad a few years before he passed, when he expressed his love for Mom in the most simple but profound way by saying: “I have never been tempted to leave your Mother. I love her too much.” Home life was often interesting, as the girls frequently tried to get me to play their girlie games such as Barbies, which I treated with disgust. Unfortunately, with three girls to one boy in the home, and being the youngest, I found that my opinion was often overruled, which led me with no other choice but to play “school” or even Barbies from time to time. In some ways however, it wasn’t that bad because the girls had a really cool red Ferrari Car which Ken (the male Barbie doll) drove, which I often “zoomed” around the downstairs living room floor, to pass the time.

We belonged to the Crescent Park 2^nd Ward, of the Crescent Park Stake in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We attended church each week as a family, and I remember playing “the dot game” with my siblings and even with my dad during sacrament meeting. I also remember crawling under the benches during church meetings as a youngster to say “hello” to people sitting in the rows in front and behind us. Church was great as a youngster; the teachers often gave us prizes or treats, and later in my teenage years, I began to develop a spiritual testimony of the gospel from amazing young men leaders including Kevin Inglet, Mike Bohm, Mike Van Patten, and Sunday School Teachers such as Ben Timm, and even my Cub Scout leader Cara Peterson. I remember Bishop Doyle Smith, Bishop Hansen (who moved to Arizona), among others in the ward. I often played football with friends at the Dean’s old backyard (the Wood’s next door neighbor), including Steve Sutton, Geoff Sutton, Mark Shirts, Reagan Fugate, Aaron Krahenbuhl, Mitch Woods, Mike Middaugh, Andy Smith, Collin Willoughby, Jason Egan, among others. Time doesn’t permit me to include all of my thoughts and feelings about my childhood, because it was so great. Suffice it to say that the family life and the church community provided me all that a young man could have ever asked for, and I loved it.

Week 1 - Personal History

52 weeks of personal history:

Week 1: 

What is your full name? Why did your parents give you that name?

MOM:
Hi, Everyone!

 

I thought I would do research on my name like Jeff. My full name is Beverly Jane Lloyd Meyer. Jane is a Hebrew baby name that means Gift from God. In English the meaning of the name is Jehovah has been gracious. It is a feminine form of John. The name Beverly is of old English origin meaning "Near the Meadow of the Beavers." My maiden name of Lloyd is from the Welsh adjective Llwyd, meaning grey. So, I am a grey beaver meadow gift.

My father always liked the name, Jane, so that is why I got that name. My mother's name is Beverly, and she always wanted her daughter to be named after her. I am very proud of my Welsh and Irish heritage. My mother's father was Catholic and that is why she was named Beverly. I am glad that my name carries on that tradition.

I have always been called Jane, so my mother and I wouldn't be confused. Elizabeth's middle name is Jane, so she is following our family tradition.

I am also very proud to have the name, Meyer, to carry on throughout all the eternities.

This name will connect me to all my children and their children for all time to come. Your father honored his name and was always proud of his family. Our name Meyer will always have special meaning to all of our family. 

I write this lovingly,  Mom

 

JACKIE:

Jacquelyn Marie Meyer [Wallenberg] I believe, Jacquelyn was a students name and Mom liked the old French spelling. Had a hard time spelling it at school, so when they told me how to spell Jackie, it stuck. I still love, Jacquelyn and now that I am older I think it would be fun to be called that. (Because I don't.) I sign everything mostly, with my full name. I think its really beautiful, like art. 

 

STACY:

My full name is Stacy Ann Meyer Hamm.  I was named after a student mom had with blonde hair.  Mom originally wanted to name me Jill, but grandma told her that it would be bad to have a Jack (Jackie) and a Jill.  I would have had a J name like the rest of my siblings, but I like being unique with a S name.

  

JEFF:

Hi everyone,

I thought I would try to keep my new year’s resolution this year to respond to all of my non-commercial email messages… As a result, here’s my response to your questions below:

1. My full name is Jeffrey Lloyd Sterling Meyer. I recall Mom telling me that Jeffrey had always been one of her favorite names over the years. I don’t know much more than that, other than she just really, really liked that name. In regards to my two middle names, as you know, Lloyd is Mom’s Maiden name, and Sterling is dad’s first name (which is shared by his father, Sterling Albert). Because Mom and Dad couldn’t decide on one middle name over the other, they decided to keep them both. In regards to our last name “Meyer” – I did some family history research and learned that the Meyer surname comes from the Middle German word “meiger” meaning “higher or superior” often used for stewards of landholders, great farmers, or leaseholders. The Meyer surname is also a variation of the Middle High German “Meier” which was a status name for a steward, bailiff, or overseer, which later came to be used to denote a tenant farmer, although it originally denoted a village headman (from the Latin “Maior” meaning “greater” and “superior.”) There are also Jewish roots of the Meyer surname derived from the Yiddish “Meir” which means “enlightener,” a derivative of the Hebrew or “light,” also meaning “one who shines.”

It looks like the Meyer surname has roots to the Sinai Peninsula – another testimony that we have roots to the Children of Israel.

Love,  Jeff