My Parents

My Father

Job Hemsley was born on February 20, 1901 to Richard and Mary Ann Hemsley. He was the tenth child and the fourth boy. He had many beautiful and fun sisters and brothers, and I loved them all.

(Richard and Mary Ann Hemsley Family 1900)

Before he was born, his parents moved from Salt Lake, Utah, where his father owned a brick factory, to Plano, Idaho. When Dad was seven, his father went on a mission to England and left Grandma Hemsley with 14 children. Before he left, he had built her a 12 room home. It was the Plano Mansion.

(Richard and Mary Ann Hemsley)

Dad met mom when his sister, Ellen, introduced them. Dad and mom courted, then married on November 30, 1921 in the Salt Lake Temple, the day he left on his mission to the Eastern States. Mom worked and lived with her parents until he returned. When Dad got home, they lived in a little log cabin in Plano, where my two sisters and older brother were born. Then they bought the old Plano Railroad Depot and remodeled it before I arrived.

(Job and Jennie Hemsley Family 1930)

My Mother

Jennie Silvester was born on January 2, 1904 to James and Mary Jane Silvester. She also came from a strong L.D.S. home. She was the third girl, then she had two brothers, Art and Dewain, before her little sister, Zelda, was born. Her oldest sister, Eva, died at 16 years. Mom said she was very close to her, and it took many years to recover from her loss.

(Silvester Family 1913: Edith, Mary Jane, Eva, James, Jennie, and John Arthur)

Grandpa Silvester built them a big beautiful home in Moody Creek when mom was 4-years-old. Then he built a nice brick home in Rexburg when mom was in high school. We all loved that home.

(Jennie Silvester 1920)

My mom and I were always so close. She knew how to do everything. If she didn't know how, she would learn. Mom would say, "Eat your green beans before dessert," which meant to work, then play. She was a fantastic cook, sewer, organizer, and budgeter. She loved music. She was very enthusiastic, and she had spiritual intuition.

(Jennie and Job Hemsley 1971)

Both of my parents were very positive, up-beat people, and taught us to be the same. They worked very hard and taught us to enjoy work with them. Among other lessons I learned from them were: To enjoy everything you do, even if it isn't pleasant; and to always get your tasks done before play. They had strong testimonies of the gospel, and relied on the Lord in all things. We always had family prayer, and we were a very close family.