Mary Irene (Watkins)Guilford 1915-2014 – (99)

Interview by great- grandson, Jacob, for a sixth grade school project in 2009:

 Mary Guilford was born at Midvale, Idaho on April 18, 1915. 

 Life was so much different than it is now, as there was no electricity, cars, phones or even TV. She had to ride horseback to school. Her dad would wrap a blanket around Mary and her sibling, give Daisy, the horse, a pat and say “Alright Babe,” and off to school they would go.

 School was always easy for Mary, except for algebra, and she dearly loved the other children and her teachers. She quit high school in 1931 at the height of the Great Depression and married Les.

 Living through the Depression was bad. In 1934, Les and Mary made $100 over the entire year, and paid $15 for the birth of their daughter. 

 They raised cows, pigs, chickens and owned two horses. They hooked them to a grist mill to grind wheat to make bread for their family and the people in town that had no food. Les and Mary raised 15,000 turkeys for the Army and that was hard work. 

 Twenty-one years after quitting high school, she earned her high school GED. Mary got a chance to work at a college as a bookkeeper. While working at the college she took classes. She lacked three credits for a college diploma. 

 Les was transferred to Montana to build houses for the military and she went with him, even if it meant not finishing college. 

 Mary cannot say what the happiest moment of her life has been, as she has enjoyed all of it. Her advice to the youth of America is to get a good education, have an interest in life and in government and do all things to the best of your ability. Give of yourself. Love reflected where needed is the best of all.

–Jacob

 Mary and Les raised their two children in Weiser, Idaho and had deep roots there. Mary spent the last years of her life in Sandpoint, Idaho to be near her faithful daughter, Fern and other family. She lived independently until the end. She enjoyed the times spent with her family and those that visited.

 Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Matt and Lucinda (Evans) Watkins, sister, Ora (Watkins) Rosin, and husband Leslie Vernon Guilford. She was followed in death by her son-in-law, Bill Watt and daughter, Fern (Guilford) Watt, in 2020. 

 Mary is survived by her beloved son Joe Guilford, and her many loving grandchildren.

 Mary was laid to rest by family on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at Fairview Cemetery in Oregon next to her husband of 66 years, Les Guilford (engraving will follow).

 Mary is deeply missed by her family but the memory of her clever mind, humor, and kindness will be with us forever.

The Watt Family