Regina Karen Hackworth Sitton

 

I was born on February 3, 1944 at Richmond, Contra Costa County, California to my mother, Lillian Lorena Cummings and to my father, Hubert Edgar Hackworth.  They were married at Idaho Falls, Idaho on June 11, 1941.  During WW II, Father served in the Navy from October 1942 until he was discharged on October 13, 1945.  We never had the chance to see each other until I was sixteen months of age.  My mother corresponded with him and made sure he received pictures of me.

 

Dad blessed me on February 3, 1945 at the Third Ward in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and he gave me the name of Regina Karen Hackworth.

 

My parents divorced on May 24, 1946, and Daddy was granted part custody.  He lived and worked in Idaho Falls.  His sisters, Grace Mack and Iva Ferney also lived there, and he was fortunate to have them take loving care of me during the summer months when I was with him.  I cherish my memories of Aunt Grace and Aunt Iva.

 

In June of 1947 another lady came into my life, Dorothy Elizabeth South Tidwell.  I went with Daddy and her on their dates; for instance, to movies, on picnics, or to a circus.  Dorothy said she fell in love with me before she did Daddy.  They were married in her sister Slgie Norris’s home in Randolph, Utah on July 19, 1947 by Elgie’s husband, Adolph Larson.  Now my family also consisted of Shirlene, age eight and Robert Allen, age seven.

 

I looked forward to being in Idaho with Daddy and Dorothy whom I called Mother.  My mother was good to keep in contact with Daddy and tell him what was taking place in my life and Dorothy wrote and told her what I had been doing.  Sometimes we would go camping in Yellowstone Park which was lots of fun and exciting.  It was enjoyable to see the famous Old Faithful in action.

 

One summer when it was about time for me to return home, Mother went to Daddy’s apartment when he lived near the St. Anthony LDS Tabernacle a little earlier than I was to be picked up.  She told Dorothy she wanted to take me for a ride and would bring me back, but she didn’t do that.  When Daddy learned what had happened, he tried to catch us in his car but gave up the chase.  This little trick never did seem fair.

 

When I was in St. Anthony, I attended the LDS Third Ward with my Idaho family, and on occasions bore my testimony.  Daddy baptized me in the St. Anthony Tabernacle on his birthday.

 

To be with my daddy’s mother, Nannie Hackworth, in the summers was a great blessing in my life.  Not only did we call her Grandma Hackworth, but so did many others who knew and loved her.

 

Grandma Hackworth was pleased when I received my patriarchal blessing in St. Anthony on June 25, 1957 from E. Glen Cameron.  In part, he said, “I bless you with wisdom in choosing your playmates, choosing good books to read, clean entertainment that you my walk the path the Lord would have you walk.

 

“I bless you with the spirit of discernment that you may know good from evil; that by the gifts and powers of the Holy Ghost you may be warned of dangers seen and unseen.  I bless you that your will to obey may be strong to keep the commandments of your Heavenly Father.”

 

One of the most important decisions I made in my life was to marry Michael Ed Sitton.  Of course, he was Mike to me.  We were married on my mother’s birthday, May 13, 1961 at Stead Air Force Base, Washoe County, Nevada.  He belonged to the Episcopalian Church.  We agreed not to try to influence each other to attend his church or mine.  As a result, we didn’t attend either one.  He was born July 19, 1941 in Long Beach, California, always a day to remember.

 

We were blessed with four wonderful children:

Michelle Pauline on December 22, 1961 in Reno, Washoe, Nevada; Kelly (AKA Kelli) Karen, born December 19, 1962 (these daughters were both born in St. Mary’s Hospital);  Saxon Coleen arrived on April 18, 1967 at Redwood  City, Mateo, California; and then our only son, James Farley was Born April 13, 1974 in Fremont, Alameda, California.

 

Mike and I agreed with our children that for one month during the summer, one of them could go to Idaho and stay with my parents.  Jim’s hair was long, and he will always remember Grandpa Hackworth having his hair cut short before he left to return to California.  This was a shock to the others in his family.

 

There were times when one of the children didn’t particularly like a certain food, and they would say, “I don’t like it that much.”  These visits in Idaho were always outstanding memories for the children.