Dee Holliday
(Cousin)

When I think of John my memories go back to the many hours we spent together as little boys. John was one year older than I was so I really looked up to him. I never lost that feeling. I remember more about John now the further back we go.

I remember going to Lehi where Ray and Blair lived through the block from Uncle George. Here John and I would spend a lot of time running races down the middle of the dirt road. He was very competitive and I tried very hard to beat him. It was as hard to win as it was later to win at chess.

When he moved to Salt Lake we spent lots of time together. I remember how we were excited to go to West Canyon. Grandma Ethel was always with us and she enjoyed her "two boys" (it seemed a long time until Merrill come along).

Our families always spent Christmas Eve together and exchanged gifts. I would have fun picking out a gift for John. I always think of John on Christmas Eve and when I get a dish of ice cream (the scoop was a gift from him.)

Dropping in on John was always getting in on the latest technology in guns, radios, TV's, games and puzzles.

When we were about ten or eleven, John got his electric car and "boy" was that fun riding with him ... Later when we were sixteen and seventeen he seemed to really enjoy riding with me in my souped up '37 Ford.

I never saw John much as being Physically challenged ... Only as a good friend who happened to be my closest cousin.