Obituary saved by Haskell Funeral Home
Printed in: The Lovell Chronicle
Added by: Lovell Cemetery

Julia Thomas Despain, daughter of Daniel Thomas and Nancy Ann Winfrey, was born in Lindley, Mo., Aug. 18, 1875. She lived there with her parents until she was nine years old, they moved to Ashland, Kan., for a few years.

Julia finished her formal education and took the county examination to teach the third grade in Minneola, Kan., in the fall of 1894.

Julia's sister, May had been teaching school in salt Lake City for two years. when the Thomas family decided to move there. Julia reluctantly resigned her position and went with her family. They settled in Little Cottonwood Canyon. After a year's time she met and married Robert Henry Despain in the Salt Lake Temple, June 25, 1896. A month prior to her marriage she was baptized into the LDS church. Three children, Earl, Eva and Quayle were born in Granite, Utah.

There was much talk about a new country called the Big Horn Basin and since Robert H. was in the nursery business, they thought it might be a good country to go to. In January of 1902, Julia and her three children followed her husband to the Big Horn Basin. Nine more children, May, Maud, Warren, Ward, Bert, Dale, Marden, Gordon and Wayne were born.

A year after their arrival in the Big Horn Basin, Robert settled on a hoomestead on the banks of the Shoshone River 4 miles east of Lovell.

Julia Despain was a faithful and long time Relief Society teacher and a member of the War Mothers Organizatin of America.

Robert and Julia established and operated the Despain Nurseries for many years when ill health caused them to retire. She resided with her family two miles west of Lovell, where she raised all her 12 children.

three years ago she moved with her husband to town, she ailing for the last month and passed away May 3, 1961. She would have been 86 years old in August.

She leaves to mourn her passing her husband, all of her 12 children, nine sons, Earl, Quayle, Joseph and Gordon all of Lovell, Ward of Kennewick, Wash., Marden of Pasco, Wash., Bert of Balboa, Panama, Dale of Provo, Utah, Wayne of Cody, three daughters, Mrs. Eva Emmett and Mrs. May Olsen of Lovell and Mrs. Maude Allphin of Kennewick, Wash.; 67 grandchildren and 69 great grandchildren.

Over a hundred decedents attended the funeral.