Lucy Jane Furness Terry

Lucy attended Riley and Riverside elementaries, Jordan Junior High School, and graduated from South High School. When Lucy was sixteen years old, her father remarried. He married Esther Sorenson, a woman who had lived in his ward for many years.

On May 19, 1943, she married James Vernile Terry, of Salt Lake City, in the Salt Lake Temple. They lived in Salt Lake City, in a small home behind her father’s home, for a short time. In December of 1947 they moved to Cedar City, where Vernile joined his brother Ace in a sporting goods store. At this time, they had three children born to them - Lucinda, Verlene and Carla.

They built a new home, the home that they lived in until Lucy's death.

Her husband Vernile gives the following information concerning their early years:

Shortly after our home was built Lucy noticed she had developed large lumps in her left breast and some smaller ones in the right side breast. She went to the local doctor for examination. He told her it was nothing to worry about, and set an appointment for her to return in a month to see if the lumps would dissolve. He kept putting her off for about three months, and even told her that she was just imagining problems. Lucy said she just felt there was something drastically wrong, so the next time she went to see the doctor I went with her. Lucy told him that if he didn't make an appointment with a specialist in Salt Lake City, that we would. The appointment was made with Salt Lake City doctor Stevenson. However, he was out of town for two weeks. It was then that Esther, Lucy's stepmother, set an appointment with her doctor, Wallace S. Brooks, an eminent Salt Lake City surgeon.

When Doctor Brooks examined Lucy, he told his nurse that he couldn't imagine a doctor letting her go so long without doing something about the lumps. He felt certain that he would find cancer. We had to sign papers for the doctor to perform radical surgery. The doctor determined that he would operate first on the left side, because those lumps were larger. Because of work commitments, I had to return to Cedar City, and was not with Lucy the evening before the operation the following morning. Lucy's father and her brother Eph came to the hospital, where Lucy requested a blessing. In the prayer, her father promised her that would fully recover, and that she would have no pain. She told me of the blessing the next day, when I had returned from Cedar City. By the Spirit, she was assured that the blessing would be fulfilled as it was spoken.

Following surgery, Doctor Brooks told me that it was one of the nastiest cancers that he had ever seen. He told me not to build up great hopes. He felt certain that the cancer had spread throughout her body - and at this point there was no need to perform surgery on the other side. He could not be certain of his next move until he could take additional X-ray's. This news literally turned my world upside down, for we now had five children, two having been born to us while living in Cedar City. We now had Lucinda, Verlene, Carla, Brian and Denise. All were under ten years of age. Now, there is the possibility of losing their mother. With these things on my mind I went to Lucy's parents home that night to try and get some sleep. I knelt before the Lord and pleaded for Lucy's life. When I got up from my knees, I distinctly heard someone say to me, "Everything will be alright."

Needless to say, I wept for joy! The very next day after the operation, Lucy began to exercise her left arm by turning the newspaper backward and forward. We had previously read about this type of operation which had mentioned the importance of using the arms, so not to lose their use.

Following the X-rays, I spoke with Dr. Brooks. He said that he didn't understand it, because he had expected to find the cancer throughout her body. At present, he could only find it in the Left breast. However, he felt that he should also remove the right breast, which he did. After a few days of rest, the doctor removed-her ovaries and tied her female tubes. .

Right after the first operation the nurse came in at night and asked Lucy if she wanted a pain pill. Lucy told her that her father had given her a blessing with relief from pain, and she was not hurting. The nurse said, "You don’t need to be so brave. I know that you have had one of the most painful operations that is possible to have." Lucy reassured her that she had no pain. The nurse later told the doctor of her conversation with Lucy, and she had refused pain pills. He said, "She's LDS isn't she? You will see that she will be out of the hospital in about half the time of others with this similar problem." While her doctor was not a Latter-Day Saint, he had previously seen what faith in God can do for some people.

Lucy spent about three months in Salt Lake City recuperating from her operations. She spent a lot of time talking to the Lord. She promised him that if He would permit her to raise her children, that she would never complain about anything. And she never did! She continually thanked God for her life, and for the health she had.

While in Salt Lake City, Lucy was blessed in another way. One day as she was visiting Dr. Brooks he told her that a prominent radiologist from back East was in Salt Lake City to teach Utah doctors new developments on X-ray therapy. He asked if she would be the "demonstration patient" for him. If she would agree, the treatments would be absolutely free to her. Lucy agreed, and therapy began. The visiting surgeon asked Doctor Brooks how much skin grafting he had done on her. Doctor Brooks said that there had been no skin grafting. The surgeon was amazed, stating that he had never seen anyone heal so well.

The surgery and treatments were successful, and we were always grateful for the extra thirty years that God granted for Lucy to raise her children.

Lucy was advised that it would be better for her health and recovery if she would go to work outside the home. She decided to ask for work at the Wagon Wheel Cafe, in Cedar City, She worked there for many years, first as waitress, and later as a cook. She later cooked in three or four other local restaurants. She also was employed at Deseret Industries in Cedar City. She worked there as a supervisor up until June of 1982. All the handicapped workers at the DI loved Lucy, as she was always kind and considerate with their needs.

For five years we also served as temple ordinance workers in the St. George Temple

In June of 1982, Lucy and I were called as missionaries to serve the Indians in Montana. We spent a year working mainly with Cheyenne Indians in Northern Montana. There everyone loved Lucy. Whenever any Indian came to our door asking for food, she would always fix them a sandwich. She fed the Reservation drunks, as well as the truly needy. We learned to love and worry about these choice people.

It was on September 13, 1985, that we got up early to attend a wedding in the St. George Temple. Lucy complained about not feeling well. I called our local doctor, and he suggested that we take her to the emergency room at the hospital. While on the examination table, Lucy had a massive heart attack, and died. We had forty-two wonderful years together, and I thank God for this great blessing. Our entire family looks forward toward our "family reunion" with her in the next life.

She was buried in the Cedar City Cemetery.

Lucy was proceeded in death by her second daughter, Verlene Terry Krueger. She died at Tucson, Arizona on January 1, 1969. Verlene is also buried in the cemetery at Cedar City, Utah

Personal record of Lucy Jane Furness.

I was born on November 28, 1922 to Ephraim John and Lucinda Cornwell Furness. All the life I remember until my marriage was spent at 973 Fremont Ave., in Salt Lake. The only time this was broken was when my aunt, Mrs. Jane Cornwell cared for me after mother's death when I was eight years old. Went to Lowell school at this time.

My other school years were spent at Riley Riverside, Jordan Junior high, and South High School. It was during my last year's at South that dad remarried, and we were happy because he married such a sweet wonderful person. I had always wanted a sister and I'm lucky because now I have two Carolyn and Rebecca my brother is two years older than me and although we were very normal and had many scrapes the love outlasted our childhood and he is also very special to me.

Worked as a secretary in a dance studio after graduation, but soon changed to become a nurse aide at LDS Hospital. Enjoyed this more than any other work because I helped on maternity with mothers and babies.

Was married to James Vernile Terry on May 19, 1943 in the Salt Lake Temple. Had always been taught to pray in seeking a mate, and I know the Lord blessed me in choosing Vernile as I had no idea I could be so happy and I think the Lord every day for him. We chose elder Harold Beasley to marry us as he was at one time our stake president as well as a friend. His wife was my teacher.

Have held many church positions starting as a primary teacher while I was in high school, then went to Sunday school and mutual teacher. Was also mutual counselor one year and primary counselor two years.

We now have five children to complete our home Lucinda, Verlene, Carla, Denise, and the little boy we thought we might not get, Brian Vernile. They were blessed with beautiful healthy bodies and strong minds. Our desire is to teach them to love the Lord as we do.

When Brian was seven months old I entered a Salt Lake hospital with a tumor on each breast. They proved to be cancerous so radical mastectomy was performed on one side.

Was the doctor told Vernile it was so bad it must be through my entire body, and planned a series of x-rays in a few days.

Was in much pain when I awoke from the anesthetic so asked Vernile and my father to administer to me. Remember nothing more until morning when Vernile asked how I had rested. When I told him there had been no pain during the night he said I knew there wouldn't be, because your father blessed you that your pain would be relieved. This blessing lasted during this operation and a similar one week later. I was such with worry waiting for the x-ray reports and dad administered to me again, blessing me that the disease in my body would be cast to the four winds. The Dr. couldn't believe it when the x-rays were clean and even now can't believe I am still well. I am sure the doctor was right, but I knew that with the power of the priesthood and our heavenly father's love, we can accomplish miracles. My prayer is always that we might live worthy of such a tremendous blessing, and that we will do the things that we know are right.

The nurses said I left the hospital much sooner than anyone ever had. We feel we had the help of the Lord from choosing a doctor until this very day. My health and strength are returning quickly and What greater testimony could anyone ask for than their life. Surely my cup is full.