Sharing our Links to the Past
by Wally and Frances Gray

Marguerite Romney (Mrs. William Rawleigh Pyper) (1911-1998)

The Theodore Turley Family Book, pp. 385-386 

I was born in Colonia Juarez, Mexico on March 18, 1911.  My parents were Frances Turley and Miles Archibald Romney.  I spent my childhood just as any other child would in a small town, enjoying the countryside, walking to school each day and returning for a hot lunch at noon.  We lived just across the street from the high school, so we enjoyed the advantages of its library.  My mother also subscribed to several magazines, so reading was a favorite pastime of mine.  On graduating from Juarez Stake Academy, I was awarded the honor of being valedictorian.  My sister, Edna, was teaching at the Academy that year and she helped me with my address, "Build Thee More Stately Mansions, 0 My Soul."

After working in Douglas, Ariz. for Singer Sewing Machine Company for a year, I was able to attend BYU.  I graduated in 1934 with a degree in Interpretive Speech.  I then moved to El Paso and worked for my brother, Gordon, at his car agency.  In the summer of 1935 I attended summer school at Columbia.  There I met my future husband, William Rawlelgh Pyper.  I taught shorthand and typing at El Paso High School during 1935-36.  We were married on June 25, 1936 in El Paso, Texas and later in the Salt Lake Temple on July 3, 1936.

Then we moved to Arizona. My first child was born in Tucson. All the rest were born in Phoenix, Arizona, where we have resided most of our married life.

My husband has been first counselor in the bishopric, on the High Council of West Phoenix Stake, has been in charge of Home Teaching and at present is Teacher Development Leader of the ward, as well as being active in the missionary program. I was Stake Primary president,  P.T.A. President 1959-60, president YWMIA, worked as drama director and speech director for 15 years in Phoenix Stake and North Phoenix Stake.  Our road shows and speech programs won first and second place many times.  I have taught Cultural Refinement in Relief Society, Primary, Sunday School, and Mutual. When I received my patriarchal blessing it said I would help the young women of the Church.  Now I know what it meant.  I have spent a great deal of time in the YWMIA and also in the Relief Society.  I find that the greater service you give in the Church the more it benefits you.

We know many people throughout Arizona and the Western States.  My husband has been in politics for many years.  He was State Senator for Arizona in 1952-54.  He has sold life insurance and general insurance since 1936.  He worked with his brother, LeRoy Pyper, for several years and then had a company of his own.  I have worked as a school teacher, retiring in 1976 after teaching 17 years.  We have had a wonderful life together, doing many things and traveling over most of the United States.  We have five wonderful children, all married in the Temple. And we now have 16 grandchildren.

Children of Marguerite Romney and William Pyper:

John Romney Pyper

Walter Raleigh Pyper

Carl Gordon Pyper

Frances Elizabeth Pyper Williams

Pamela Marguerite Pyper Nixon

©1998-2007 Wallace F. and Frances M. Gray. This web page may be freely linked. To contact us send to grayfox2@cox.net  Their home page is http://geocities.datacellar.net/wallygray25/index.html