Lily Owens

Sharing our Links to the Past
by Wally and Frances Gray

Lily Owens (Mrs. Homer Frederick Bushman) (1884-1971)

From Climbing Life’s Mountains: Arizona Pioneer Stories and Faith-Promoting Experiences, collected by Edith Smith Bushman 1941-1972; compiled and published by The A. E. Bushman Family Organization, 1993, pp 16-17.

Aunt Lily’s Headstone

By Edith S. Bushman

This story had its setting back in 1924 soon after Aunt Lily was married. When she married her prince charming, Homer F. Bushman [on 2 October 1924], he brought her from Provo, Utah to Arizona to live. To acquaint her with her new abode, he took her to see some of the beautiful spots in his beloved land. Among them was the Petrified Forest.

Lily, like all newcomers, was thrilled and interested in the big logs of petrified wood with such an array of colors and varied hues in the wood turned rock. “My goodness! Homer, I’d love to have a length of this beautiful log.” “What would you do with it?” asked Homer.

Lily replied, “It would be beautiful at the gate, porch, or in the yard of our home, and then it would be my headstone when I am buried.” “Well, you shall have it, my dear,” replied Homer.

This was in the day before the government assumed control of the Petrified Forrest as a national park and people were at liberty to help themselves to the gorgeous petrified wood.

Homer, with great expense and hard work, finally got a large log three or four feet long delivered to their home in Snowflake. When they moved to Mesa, Arizona this attractive log was placed on Lily’s front porch. It has been admired, sat on, cleaned, polished, abused, and coveted, and it became a part of Lily’s surroundings.

Once it was stolen, but the weight, and its unusual composition helped the police locate it and, with the help of six men, return it.

Now Lily is eighty-six years old (1971) and the petrified log, unmarred by the years, stands like a sentinel. Junius Payne, Lily’s devoted and loyal friend, said some months before her passing, “Lily, what is to become of this magnificent log? It should be placed where people can see it. Has the president of the Arizona Temple seen it?”

President Bryant Whiting was invited over and he was surprised to find such a large, valuable, unusual stone. “Why a priceless log like that should be placed where people could enjoy its beauty.” “What do you plan to do with it, Lily?” he asked. Lily said, “My husband got it to please me and for my headstone, but few people will visit my grave. President, would you like it placed on the Temple grounds?” “I’d be delighted,” replied the President. “The Temple and its grounds are my first love,” said Aunt Lily. “Send some men and equipment and put it there as a gift from me.”

It is cemented to the border ridge of the mirror pool on the west side of the temple. Grand and stately stands the intended headstone of dear Aunt Lily at the Arizona Temple where she labored thirty-one years. Its enduring beauty will be a constant reminder to all temple patrons of the long years of service given by Lily O. Bushman as manager of the clothing department at the Arizona Temple.

Note: Since this writing the petrified log has been moved to another location on the Arizona Temple grounds.

[Death date from IGI]