24 May 1967
Benjamin Griffin to John Griffin / Ogden, UT
Dear John:
I read your letter to mother a few days ago and thought I should write and give you my ideas along the same line.
I think it is very fine and wise that mother should designate who should have her personal things, furniture, dishes, books, alblums, etc. In fact I think many of them could be distributed now, it is doubtful if we will ever use them more. No doubt in the end there will be a load to take to the Deseret Industries that no one will want. If everything is
designated to whom there would be no need for a will.
In regard to Gordon; He has done so many things for all of us. When Ben was in the service and Marian stayed with us, he took care of baby Lois many, many times and help Marian in many ways. He has helped Madge and Don many times. The last year or two Madge parks her car in the morning on 24th St. near her office and Gordon gets it and brings it to the back of the store, saving Madge ten or fifteen mintues each morning. He of course has dsome delivering and getting mail etc etc for the store. And the past two years has helped Yother very well. In fact if he had not been home to help her, she would have had to had some woman at the house that would have cost at least $100 a month. So I feel that Gordon is entitled. to something better than the old house to worry about to keep it rented or what not. It would not be feasible or wise for him to stay in the old home alone. Don end Madge has said a. number of times they were going to sell their home and build one in the counrty somewhere and add a small apartment for us. But I don't know if that will ever happen.
Gordon as you know is on Social Security add gets $44.00 a month. He enjoys this very much. He goes to the Doctor about once a mcnth and has two or three kinds of pills to take for his ulcers and poor blood that he pays for. Spends some on his rock hobby, raise flowers and radio etc. so he uses the $44 each month. We do not furnish him but little except his eats and room. I understand they expect to raise the minimum S.S. to $64 or S70 a month. If they do he will likely put some in the bank each month. I pay his health insurance which will pay $100 a week should he have to go to the hospital, which would be about half enough. He has $1000 paid up insurance.
When Don came into the business things were at a very low ebb and had he not come in with me I doubt I could have continued very long. And without my help I doubt he could have made a go of it. But with Don we did kept going and made a bare laving. Took some risks in getting the Washington Ave. property and the Locker Plant. For some years now at my age, I knew anything could happen to me and if it did and the estate had to go to court for settlement it would take a lot of it for expense. So I decided to turn every thing over to Don with the understanding that if at any time as long as bother or I or Gordon lived we needed additional help it was to come out of the rent from the Washington property. So far we have gotten by without help. If mother and I should pass before Gordon the agreement holds good for Gordon. Had I made an agreement with you or Ben similarly to this I would have no worry about it being carried out. I have the same confidence in Don.
Don's wages last year was near $7,000 (besides Madges) and the rents without the store $8,500; Lockers $1,500 to S1,800,. and this store could be rented for $150 per month. Of course there is always a chance the building may not be rented as near as it is now. Also he has the Duplex that rents for $130. There is of course the taxes and up-keep etc. but still there would be quite a sum left.
Five or six years ago, until last year my wages were put in and S.S. was paid on $3,000 and a deduction as wages taken on the Paint Store income. I only drew $1,500 to $1,800 and the balance was credited to my account with the a understanding that if Mother or I or Gordon ever needed it, payments each month would be made from the building rents. It now has a balance of about $8000. If I had retained my share in the buildings until now it would be worth $25,000 to $30,000. All this considered I do not feel I am asking too much of Don to see that Gordon is taken care of in the best way possible. And I have every confidence he will do so.
We promised Elsie Mae before she was married the home would be left to her as her share of the estate and they still feel that promise is still good. Should we leave it to Gordon I know Larry at least would feel Don or you or Ben had influenced us to do so. This would cause ill feelings in the now pleasant relations. If there is one thing I would hate to leave behind it would be ill feeling among my children.
While Larry makes good wages at present, they have payments on the house, on the car, on the piano, and T.V. and maybe on furniture, etc. And he is buying, stock in Zales. So they are hard up most of the time. Because of his unstable nature is another reason I think the property should go to Elsie. Naturally a father is concerned about his only daughter.
As an Attorney maybe ,you can convence me my posticn is not the right one. So it's up to you, will wait your answer.
Mother suffers a lot of pain in the back and in the hands and legs. It gets harder day by day for her to get around. Gordon also has back and stomach troubles, but gets around as usual. Don had back troubles a few weeks ago but lately it seems to have cleared. up. He went to the Chiropractor a few time and has not complained since. Maybe he would be the same if he had not gone.
We hope you are all well. Sppose Paul and Marian will be home this week end. I understand Linda and Steve may be married in August.
Dad
Back