I, Rose Mary Busby Clifford was born October 1, 1902 in St. David, Arizona. Aunt Rhoda Merrill, the midwife and Brother Peter A. Lofgreen the ‘doctor’ were the faithful assistants during the birth deliveries in those days.
I was named after my Grandmother Rose Hannah Busby. My father Abe called me either Rosie or Hannah all his life, even today if my husband, Alfred calls me Rose instead of Rosie, I think he is upset with me.
Being the third child of nine children born to Abraham John Busby and Clara Grove Goodman has been a great privilege and blessing in this life. My father, Abe, taught us to work and show respect to our mother Clara. He believed in obedience and discipline. He never allowed us to talk disrespectfully about anyone who held a position in the Church, in fact, I never recall any gossip in our home. We didn’t have time for it.
My mother Clara and her mother, Grandmother Margaret Ann, were very spiritual women. These two women have had a great influence on my life. I recall in my early childhood days, my sister Amy and I would take turns staying with Grandma Goodman. She’d read to us often, always good books. Grandma was always prayerful, she set such a good example for Amy and me. She never allowed us to talk about anyone. One day I found fault with a woman and made an unkind remark about her. Grandma said, “Rose, if you’re the first a fault to see, be not the first to make it known. Keep it to yourself.” She taught us many valuable lessons.
I started to school when I was 8 years old. We attended the three roomed school house where the old Farm Bureau used to be. I remember some of my teachers, especially a German lady, Mrs. Shoemaker, because we had to sing “Watch on the Rhine” every morning.
We worked hard in the fields. Many times we have helped bale hay. Amy would tie the wires and I would punch the wires to her. Some mornings before school we would work in the fields pulling beans. The field was about a mile away from our house. After pulling the beans, we would get ready for school behind the trees up by the old pond. We would wash up, change our dresses, and comb our hair by this pond.
As a girl growing up we had very few clothes. We would come home from school, wash and iron our school dress if we went to any social function at night. We wore the same dress for many occasions. Amy and I shared everything and never fussed about it. We put our hair up on rags every night to curl it. Amy would put rags in my hair and I did the same for her.
In the summer we would take a few days off as a family and go either to the Dragoon or Whetstone mountains on an outing to gather walnuts and acorns. We also made trips in a wagon to Safford to see Mama’s brother and sister, Aunt Gertie and Uncle George. We would leave early in the morning and camp out that night, then get up early and go on to Safford the next day. In my mind I can still see all those prairie dogs along the way, hundreds of them.
Another fond memory I have is waiting on customers in Grandma Goodman’s store. How I enjoyed this. Grandma had candy to sell. A penny piece of candy then was a big as a twenty cent one today.
Around 1920 Papa and Mama and our family moved up to the Boquillas Ranch in Curtis Flat. One day I was helping Papa load grain and Vern, my little brother, was playing on the wagon. He fell off and broke his arm. Papa said, “Rosie, hold him.” Papa then pulled his little arm and jerked it back in place.
On this ranch we lived in a three room house with a small porch. We found some tin and lumber and with a hammer and butcher knife, we built a kitchen. Papa had a ranch at the Whetstone mountains that he was homesteading. Mama and Papa spent a lot of time there. This left the cooking, ironing and watching the little kids, Vern, Dorrity, and Luella to my sister Amy and me. I can still remember that we girls took turns making the fire in the wood stove. Early in the mornings, Papa would call, “Rosie, biscuits—Amy, potatoes, get up and get going!”
In 1922 I graduated with the first graduating class in St. David. We had the first Graduation ceremony. We were the first to have a Class Night, and a Junior and Senior Banquet. Mrs. Lynch who lived in Curtis Flat made my graduation dress—white trimmed in blue with scalloping on the bottom.
One night at a dance in Pomerene, I met Alfred Clifford for the first time. I fell in love right then and there. He often played the drums for his grandfather Christensen and when I would dance by he would wink at me and this cause my heart to pound furiously. He courted me in a horse and buggy. On rare occasions his Granddad would let him take his car. We courted for about two years. Alfred worked about two years at the Apache Powder plant, then he went to Tucson in April 1923 to work at the Railroad yards. One day I rode to Tucson with Beatrice and Jim Miller to see him and while there we decided to get married. We were married in the Samuel W. Price home on Alameda Street in Tucson, May 21, 1923. We went back to St. David to live. Alfred went back to the Powder Plant to work and worked there for twenty one years.
Our first home was a tent. Alfred bought it from the Powder Plant for $20.00. It was 16x16 square feet and was boarded up four feet and there was a hole in the canvas at the top for the stove pipe. Our first child, Ethel, was born in this tent, 16 May 1924.
My husband and I were blessed with six lovely children, two girls and four boys. Alfred and I were sealed in the Arizona Temple April 22, 1929 by David K. Udall. Ethel and Betty, who was born 23 March 1926, were sealed to us at this time, and when they were brought to us at the altar, I thought they looked like little angels in their white dresses. Our four other children are Floyd, born 13 August 1930; Harvey, born 8 December 1934; J. Clinton born 24 January 1937; Gary born 11 July 1941.
In March 1945 we moved to Tucson. Alfred worked with my brother John buying and selling cattle. We enjoyed our years in Tucson. In the month of June 1972 we moved back to St. David for our retirement.
I am so grateful for my membership and the opportunity for service in the Church. Before I was married, I was called in January 1922 to be a counselor in the Primary. After my marriage I served as Primary President for over ten years. In 1936 I became the 6th Relief Society President in the St. David Ward. I followed Aunt Lizzie Merrill. During the 5 years that I served, Arizona had a welfare project making mattresses for the needy. I was asked to oversee the project. The community cannery was also in operation at this time. I supervised many cannery projects.
After we moved to Tucson I served as a counselor to Ethel Goodman the Relief Society President and also to Relief Society President Alberta Wilsey. In 1955 I was called to be a counselor in the Stake Relief Society to Avis Goodman. Then 1 October 1963 I was made Relief Society President of the Third Ward. Many times I have asked myself, “How can I do it?” All the luncheons, assignments, visits, sick calls, driving cars, meetings. But somehow I received the strength to do this part of the Lord’s work. I know that the Holy Ghost sanctifies and renews the body if we will but live and serve Him.
I have seen prayers answered time and time again. I have seen so many people grow and develop as they have been called to positions in the Church. I love the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and I thank my Heavenly Father with all my heart for the opportunity to work in His true Church. I love Heavenly Father’s children so much.
I know that we can be guided in this life if we will only listen to the still small voice. In the year 1952 I had an operation for a growth on my uterus. This left me weak for many years physically, and this affected my nervous system. I prayed for strength and help. One day something told me to say to the President of the Relief Society, “If there is any thing I can do to help you, let me know.” A few days later I was sustained as a Relief Society counselor to Sister Goodman. I know that one does not seek for positions in the Church, but this time I felt the Holy Spirit prompted me. I felt that I was inspired from the Lord to offer my services. Service to others is a healer, and this was what I needed at this time in my life. I know that when we listen to the still small voice we will be guided in our lives
When I was the Relief Society President of the Third Ward, it was my policy to always welcome the new ones, the inactive ones, and those who hadn’t been there for quite a while. One Relief Society day a young inactive sister walked in. Something strongly impressed me not to draw attention to her or recognize her presence to the other sisters. After the meeting I followed her into the hall and said, “So happy you could come.” This young sister said, “I’d made up my mind that if you or anyone said anything about me being here or make a big ‘ado’ over me, I’d never come again.” Again the still small voice had guided my actions.
My testimony is that I know that Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers; that Jesus is the Christ. I have experienced the Power of the Priesthood. I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true and the Joseph Smith is a true prophet of God. I know that all our Prophets have been called when they were needed, and I definitely know that Spencer W. Kimball is a true Prophet to guide us today.
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