Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Ward Welcomes the Alldredge Family

The family of Russel and Joy Alldredge, including 8 year-old Emma; Matthew, age 6; Kaylee, 19 months and Joy's mother Donna Ortiz, moved to 3128 Jacob Hamblin Drive in southern Utah (where a few generations of his family helped build the area) from Corona, CA where "he lived from birth to St. George.”  In southern California, he worked in construction – a job he didn’t particularly enjoy – and she “dabbled” in real estate.  In St. George he loves his “less stressful job” in the shipping department at Orgill Distributing and she works as a floor designer at Tai Pan Trading Company.

Her family is “all converts,” says Joy who was 3-years-old when the sister missionaries found, taught and baptized them.  “I still remember those beautiful sisters and thank them everyday for bringing the gospel to our home.”  Joy served a mission in the Ohio Cleveland Mission, which then included the Kirtland Historic Sites.  Through the years, she has been a teacher and 1st counselor of her Corona ward Primary and a teacher and 1st counselor in the Young Womens program. Currently, she serves as B7 Primary's activity days leader.  Russel served in the England London Mission and since his return has been an advisor in the Young Men’s Program, secretary in the Elders Quorum, a Primary teacher and now, in the B7 Ward, he is the Young Men’s secretary.

Now celebrating 10 years of marriage, Joy says their family looks forward to movie night on Fridays. "We like to go to a Redbox, rent a movie, get popcorn and candy and watch a movie together," Joy says. 

“We are so impressed with this area," states Joy.  "Everyone is so warm and welcoming.  We had about 15 people show up on our front porch within a few days of moving in – with cookies, bread and offers to help in anyway we needed.  In our whole life, that’s never happened before!”

Sister Ortiz lived most of her life in Southern California though she was born in North Carolina.  She married at age 18 but divorced after 13 years and three children - two sons and Joy - all three who served missions!   She and her children lived in Santa Ana and later in Corona until she was "hired on the spot" to be an executive secretary in a family-owned construction company in Clinton, UT.  Not long after  she came to Utah, the housing market collapsed and her employer closed the company doors.  She then took a job with the IRS, while staying in daily contact with Joy in SoCal who invited her mother to "quit and move back here."

Donna says she knew the Church was true from the first time she met with the missionaries.  She was always modest in her dress and communication, and was certain her parents habits did not fit her idea of a healthy lifestyle, so the message of the gospel fell into place.  Since her baptism soon after her divorce, she has served in the Primary, Relief Society and Young Women's program, as well as the single representative on a stake and ward level.  Currently she teaches the 13-14 years old in Sunday School.

This faithful new family is a wonderful addition to the Bloomington 7th Ward family.

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