Our Farm Stays – The Walker-Hughes Room
When we first came up with the idea of a bed and breakfast, we learned we were allowed to have up to eight interior rooms. So, we decided to name each room after a grandparent, and decorate them in their honor. Barbara knew she wanted a room named for her grandmother, Gay Vaughn. Dan thought about it a lot, and decided he could name a room after his last living grandmother, Helen Hughes. But he could not think of a time Helen was apart from her love, Lamar Walker. Even after 62 years of marriage, she was always sitting on his lap, or he was lovingly hugging her. Dan could not separate these two, so we decided to name it The Walker-Hughes Room.
Helen Hughes was born on July 18, 1918, in Enola, Arkansas, to Porter Hughes (18 years old), and Edna Tyler (18 years old). She was the oldest of five children. When Helen was young, the family moved from Arkansas to Arizona to be closer to family. She grew up very close to her cousins. Helen’s father drove a truck, and when she was 15 years old, he announced they were moving to Boise, Idaho. Helen was heart-broken to leave her friends. The girls in her new ward were not very friendly, but eventually they all became close friends. During high school, Helen worked for a quick-take photo shop, and in the summer, and A&W Root Beer Stand. In 1935, Helen went to a party at Arrow Rock Dam. As she pulled up with her friends, everyone was talking about a “new fellow” who had just moved from Meridian, Idaho. His name was Lamar Walker.
Lamar was born to Franklin Walker (32 years) and Harriet Stevenson (30 years), on May 22, 1911, in Holliday, Utah. He was the sixth of 10 children. When he was 7 years old, the family moved to Lost River, Idaho, where they lived in a one bedroom log cabin without electricity or running water! His father built a lean-to onto the home for the boys to sleep in. “When the wind blew in the winter… the snow would sift in on the floor through the cracks.” Lamar said. When Lamar was a teen, they moved back to Holliday, Utah. And then, in 1935, Franklin traded his Utah property, for property in New Meadows, Idaho. The family farmed 160 acres and milking cows. Lamar and his nine other siblings grew up swimming, riding horses, hunting and fishing. But what Lamar loved most was fishing. They often fished at the Mackey Dam. “… We caught lots of fish, lots of big ones… up to 30″ long. Wendell… would lay one on his arm and it would reach from the tip of his fingers to his shoulders… Fish story you will say, but it’s a fact.” Lamar would serve on a mission for the church from 1935 to 1937. When he returned from his mission, he met his sweetheart, Helen.
But being born into the Mormon faith, Helen knew she wanted to go on a mission to spread the word of Jesus Christ. Although Helen and Lamar were very smitten with each other, Helen was determined to go on her mission. She thought, if it was meant to be, and he loved her enough, he could wait. After a year and a half, Helen returned. Lamar was waiting. He proposed on New Year’s 1941. The two were married on February 14, 1941, at the Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Lamar became a small dairy farmer, supplementing income as a car salesman. His dairy farm grew, and they bought 40 acres west of Nampa (for $5,000). Helen and Lamar had seven children, who also worked on the farm. The farm was a family business and Lamar made working as a family fun and exciting. They were together day and night and built strong, lasting relationships. Water fights and coming home covered in mud was a common occurrence. But most memorable were the gospel discussions or “ditch bank sermons”. Later, Lamar changed his occupation to real estate, although farming was still his first love.
Lamar and Helen were married 62 years. Through it all, their biggest joy was their seven children, 36 grandchildren, and 121 great-grandchildren. Over the years, they created memories of fishing, inner-tubing down the Snake River, bread baking, cookie making, or riding on the ride-on mower. Grandpa Lamar would fall asleep in his big recliner with up to three grandkids nestled in an arm or lap, but he never dropped a one! His catch phrase “IS EVERYBODY HAPPY?!” is still recited to this day, with lots of hearty laughs and back slaps.
Edward Lamar Walker died on September 21, 2003 in Boise, Idaho. He was 92 years old. Helen Hughes Walker followed him 10 years later on January 25, 2014.
“So life is what you make it. It is all up to you.” – Lamar Walker
“IS EVERYBODY HAPPY?!”
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