OGDEN — Catherine “Kay” Farr Feeny, 92, this year’s Daughters of Utah Pioneers queen, and her attendants — Norma T. Hansen, 90, and Doris McEntire Atwood, 96 — aren’t your usual type of royalty.
They are of the older generation and represent the pioneers of a generation even older.
“It’s kind of great to know that you have such strong ancestors that accomplished so much,” Feeny said, who added she believes the pioneers were aided by the hand of God because they accomplished so much with so little.
“I would admonish the young people to respect the pioneer examples and to try to achieve as much as they can in the good things in life,” she said.
Feeny said she’s willing to take on her role as queen specifically for the purpose of telling the stories of her pioneer ancestors.
She’s a descendent of Lorin Farr, the first mayor of Ogden, and Louis W. Shurtliff, who was the first president of what would become Weber State University.
Feeny said both men and others of her ancestors accomplished great things against great odds.
This year’s royalty represent the 100-year anniversary of the incorporation of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers.
Daughters of Utah Pioneers events honoring pioneers predate Ogden Pioneer Days, said Diane Parker, a member and former president of the Weber County Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum Board.
“Harm Peery brought in the rodeo and that kind of thing, but it was not the first pioneer celebration,” Parker said.
She said it was actually the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers that started Pioneer Day celebrations in Ogden.
Parker said she has records of such celebrations taking place as early as 1913.
In 1916, David O. McKay was in charge of the Ogden celebration. McKay would go on to become the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
She said McKay’s events included a whole week of celebrations, including an event where some of the original pioneers who were then still alive were honored in a parade.
Later that day, in Glenwood Park (which would later be named Lorin Farr Park), a luncheon was held for the pioneers. The celebration included fireworks and wrestling matches at Alhambra Theater.
Marti Clayson said she’s excited for the opportunity to present this year’s royalty to the public.
Clayson is the president of the South Company of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers. The royalty all are from Clayson’s company this year. It is one of eight companies in the Ogden area.
“These women are vibrant, active and involved,” Clayson said. “These three women put a vibrant face on the organization, no matter what their age is.”
Clayson said she was delighted when, at the annual pioneer devotional, LDS Apostle M. Russell Ballard pointed to the beauty of the three ladies as well as the court of Miss Rodeo Ogden and Miss Rodeo Utah.
“He said, ‘I have so much beauty in front of me, I hope I can deliver my remarks,’ ” Clayson said.
All three women count many accomplishments throughout their lives.
Feeny has served as president of the Weber County Medical Auxiliary and of the Utah Medical Auxiliary. She also has served on the board of the Weber County Heritage Foundation for 30 years.
Hansen has a doctorate degree in nursing education administration from the University of Utah. She worked as a nurse and as an instructor of nursing at Weber State University, each for several decades.
Hansen was a volunteer with Project Hope in Cairo and trained nurses in Jerusalem.
Among Atwood’s accomplishments include her selection in 1974 as the American Business Woman of the Year for the Golden Spike Chapter.
She was a volunteer at Ogden Regional Medical Center and at the Weber County Family History Center, each for 16 years.
Listed here are the names of Daughters of Utah Pioneer queens since 1950:
2012: Kay Feeny
2011: LaRee Elmer Shurtliff
2010: Dorothy Holmes
2009: Maurine Parker Smith
2008: Donna Harper Vest
2007: Dorene Pay Lloyd
2006: Jean Draper Ritchie
2005: Helena Watson
2004: Carol Mower Williamson
2003: Alice Wyatt
2002: Colleen Tippetts
2001: Aileen Jardine Larsen
2000: Mary Williams Felix
1999: Evelyn Combe
1998: Diane Norman Parker
1997: May Berrett
1996: Reva Larson
1995: Lucia Hornsby
1994: Marion Arave
1993: Erma Rawson Story
1992: Ruth Whitehead
1991: Irene McGregor
1990: Delecta Davis
1989: Emma Maughn
1988: Pearl Child
1987: Cleona Hedenstrom
1985: Myrl Storr Stewart
1984: Ada Jensen Taylor
1983: Ardella Stevens
1982: Esther Matthews
1981: Sadie Parker
1980: Nina Watkins
1979: Gladys Hanks Simpson
1978: Jennie Neal
1977: Mable Belnap
1976: Annie A. Jensen
1975: Ella Frew Beus
1974: Lydia McGregor
1973: Leona Maddock
1972: Marcelle Gibson
1971: Myrtle Ririe Barker
1970: Carrie Hunt
1969: Lillian Garner
1968: Mrs. Lorenzo Ward
1967: Sarah Ann Tracy Slater
1966: Estelle Cole Cordon
1965: Drucilla H. McFarland
1964: Merribel Stevenson
1963: Rachel M. Jenson
1962: Eliza Alice Foutz
1961: Sarah H. Ballantyne
1960: Eliza Jane Ridout Dyson
1959: Sarah Burton Foulger
1958: Mary Ann Cragun Barker
1957: Mary E. Dalton
1956: Mary E. Farley
1955: Zenia Rawson Chugg
1954: Mary Hegsted Rawson
1953: Lillie Hayes Harris
1952: Not available
1951: Mrs. John Wheeler
1950: Mary Ann Jones Rhodes
