Reva with our new doll, Olivia, saying good-by.
When we first moved to San Clemente, Alan was immediately assigned to be High Priest Group leader. One of the best things he did during the short time he served there, before being called to the High Council, was to assign himself to home teach George and Reva Yetton. (She is the only one he retained when we were moved to the Singles Ward.) I almost always went with him and we soon came to love these people. George worked in the temple and played golf at least once a week. He still earned a little money by working as a janitor at a high school, though he was in his 70's. He was not in good health and had chronic pain in his legs, but stayed very active and did not complain. He spent a lot of time helping others.
Reva spent much of her time making beautiful dolls and their clothes and teaching classes to others on how to do it. She also was in poor health. Eventually, she was diagnosed with a non-cancerous tumor in her upper abdomen. The City of Hope in Pasadena was the only place that would dare do surgery to remove it. She had a very difficult time recuperating from the surgery, including having a heart attack. George could not drive, but wanted to see Reva daily at a hospital that was at least an hour away. He had many friends in and out the church and managed to get someone to take him daily. We made the drive with him several times ourselves. She ended being there about 2 months. Her recovery at home was slow and George waited on her with great affection. But after she had been home a few months he had a terrible stroke and died. Reva has been alone now for 4 years with varying degrees of bad health. She continues to make her dolls when she feels well enough and they have truly filled her small home. Right now she is not doing too well and for some reason the doctors can't figure out, her vision is poor and she can't do the fine work on the dolls. Alan suggested to her that if she had a doll she wanted to sell he felt he would find a buyer for them among family and friends. The first one that we placed was with Marge. She had a friend that collected this type of doll and was eager to buy one for herself and later a second. She also had a couple of friends that bought one each.
Isn't this doll Marge bought beautiful?
We sold a few at first, but Reva has not been well enough to complete any new ones and has such a hard time giving up her beautiful dolls. They are like her children. Each one is made with love and care. She is one of the most amazing craftsman. She pours the head and limbs, fires them, sews and stuffs the bodies, paints the faces with intricate care, and sews the tiny clothing with enormous skill. Each doll is a work of art.
Here are some of the children that literally fill Reva's house. They all have names and stories.
Today I drove Reva to the doctor because she is not well enough to drive herself. The tumor has returned a while ago and she lives in fear her only option will be more surgery. This week she had had to repair her car, an expense that is not in her small budget. When we arrived home, I purchased one of the dolls she had decided to sell. She hugged and kissed the doll named Olivia good-by and told her to be a good girl. We already purchased a gorgeous baby doll years ago that Alan had asked her to make Now we have added Olivia also. (I think she also reminds him of Halle as a toddler.)
Alan fell in love with one like this just after Halle was born. He asked Reva to make him one because it reminded him of Halle. It took her a couple of years to get to it. She is a treasure now.
This is another doll she has decided she will sell. (They sell for $125.00 for this size. The time, skill and materials in these dolls are worth much more, I am sure.)
She will also part with these little "stuffies" she calls them for $30 each.
Three other dolls Reva will sell. They are each unique.
We love Reva and try to help her and make her difficult life easier. Luckily, we are not the only ones who love her. She has many friends in her trailer park and many others she has worked with in this dollmaking world. Her children do not live close and she refuses to live with them, even if they would ask her. The church is set up to fill in the gaps of people just like Reva. She has been giving herself for lots of years and now people want to help her in return.
