Phyllis Porter Scott was born in Salem in the old family home that was located on 200 South 300 West. She is 85 years young and has lived in Salem all her life except for 2 years that she was in California and 1 year serving a mission for the LDS Church in New Jersey. When she was younger, she used to tromp hay and thin sugar beets for Frank and Ezra Edman. She remembers her mother's quilting club--the "Friendly Neighbor's Club". Her father, Scott Tanner, was the Sexton of the Salem City Cemetery for 31 years. He could dig an eight-foot grave in six hours with a shovel. She remembers him putting in the water system for the cemetery.
She met her husband, Clell Porter, on a blind date. They were married for 53 years before Clell's pasing in 1998. They have five children: Clella Gustin, Spanish Fork; Jackie Nelson, Enterprise, Utah; Janet Hansen, Salem; Philip Porter, Salem; and Donna Keele, Texas. They have 20 grandchildren, 52 great-grandchildren (with one on the way), and 5 great-great-grandchildren. In 2003 she married Don Scott from California. He passed away in 2009.
Clell worked for Geneva Steel. Phyllis worked for Forsey's in Payson, was a cook at Jack's Cafe in Spanish Fork, worked for Salem City for 11 years and BYU for 15 years. She was the Salem City Treasurer for 2 years and City Recorder for 9 years. She is very proud that she was the second recorder in the state of Utah to become a Certified Municipal Clerk. She had to travel to Colorado one year and Arizona two years to get her certification. She became the secretary of the Utah Association of Municipal Clerks and helped to bring the certification program to Utah so they didn't have to travel out of state. Phyllis was a Notary Public for 25 years.
Phyllis has served three missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: one year in Morristown, New Jersey as secretary to the President of the Mission; one year in the Archives in Salt Lake; and one year in the California Regional Family History Center with her husband Don. She has filled many positions in her ward and stake: Relief Society President, Young Women President (3 different times), Stake Young Women President, led music, taught in Jr. Primary and Relief Society.
She loves to do genealogy and write histories of her family. She crochets and knits a little. She has talked in 25 funerals of friends and family. There isn't a food she doesn't like. When asked if there was anything she would like the citizens of Salem to know about her she replied, "They know enough." She did say she hopes the citizens appreciate what Salem has and means and how lucky we are to live here. The heritage of Salem--everybody used to know everybody and their dogs and where they belonged. She talked about several people from Salem and the dear friends they are.
Phyllis, you are a dear friend to many also!
______________________________