Happy Valley is a real geographical place. It is located on the East end of Boulder Mountain in Wayne County, Utah. It is the first home of our Mother, and Father, Grandfather, Grandmother, Great Great Grandfather and Grandmother, etc. etc. etc. Junius Gilbert Covington and Florence Alice Pectol. Those who have been there will remember it as a place of peace. Quiet, calm, with clear, clean air and water and so beautiful to explore. So, even as far away from home as we each may roam, if you just close your eyes, and think Happy Valley, you must be able to hear the breeze as it travels through the pine trees. Listen, can''t you hear the bird chirp, the pine needle fall. Listen, can''t you hear the gurgle of the little spring creek as it flows next to the cabin so meek. To the right can''t you see the red dirt, where the hill starts to rise, the remainders of the bin where the potatoes had been. Look out the front door, down in the field. Can''t your see Grandpa and Grandma stroking with a hoe. There over the old wooded fence is Bears Ears, look I see Lababe and Blaine over by that tree they must be going looking for some of those natural marbles you can find over there. And Joe is showing Grandpa an arrow head he just found. Look is that Hal fighting with a Sage hen?.

Just close your eyes, stop take another deep breath. Can''t you smell the sage and the aspen too, that''s air, real Utah, Boulder Mountain fresh air that many of us once knew. So cool, so crisp, so fresh, so clean to inhale. The winters there were rough, so cold, so tough ''twas hard to hike in the snow at night. Listen, can''t you hear the rain fall, the thunder, the lightening and marvel at it all. When the storm has past, at last, look up into the sky, my so many many stars, the universe has never looked so clear as it does from Bounder Mountain. Look over there, by the big dipper a shooting star just went, look another over there. Snap, a dead branch just cracked, did you hear it, a fawn and her mother coming for a drink from the water of the spring, so cool so clear and sweet to drink. Look way across the field, by the fence, do you see it, do you see it, a bear taking a early morning stroll. If you hike up the creek a beaver pond you may spy, look how busy those little guys have been.

So when things are hard and you just can''t think. The hustle and bustle of life''s got you down. Take a break, close your eyes, think Happy Valley - Covington''s Happy Valley , think of Grandpa Covington telling you a story, think of Grandma playing you a tune. They''re here with you. You for sure are not alone. They watch over you with pride and I can hear Grandma telling Grandpa - look June, look at our kids. It all started here and they are what make our Covington''s Happy Valley, a truly Happy Valley. Maybe, if I might suggest, in order to build on this. Could those with real Happy Valley memories from visits there or from living there share some of their own Happy Valley experiences. Or stories you have heard about Happy Valley over the years.

Love, Gene Covington, Son of Junius & Florence (Pectol) Covington

"He, who takes no interest in the history of his ancestors, does not deserve to be remembered by his descendants."

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
...Ralph Waldo Emerson