Hammond Family: Lulu Christensen Salmon McDaniels March 10, 1914

This morning my beautiful, sweet Grandma Lulu quietly passed away from this mortal existence. She was surrounded by loved ones at the time of her death. She will be greatly missed but I know that she is happily reuniting with her many, many loved ones on the other side.

My Grandma was born Lulu Christensen on March 10, 1914 in Ephraim, Utah. She was named Lulu after the nurse that took care of her when she was born. Her family later moved to Castle Gate, UT near Price and that is where she grew up. She loved to sing from a young age and when she turned 18 she moved to SLC and took voice lessons from the then tabernacle choir director, Tony Lund. After a few lessons with him she was asked to join the Tabernacle Choir and was actually assigned to be a tenor. She was originally placed between two men in the choir but that didn't seem just right to have a women on the mens side. So, she was moved and placed next to the men. She had a beautiful voice and was asked to sing her first solo in October 1932 General Conference. She sang, "O My Father" and after conference was over President Heber J. Grant came over to her and shook her hand and looking her directly in the eyes said, "You will sing again in General Conference in April. I have never heard a more beautiful voice sing a hymn." She did sing at the April GC and continued to sing with the Tabernacle Choir until 1935. While she was a member of the choir she also worked for KSL radio and sang live. She was given the "stage" name of Joyce Palmer because Lulu wasn't a good stage name. When I was younger I always thought her "stage" name was Lulu and that her "real" name was Joyce. Lulu seemed more like a stage name to me!! She had a program that she sang on with her accompanist that aired every Sunday afternoon and was hosted by Richard L. Evans. She also sang at the resort Salt Aire just west of SLC. She was married to my grandfather, John W. Salmon (Jack) in 1933.(?) President Heber J. Grant attended their wedding reception and my grandma said that he was asked to sing while at the reception and that he couldn't carry a tune very well! In the 1950's the family moved up to Washington state due to my grandfather's health. My grandfather died in 1964 due to a heart condition. At the time my mother was a senior in high school and her two younger brothers still lived at home. My grandmother was married some years later to Robert P. McDaniels (Mac). He wasn't a member when they married but just 6 weeks after they married he was baptized. He was a faithful member of the church and even served as the Bishop of their ward. He passed away in 2002 after a long battle with Alzheimer's. My grandma was married for over 30 years to each of her sweethearts.

I have many wonderful memories of my grandma but most of all I know that she loved me! She always told me and she always showed me, every time I saw her, every time I received a birthday card from her, every time I spoke with her on the phone, I knew that I was loved. And I think that those around her and those who came in contact with her knew that she loved them. I'm so grateful for her legacy as a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a faithful member of the church. I will never forget her and I hope to always be like her. I love you Grandma. Love your Heather Angel!

1922 dressed up for a community pageant