There are some things in life you never want to see. Your mother-in-law in a bikini is high on the list (though right below seeing your father-in-law in a speedo)!
Recently, this photo of my mother-in-law, Sallie Wyant Gray, at the beach with her friends came to my attention. First, please allow one observation: my mother-in-law was a knockout!
This photo is my new favorites of her. It shows her in a way that makes her so much more human. During the years I knew her, she was a always a devout Mormon and I would never have imagined her in a bikini (even a relatively modest 1950s bikini). In fact, Sallie was a bit of a socialite and was not raised in the LDS Church. She converted in 1953 and shortly thereafter married my father-in-law, Richard Gray. Seeing this glimpse of Sallie living a life that was on a slightly different trajectory than the life she ultimately lived, makes me appreciate her even more. She gave up a social set for a family and a life of service devoted to her adopted religion.
She was an awesome woman.
Sallie is the girl at the right in the foreground.
Today, in preparation for this post, I grabbed an old box off the shelf to see if I might find something interesting that I didn't know I had. To my great joy, I found four certificates that Edmund Morrison Wyant, my wife's grandfather, had saved. 
The first document is the grammar school diploma he earned in 1911at age 14. He then continued on to High School.
This second document commemorates Edmund's baptism on January 21, 1913. The certificate notes that Charles Ernst Laauser was one of his sponsors. (In my family records, I believe this would be Edmund's uncle Karl Ernest Laauser.)
Finally, the last document is the confirmation certificate dated March 16, 1913. This is a remarkably beautiful certificate. 
The photo at right of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church where Edmund was baptized and confirmed in 1913, was taken in 1910.
Especially for members of the extended Gray Clan, I want to point you in the direction of the Bozzuto Family Blog, where Courtney Gray and Tony Bozzuto have posted about the birth of their first daughter and second child, Violette Isabella Bozzuto.
Please note the roster of family blog links in the right hand column of this blog.
In May, Gail and I wrote a piece about Gail's maternal grandmother, Dorothy Ewert Wyant. Today, we tackle her maternal Grandfather, Edmund Morrison Wyant.
Grandpa Wyant was born in Sacramento, California on August 24, 1896 to William Wyant and Julia Katharina Elizabetha Laauser (who went by the name Elizabeth Laauser). The birth certificate at right was issued to Grandpa himself when he was 50 years old.
Grandpa faced unusual challenges as a small child. His parents divorced when he was quite young. 
Shortly following the divorce, his mother, Elizabeth Laauser, died. Though his father sought custody in court on a least two occasions, custody was granted to Edmund's maternal aunt, Minnie Laauser. While we have no records from the legal challenges, one wonders if the only deficiency the court observed was that William Wyant had divorced Elizabeth. 
In any case, we believe that William ultimately returned to his home in the small town of Scipio in Upstate New York, remarried and raised a family there.
Ed attended Sutter Grammar School on 10th and P Streets in Sacramento, just two blocks from the State Capitol Building, near--or perhaps exactly--where Roosevelt Park now sits.
He later attended Sacramento High School and graduated in 1914. Sacramento High School is one of the oldest high schools west of the Mississippi. The current building for the high school was constructed in 1924, so he would have attended in a previously constructed building.
Ed was raised a Lutheran and was confirmed with his sister in 1913 at age 16 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Sacramento; the Church was formed in 1876 at another location, but the chapel where he was confirmed was completed just one year before his confirmation in 1912.
Ed grew to be a strapping, handsome man. He stood 6 feet 1 inch tall, had blue eyes and brown hair.
During World Ward I, Ed enlisted in the Army and served as a stenographer. It appears that his service with the telegram defense division kept him in the United States, serving in New York City. He also 
served in the Chemical Warfare Service for a period of nine months. He was promoted to the rank of Corporal shortly before being honorably discharged. He received an honorable discharge on December 16, 1918, shortly after the war ended in November of that 
year.
After his discharge, his commanding officer, W.E. Brophy, wrote him a letter of recommendation, noting that:
Edmund Wyant has always been industrious and capable, sincere and faithful and possessed of excellent qualities of mind and heart. He was always well liked by his comrades and he passes from our midst with our best wishes for his success and happiness and with feelings of deepest regret at the parting.
Ed married Dorothy Ewert on June 10, 1922. The history of their marriage is recorded more fully in the post about Dorothy. Their only child, a daughter, Sallie Jean Wyant, was born on May 7, 1931.
In adulthood, Ed demonstrated a love of travel and a very active social life.
On August 6, 1923, Ed was admitted as a member of the Freemasons of the
Scottish Rite. He r
emained active in the organization throughout his life. He earned the status of a Master of the 32nd Degree on December 21, 1924.
He was also a Shriner, a member of 
the Ben Ali Temple of the Shrine in Sacramento. He was a charter member of the Sutter Lawn and Tennis Club. He was also a member of the American Legion, Post No. 61. In addition, he was an active member of 
the fraternal organization, the United Commercial Travelers of America.
Together, Ed and Dorothy loved to travel. The photo a
t the right is taken with an unknown friend and Dorothy's sister Elsa Ewert James. There is no clear indication of where this photo was taken, but the fencing and gate resembles that of the White House in Washington, DC. The photo at the
left here shows Ed and Dorothy in the great outdoors, 
although the photo doesn't indicate where.
During his career, Ed worked for 
twenty years for H.S. Crocker, a specialty printer. When he left, he started a stationery business with Harry Orman, called Orman and Wyant Stationery Company, which operated at 1236 C Street in Sacramento. Ed did not experience unemployment during the great depression and seems to have thrived professionally throughout his career.
Ed and Dorothy lived in a beautiful home at 1300 47th Street, in Sacramento. The home was an emblem of Ed's professional success. Gail has fond memories of visiting grandma Dorothy there throughout her youth.
Ed died on May 7, 1960 (Sallie's 28th birthday) after enduring a long illness.
Please note that you can view larger copies of any of the photos or documents in this post by clicking on them.
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