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She married James Leo Dunn, 26 February, 1923, in Heber City, Utah. They made their first home in Salt Lake City, Utah, where Leo was employed by the Denver & Rio Grand Railroad. Their first daughter, Cathaleen May, was born 1 December 1923, at the home of Leo's Mother, Kathleen Dunn. She was so small they made an incubator for her out of a shoebox and placed it in the oven of the gas stove.
James Ruland was born 7 July 1925 but only lived a few hours. He was buried in Mt. Oliver cemetery in Salt Lake.
Leo Burnell was born 23 June 1926 in Heber City at the home of his Grandmother, May Sessions.
Ella Lucille was born 23 March 1928, also at her Grandmother's home in Heber City. Soon after Lucille was born the family moved to Soldier Summit, Utah. Leo was transferred here as a result of his work. They lived here until sometime in 1929 when Leo was sent to Grand Junction, Colorado. The family lived there until June 1936 when Leo was transferred to Salt Lake City, Utah.
While living in Grand Junction four more children were born to this couple:
Betty Renee, born 13 November 1929, she was also born in Heber City.
Francis Doyle, born 16 September 1931, Francis was also born In Heber City.
Geraldine A was born 15 January 1933 in Grand Junction, Colorado.
John Adolphys, was born 28 October 1934 in Grand Junction, Colorado.
When the children were growing up in Colorado away from the rest of Leo and Ella's families they made a trip to Utah every summer by train. Ella and the children would stay in Heber a month with her parents. Her sisters would also come at the same time and they would spend this time making quilts for the coming winter. The Fourth of July was always a great time. All of the grandchildren would get together to spend the day, we would go to town, watch the parade and always have some money to spend. Uncle Ervin was always a kid with the other grandchildren, he always had horses for us to ride if we dared.
While living in Colorado, the family traveled to many other places. Leo's job was as a traveling storekeeper for the railroad and made it so we would live in Grand Junction for six months and in an outlying terminal for six months. We always kept the home in Grand Junction rented so we would have a place to return. Places where we lived are, Salida, Durango, Alamosa and Pueblo. In June 1936 Leo was transferred to Salt Lake City. Here the family bought their first home, up to now they had always rented.
Leo and Ella were very good parents. They always had time for their children. When another hand was needed to turn a jump rope or play ball, they were there. Ella was a very good homemaker and seamstress. She made all of her girl's dresses. When other girls at school had only two dresses her girls had three or four. Ella was also a very good cook but the kitchen was hers she did not let anyone mess in it. As Leo had a sweet tooth there was always desert for the evening meal. One time he complained that they had not had pumpkin pie for quite some time, she bought a case of canned pumpkin and we had pumpkin pie every night until it was gone.
There was very little money for things that were not necessary but when Cathaleen needed a formal for the Junior Prom, the money came from someplace. Christmas was always made to be very special. There was always one very special gift for each child and a few small toys and goodies. Leo was a good provider and each child was taught to work. We all had chores to do around the home.
On July 2l, l936, Joan was born in Heber City. On May 3, 1938, Grandpa Sessions died after a long illness. This was really hard on Ella as she and her father were very close. After we moved to Salt Lake we stopped spending a month in Heber as a family but the children still spent time there. They would ride the Heber Creeper, a train that took all day to get from Provo to Heber.
In June 1938, Leo was again transferred, this time to Helper, Utah, as a Storekeeper on the Railroad. They sold their home in Salt Lake and again had to rent a home, this time in Martin. Because this home was 2 miles from Helper it was necessary to buy a car. This was the first car that Leo had ever owned. It was a Studebaker. Up to now we had always lived where we could walk or ride a bus.
In the summer of 1941, Ella had a slight heart attack. This was hard on the family but Leo kept things going and with the help of friends and family she was soon up and going again. Grandma Sessions came and helped out.
September 30, 1943, Cathleen married Ray Anderton in Salt Lake City. Ray was an engineer on the railroad. They made their home in Helper where he worked. Cathleen was also employed by the Rio Grand at this time.
In the spring of 1944, Bud enlisted in the Navy. His mother did not want him to go but knew that if he did not enlist he would be drafted since the US was at war at the time. As Ella had a damaged heart this proved too much for her heart and she died June 1, 1944. She was buried in Helper, Utah. Leo and Ella had always done every thing together and losing her was too much for him. He tried to keep his family together and make a home, but his grief was too much and he died 8 November 1946 at St. Marks Hospital. He was buried November 13, 1946, in Helper, Utah.
After Leo's death, the children went to live with other relatives. Cathaleen and her husband took Marilyn to live with them, where she lived until she married.
Cathaleen and Ray Anderton still live in Helper. They had 3 daughters, two of which are identical twins.
Lucille married Rex Mair in March 1948. She died in July 1949 and is buried in Helper.
Geraldine Died 8 Novembcr 1996 in Long Beach, Ca. She had 1 son, and is buried in Helper.
Leo (Bud) lives in Helper and is married to LaRue Morley. He has 2 children.
Renee lives in Battle Ground, Washington. She has 5 children.
Francis lives in Riverdale, Utah, is married to Delores Ferreira. They have 3 children.
John lives in Helper and is married to Carol Allred. They have 4 children.
Joan lives in Salt lake is married to Robert Day, they 5 children.
Marilyn lives in Moundsville, West Virginia, and has 4 Children.
We try to keep together as a family, try to attend the Sessions family reunion in August and do our part to help carry it on so we can become a closer family.