Frank and Jane Smith Burney didn't have any children of their own
but several of their nieces and a nephew moved to the Big Piney area.
Jane had two sisters, Flora and Myra, and the son of a brother, James.
The Garris family is decended from Myra, the Marincic family from Flora,
and the Wilsons from James.
The Garris Family
Myra Smith married Thomas Garis and they had a son, George Thomas, Jan.
19, 1910, in Oklahoma. George, commonly known as Bob, came to this
area and worked for Phil and Elva Marincic who was his first cousin.
He then went back to Oklahoma and married Loreta Fite, daughter of Charles
and Carrie Owens Fite. Loreta was born June 9, 1915, in Oklahoma.
George then joined the army where his last name was misspelled as Garris,
which he kept. He served in World War II. After the army the
family lived in Grants Pass, Oregon, where George worked in a saw mill.
They moved to Big Piney in 1957 and George had a welding business while
Loreta bought the Cottage
Hotel. They soon bought a home which is now owned by the Brays.
George died April 6, 1962, leaving his wife, Loreta of Big Piney, and three
daughters: Billie Charlene Blevins of Grants Pass, Oregon, Darlece
Gene Traylor of Big Piney, and Linda
Carrie Tanner of Big Piney. Loreta sold the hotel to Harold and
Dorothy Wilder in 1969.
The Marincic Family
Flora Smith married Mack Feitz and their daughter was Elva. Elva
married Phil who had come here originally from Austria and worked his way
across the country. In 1911 he went to work for Charlie Noble.
He was in the service during World War I. In 1927 he bought the Muleshoe
ranch. Meanwhile, Elva came here to stay with her aunt and uncle.
They met at a dance and got married in September, 1929. In 1941 they
bought the Bill Luce place north of the cutoff on the Green River.
They had six children: Phil, Jr., Mike, Donnie, Pat, Helena and JoAnne.
The Wilson Family
James Smith and his wife Avo had several children, one of who was Jimmie
Virosko. Jimmie's daughter, Betty married Lewis
Wilson.
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