Where Are They Now? — Jennifer Stemmons (Sumsion)

After High school I continued working in the Deli at Albertsons. A few months later I met my husband and in December of 1988 we married and moved to Orem. The next year I began work for WordPerfect in the Hard Disc Cafe. I worked in the deli and bakery for 3 years and during that time had two babies. I had Lance in 1990 (he is now 17) and Amanda (now 16) in 1992. After Amanda was born I became a stay at home mom who sold Home Interiors, Melaluca and catered weddings, sold pies, wedding cakes, and birthday cakes. Anything to earn money. In 1996 my youngest Cameron (12) was born.

After 11 years of marriage I was divorced in 1999. It was hard to find a job after being a homemaker for nearly seven years. I found a full-time job as a lunch lady at Dixon Middle School. I really enjoyed the work, loved being around the kids and other ladies. I had some interesting experiences including a kid who fell through the roof and nearly landed on me.

I really wanted and planned to go back to school. I put off plans because my younger sister Liz was going through a divorce and her youngest son Ashton was having some health problems. My life was forever changed in January of 2002 when my sister's son Ashton was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in his brain stem. He was diagnosed with Menigeal Sarcoma, an extremely rare and aggressive form of Cancer.

For the next year I did all could to help my sister, watching her other two kids, cleaning her house, shopping, taking kids to the doctor or taking them all for a night so she could have a rest. She spent the majority of the year with him at Primary Children's Hospital. Ashton fought a noble battle, but the cancer was too aggressive and on April 29th, 2003, two months before he turned 8, he passed peacefully away. In his short life he lived every moment with such passion, he is an amazing kid. My sister is a hero to me, I can't imagine how hard it was for her, but luckily now she has been able to move on with her life.

After that I registered for UVSC, I quit my full time position at Dixon and moved to....Provo High part time so I work on a bachelor's in Business Management. It was very weird at first being back there. I even got lost a few times-the school has changed so much!! I was lucky to work with Sharlee Spencer (Slade's mom) for the first year, just a few months after Slade had passed away. It was a hard year for us; it was nice to tell stories and to learn about what he had been doing. Provo High currently has great teachers and faculty. I am still working on my business degree but I also added Art and Visual design, from graphics to photography. I have really enjoyed it. I plan to finish both degrees and graduate from UVU in two years.

Life has not been easy working at Provo High and going to school, while raising three great kids. I have an amazing family and group of friends that are there when I need help. My best friend in high school is still my best friend, Carolyn Fredrickson. We hang out whenever we can, she lives in Payson. Sometimes it gets really hard...then it gets harder. I was rear ended while waiting for a red light. The other car was going at a high rate of speed. Since my accident last October I have been unable to work. I have neck and back problems, and therapy is going very slow. I am very slowly moving forward although not as fast as I would like.

My oldest son Lance just graduated form Provo High. It is very weird to have it be twenty years after us. He loves singing and drama. He was in the production this year of "The Crucible" and actually shaved his head and colored it for the part. He was in choir and his concert choir won first in state this year! He plans to attend UVU this fall and spring and then go on a mission. He has a large group of friends, one in particular (Britney) is Becca Haws daughter, she is such a sweetheart.

Amanda loves tennis and boys, mostly boys since she turned 16 a week ago. The last two years she has been on the JV tennis team at Provo High. She is a good student and works hard.

Cameron just graduated from Sunset View Elementary and will be going to Dixon next year. He loves video games and anything unusual and different (like Ripley's).

If any of you would like to send me an e-mail I would love to hear from you!

jennsumsion@hotmail.com


Shy kids.

The almost entire family 2006(missing five).

Graduation picture 1988.

My son Lance in Provo High's The Crucible.

Lunch lady picture.

My parents, 6 brothers and one sister.

Provo High graduation 2008.

Amanda and the Provo High JV tennis team.

My nephew Ashton's grave with his 2 yr old sister Mya.

My son Cameron.

Fellow bulldog Carolyn Fredrickson and myself at Flintsone Land, South Dakota.

Christmas 1996.