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Note: N2931 Mitochondrial DNA: H1a Pedigo family #136-2E4-72 and #136-225-272. 1940 Blaine Co OK, Logan Twp, ed 6-21, 5B, Mary W, 34, Edward A, 13, 9th grade, Earl C, 12, 4th grade, "Russel B," 7, 3rd grade. 1930 Blaine Co OK, Logan Twp, ed 6-21, p 1B 1920 Caddo Co OK, Waconda Twp, ed 75, sheet 5 1910 Green Co KY, town of Donansburg, Mag. District #4, page 108, 27-33 Mary Wood was a beautiful child with her curly hair and big dark eyes. Her eighteen-month-old sister, Ruby, adored her and thought she was her new doll. They had such good times together. Grandma was so young she really enjoyed dressing the little girls up and showing them off. Mary was musical like the rest of the family. Mary was helping a neighbor, Alice (Alvis) Peck, when one of her children was born. Alice's brother, George, and Mary fell in love. They surprised the congregation at the Brethren in Christ Church in Thomas when at the end of the service one Sunday morning, they went forward and were joined in matrimony. They lived and farmed at the Alvis home place west of the Pedigos. But on their first wedding anniversary, their little girl Mary Alice was born and died. They buried her on the farm under a beautiful tree. Their sadness was somewhat lifted the next year when 10 lb, 10 oz. Edward Arthur arrived. Two years later Earl Clifford joined the family. Both boys had polio and diphtheria. Earl was left very vulnerable to sickness and was never strong. He died in 1941 of edema and is buried beside his Grandmother Alvis at Thomas. Russell Van rounded out the family when he arrived in 1932. He was a blue baby, but Aunt Mary Atwell gave him the added Tender Loving Care he needed to survive. In 1934 Mary got very sick. She collapsed at home, where old Dr. Stough opened on her on the kitchen table. He did a C-section, but by accident clipped her intestine. He stuffed her full of gauze and rushed her to the El Reno Hospital. She was so near death, they put her in the "death room." Bishop Dave Eyster, George's uncle from Thomas, came and prayed all night, and she didn't die. Some days later she developed phlebitis. Her leg swelled as big as a number-three washtub. Again they prayed all night, and she was healed. George turned white-haired overnight at the age of 33. He was a changed man after Mary's near-death experience. He became an ordained minister and later officiated at the weddings of both his sons. Mary's father was so moved by the experience of God's healing his daughter, he founded the Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, called Cracker Box. In 1986, this church celebrated its 50th Anniversary. By the way, the gauze was never removed nor was Mary stitched up-she just healed over. Mary and George farmed west of Geary until the flood of 1948. Their farm was under water so high that all of their land but a small knoll was submerged. George promised her that if they lived through that terrible night, they would give up farming. So they had an auction as soon as they could and moved to Geary. George had a service station and Mary sold sandwiches to school children. They moved to Weatherford about 1950, where they had a Texaco station and delivered Mistletoe Express. In 1970 they moved with son Russell, first to Custer City, then to Clinton. Mary loved serving on the Election Board. She loved people and would look forward to seeing each one. She always had embroidery work or quilting going. She made beautiful tablecloths and quilts for her daughter-in-law, Evelynne, and for her granddaughters, Kathy and Sue. She was a good sport. No ride at the amusement park was too daring; for example, she rode the Mighty Mouse with her granddaughter Sue when she was almost 60. The thrill of her life was Evelynne and Art chartered a plane for her birthday one year and took her over Geary, Bridgeport, Hydro, Weatherford, Clinton and Foss Lake. She rated that ride higher than the jet she flew in to Chicago the next year for great-grandson David Snyder's birthday. She said she could see more out of the little plane. Mary and Evelynne had a day out once a month in later years. Evelynne writes, We both really looked forward to it. We would alternate between Thomas and Geary with a lunch at the restaurant of her choice. She was not only my mother-in-law; she was my best friend.
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