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Note: My mom and dad divorced when I was 4 or 5, I don't honestly remember. He hit her with a broom handle on the side of her face and she told him to leave. I think she called the police to get him out. From what I am told about him, because I don't really remember him, he wasn't a very nice man but he had never hit her before. My mother once said, "I could put up with a lot of things, but there is NEVER a reason for a man to hit a woman."
That was the line drawn in the sand, so to speak. And when he crossed it, he was history. My mom only had a 6th grade education and was not prepared to work. She got a job in a machine shop as a lathe operator. It was during the war and women were needed in the workforce to replace the men who went to war. They trained her. She got no support from my father, ever.
And she didn't want to go on Welfare. She had the four daughters at home, me being the youngest. It wasn't easy for her. She was a Christian and had high moral values. She never went out with or encouraged a man for the rest of her life. It seems my father had ran up some bills locally and my mother went to all the merchants he owed, and told them she would pay the bills as soon as she could. And she did. She never 'bad mouthed' my father as I can remember. She would say to me when I asked about him, "Well, he had his good points too, you know."
We grew up poor, but never went without. My clothes were my sister's before me. I was glad she was with me when Peggy was growing up. She took care of her while I worked. But she said, "When you're home, Peggy must go to you, not me." I loved her for that and she followed it. Peg would say, "Grandma, can I have a cookie?" and she would say, "Your mother is home now, you ask her." I was glad I had a good job that provided for her. When I would get a raise, I wouldn't open the envelope at work. I would bring it to my mother and say, "Mom, you open it. It is because of you (taking care of Peg) that I can work hard and not have to worry. You are a part of my success." I think she was secretly happy about that. She would "Ooo and Ahh" when she opened it. I learned a lot from her. She was strong and yet gentle. She was shy with people and had a dry sense of humor. I miss her.
I've never written about her before. I have tears in my eyes. Her funeral was a 'graduation' ceremony. It was extremely comforting to know she was in Heaven with Jesus. My only regret is that she will never meet you (Larry) here. (Written by Nancy on 28 January 2003 two weeks after Nancy and Larry met.)
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