1960

My grandmother wasn't quite ready to give up writing in a diary - we should have bought her a new one!  I'm not sure that anyone ever knew she kept this one.  The rest of the entries are on a Memorandum page and written around the margins of the calendar in the back. When there was no more room, she stopped writing.   As the new year began, she was in Van Buren, staying with Grandma Comstock.

1960

Friday – New Years Day.  Watched Rosebowl Parade and ball games.

Saturday.  Razorbacks beat Georgia Tech in Gator Bowl game.

Thanks to the Internet - here is a bit more about that game:

The 1960 Gator Bowl was a post-season college football bowl game between theSouthwest Conference co-champion Arkansas Razorbacks and the Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech representing the SEC. Arkansas defeated Georgia Tech, 14-7, in front of 45,104 spectators.  There were two players named Most Valuable Player:Jim Mooty of Arkansas and Maxie Baughan of Georgia Tech

Sunday, 3^rd.  Maude came home from Faustina’s.

Aunt Maude's daughter

Monday, 4^th.  Came home from Van Buren.  Kay’s birthday dinner at JoEllen’s.  I ate with them.

I was 20.

Tues. 5^th.  Snowing.  Did go to Missionary Circle.

Wed. 6^th.  Choir practice

Thurs. 7^th, went to bank to deposit Interest checks

Fri. 8 – Jo Ellen’s 3 to 6 p.m.

Must have been babysitting with JoAnn and Laurie

Sun. 10 – Nora’s & my party at Maude’s

That was surely in Van Buren - she didn't say how and when, but must have just gone down for the event. Nora Comstock Rainwater was 71 - she and I share the same birthday - January 4th.  My grandmother's birthday wasn't until January 16th and was two years older - age 73 that year.

Tues. 12 – Wed.  Anniversary.  1 to 6 p.m. at JoEllen’s.

My grandparents married January 12, 1908.  Until you are widowed, you don't realize that the Anniversary still occurs - even when no one else remembers it.

Wed. 13 – Shopped with JoEllen. Lunch at Coffee Cup.

Thurs.  Club party at Mrs. Nix.

Fri. 15 – Went to Rogers.  P.M. at JoEllen’s 1 to 6.

Sat. 16 – Eddy Hight funeral.

Eddy Hight was killed on a motorbike he got as a Christmas gift - I think he was about sixteen..  Eddy's Dad had worked for my Dad; they went to church with us; his brother had helped my grandmother with yard work.

Sun. Mon. Tues.  Baby sat at McKim’s.

I'm not sure why she was needed at Mom's so much at this time.  I wonder if Mom was having to work some at the office.

Thurs. 21 – Baby sat 6:30 to 9:30 P.M.

Sat. 23 – Graydon spent night.

Mon. 25 – Mattie called.  John died.

John King, Aunt Mattie’s son.  Six of Aunt Mattie’s eleven children had died before her death in 1961.  Four of them were her four youngest; her three sons all died before Aunt Mattie did.  Nora was visiting her sister in Tahlequah, 16 Feb 1962.  Mattie got up in the night and went to the bathroom but didn’t come out – when Nora went to check on her, she found her dead.

Sun. 24 – Dinner at McKim’s

Mon. 25 – Bought Car License

Tues. 26 – My birthday.  Baby sat at JoEllen’s all day.

Wed. 27 – Got hair done.

Thurs. 28 – Went to Burleson’s

Probably Clare's mother's.

Fri. 29^th – Went to Van Buren with K.M.

Sat. – Went to Siloam Springs with Clare.  She & Graydon spent night with me.

I wonder if this is about the time Graydon’s family moved to Siloam Springs.  This was the last entry.

There was nothing else.  The diary was finished as is this Blog.

December 1959

This was the last month for the diary but she added notes which I'll put in a final post.

December 1

A.M. Worked on aprons.  P.M. Missionary meeting at Merle Littrell’s.

I'm not positive but I believe this was the year she made matching aprons for the young granddaughters - Mary Jane, JoAnn, Mary Alice, and Laurie - for their Christmas gift. They had cross-stitch patterns on checked gingham.  Wonder of any of them still have them?

December 2

Wednesday.  Caught up on paper work, attended to business down town.  Choir practice.

December 3

Thurs.  A.M. washed and worked on pajamas and aprons.  Drove to Rogers, afternoon.

December 4

Friday.  Went to Rogers to get glasses fixed up.  Cooked lunch and baby sat at JoEllen’s.

December 5

Saturday.  Worked on pajamas.

December 6

Sunday.  Had dinner with K.M. & LaVonne.  A called choir practice at night.

December 7

Monday.  Sewed and baked.

December 8

Tuesday.  Got food ready for Christmas pkgs.  Stayed at JoEllen’s from 3:30 on – spent night there.

She always packed Christmas goodies for her sons that lived away - even if they were planning to be in Springdale for Christmas.. I believe she had started that when they were away in World War II.  After she died, my mother continued to send a box of goodies to her brothers.

December 9

Wednesday.  Mailed pkgs to Jay & to Becky and Ike.  Got shampoo & set.

Her hair was important to her - I don't believe she ever failed to note a beauty appointment.  I know that she was frustrated with her own attempts and really enjoyed having someone else wash and set her hair.  I started getting some gray in my dark hair by about age 35 - she asked me one day, "Why don't you do something about that?"  I responded to her, "You didn't color your hair and it's beautiful now, why would I bother?" She responded, "Oh yes I did, I colored my hair for years.".  I was stunned - still never colored my hair, tho....

December 10

Thurs.  Worked at Handwork sale A.M.  P.M. went to Fayetteville Club Christmas party at Bessies’s

Have no clue about the Fayetteville Club or Bessie.

December 11

Friday.  Opened up for CWF sale.

This must have been the Christmas bazaar that the church held just before Christmas every year.

December 12

Started sale again.  Drove to Rogers to get my glasses.

December 13

Sunday.  Ike’s birthday.  Gave Christmas Cantata.

Ike was 35.  No, she didn't give him the Christmas Cantata!  The choir at First Christian Church gave the cantata.

December 14

Monday.  Closed up our bazaar sale.  $102.60.

December 15

Tuesday.  Mrs. Cloer and I gathered up hand work.  Went to CWF meeting.  P.M. Helped McKims decorate.

December 16

Wednesday.  Helped JoEllen get ready for Garden Club.  Kept Laurie from 11 till 6.

December 17

Thurs.  kept Laurie from 11 till three.  Made holiday house tour with JoEllen and the girls.  Got glasses and hearing aid.

December 18

Friday.  Night, Graydon’s folk came.

December 19

Saaturday.  Had Clare & Mary for lunch.  Kept G’s children & McKim’s at night.

Guess she stayed with Don, David, Mary Alice, JoAnn and Laurie.  Don would have plenty old enough to stay alone but probably not reliable enough to take care of the young ones.

December 20

G.C.’s went home.  I went to VB for Grandma’s Christmas Party.  Spent night at Letty’s.

Translation:  the Graydon Comstocks went home to Tulsa.  Mammaw went to Van Buren, but spent the night with Aunt Let and Uncle Cy who lived in Fayetteville.  She probably drove to their house and rode with them to Van Buren.

December 21

Monday.  Came home from Letty’s

December 22 - Tues.

December 23 - Wednesday

December 24

Thurs. night.  Becky and Ike came.

From Kansas City

December 25

Friday.  Christmas.  21 for dinner.

Now we know why she didn't have time to write much in the previous days...

December 26

Sat.  Becky, Ike and I went to V.B.  Stopped at cemetery.  Had dinner with Ira & Minnie.

December 27

Sunday.  Went to church.  JoEllen & Joe took us to Country Club for dinner.  P.M. Becky & Ike went home.

December 28

Monday.  Went to V.B. to spend a week with Grandma.

So Aunt Maude could spend time with her own family.  None of Grandma's other children ever did this.

December 29 - Tuesday

December 30

Wed.  P.M. Grandma and I went to Nora’s to sew and to pick up milk at market.

December 31 - Thursday.

She never had time to write much when she stayed with Grandma - but maybe she didn't take her diary and caught up later.

Rest of the notes are on a Memorandum page and written around the margins of the calendar in the back.  The book was full, but she didn’t seem quite ready to stop!  We should have bought her another diary!

November 1959

November 1

Sun.  Dinner at Mrs. Burleson’s home with Graydon & Clare

Clare's mother - she lived in Fayetteville across the street from Washington Elementary School

November 2

Monday.  At Graydon’s.

In Tulsa.

November 3

Tues.  In Tulsa.  Rained all day.  Dinner with Eva & Joe.

Eva was my grandmother's niece, daughter of her sister Mattie.  Eva's husband was Dr. Joe Fulcher, a urologist.  They lived in Tulsa.

November 4

Wed.  Clare & I went to Utica Square.  Lunch there.  Graydon & Clare took me to dinner at the Louisiane.

Utica Square would have been the newest and greatest shopping in Tulsa at this time.

November 5

Thurs.  Graydon’s birthday.  Rode bus home.  12 noon.

Graydon was 51.

November 6

Friday.  9:30 Meeting of council & church women at our church.

November 7 - Sat.

November 8

Sunday.  A.M. Sunday School & Church.  Practice with Junior Choir. P.M.

November 9

Monday.  A.M. made pies at church.  P.M. Rode bus to Mattie’s.

To Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

November 10

Tues.  Mattie & I were alone.  Made aprons & pillow cases.

November 11

Wed.  More sewing.

November 12

Thurs.  P.M. Called on Mrs. Pendergrass.  Lunch at Jack’s.

November 13

Friday.  Mattie got word John was back in hospital.  Condition critical.

John was Mattie's son.  He had Hodgkin's Disease and he died in January of 1960.

November 14

Saturday.  Mattie on the way to see John and I came home.  Terribly cold.

November 15

Sunday.  S.S. & Church.  McKims had supper with me.

November 16

Mon.  What a gloomy Day.  Stayed in with my sewing.  Cleta Nelson passed away.  Had supper with K.M. & LaVonne.

November 17

Tues.  A.M. CWF meeting.  JoEllen had devotional.

November 18

Wed.  Choir practice with Jr. Choir

November 19

Thus.  Baked pies at church for bazaar.

November 20

Friday.  Made peach cobblers for bazaar.  Mr. & Mrs. Elmore took me there for lunch.  11 P.M. Becky & Ike came.

November 21

Saturday.  Took Becky & Ike to lunch at Bazaar.  P.M. Ike watched ball game with K.M. while Becky shampooed and I baked frozen pies.

November 22

Sunday.  Becky, Ike, & I went to church.  Children sang with big Choir.  P.M. Birthday party at Letty’s.  B. & Ike left for home at 5:30.

Not sure whose birthday - not Aunt Let or Uncle Cy's - party must have just been at their house.  Paul Comstock had a November birthday, as did Aunt Minnie.

November 23

Monday.  Worked on clothes.  Putting away summer things.

November 24

Tuesday.  A.M. raked leaves & wrapped Christmas packages.  P.M. Got a new permanent.

November 25

Wednesday.  All day at JoEllen’s.

November 26

Thurs.  Thanksgiving.  Had turkey dinner with McKims.  I Baked pumpkin pies.

November 27

Friday.  Went to Van Buren with the K.M. Comstocks.  Finished Christmas shopping.

November 28. 

Usual Sat. routine.

November 29.

Kay & Donny had dinner with me and spent the afternoon here.

My cousin Don spelled his nickname "Donny" and that's how she always spelled Donnie's.

November 30

Monday.  Spent all day at JoEllen’s while she and Joe went to Booneville to funeral of Bob Remy’s mother-in-law.

The Remy's were in the propane business and long-time close friends of JoEllen and Joe.

October 1959

October 1

Thursday.  Clare & Mary spent afternoon.  Drove my car to Fayetteville.

October 2

Friday.  P.M. Graydon and David came.

October 3

Sat.  Sat thro U of A and TCU game in rain.  Score:  U of A   3  – TCU  0

October 4

Sun.  Graydon & family had dinner with me.

October 5

Monday.  Payed bills & watched Dodgers & White Sox.

October 6

Tuesday.  P.M. Missionary meeting and led program.  Mrs. Kelley and I called on Mrs. Fischer & Mrs. Cloer – shut-ins.

October 7

Wed.  Put out washing.

October 8

Club luncheon at Mrs. Emerson’s.  Visited with Letty.  Thurs.

October 9

Friday.  JoEllen & I went to Rogers – Dr. Pickens.  Picked out glasses.

October 10

Saturday.  Another gloomy rainy day.  Listened to U of A & Baylor game, P.M.  Score 23 to 0 – U of A

October 11

Sunday.  Sunday School & Church.  Alone rest of day.

I think she didn't like being alone very much!

October 12

Monday.  Dr. Pickens again.

October 13

Tuesday.  Helped clean the church.

October 14

Wednesday.  Worked at Home.  Went to flower show.  LaVonne had lunch with me.  Called on Mrs. Gill – new neighbor.  Choir practice night.

October 15

Thurs.  Stayed at McKims

October 16

Friday.  Went to Van Buern.  Spent night with Grandma & Maude.

October 17

Sat.  Put quilt in frame at Minnie’s.  Lunch with Grace Farmer.  PM.  Lacked Comfort.

Not sure what she meant but apparently spent a rather bad night.

October 18

Sunday.   Sunday School & Church.  Heard Ray Lambert preach a fine sermon.

At Wood Memorial Christian Church in Van Buren.

October 19

Nora, Maude & I spent the day shopping in Ft. Smith.  Saw Sonotone man.  Spent night with Ira & Minnie.

Sonotone was the brand of her hearing aids.

October 20

Tues.  Nora had the bunch for lunch.  Spent night at Grandma’s.

October 21

Wed.  A.M. drove home.  McKims & I had flu shots in the afternoon.

October 22

Thurs.  Worked all day on curtains for fellowship hall.

October 23

Friday A.M.  Finished making curtains.

October 24

K.M. & I hung curtains in Fellowship Hall

October 25

Sunday.  Dinner at McKims.   P.M. Called on Mrs. Kelly & Miss McQuade.

October 26

Monday.  Kept Laurie and cooked dinner for family at my home.  P.M. Kept children – Committee meeting.

October 27

Tues.  Cooked dinner at McKims & baby sat all P.M.

October 28

Wed.  James shampooed and set my hair.

 I wonder who James was - I presume worked in a beauty shop.

October 29

Thursday

October 31

Home Coming at UofA.  Razorbacks beat A&M -  12 to 7

She didn't say but this would have been a Saturday.  Obviously this was a good season for the Razorbacks!