August 1959

August 1

Sat.

August 2

Sunday.  Sunday School & church and Letty’s party.  Ate in my summer house.  Grandma and Maude stayed for few days.

August 3

We spent night at Letty’s.

Guess you are never too old for a sleep-over!

August 4

Clare and children & Mrs. Burleson had lunch with us in summer house.

Mrs. Burleson was my Aunt Clare's mother - she lived directly across from the Washington Elementary School in Fayetteville.

August 5

My Dad’s birthday

John Jefferson Hays had died in 1950.

August 7   [Actually August 6 – she’s off a day]

Thurs. [Friday]  I took Grandma & Maude home.  Spent night with Ira & Minnie.

They would have been going down that two-lane treacherous stretch of the old Highway 71 and over Mount Gaylor.  I can almost see every curve in that road!

August 8

Friday. [Saturday]  Dinner at Nora’s.

Nora Rainwater

August 9

Sunday.  Sunday School & church.  Supper at Maude’s.

How she must have enjoyed being back in Van Buren.  I never thought of that at the time.

August 10

Monday.  Came Home.

August 11

Tues.  Stayed with McKim children

August 12

Wed.  At home.  Getting ready for trip to Tahlequah

Now she's off to see her sister Mattie.

August 13

Thus.  Had hair set.  Club luncheon at Mrs. Parsons.  5:30 PM – caught bus for Tahlequah.  Mattie, Winnie and Karen met me.

Winnie & Karen were Mattie's daughter and granddaughter.  They had all been over to see Mammaw a couple of months earlier.

August 14

Friday.  Having visit with Mattie’s family.  John’s family came about 9 PM

John Hays King was Mattie's son.  He was born in 1913 - so a little older than my Mom. John died in January of 1960, only a few months after this visit.  John and family lived in Hayti, Missouri, where he managed what had been one of his Uncle Arthur's businesses. The last contact I had with family, grandchildren of John still worked in some of those stores.  Hayti is in the Missouri bootheel just across the Missouri/Arkansas line from Blytheville and several of the stores were located in this area.

August 15

Saturday.  Had fried chicken dinner.

August 16

Sunday.  Mattie’s family together.  Sad reunion because of John’s illness.  Ira & Minnie brought me home and stayed over night.

John King had cancer - Hodgkin's Disease.

August 17

Monday.  Catching up on things at home

August 18

Tues.  CWF 9 O’clock meeting at church.  Stayed at JoEllen’s rest of the day.

Christian Women's Fellowship

August 19

Wed.  Supper at JoEllen’s.

August 20

Thurs.  A.M. canned apples & peaches at church.  Busted my finger in car door.  Went to hospital & had stitiches taken.  P.M. Went calling with Mrs. Elmore

I remember when this happened.  JoEllen slammed her Mom’s hand in the car door in our driveway. I had just arrived.  Mammaw in great pain, Mom sick from what she'd just done.

August 21

Friday.  Worked in yard with Jimmy & washed.  P.M. Grocery shopped.

I think this was Jimmy Hight that helped Mammaw.  His dad Walter went to our church and had worked for my Dad for several years.

August 22

Saturday.  Mattie Came.

August 24

Monday.  Ira & Minnie took Mattie & me to Sarah Grove Cemetery – also to Dripping Springs Church where Mattie first saw Dave.  We bought material for skirts.

Sarah Grove Cemetery is outside Uniontown, north of Van Buren,;the Dripping Springs Church a few miles away where Mattie met her future husband, David King.  Little Sarah Woolsey, age 7, was the first person to be buried in this cemetery - her brother William, who died from wounds he received at the Battle of Prairie Grove in the Civil War, is buried near her.  My great, great grandparents, Elias and Martha Frances (Crutcher) Hays are buried in this cemetery as are two of their children, and a baby of Aunt Mattie's that died when he was less than a month old in 1905 - his name was Arvil Edmond King.  Elias and Martha were Mammaw and Aunt Mattie's paternal grandparents.  Elias died of consumption (tuberculosis) likely contracted during the Civil War, in 1979 before they were even born, so they never knew this grandfather. Martha died in 1896 when Aunt Mattie was about 14, Mammaw about age 9.

The church at Dripping Springs is now a residence - and there is a cemetery on the hill behind.  There are Kings buried there - probably David's kin.  Another set of great, great grandparetns rest here - Joseph Christopher Wood and wife, Letitia Ann Mayberry - Mom remembered them because they lived long lives. Letitia "Tisha" died in 1926, age 81, Joe Wood died in 1927, age 86.  Joe Wood's mother is also buried at Dripping Springs - hers one of the earliest graves.  His mother, Nancy (Winkler) Wood, had died soon after the family came to Crawford County in 1853 when he was twelve.  Some of his half-siblings that died young are buried nearby.  His father, William Wood and stepmother, Manda Biswell, are buried in another Crawford County cemetery.

August 25

Tues.  Mattie & I drove home.  Made pictures at Cemetery on way home.

This would have been at Grace Lawn Cemetery in Van Buren where Mammaw and Kenney, his parents, Ira and Minnie, and many of the Comstocks rest in peace.

August 26

Wednesday.  Went to town to shop & get medicine

August 27

Thurs.

August 28

Friday.  Mattie gave me towels.  Had supper at JoEllen’s.

Wonder if when Aunt Mattie was visiting, she noticed a few threadbare towels - Mammaw used everything until the last possible moment.

August 29

Saturday.  LaVonne fixed mine & Mattie’s hair.  Baked cake & grocery shopped.

August 30

Sunday.  K.M.’s family and McKims had dinner in Summer house with Mattie & me.

August 31

Monday.  Mattie went home.  I spent the day getting ready for Missionary Circle.

I think this must have been a wonderful visit with her sister!

July 1959

Mammaw was in San Francisco with Jay and Scotty at the beginning of July.  There were several days she noted nothing beyond the day the of the week - I have omitted those days...

July 2

Thurs.  Downtown with B’s and lunch at the Poodle Dog

The B's, I think, were Mr & Mrs. Borges - Jay's friends.

July 3

Friday.  Shopped at GETS.  Scotty and I bought birthday presents for Jay

Department store in San Francisco.  Jay's birthday was the 17th

July 4

Sat.  The boys, the B’s and I went to Ice Follies

They had gone to the Ice Follies two years before, too.

July 5,

Sun.  Barbecue dinner with Bill & Ruby

Bill & Ruby - were Bill & Ruby Banks.  That's why it's always difficult to know if she meant Borges or Banks when she referred to the "the B's"

July 7

Tues.  Went to Stonestown with the B’s

Shopping Center, I think.

July 8

Wed.  Dinner at Kenwood.  Picked up my plane ticket.

And now my plane ticket is on my iPhone.  Times have changed....

July 9

Thurs.  Went driving and shopped at GET’s and looked at houses

July 10

Friday.  Dinner with Cecil & Artis Pryor.  Beautiful old home.

July 11

Sat.  Lake Tahoe

Road trip!

July 13

Monday.  Kenney’s birthday.  Celebrated Jay’s birthday, Mr. & Mrs. Borges, Scotty, and me.

Now as a widow, I understand these quiet birthday celebrations in your heart.  

On the 14th, she must have flown to Kansas City.

July 15

Wed.  At Ike’s.  coffee at their neighbors.  Showed my pictures.

July 16

Thurs.  Had coffee with Ike and went back to bed.

July 17

Friday.  Jay’s birthday.  Becky & Ike brought me home.

July 18

Saturday.  Ike mowed lawn.  Night – had family here for cake & ice cream

July 19

Sun.  Becky and I went to church.  McKims took us to Country Club to eat.

July 20

Monday.  Cooked dinner and took care of McKim children.

July 22

Wed.  Choir practice.  Ball game

I wonder what ball game?  Seems an odd time of year...

July 24

Friday.  Had hair cut and set.

July 26

Sunday.  No birthday party for Letty.  Cy had eye operation.

July 31

Friday.  Cleaning & getting ready for party.

I peeked ahead.  On Sunday, August 2nd she'll have the birthday party for Aunt Let.

June 1959

When we left the month of May, Jay and Scotty had just arrived from California.

June 1

Monday.  Gad around

June 2

Tuesday.  Got hair done and went to Eureka Springs

June 3

Wed.  Mattie, Winnie and Tiny came & spent day.

From Tahlequah - Aunt Mattie, her daughter Winnie and granddaughter Karien, usually called Tiny.  

June 4

Thus.  We went to Van Buren – spent night.

June 5

Friday.  Came home from Van Buren.  Antiqued on the way.  Ate supper at JoEllen’s.  Becky & Ike came.

June 6

Saturday.  Waffle supper in summer house.  To be with Jay & Scotty

June 7

Sunday.  Church.  Jo & Joe took us to dinner at Country Club.

June 8

Mon.  Left for Calif.  Lunch at Enid.  Night at Garden City, Kan.

Jay and Scotty had driven so they could take Mammaw back home with them and see the sights along the way.

June 9

Tuesday.  Left Garden City 5:30.  Breakfast Syracuse, Colo.  Saw Royal Gorge.  Spent night in Gunison, Colo.

June 10

Wed.  Pretty drive in Colorado.  Drove into Las Vegas.

June 11

Thursday.  Saw Bryce and Zion Nat’l. Parks.  Night in Sands Motel.  Floor show & dinner.

June 12

Friday.  Breakfast at Boulder city.  Saw Hoover Dam.  Lunch in Barstow.  Night in Paso Robles.

June 13

Saturday.  Drove up coast to San Francisco.  Scotty got telephone call –  his sister-in-law had died.

June 14

Sunday.  Scotty left for Utah.  Jay took Borges’s and me for a nice long drive.

Scotty had a large Mormon family in Utah.  The Borgeses were long-time friends of Jay's.

June 15

Monday

June 16

Tues.  Took laundry & went for drive

June 17

Wed.  Scotty came home.

June 18

Thurs.  Mrs. B. (Borges) brought up boysenberries & raspberries

June 19

The B’s took me grocery shopping.  Wrote letter to Elmores.

Have no idea who the Elmores were...

June 20

Sat.  Brunch with Miss Woods.  Made Jay very sick.  P.M. shopped in Stonestown.

June 21

Sunday.  Father’s Day.  We went to church.  Took B’s for a long drive.  Gave him a sweater.

June 23

Tues.  My!  What a bowel trouble!  P.M. Scotty showed pictures made on trip.

Sounds like she may have caught what Jay had on Saturday - perhaps it was not the brunch...

June 24

Wed

June 25

Thurs.  Had strawberry short cake.  Eve. – played canasta.

June 26

Friday – usual Day

June 27

Saturday.  Saw Phillies beat Giants at Seals stadium.

June 28

Sunday.  Looked at model homes.  Drove to Lafayette and dinner with Bill and Ruby Banks.

June 30

Tues.  B’s (Borgeses) took me for a drive and lunch.

May 1959

May 1

Friday.  Painting & ward work.  JoEllen’s folk went to Little Rock

May 2

Saturday.  General routine.

May 5

Tuesday.  Kenney’s funeral one year ago today.

May 6  [4^th]  Somehow she got off on dates again...

At JoEllen’s

May 7  [5^th]

Tues.  Rode bus to Tulsa.

May 8  [6^th]

Wed.  Went for drive

May 9   [7^th]

Thurs.  Clare went to luncheon, Banker’s Convention.  She & Graydon went to banquet at night.  I baby sat.

May 10  [8^th]

Friday.  Clare & I both got a facial and had lunch in Utica Square

Utica Square was THE place to shop in Tulsa at that time - probably relatively new!

May 11 [9^th]

Saturday.  Graydon brought me home and spent the night here.

May 12  (Back on track with days and dates...)

Tuesday.  Washing & cleaning.  Had swing put up.

May 13

Wednesday.  Getting ready for club meeting.

May 14

Thurs.  Had my club meet – covered dish meal

May 15

Firday.  Got permanent A.M.   P.M. Drove to V.B. Hgwy. 59

Highway 59 was the "back way" to get to Van Buren.  Much less traffic.  Likely the family was encouraging her to take that route.  Her driving was never very good.  She was going to stay with Grandma Comstock and give Aunt Maude a break.

May 16

Saturday.  With Grandma

May 17

Sunday.  Had to miss church & stay with Grandma.  Ira & M. ate supper with us.

May 18

Monday.  Grandma’s.

May 19

Tuesday.  Minnie and I froze berries – 12 qts.

I'm sure strawberries!

May 20

Wednesday.  We met Letty & Cy at farm.  Got crate of berries to freeze.  Had lunch with Nora.  Washed for family.

May 21

Thursday.  With Grandma.  Gave her bath in tub.  Ira & Minnie came – Evening.

May 22  [23^rd]

Saturday.  Nora went to doctor found out she had to have operation.  P.M.  I came home.  Stayed at K.M.’s that night.

Nora would be her sister-in-law, Nora Rainwater.

May 24

Sunday.  Went to S.S. & church.  JoEllen ill.  I cooked dinner there.  Nora Rainwater. entered hospital

May 25

Monday.  Worked at home.  JoEllen. On vacation.

May 26

Tuesday.  Yard work

May 27

Wed.  JoEllen and I cleaned her back room.  Went to choir practice.

May 28

Thursday.  I kept JoAnn and Laurie.  Gave four little girls lunch on picnic table.  Night broke window.

Wonder who the extra little girls were?  

May 29

Friday.  Worked in yard and cleaned.  Mr. Sikes put in window glass.  Letter from Jay – said look for them Mon. night or Tues.

May 30

Saturday

May 31

Sunday  Jay and Scotty came.

I'm sure she was thrilled.  I can just see her sweet smile!  Their visits were always filled with fun for the whole family.

April 1959

April 3

Friday.  Grandma’s Birthday.  Becky and Ike came 11:45 midnight.

Grandma Comstock, of course - she was 92 this year.  Becky & Ike often arrived late at night...

  

April 4

Saturday.  Ike worked all day on summer house.  K.M. helped some and had his family here for supper.  McKims spent evening here.

April 5

Sun.  Becky and I went to church.  Ike & K.M. screened summer house.

The "summer house" was a small outbuilding in her backyard - she used it mostly for her potting shed, but we also ate out there sometimes in the summer.

April 6

At JoEllen’s

She notes being at Mom's at lot during the day.  I have no clue why. Wonder if Mom was working some and she was staying with Laurie.

April 7

Tues.  Rained out yard work.

April 8

Wed.  Cold & rainy

April 9

Thurs.  Went to Mrs. Futral’s to club meeting.  Stella Philbeck hostess.

April 10

Friday.  JoEllen’s and yard work.  Finished cleaning house.

April 11

Saturday.  Got food and things lined up for party.

April 12

Sunday.  Had Grandma’s birthday party at Letty’s.  Missed Kenney so much.  Came home and went to church fellowship supper.

April 13

At JoEllen’s

April 14

Tues.

April 15

Wed.  At JoEllen’s.  Then Choir practice.  LaVonne & Mary Jane had lunch with me.

April 16

Thurs.  Had my hair done – getting ready for state convention.

I think this would have been the state convention for CWF, the church women.  Must have been held in Fayetteville.

April 17

Friday.  Went to Fayetteville with our preacher.  Met Ira & Minnie – at State Convention.  They spent the night with me.

April 18

Saturday.  Back to State Convention.  Ira & Minnie. went home.  Littrells brought [me home] after night session.  How it rained!!

April 19

Sun.  Had a visiting minister speak at our church.  Rev. Pendleton from North Little Rock.  Went back for closing session of Convention.  Evening Joe checked in at hospital.

I was married and living in Fayetteville - don't recall what was going on with Dad at this time.  Ulcer flareup?  I believe this was too early to have been problems with his heart.

April 20

Monday.  At JoEllens.   P.M. Went to see Joe – being X-rayed today.

April 21

Tues.  Went to CWF luncheon.  Too cold and cloudy for yard work.  Spent night at McKims.

April 22

Wednesday.  With Laurie.  Joe came home from hospital.  I cooked lunch there.  Not feeling too good today.  Choir practice tonight.

April 23

Thurs.  Went to Van Buren with K.M.  Lunch with Grandma and Maude.

April 24

Friday.  At JoEllen’s.  Night – went to Kiwanis Minstrel.

The Kiwanians in Springdale put on an annual Minstrel show - even with black face.  Seems unthinkable now.

April 25

Worked in yard with Jimmy all morning.  Had McKims, Donny and Kay to supper and TV.

Jimmy Hight helped her with her yardwork at lot.   Mammaw always misspelled Donnie's name - I think because my cousin Don spelled it "Donny".  My uncle Jay would always spell Haden, "Hayden".

April 26

Sunday.  After S.S. and church I went picnicking with McKims, Hadens, and Backus family – near U of A.

Obviously Dad was fine.

April 27

Monday.  At JoEllen’s.  Bought paint for summer house, chairs, tables & swing.

April 28

Tuesday.  Had Mr. Sikes working all day on walk between summer house and patio.

April 29

Wed.  at JoEllen’s

April 30

Thurs.  Painted table, chairs, machine, swing, etc.

I think the "machine" she painted was an old treadle sewing machine base she used as a table.

March 1959

This is the last year of the diary.  Her bits seemed to shrink - maybe tired of keeping of the diary or maybe her world is shrinking a bit.  Maybe she was just missing my grandad.

March 1

Sunday.  S.S. and church.  Dinner at K.M.’s.  Graydon’s folk came in afternoon.  P.M. went with K.M. & LaVonne to get mimosa trees.  Night – Jay called.  About to buy a home.

Jay's house would be the house on Valmar Terrace which overlooked the city of San Francisco.  Smallish two bedroom house - garage and storage on the ground floor with the living quarters all upstairs for the view.  He lived there until he died in 2006, about 47 years.  The house sold as the bulk of his estate - about a quarter of a million dollars.  Not a great house - but a priceless view.  The picture was made in July 2013, when Stuart's family was in San Francisco.

March 2

Mon.  At JoEllen’s.

March 3

Tuesday – at home.

March 4

Wed.  Spent day at JoEllen’s.  Hard rain P.M.  Choir practice – Then spent night at JoEllen’s.

March 5

Thursday.  Gary’s birthday.

Gary Comstock was 9 that year.

March 6

Friday

March 7

Sat.

March 8

Sun.  After church Kay, Donny and I had dinner at McKims.  Attended first night of Missions Institute.

If Kay and Donnie had not been able to eat with the McKims and the Hadens over the weekends, we might well have starved!

March 9

Mon.  A.M.  Had yard man all morning.  Don’t know who did most work – he or I.

That's easy ...I know she did the most work!  But it was Spring and she had a new yard to whip into shape. She always had the most beautiful flowers and flowering shrubs.

March 10

Tues. at JoEllen’s.  Last night of Missions Institute.  Helped serve fellowship supper.

March 11

Wed.  Laurie’s birthday.  Had shampoo and set.  Choir practice tonight.

Laurie was FOUR!   As I post this, on March 12, 2015 - she is 60.

March 12

Thurs.  Kept Mrs. Sullivan and Mrs. Belcher over night.  Gave me beautiful pink gloves.

Wonder if she ever wore the gloves?

March 13

Friday.  I went to V.B.  Had lunch with Ira and Minnie.  Spent night with Grandma and Maude.

Drove by cemetery for a little visit with Kenney.

March 14  [16^th – got off on dates/pages again]

Monday.  Had lunch with Nora R.  Then spent afternoon and night at Maude’s.

March 15  [17]

Tuesday.  Came home with car load of plants & shrubs.

March 16  [18]

Wednesday.  I kept Laurie while Mr. Barker and I worked putting out shrubs.  Took out old ones.  Night – choir practice.  Mary Alice’s birthday.  Had sent package from V.B.

Mary Alice was five.

March 17  [19 – in 1959, March 17 was on a Tuesday…]

Thursday.  St. Patricks Day.  More yard work.

March 18  [20]

Friday.  At JoEllen’s

March 19  [21]

Saturday.  Yard work.

March 20

Saturday   Friday

Back on track with the correct day and date.

March 21

Sat.  P.M.  Practiced on Easter Cantata.

With my mama directing the choir.

March 22

Sunday.  Gave Easter Cantata at morning church hour.  Then again at a rest home.

March 23

Monday.  Kept Laurie here while Mr. Sikes worked on the summer house.

March 24

Tuesday – work on lawn and summer house.  LaVonne took me gadding and had lunch with me.

March 25

Wed.  Cooked dinner at JoEllen’s.  After choir practice we went to a show and I spent the night with them.  Real rainy.

March 26

Thursday.  Got out of bed at JoEllen’s.  Slipped out before 6:30.  Just had my breakfast.

Evening – Candle light service at church.

March 27

Friday.  Got shampoo and set A.M.  P.M. yard work.  Jimmy Hight and I drove to the country after fertilizer.

March 28

Easter Sunday.  Attended two services and S.S.  Preacher fed us at Ginger Blue.

Ginger Blue was a restaurant in Missouri.  Mom & Dad thought it a really big deal to drive all the way up there to eat and then all the way back home.  I was never quite with that - but we did it many times.  Since this was Easter, I wonder if Donnie and I went along that day, or spent the day with the Hadens.

March 29

Mon.  Yard work and JoEllen’s

March 30

Tues.  Income Tax report.

This may explain why she was staying at Mom's so much - to get her taxes done.

March 31   [April 1]

Wed.  JoEllen’s.  Yard work and choir practice.

February 1959

My wedding month - a busy time for all of us.

February 1

Sun.  Becky and I went to church.  Ike painted.  Dinner for 14 again – with JoEllen and LaVonne’s help.  Paul and Neva came.

February 2

Mon.  At JoEllen’s

February 3

Tues.  Went to group meeting at parsonage.  Took Mrs. Elmore with me.

February 5

Thurs.  My what a snow!  Staying in.  Getting slick.

February 6

Friday

February 7

Saturday.  Mr. Kennedy came.  I ate supper and watched TV at JoEllen’s at night.

February 8

Sunday.  S.S. & church and ate with MKims at AQ Chicken House.  P.M. Went to K.M.’s – He and little Kenney on sick list.

February 9

Monday

February 11

Tuesday  [it was actually Feb 10 – she skipped a day].  Went shopping down town and grocery store.  Called on Mrs. Kimball – new neighbor.

February 12  [11]

Wednesday.  At JoEllen’s.  Helped finish Flower girl’s dresses.

Would have been JoAnn & Laurie's dresses for my wedding.

February 13  [12]

Thus.  Club day.  Raining me out.  I went tho – had fun.

February 14  [13]

Friday.  Worked on Kay’s wedding dress.  The three little girls spent night with me.

She helped sew the seed pearls and the hemming on my dress.  The three little girls would have been Mary Jane, JoAnn, and Laurie.

February 15  [14]

Saturday.  Finished hemming Kay’s wedding dress.  Had dinner at JoEllen’s & helped celebrate JoAnn’s birthday.

February 16  [15]

Sun.  Went to S.S. & Church.  Lunch at home.  Slept nearly all the afternoon.  Feel much better.

Of course, she never mentioned feeling ill in the first place...

February 17  [16]

Went to Joe Ellen’s.  Put trimming on the little pink dresses.

Tues.  Assistant hostess at CWF luncheon and program.

February 18

Wed.  Stayed home till choir practice time.  K.M. & LaVonne took me.

February 19

Thur.

February 20

Friday.  Stayed with Laurie.  Cooked dinner.  JoEllen and I went grocery shopping.  Finished covering my lamp shade at night.

February 21

Saturday.  Washed and cleaned all morning.  K.M.’s family had preachers family over for six o’clock dinner.

February 22

Sunday.  S. S. & Church.  Dinner at Talbot’s in country.  Back to JoEllen’s and helped JoEllen and Lorraine put Kay’s wedding presents on display.

The reception would be at our house.

February 23

Monday at JoEllen’s.

February 24

Tuesday.  Picking up loose ends at home.

February 25

Wed.  Helped JoEllen clean and get house ready for Wedding reception.

February 26

Thurs.  Kay’s Wedding Day.  Got permanent and Mattie came.  Ira & Minnie came for supper and Wedding Reception at McKim’s after wedding.

So she was with her two sisters for my wedding.

February 27

Friday.  Spent day at home visiting with Mattie.

February 28

Sat.  Mattie went home.