It is time now to talk about our wonderful grandchildren. We are so proud of every one of them. I will not give birthdates as they are available for those interested.
Marlene and Jay have children, Nikki Sue, Marnee Lorain, Jason, Stefani Jo, Paul Melvin, Max Tyler, James and Mandi.
John and LaDonna have Rhett Forrest, Barry Rockford, Holly Lillian and Brook English.
Reed and Colleen have Alice Irene and Molly Johanna.
Sheila and Larry have Kristie Deanna, Tina Michelle, Sharon Carlene, Terri Suzanne and Michael Scott.
Ralph and Paulette have Sean (as mentioned before).
Link: Life story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, fifteenth installment
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, thirteenth installment
John had graduated from high school and Reed also one year later. Reed was quite rebellious at school but the amazing thing is that he has had more education than any of the others. He fell in love with a girl named Colleen Clifford who was determined to get a good education. This inspired Reed to do the same.
After John returned from his mission he enlisted in the army as he would be drafted in any case. He was first stationed in Louisiana and then transferred to South Carolina. There he met LaDonna Yandle and has lived in South Carolina ever since. They were married in the Mesa Temple, just as Marlene had done.
Later Sheila met and fell in love with Larry McCrery. He did not appear to be Mormon material but when he told me that he was born in Independence, Missouri, I knew that someday he would belong to the church. That came true and he has proved to be a genuine person. The whole family learned to love and admire Larry.
I need to start at the beginning and speak of the mates my children chose. I could not have chosen better than they did. I love these men and women very much because they have made my children very happy and have given us such wonderful grandchildren. How blessed we have been in this regard.
Jay’s mother was raised in Thatcher as I was and her maiden name was Ora Carpenter. I knew her family quite well and went to school with one of her brothers. The Yandles were real Southerners and it was a pleasure always to be around them.
Our son, Ralph married a girl named Paulette Ochoa. She had been married before and had one son, Sean, who was adopted by Ralph and took the Keller name. Paulette has proved to be a great wife for Ralph and has been interested in getting a good education and she is CPA, as our son, John, who graduated from the University of South Carolina. Paulette received her degree from ASU West. Ralph became a carpenter and has done very well in that vocation.
Sarah had a problem with drugs for a while as did Reed and Ralph. That problem was so prevalent everywhere. She met and married a man named John Sowers and they have been very happy together. He is a teacher at Central Arizona College in the Journalism department. Sarah decided that she wanted to become a teacher also and is at present teaching in the Coolidge Elementary School. She teaches the children of transient workers and has taken a course in Spanish.
Donna took nurses training at Phoenix High School. She has been employed at St. Joseph’s Hospital since she had her training. She recently (about two or three years ago) married a man named Ron Riley. They bought a lovely little home in Glendale and are doing very well. One thing that has made us very happy is that all of our children are with the mates they started with. I guess we taught them something right.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, fourteenth installment
After John returned from his mission he enlisted in the army as he would be drafted in any case. He was first stationed in Louisiana and then transferred to South Carolina. There he met LaDonna Yandle and has lived in South Carolina ever since. They were married in the Mesa Temple, just as Marlene had done.
Later Sheila met and fell in love with Larry McCrery. He did not appear to be Mormon material but when he told me that he was born in Independence, Missouri, I knew that someday he would belong to the church. That came true and he has proved to be a genuine person. The whole family learned to love and admire Larry.
I need to start at the beginning and speak of the mates my children chose. I could not have chosen better than they did. I love these men and women very much because they have made my children very happy and have given us such wonderful grandchildren. How blessed we have been in this regard.
Jay’s mother was raised in Thatcher as I was and her maiden name was Ora Carpenter. I knew her family quite well and went to school with one of her brothers. The Yandles were real Southerners and it was a pleasure always to be around them.
Our son, Ralph married a girl named Paulette Ochoa. She had been married before and had one son, Sean, who was adopted by Ralph and took the Keller name. Paulette has proved to be a great wife for Ralph and has been interested in getting a good education and she is CPA, as our son, John, who graduated from the University of South Carolina. Paulette received her degree from ASU West. Ralph became a carpenter and has done very well in that vocation.
Sarah had a problem with drugs for a while as did Reed and Ralph. That problem was so prevalent everywhere. She met and married a man named John Sowers and they have been very happy together. He is a teacher at Central Arizona College in the Journalism department. Sarah decided that she wanted to become a teacher also and is at present teaching in the Coolidge Elementary School. She teaches the children of transient workers and has taken a course in Spanish.
Donna took nurses training at Phoenix High School. She has been employed at St. Joseph’s Hospital since she had her training. She recently (about two or three years ago) married a man named Ron Riley. They bought a lovely little home in Glendale and are doing very well. One thing that has made us very happy is that all of our children are with the mates they started with. I guess we taught them something right.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, fourteenth installment
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, twelfth installment
Although Ralph and I were separated for a while, things were fine between us and we loved each other a great deal. I want to say now that my mother-in-law was very upset with me at one time because I had so many children so close together. She felt I was putting too much responsibility on her son. We were not on good terms for quite a while, but Ralph made me realize that I must try harder as she was his mother and that would never change. If you want someone else to change, you must work on yourself first. After I tried harder we got to be better friends. About having so many children, I do not remember my husband ever complaining. We both did the best we could and were thankful that Heavenly Father gave us this wonderful family.
Donna was our baby of course and all of the others showed their love for her. I mentioned that Reed had some trouble in school, but it turned out that he went further in school than any of the others. He got his Master of Fine Arts degree and hoped to teach art, but it didn’t work out that way.
After Marlene graduated from high school, we moved back to Phoenix. I left five of the kids with Marlene for a few days and Sheila and I went to Phoenix to look for a house. We found a home in Maryvale on the west side and lived in that house for about 21 years. We moved in August to hot Phoenix but we survived. Marlene wanted to go to BYU and had some room mates from San Diego. She seemed to be doing well and said nothing negative when she came home for Christmas. After she went back she wrote and said she was having trouble with the cold weather and wanted to come home. She enrolled at Phoenix College and met Jay Omerza, and they were later married.
Our son, John, was called to go on a mission to Uruguay and Paraguay in the Fall of 1967 and was first sent to the MTC to learn Spanish. He wrote that the teaching of Spanish was very concentrated and they were not allowed to speak any English after the first two weeks. He said that after he had been there for a short while, he was called upon to give a prayer in English. Because of the acceleration of learning, he could not do it. This was quite an experience for a young man. He filled an honorable mission and returned home on Christmas Eve of 1969.
Looking back I sometimes wonder if things would have been a lot different if we had stayed in California. Some of the children were greatly influenced by their peers and it was difficult for us as parents. I won’t go into detail but they turned out to be independent and upright citizens. We were very active in the church and happy. I recall that I had promised my boys that I would take them on a fishing outing to Oak Creek Canyon. For this reason I did not attend testimony meeting in our ward the first Sunday after we moved. I learned that Marlene had gone to the meeting and bore her testimony. It must have been very impressive. One of the Bishopric came the next week and asked if I would be the Young Women’s President. This all happened on the strength of Marlene’s testimony.
I held this position for three years and had some wonderful experiences. The people I worked with were super and we had a great group of girls. At this time our Bishop was Raymond Kellis, first counselor, Robert Fleming and second counselor was Carwin Rogers, who was in charge of MIA. I was very happy here and watching my children grow to be good men and women.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, thirteenth installment
Donna was our baby of course and all of the others showed their love for her. I mentioned that Reed had some trouble in school, but it turned out that he went further in school than any of the others. He got his Master of Fine Arts degree and hoped to teach art, but it didn’t work out that way.
After Marlene graduated from high school, we moved back to Phoenix. I left five of the kids with Marlene for a few days and Sheila and I went to Phoenix to look for a house. We found a home in Maryvale on the west side and lived in that house for about 21 years. We moved in August to hot Phoenix but we survived. Marlene wanted to go to BYU and had some room mates from San Diego. She seemed to be doing well and said nothing negative when she came home for Christmas. After she went back she wrote and said she was having trouble with the cold weather and wanted to come home. She enrolled at Phoenix College and met Jay Omerza, and they were later married.
Our son, John, was called to go on a mission to Uruguay and Paraguay in the Fall of 1967 and was first sent to the MTC to learn Spanish. He wrote that the teaching of Spanish was very concentrated and they were not allowed to speak any English after the first two weeks. He said that after he had been there for a short while, he was called upon to give a prayer in English. Because of the acceleration of learning, he could not do it. This was quite an experience for a young man. He filled an honorable mission and returned home on Christmas Eve of 1969.
Looking back I sometimes wonder if things would have been a lot different if we had stayed in California. Some of the children were greatly influenced by their peers and it was difficult for us as parents. I won’t go into detail but they turned out to be independent and upright citizens. We were very active in the church and happy. I recall that I had promised my boys that I would take them on a fishing outing to Oak Creek Canyon. For this reason I did not attend testimony meeting in our ward the first Sunday after we moved. I learned that Marlene had gone to the meeting and bore her testimony. It must have been very impressive. One of the Bishopric came the next week and asked if I would be the Young Women’s President. This all happened on the strength of Marlene’s testimony.
I held this position for three years and had some wonderful experiences. The people I worked with were super and we had a great group of girls. At this time our Bishop was Raymond Kellis, first counselor, Robert Fleming and second counselor was Carwin Rogers, who was in charge of MIA. I was very happy here and watching my children grow to be good men and women.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, thirteenth installment
Monday, August 4, 2008
Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, eleventh installment
The house where we were living in Lomita Village was just too small for our big family. Imagine nine people with only one bathroom. It was a nightmare for me! We finally traded houses with a friend and family who lived in La Mesa. This was a large home with three bathrooms. When time came to make the trade, Ralph was in the hospital after having hernia surgery. It was up to me to make this move with my seven children and it was a big task. It seemed to me that the church always helped people who were moving but I was given no help. At that time I felt like we were on the outside looking in where the ward was concerned. I hired a mover and we got the job done. After we were in the new house, it was getting dark and suddenly there was no electricity. No beds had been made and I was beside myself, not knowing where to turn. Then I remembered that I had a cousin (an electrician) who might help. He came and found there was a control box just inside the front door which had once been enclosed in a closet. One of my children had noticed this and had pulled the switch. On my!
Here I will digress a little and tell about my feelings about the church here. Since I had always been used to being expected to have a job in the ward, I was not asked to do anything but take care of my family. I felt that I was not wanted and didn’t care if I went to church or not. All of my life I had been active and I was devastated. One night I had a dream and a friend, Leora Jay, came to me and told me that if I did not bear my testimony I would lose it. When we moved to La Mesa Ward, I became very involved and was happy once again. I taught Primary and had several other positions while in that area. I recall that at one time I was my son Ralph’s Sunday School teacher and I thought things were going well. One day he told me that he wished I was not his teacher. I was shocked and asked him why. He said, “Because you pick on me”. I realized that what he said was true and I asked to be released from that job. Our children can surely teach us a lot.
We made many wonderful friends while in this home - one family being the Clegg family. They had a daughter Sheila’s age and they were great friends. When a new church building was being planned, they asked even the children to use their talents to raise money for the building. Sr. Clegg had planted sweet peas along her fence and they were really thriving and beautiful. Veva Jean and Sheila went into Casa de Oro and sold bunches of sweet peas, which helped greatly with the building fund.
We lived in the same house for about seven years and helped to fund the building of two new church buildings. As can be seen, the church was a total part of our lives and we were happy. When a new building was dedicated in El Cajon, Marlene was singing in the choir and they sang ‘The Spirit of God like a Fire is Burning.” It was the most thrilling experience. There was not just the choir singing, but angels were singing with them. Our Stake President was crying out loud and we all shed tears while we heard those angels. What a testimony that the church was true and that God was accepting our efforts.
Some of the delights of living in the San Diego area were the many cultural advantages, total involvement in church activities, and close relationship with friends and relatives. Aunt Minnie’s family and Aunt Jessie’s family have been very important in my life. Since I was raised in a small town, it was wonderful to take advantage of the cultural and social opportunities that were there for us. There was Balboa Park, the beach, and the mountains not far away.
One summer while the children were out of school, we took our tent and all the equipment we needed and spent a few days near Mt. Palomar. Ralph took us and helped get everything in order. We kept the truck and the boys slept in the back under some trees. Early in the morning the raccoons and squirrels threw pine cones at them and they thought that was great. The girls slept in the tent and we all had so much fun. We spent some time learning about the huge telescope at Mt. Palomar.
Marlene had been taking piano lessons while in Ajo from Thelma Allen. It was easy to see that she loved music and would sit at the piano all day if she could. Since she was the oldest child, her mother needed her help and thus she learned to be a good mother, which served her well in her future life. I asked the piano teacher how I could tell if the other children had musical talent. Thus all of my children were given piano lessons and some of them took advantage of this.
The children did well in school and seemed to have many good friends. When John was old enough to leave Primary, he didn’t want to go into M.I.A. The next year when it was time for Reed to leave Primary, he couldn’t make the change soon enough. I could see then that each one of my children were definitely individuals and each had their own personality. Sarah was a smart little girl and had me fooled a lot of the time. She had sticky fingers but overcame this habit later on.
Reed was not too happy in school because he didn’t like to be told what to do. When he was a freshman in high school, Ralph went back to Phoenix to work for his dad. It was a necessary move and he came home on weekends as often as he could. I spent a lot of time trying to be father and mother. I was alone with the children one year, which was difficult for me and the next year Marlene was a senior in high school and I just couldn’t bear to make her leave all of her friends at that time. Her music was so important to her and when she was 14 she was Ward Organist.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, twelfth installment
Here I will digress a little and tell about my feelings about the church here. Since I had always been used to being expected to have a job in the ward, I was not asked to do anything but take care of my family. I felt that I was not wanted and didn’t care if I went to church or not. All of my life I had been active and I was devastated. One night I had a dream and a friend, Leora Jay, came to me and told me that if I did not bear my testimony I would lose it. When we moved to La Mesa Ward, I became very involved and was happy once again. I taught Primary and had several other positions while in that area. I recall that at one time I was my son Ralph’s Sunday School teacher and I thought things were going well. One day he told me that he wished I was not his teacher. I was shocked and asked him why. He said, “Because you pick on me”. I realized that what he said was true and I asked to be released from that job. Our children can surely teach us a lot.
We made many wonderful friends while in this home - one family being the Clegg family. They had a daughter Sheila’s age and they were great friends. When a new church building was being planned, they asked even the children to use their talents to raise money for the building. Sr. Clegg had planted sweet peas along her fence and they were really thriving and beautiful. Veva Jean and Sheila went into Casa de Oro and sold bunches of sweet peas, which helped greatly with the building fund.
We lived in the same house for about seven years and helped to fund the building of two new church buildings. As can be seen, the church was a total part of our lives and we were happy. When a new building was dedicated in El Cajon, Marlene was singing in the choir and they sang ‘The Spirit of God like a Fire is Burning.” It was the most thrilling experience. There was not just the choir singing, but angels were singing with them. Our Stake President was crying out loud and we all shed tears while we heard those angels. What a testimony that the church was true and that God was accepting our efforts.
Some of the delights of living in the San Diego area were the many cultural advantages, total involvement in church activities, and close relationship with friends and relatives. Aunt Minnie’s family and Aunt Jessie’s family have been very important in my life. Since I was raised in a small town, it was wonderful to take advantage of the cultural and social opportunities that were there for us. There was Balboa Park, the beach, and the mountains not far away.
One summer while the children were out of school, we took our tent and all the equipment we needed and spent a few days near Mt. Palomar. Ralph took us and helped get everything in order. We kept the truck and the boys slept in the back under some trees. Early in the morning the raccoons and squirrels threw pine cones at them and they thought that was great. The girls slept in the tent and we all had so much fun. We spent some time learning about the huge telescope at Mt. Palomar.
Marlene had been taking piano lessons while in Ajo from Thelma Allen. It was easy to see that she loved music and would sit at the piano all day if she could. Since she was the oldest child, her mother needed her help and thus she learned to be a good mother, which served her well in her future life. I asked the piano teacher how I could tell if the other children had musical talent. Thus all of my children were given piano lessons and some of them took advantage of this.
The children did well in school and seemed to have many good friends. When John was old enough to leave Primary, he didn’t want to go into M.I.A. The next year when it was time for Reed to leave Primary, he couldn’t make the change soon enough. I could see then that each one of my children were definitely individuals and each had their own personality. Sarah was a smart little girl and had me fooled a lot of the time. She had sticky fingers but overcame this habit later on.
Reed was not too happy in school because he didn’t like to be told what to do. When he was a freshman in high school, Ralph went back to Phoenix to work for his dad. It was a necessary move and he came home on weekends as often as he could. I spent a lot of time trying to be father and mother. I was alone with the children one year, which was difficult for me and the next year Marlene was a senior in high school and I just couldn’t bear to make her leave all of her friends at that time. Her music was so important to her and when she was 14 she was Ward Organist.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, twelfth installment
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, tenth installment
Sheila Rae was born on 5 June 1951 and we were so proud of our two sons and two daughters. Another son, Ralph Eugene was born on 18 July 1952. When we found we had another boy, my husband wanted to name him Ralph. I said, “Won’t that be a little confusing?” He said, “To who”, so our third son was named Ralph Eugene.
When I found that I was going to have another child, I was overwhelmed and felt like I couldn’t do this again so soon. I wrote to my Aunt Delia Winsor (who had fourteen children) and told her how I felt. She sympathized with me and said that she had felt the same way many times, but found each one was a blessing in disguise. During this time I was in the temple one day and was aware of an elderly woman seated beside me. I looked at her hands and they were just like my Grandma’s hands and I knew Grandma was very close to me. I knew that everything would be all right. Sarah Ann was born on 3 September 1954 and really has proved to be a blessing in disguise.
Our last girl, Donna Leah (named for a dear, beautiful cousin who had died of tuberculosis) was born on 29 December 1955. I knew after she was born that mentally and emotionally I could not bring another child into the world. We took steps to make sure there would be no more offspring. I know now that we loved our children very much, in spite of the fact that it was a big responsibility.
Before Sarah came into our lives, I had an appointment with the doctor for a checkup. In Ajo all medical facilities were owned by Phelps Dodge. Sheila had a bad cold at the time so I took her along. After examination, the doctor asked if she had ever had Rheumatic Fever and I said not that I was aware of. There was to be a Crippled Children’s Clinic in the near future and he suggested that she be examined there. It was discovered that she had heart problems - a constriction of the aorta and a valve which didn’t close when she was born. This meant that any infection could be very risky. When Donna was ten days old, we moved to San Diego where Ralph found employment. He preceded me and some of the children and found housing for us in Lomita Village. We found a good Pediatrician and placed Sheila in his care. She would need to have surgery later when she was at least ten years old.
Things went well and we were happy in our new location. Marlene, John and Reed were enrolled in school (Reed being in the second grade). John was playing with a neighbor boy one day and he hit a golf ball with a club and it hit John squarely in the left eye. We found an excellent optomist who said that no permanent damage was done. John told me recently that he had always had some trouble with that eye and his peripheral vision was not as good as it should be. To get back to Reed, his 2nd grade teacher sent a note home one day that we should have his eyes examined. We took him to this same doctor and told me he was amazed that Reed had learned anything in school as his vision was very impaired. He prescribed glasses for our little boy.
I felt so guilty that I had not known about his problem and wrote a note to that teacher, thanking her for her concern. When we returned to get the glasses, the doctor said that I should notice his reaction when he saw the neighborhood while he wore the glasses. He said he would see things that he didn’t know were there. This was true and thereafter, he was never without his glasses. Thank goodness for caring teachers.
Sheila entered Kindergarten at the age of five and she was not very happy to leave home for school. One day when she did not show up at school, I searched and found her hiding in the alley behind our house - she was miserable at school. This was taken care of and when she was in first grade (remember I still had three little ones at home) it was decided that she should have the surgery soon. The evidence of the problem was nose bleeds in the night and shortness of breath. In the winter of 1957, her daddy and I took her to the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles for her surgery. Grandma Keller stayed with the other six while I spent about a week while Sheila was in the hospital.
After the surgery before I went into the room to see her, they told me she would be almost in a coma as they had to bring her temperature down to slow her heart rate. When I walked into that room, she was in an oxygen tent and fighting to get out. There was no need for alarm as she was very active. They tried to feed her cooked liver for nourishment. She was wearing a red gown and fighting with the nurses about eating the liver. Her face was almost as red as her gown. Was she ever a spunky little girl! Her daddy came to take us home and it was good to be back with my family again. I have often laughed about Grandma Keller. As I remember, she preferred children she could read to rather than babies. When we came home, she was gone within a half hour.
Two months after the surgery we returned for the surgeon to check her over. Her blood pressure was absolutely normal, which the doctor said was amazing. She did very well from that time on. She was out of school for a while and a teacher was sent several days a week for her to be home taught. The Lord really blessed us to have our family whole again.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, eleventh installment
When I found that I was going to have another child, I was overwhelmed and felt like I couldn’t do this again so soon. I wrote to my Aunt Delia Winsor (who had fourteen children) and told her how I felt. She sympathized with me and said that she had felt the same way many times, but found each one was a blessing in disguise. During this time I was in the temple one day and was aware of an elderly woman seated beside me. I looked at her hands and they were just like my Grandma’s hands and I knew Grandma was very close to me. I knew that everything would be all right. Sarah Ann was born on 3 September 1954 and really has proved to be a blessing in disguise.
Our last girl, Donna Leah (named for a dear, beautiful cousin who had died of tuberculosis) was born on 29 December 1955. I knew after she was born that mentally and emotionally I could not bring another child into the world. We took steps to make sure there would be no more offspring. I know now that we loved our children very much, in spite of the fact that it was a big responsibility.
Before Sarah came into our lives, I had an appointment with the doctor for a checkup. In Ajo all medical facilities were owned by Phelps Dodge. Sheila had a bad cold at the time so I took her along. After examination, the doctor asked if she had ever had Rheumatic Fever and I said not that I was aware of. There was to be a Crippled Children’s Clinic in the near future and he suggested that she be examined there. It was discovered that she had heart problems - a constriction of the aorta and a valve which didn’t close when she was born. This meant that any infection could be very risky. When Donna was ten days old, we moved to San Diego where Ralph found employment. He preceded me and some of the children and found housing for us in Lomita Village. We found a good Pediatrician and placed Sheila in his care. She would need to have surgery later when she was at least ten years old.
Things went well and we were happy in our new location. Marlene, John and Reed were enrolled in school (Reed being in the second grade). John was playing with a neighbor boy one day and he hit a golf ball with a club and it hit John squarely in the left eye. We found an excellent optomist who said that no permanent damage was done. John told me recently that he had always had some trouble with that eye and his peripheral vision was not as good as it should be. To get back to Reed, his 2nd grade teacher sent a note home one day that we should have his eyes examined. We took him to this same doctor and told me he was amazed that Reed had learned anything in school as his vision was very impaired. He prescribed glasses for our little boy.
I felt so guilty that I had not known about his problem and wrote a note to that teacher, thanking her for her concern. When we returned to get the glasses, the doctor said that I should notice his reaction when he saw the neighborhood while he wore the glasses. He said he would see things that he didn’t know were there. This was true and thereafter, he was never without his glasses. Thank goodness for caring teachers.
Sheila entered Kindergarten at the age of five and she was not very happy to leave home for school. One day when she did not show up at school, I searched and found her hiding in the alley behind our house - she was miserable at school. This was taken care of and when she was in first grade (remember I still had three little ones at home) it was decided that she should have the surgery soon. The evidence of the problem was nose bleeds in the night and shortness of breath. In the winter of 1957, her daddy and I took her to the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles for her surgery. Grandma Keller stayed with the other six while I spent about a week while Sheila was in the hospital.
After the surgery before I went into the room to see her, they told me she would be almost in a coma as they had to bring her temperature down to slow her heart rate. When I walked into that room, she was in an oxygen tent and fighting to get out. There was no need for alarm as she was very active. They tried to feed her cooked liver for nourishment. She was wearing a red gown and fighting with the nurses about eating the liver. Her face was almost as red as her gown. Was she ever a spunky little girl! Her daddy came to take us home and it was good to be back with my family again. I have often laughed about Grandma Keller. As I remember, she preferred children she could read to rather than babies. When we came home, she was gone within a half hour.
Two months after the surgery we returned for the surgeon to check her over. Her blood pressure was absolutely normal, which the doctor said was amazing. She did very well from that time on. She was out of school for a while and a teacher was sent several days a week for her to be home taught. The Lord really blessed us to have our family whole again.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, eleventh installment
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, ninth installment
Ralph and I lived with his parents for a while after we were married and then moved into an apartment that belonged to Grandma Renshaw. I began working at the OPA office during this time. Grandpa Keller had given Ralph a lot on 23rd St. and he was trying to build us a home. I continued to work until two months before Marlene was born. I worked because we were financially trying to be independent. Lillian Marlene was born on 24 July 1946 and by that time we were living in our own home. Marlene was very tiny when born, because I didn’t gain much weight during my pregnancy.
This little daughter was smart and hard to keep up with later on but she was a lot of company for her mother. John Patterson came along when Marlene was about two years old, and we were so proud of our new little boy. Before John was born, Ralph had quit smoking all on his own and I loved him even more for the effort he made. He was then worthy to bless John who was named for his grandfather, John Patterson Keller. At the time of his blessing a man came to see our new baby and said that if he was half the man his grandfather was, he would be great. Grandpa Keller was a wonderful man and I loved him with all my heart. By the way John was born on 6 September 1948 in St. Joseph’s Hospital.
We had built a house with two bedrooms, a double bed in one room and twin beds in the other. One busy afternoon I laid John on one of the twin beds and went on with my cleaning. When I came back into the room, he was laying on the other bed. Marlene was trying to be a little mother, so I knew I would have to be more watchful. The Cahills were living next door to us and had adopted a little boy named Mike, so Marlene had a playmate.
She was like her mother in some ways; she was quite a wanderer and inclined to leave home without saying anything to me. This happened several times and since we had no fence, I tried tying her to the clothesline, which gave her room to roam. One day I had to take extreme measures. We had a small suitcase so I put some of her things in this case and told her that she didn’t like her home I wanted her to leave. I put her out the front door and watched what she did. She sat on the curb a little distance away and started to cry. After a time I loved her and brought her back; I didn’t have any problem from then on.
John was a good baby, had some colic but did very well.
On 27 October 1948 Ralph and I with our children Marlene and John went to the temple and were sealed. This was something I had dreamed about all of my life and I was so proud that Ralph made himself worthy to take this step. I will always be grateful that the Lord made this possible.
Reed Francis was born on 16 October 1949 and grew so fast. Because he was not getting enough nourishment from just milk, I was told to start him on solid food when he was about a month old.
When Reed was a year old we moved to Ajo, as Ralph was Evan Mecham’s first employee. Ralph worked at his car dealership as a mechanic and later was in charge of the Parts Dept. Those were some of the happiest days of my life, in spite of the fact I had three little children and always had at least two jobs in the church. We had a great ward and it was like one big happy family. I got acquainted with my cousin, Ruth Winsor Weems and we learned to love each other a lot. While living in Ajo, our last four children were born.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, tenth installment
This little daughter was smart and hard to keep up with later on but she was a lot of company for her mother. John Patterson came along when Marlene was about two years old, and we were so proud of our new little boy. Before John was born, Ralph had quit smoking all on his own and I loved him even more for the effort he made. He was then worthy to bless John who was named for his grandfather, John Patterson Keller. At the time of his blessing a man came to see our new baby and said that if he was half the man his grandfather was, he would be great. Grandpa Keller was a wonderful man and I loved him with all my heart. By the way John was born on 6 September 1948 in St. Joseph’s Hospital.
We had built a house with two bedrooms, a double bed in one room and twin beds in the other. One busy afternoon I laid John on one of the twin beds and went on with my cleaning. When I came back into the room, he was laying on the other bed. Marlene was trying to be a little mother, so I knew I would have to be more watchful. The Cahills were living next door to us and had adopted a little boy named Mike, so Marlene had a playmate.
She was like her mother in some ways; she was quite a wanderer and inclined to leave home without saying anything to me. This happened several times and since we had no fence, I tried tying her to the clothesline, which gave her room to roam. One day I had to take extreme measures. We had a small suitcase so I put some of her things in this case and told her that she didn’t like her home I wanted her to leave. I put her out the front door and watched what she did. She sat on the curb a little distance away and started to cry. After a time I loved her and brought her back; I didn’t have any problem from then on.
John was a good baby, had some colic but did very well.
On 27 October 1948 Ralph and I with our children Marlene and John went to the temple and were sealed. This was something I had dreamed about all of my life and I was so proud that Ralph made himself worthy to take this step. I will always be grateful that the Lord made this possible.
Reed Francis was born on 16 October 1949 and grew so fast. Because he was not getting enough nourishment from just milk, I was told to start him on solid food when he was about a month old.
When Reed was a year old we moved to Ajo, as Ralph was Evan Mecham’s first employee. Ralph worked at his car dealership as a mechanic and later was in charge of the Parts Dept. Those were some of the happiest days of my life, in spite of the fact I had three little children and always had at least two jobs in the church. We had a great ward and it was like one big happy family. I got acquainted with my cousin, Ruth Winsor Weems and we learned to love each other a lot. While living in Ajo, our last four children were born.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, tenth installment
Friday, August 1, 2008
Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, eighth installment
In the early fall of 1944 I was in the music room for our company’s use and a young man came and we started a conversation. In spite of the fact that I was 24 years old, I was quite naive. He was very charming and good-looking and we started going together. One of my friends who worked in personnel told me one day that George was married. I kept seeing him anyway and he was very good company. I thought I was in love and could have made a serious mistake. Fortunately while I was on furlough, his wife came to visit him. He wrote me that we must end our relationship. Wanting to be honest, I wrote Ralph about this and told him that I was still the same girl I had been.
About this time Ralph wrote and told me that he had been married in 1941 and was still married to this girl. It was a shock to me but his father was working on getting an annulment as they had evidently never lived together. In many of his letters, he told me that he didn’t trust women and said that if I had not been a Mormon, he would not have written for so long to me.
When I went home on furlough, I had a chance a couple of times to go to the Keller home in Phoenix and visit with Ralph’s family. They were very gracious to me and it was so good to write and tell him that I had been in touch with his family. He got very excited when I told him about the visit and asked me to tell every little detail. I can’t recall if I met just his parents or if his sisters, Shirley and Louise were there also.
In March of 1945 I had a phone call from Ralph and he was at home finally in Phoenix. The next day I received a telegram from him telling me that we must somehow get together and meet each other. I had just had a furlough in January to visit my Grandma who was quite ill in California. I was lucky enough to get a short furlough about the last of March and met him in Phoenix. When we first met he didn’t seem to be what I expected, but the more we were together the more I realized that he was a fine man and really was in love with me. He had told me sometime ago that he had the bad habit of smoking and doubted if he could quit.
He spent about three months stationed at Santa Ana, California in rehabilitation hospital. The men who came back from overseas brought a lot of problems home with them and had to learn to be civilians again. On 30 June I wrote him from San Diego that I was there because of Grandma’s serious illness. I managed to see him for a couple of days and we met in Lynwood at the home of his Aunt Mary. It was wonderful to be with him again and to know that I was also in love with him. We had written for such a long time and really knew a lot about each other. We spent one day in Los Angeles and I remember that we went boat riding in Westlake Park. In reading over his letters I remembered that he proposed to me on the streets of Los Angeles.
He had a hard time deciding whether he was ready to take on the responsibility of marriage. He was like a yo-yo about this for a while. He made up his mind because he sent my rings to me through the mail. When I put that engagement ring on my finger I was sure that this would last for a lifetime and beyond. The WAC’s had a rule that if a husband was discharged from the service, the wife could get out too. Again I was lucky to get another furlough in September. I went back to Phoenix again and we were married on 4 September 1945 in his parents’ home by Bishop Blaine Alexander. As I had no one who could do anything for me, Ralph’s mother gave us a reception.
We had two days together and then I had to return to Ft. Knox once again. I can remember nothing about our honeymoon, other than the fact that I was very happy. I knew that I had married the man God intended for me to have. I went to Camp Beale in California for my release from the army. While I was there I received a telegram that Grandma had passed away in Santee, California, where my Aunt Jessie lived. I hurried back to Phoenix and Ralph and I went to her funeral in Thatcher. This was one of the most difficult times of my life because I had been with her so seldom when she was ill. She gave me so much love and good advice during my life and I will cherish her memory until we meet again.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, ninth installment
About this time Ralph wrote and told me that he had been married in 1941 and was still married to this girl. It was a shock to me but his father was working on getting an annulment as they had evidently never lived together. In many of his letters, he told me that he didn’t trust women and said that if I had not been a Mormon, he would not have written for so long to me.
When I went home on furlough, I had a chance a couple of times to go to the Keller home in Phoenix and visit with Ralph’s family. They were very gracious to me and it was so good to write and tell him that I had been in touch with his family. He got very excited when I told him about the visit and asked me to tell every little detail. I can’t recall if I met just his parents or if his sisters, Shirley and Louise were there also.
In March of 1945 I had a phone call from Ralph and he was at home finally in Phoenix. The next day I received a telegram from him telling me that we must somehow get together and meet each other. I had just had a furlough in January to visit my Grandma who was quite ill in California. I was lucky enough to get a short furlough about the last of March and met him in Phoenix. When we first met he didn’t seem to be what I expected, but the more we were together the more I realized that he was a fine man and really was in love with me. He had told me sometime ago that he had the bad habit of smoking and doubted if he could quit.
He spent about three months stationed at Santa Ana, California in rehabilitation hospital. The men who came back from overseas brought a lot of problems home with them and had to learn to be civilians again. On 30 June I wrote him from San Diego that I was there because of Grandma’s serious illness. I managed to see him for a couple of days and we met in Lynwood at the home of his Aunt Mary. It was wonderful to be with him again and to know that I was also in love with him. We had written for such a long time and really knew a lot about each other. We spent one day in Los Angeles and I remember that we went boat riding in Westlake Park. In reading over his letters I remembered that he proposed to me on the streets of Los Angeles.
He had a hard time deciding whether he was ready to take on the responsibility of marriage. He was like a yo-yo about this for a while. He made up his mind because he sent my rings to me through the mail. When I put that engagement ring on my finger I was sure that this would last for a lifetime and beyond. The WAC’s had a rule that if a husband was discharged from the service, the wife could get out too. Again I was lucky to get another furlough in September. I went back to Phoenix again and we were married on 4 September 1945 in his parents’ home by Bishop Blaine Alexander. As I had no one who could do anything for me, Ralph’s mother gave us a reception.
We had two days together and then I had to return to Ft. Knox once again. I can remember nothing about our honeymoon, other than the fact that I was very happy. I knew that I had married the man God intended for me to have. I went to Camp Beale in California for my release from the army. While I was there I received a telegram that Grandma had passed away in Santee, California, where my Aunt Jessie lived. I hurried back to Phoenix and Ralph and I went to her funeral in Thatcher. This was one of the most difficult times of my life because I had been with her so seldom when she was ill. She gave me so much love and good advice during my life and I will cherish her memory until we meet again.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, ninth installment
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