October, November, and December of 1945

Monday
10/1/1945
I have rheumatism in my arm so can’t do much laundry. A.M. takes Joan to Dr. She’s ok but not gaining very fast – just weighs 9 ¼ lbs



Tuesday
10/2/1945
Knife & Fork Club (Chas Winthrop Copp) talks on Japan – Taught there 20 years – He likes it except the military – Some service men didn’t appreciate his talk. Grace Garrison & Edith Boswells birthdays

“likes it except the military” – meaning?

Wednesday
10/3/1945
Jack still feels bad – I went to town – had hair done – got suit out of storage – bought dress shoes & new girdle – first decent one since the war.



Thursday
10/4/1945
Went to Canteen for first time in long time – rained all day – Jack better.

About a two month break ARC Kitchen for Joanie arrival, first granddaughter.

Friday
10/5/1945
Raining again



Saturday
10/6/1945
Coffee with Neta



Sunday
10/7/1945
Worked all day – picture show



Monday
10/8/1945
Rain – Clean up



Tuesday
10/9/1945
Rain



Wednesday
10/10/1945
Hair dress – Sun shines – Night Club at Lollie Wyatt’s – I won cut.



Thursday
10/11/1945
Washed all day. Ol went to San Angelo on amb. call.



Friday
10/12/1945
Ollie served me breakfast in bed. I just loafed all day – Coffee at Ma’s – Lovely gifts – Camp Fire dinner in eve, then to Wm Fullers to see their Mill House – Unique - A.M. got first letter from George since Aug. 19, ’45 – He’s in Sasebo Japan.

5th Marines landed in Sasebo On September 22, 1945, the 5th Marine Division landed at Sasebo, and in June 1946, U.S. Fleet Activities Sasebo was formally established. - USN History website

Saturday
10/13/1945
(36 days) (s) – Scrubbed most all day – Coffee with Neta – My birthday breakfast – Fruit salad, hot rolls coffee – Reception for Betty Switzer & Frank Nuss



Sunday
10/14/1945
Feel terrible – A.M. trying to get box ready to send George.



Monday
10/15/1945
Mailed boxes to Geo. – Had letter today saying he thought they would be on way home Xmas – Just picked up today – Still feel bad.



Tuesday
10/16/1945
Visited Mrs. McGees Florist Shop – Bought blue tea pot ($2.50) to match Mama’s demi cups. Found several cute things – bought pansys and bulbs.



Wednesday
10/17/1945
Ollie & I shopped for her a dinner dress for her birthday – Everything is cheap looking, but high – Went to Canteen this morn. Ol & I went to Burks for a while – Mrs. Amyett is worse tonight.



Thursday
10/18/1945
Garden Club at B. Farmer’s – Nice program on “Trees” – Lovely meeting - just the ole gang back – seems good. Joan is 2 mo. today – planted pansies.



Friday
10/19/1945
Ollie has 21st birthday – We didn’t do anything exciting – Kids went to picture show.



Saturday
10/20/1945
Breakfast with Neta.



Sunday
10/21/1945
Lella & I are going to serv3e at Garden Center 4 to 6 – Turned cold. Ol & I went to show.



Monday
10/22/1945
Cleaned but you can’t tell it.



Tuesday
10/23/1945
Dinner with Helbings – lots of fun & gossip.



Wednesday
10/24/1945
Kept Joan while A.M. went to Pre-school – Club at Bursey’s. I won cut.



Thursday
10/25/1945
Hair dresser – Dinner with Frank Armstrongs at Colonial.



Friday
10/26/1945
Com. Meeting with Flossie Kyser – Art Show in March – Drove to Dallas with Ol to take body.



Saturday
10/27/1945
Coffee with Neta. Marvin has 6 convulsions – Terrible – stayed in hospital 2 days.



Sunday
10/28/1945
Sunday cooked all day



Monday
10/29/1945
Flower Judging School – Really enjoyed it. Mrs. Jacobs of Chicago



Tuesday
10/30/1945
Judging School again – Also Army Air Show at Library – Met artist Lt. Col. Chas. Baskerville – Wonderful. A.M. had Joan christened today – Claire Touey God Mother, Pro.Tem for Joan French – A.M. & Claire took her alone, but she knew we were all busy.



Wednesday
10/31/1945
Hair done



Thursday
11/1/1945
Taking Drs. Frank Armstrong, Buck Pumpreys to French Kitchen for dinner. They will come by here for drinks.



Friday
11/2/1945
Everything happens today. A.M. sells bonds at library 10 A.M. – Civic Music, Denver carnival



Saturday
11/3/1945
Coffee with Elbertine - Cleaned my room good, Claire Barricks came by on her way to Dallas – Ollie painting everything in her room – Can’t get in – A.M.’s room, can’t get in.



Sunday
11/4/1945
Ol mad because I don’t have time to pet him – I cooked all morning, cleaned halls – went to Farm… Supper with Wyatt’s – Kids to picture show.

Not sure what Farm is?

Monday
11/5/1945
Worked at Canteen most all day – A.M. washed Joan’s things; she and Bobby Bess went to Isis. I kept Joan.



Tuesday
11/6/1945
24 days (s) – I washed all morning – Ironed



Wednesday
11/7/1945
Didn’t have shampoo today – Teel terrible – just worked around here.



Thursday
11/8/1945
Flower Show – I didn’t do so good – Ruth Martin won Sweepstake – Lots of hard work – Ol had to work until late – We didn’t go to Shrine dance.



Friday
11/9/1945
Worked here all day.



Saturday
11/10/1945
Coffee with Neta. I worked at Canteen this afternoon – People think the war is all over, but we have to get them back – Lots of hospital ships.



Sunday
11/11/1945
Took A.M. & Geo. Shannon to see “Week End at Waldorf Astoria”. Geo. says “That girl is just like the other on in a show he saw last week. She couldn’t cook either.”

Weekend at the Waldorf The story is told by columnist Randy Morton, who lived in the Waldorf Astoria, and started on Friday afternoon, when a young honeymoon couple was agonising over not having a booking. A highly respected businessman named Jessup offered to let them stay in his apartment, as he would be away for the weekend. - IMDB.com

Monday
11/12/1945
Mrs. Ashmore had 1907 Study Club. I kept Joan this morning while A.M. went to town.



Tuesday
11/13/1945
Laundry



Wednesday
11/14/1945
Had hair done – Met Ollie – We saw art exhibit.



Thursday
11/15/1945
Ol, Mr. Ward & his son in law left today for fishing at Port Aransas – Garden club



Friday
11/16/1945
Cut out 3 bed jackets. Mattie Jane Farley & I went to see Mrs. Johnson. She has cancer. A.M. & I took Joan by to see Reynolds & Austins.



Saturday
11/17/1945
Cleaned house all day but don’t seem to get any where. Ol called – wants me to fly down for a few days, but decided I’d meet them in Austin. Had to call him back. Conner has taken his bed for good, I’m afraid.



Sunday
11/18/1945
Did odd & ends all day – Ol to be in tonight. Conner went to hospital.



Monday
11/19/1945
Shrine Circus – Took Charlie & Beth Hamilton to dinner, then picked up John & wife from office – Then to circus – had a good time. Ollie got a job for the holiday at Stripling in Book Dept.



Tuesday
11/20/1945
Dinner with Garrisons & Club – Didn’t get to go. I had acute indigestion. Ol went. The party was for us. They gave us 10 silver dollars for our 25th anniversary.



Wednesday
11/21/1945
Garrisons had lovely dinner for us & Club gave us 10 silver dollars – 25 years tonight. Doesn’t seem so long. Home coming at school. I feel better than I did last night. I am keeping Joan while A.M. takes George, Suzanne & Pamela to Shrine Circus. Ol has to work at Circus tonight.

I’m guessing Shrine work.

Thursday
11/22/1945
Thanksgiving Day dinner with Ma. Dan Lewis Came in from Calif. Had dinner with us – Left for home at midnight.

Lieutenant Commander Daniel H. Lewis, USNR: Alice Marie’s Brother-in-law.

Friday
11/23/1945
Cleaned – felt terrible – A.M. went shopping.



Saturday
11/24/1945
Had folks down for 40 c. coffee – Neta & Rosy went to San Angelo to see his mother.



Sunday
11/25/1945
Worked all day.



Monday
11/26/1945
Canteen – 1907 Study Club



Tuesday
11/27/1945
Canteen – Shopped



Wednesday
11/28/1945
Shopped – Hair done



Thursday
11/29/1945
Lunch Ft. Worth Club – Mrs. Earl Scott – Then we shopped for prizes for Club party. Joan has first cold.



Friday
11/30/1945
Conner worse – has to take oxygen – I stayed all afternoon with Winnie.



Saturday
12/1/1945
Coffee with Neta – Freddy Bursey’s reception – Jack stays home from school with cold – Hired Mrs. Clifton to help me clean house $15 week.



Sunday
12/2/1945
Trying to pick up so Mrs. Clifton won’t think we are pigs.



Monday
12/3/1945
Mrs. Clifton comes & she’s grand. We made 7 fruit cakes. She worked all day. I stayed with Conner all afternoon.



Tuesday
12/4/1945
Cleaned all day long.



Wednesday
12/5/1945
Hair done – shop. Night Club at Reynolds – Wyatt’s made bet N.S. wouldn’t score on Cochier*. Teck semi finals – They razzed us good – Ol won high & I cut.

Probably other way around. O.D. Wyatt was Principal of NSHS! *Coshier HS?

Thursday
12/6/1945
Cleaned again today – Stayed with Conner all afternoon – He’s very low. Joan is a good baby – Laughs all time.



Friday
12/7/1945
Everything went wrong. Conner passed away at 2:30. Winnie is a brick.
N.S. wins semi finals from Coshier*Teck Dallas Lollie lost her $

*Coshier H. S.?

Saturday
12/8/1945
(s)Conner’s funeral 4 P.M. – A beautiful day



Sunday
12/9/1945
Getting cold. Stayed home all day. George comes in with Temp 102.



Monday
12/10/1945
Geo. home from school – 1907 Study Club



Tuesday
12/11/1945
Sewed all day



Wednesday
12/12/1945
Town to finish shopping – Picked up Ollie – Took her to work.



Thursday
12/13/1945
Guest of Velma Vinsant – Woman’s Club – Sunday School party with Elizabeth Loughridyes?”
Geo. high tem – Stayed up most all nite.

Loughridyes?

Friday
12/14/1945
Geo still sick – Giving him penicillin, sulpha
Kiwanis party – Ol & A.M. going.



Saturday
12/15/1945
Jester Dance



Sunday
12/16/1945
Stayed home – kids running in & out.



Monday
12/17/1945
Geo. Still home with flu.



Tuesday
12/18/1945
Hair done.



Wednesday
12/19/1945
Xmas party at Wyatts – It was so cold everyone there for once. Garrisons went home early – He has flu. Ollie went to Drum & Bugle Camp Dance with Bobby Thompson.



Thursday
12/20/1945
Garden Club – I served as Hostess at Ruth Martins – Everyone happy.
Knife & Fork dinner – Ol & I were late – Geo. still sick – I’m keeping him in.



Friday
12/21/1945
Getting ready for Christmas.



Saturday
12/22/1945
Ollie phones home – she’s engaged. I ask “to whom?” – She says there’s only one Glenn Stewart. They seem happy.
Patrol dance – we’re late again – Ol works

CPO Glenn Stewart, USN was previously un-mentioned in the diary. We was home on medical furlough after Indy sinking. Suni said “She remembered his blue eyes from NSHS but needed AM’s help with the name.”

Sunday
12/23/1945
Glenn comes up for lunch 0 We all like him fine – We are proud of our girls for picking such fine sons in law for us. Open house at Dr. A.B. Pumphreys. Kids went to parties.



Monday
12/24/1945
Birthday party for Bill - Had family down for dessert – Bill ate ¾ of lemon pie – his favorite – He got everything he wanted for his Birthday – He’s so timid he would not let them kiss him – he was so thrilled.

Bill’s 15 birthday? Bill is middle child of Oliver & Thelma Shannon.

Tuesday
12/25/1945
Xmas at house – Ma & Pa sick – Open house there all day – Boys didn’t eat dinner, We took them to Jo Moor’s on our way to Bursey’s open house, then picked them up – We went to Cleveland to open house – came home – Bill had cleaned up his room & Clothes closet – put his gifts all away – abut 10 P.M. he came in with chill but wasn’t cold.



Wednesday
12/26/1945
We worked with Bill all night – He was so sick – At 11A.M. his fever went to 106.2 – We rushed him to Hosp. His head hurt terribly, but we kept his fever down. I stayed all night at Hosp. Ol stayed until he was easy & I made him go home.



Thursday
12/27/1945
Ol back at hosp. by 5 A.M. I came home, slept some – they were to do a spinal puncture so I went back – I had terrible dream. Bills temp was normal at noon but he was worried about his eyes. They hurt & so did his head. Ollie, Jack & Glenn stayed at Hosp. some in aft, then Ol came back. Spinal puncture was such a shock to him, fever shot up – took 5 to hold him in bed. Mildred Stewart came on & Dr. Barrett came over. Ol takes me home to tell me how bad he was, but we had barely gotten here when phone rang to come at once. Alice M. didn’t tell us he was gone. He died quietly. Our first loss – and such a fine boy – spinal meningitis.

Suni: Mildred Stewart?

Friday
12/28/1945
(s) Found to be very contagious – Everyone took sulpha , and sent all the friends home. Claire Barricks was here & Glenn Stewart, Marzelle Burks & Mrs. Clifton. Made came from office. They stayed with us. Dr. & Mrs. Helbing came to help. Everyone was wonderful. Ma went to hospital under oxygen tent.



Saturday
12/29/1945
Funeral 10 A.M. – Bill was so fine looking – The chapel had more flowers than had ever been there – 360 people, cards, telegrams, food – Everything possible to show their interest. Glenn & Claire worked all day every day. The Hamms – Harry Pattons & McVeys went to cemetery regardless of contagion.



Sunday
12/30/1945
Ma is real sick. Elsie & Elbertine both down with flu – Their kids not too well – Pa worrying - We’re all right, except Ol – He doesn’t feel too good. Jack goes to church



Monday
12/31/1945
Dr. & Mrs. Helbing came by every eve until bed time. Cards, flowers still coming. Geo can’t go to school for two weeks. Ollie & Jack can go on – Joanie has been grand. Requiem held at church for Bill. Alice M. & Jack go.