Stirpes, Volume 34, Number 1, March 1994 Page: 53

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Eva and Chet were married in March
the year the U.S. went to war, Harold enlisted
in October in the air force and was
sent to Kelly Field in San Antonio. He was
sent overseas in January, to England. He
was there several months continuing his
training, and then was sent to Romarautin,
France. He had several opportunities to visit
our different families in England. He was in
Paris when armistice was declared. In October,
following the armistice, he came home
looking terribly thin and was quite ill for
some time.
Guy Shepherd, Jennie's youngest son
was in the air force. He and Harold met in
France. Harvey, Eva's youngest son, joined
the navy and was stationed in San Diego.
In 1920, Harold married Grace
Smith, a tall striking-looking brunette. They
made a fine looking couple. In June of that
year, Eva's first son was born, Richard Arthur.
The following April, Harold's son
"Hal" came. Laurie had a son, Harry, born
the August before. So our family was growing
very rapidly. Three years later Eva had
David Lawrence. Three of these boys are
now in the service. Hal is in Sacramento in
the Signal Corp. and was in the A.S.T.P.
until that was closed. David was sent overseas
early in December and has been ill in
the base hospital for several weeks. He is in
Hawaii.
Harry is in the Maritime Reserves
and is somewhere at sea. Harvey, Jr. has
been in the Coast Guards for several years.
George Phillips, Sarah's grandson, is a captain
in one of the schools for training in
Oregon. Jim, Harold's youngest, James
Goderic, will be in any day now, as he is
just turned eighteen. Dick, Eva's oldest,
much to his disgust, is held at his work. He
is a supervisor for "Vega," and so for they
will not let him off. Wonder how long it will
last? God only knows!
Harry passed away March 15, 1933
and in October 1935 I rented a little house in
Ojai; later I decided to buy it. I had become
very fond of it and felt more contented
owning it. My family thought it strange I

should move so far away, but I felt like Madame
Claire, by Susan Ertz, must have felt
when she wrote, Well, well, they must all go
through with it as we did. I thank heaven
everyday that time has given me the right to
sit quietly on my hilltop. I can still hear the
sound of the conflict below and the cries of
the wounded, but though they may be my
nearest and my dearest, I am too conscious
of the transience of things, too aware of
yesterdays and tomorrow, especially tomorrows,
to concern myself greatly. I want them
to be happy, but I know they won't be and I
am not God to confer or withhold. I can do
nothing but laugh at, or comfort them a little."

In October 1936, my first greatgrandchild
was born, named Lawrence Clifford
Dee. In November 1940, Emma and I
went to San Antonio to see our dear sister,
Eva, who was very ill. In August she had a
very bad fall. She had broken her hip and
was taken to the hospital and underwent a
serious operation, which never healed. She
lingered until November 12, and was laid to
rest on November 14, her birthday. Emma
and I left a few days later, went to New Orleans
and then on to Kansas City. We spent
Thanksgiving with Jim and Betty Lowe, and
then home. We both had bad colds and were
feeling very miserable and were very thankful
to get home. It had been a very sad and
trying experience. Just a month from Eva's
going, I lost my darling Laurie. I felt I could
not open the door too wide, I would be
overwhelmed.
Two years ago this October, Emma
bought the little place next door to me and
we are so happy to be near each other and
really love our sweet little houses.
I am afraid this is a rather one-sided
account, but naturally, in writing it, "me"
and "mine" seem to be mostly in my
thoughts. I am sure there is enough material
in all the different families to make it further
interesting. Our Yesterdays are easy to look
back upon, and tell about, but the hours of
the future are dim and uncertain, and we go
stumbling on hoping we are taking the right

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MARCH 1994

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