When Bonnie approached me about an autobiography, I thought I didn't have any really great accomplishments, college degrees, extensive world travel or such to report on my life. This is probably the same feeling that many other of my classmates may have when they contemplate an autobiography. As I began to think about my life--it's not only about your accomplishments, but your memories of your life. Thus began this autobiography of my life--and it has been a full rewarding life, truly blessed by God.
I was born on Hope Street, April 1, 1933 to middle class, hard working, loving parents-Ben and Nellie Lewis. What a day of the year to have a birthday. Also, what a fun day to celebrate your birthday each year. I look forward each year to see what kind of prank my family and friends will pull on me. Everything from styrofoam cakes with candles that will not blow out to chocolate covered cotton balls, to name a few. I remember my Mother told me that my uncles, aunts, neighbors, and my older sister's friends would not stop by the house until April 2nd of that year, because they thought the announcement of my birth was an April Fool's Joke being played on them.
A year, one month and 25 days later, my sister, Oneta, was born in the same house. Many people through the years thought we were twins becasue of the closeness of age and names. Two years later, my Dad built a house on Helen Ave. and that is really where the memories of my childhood really began. The Harris family lived across the street, and I remember, Frank and Caroline Harris, although they were teenagers at the time. My Aunt Mert Parks lived next door to us and at that time, there were milk cows in the pasture and chickens in what is now Scott Ave. Later the Brothers Family moved into the Harris house and they had my first childhood friends, Paul, JoAnn. Mickey and we had such fun. Also, Betty Ann Miller lived on St. Marys Ave. She was one of the daughters of Supt. of Schools, E.T. Miller. JoAnn, Mickey, Betty Ann, Oneta and I had many adventures in that area. We ate oranges cut in two, turned the half inside out to get the last bit of orange out, pith and all, then turned right side out again and floated them down the creek that ran along the back of helen Ave. and along what is now Hwy 61. Once in awhile, our mother entrusted Oneta & me to the care of Betty Ann and JoAnn to cross Old 61 over to the waterfall and the meadow which is not SteamBoat S/C. In the Fall we went to Shepard Placeto pick persimmons. We really didn't like the taste, but it was an adventure. When it snowed we went to Osterloh hill on St. Marys and had so much fun sliding down that steep hill--in cardboard boxes yet. I really don't remember that we had sleds.
I began school at Mark Twain School. Miss Reynolds was the principal I really only remember Jack Fierke, who lived on St. Marys Ave. I remember we went to Sparrows Groc. (I think) and got candy after school one day. When my Mother questioned me about the candy, I told her is was free. Later, I learned the grocer put the candy on the Fierke's account. Needless to say, I got in trouble for that. In the Spring of that year, my Dad bought a big old duplex house at 1700 Chestnut St., where I not only spent the rest of my school years, but ended up raising my own family in that same house.
This is where I do have some very precious memories of my growing up years, as well as my children's growing up years. Shirley Wilson lived on one corner of S. Locust and Chestnut and Dorothy and Pat Moyers lived on the other corner. Then across the street was Homer Greening, up Chestnut in the next two blocks was Walley Turpin, the next block up was Junior Haun and Delbert Person. On Willow St. was Millard Reed and Bill Winegar. It seems to me that somewhere through those years, Don Hardy may have lived on Broadway. What fun we did have. We lived next door to the Arch Street Methodist Church which had a big yard in the back. There we had baseball and kick ball games that drew in other kids from the surrounding territory. We spent hours and hours on the corner of S. Locust St. and Chestnut jumping rope. My Dad always saw that we had a long jump rope that reached all the way across Locust St. In the summer Shirley and Pat, Oneta and I had playhouses in the old garage that sat at the end of our back yard. We swang, tetter tottered, and climbed on the monkey bar my Dad had put up in the backyard. One summer our greatest past time was putting food coloring in dish detergent and putting that in a shallow pan and beating it until foamy and bubbly with egg beaters. We had to invent our play in those days and that was good. We also spent hours and hours playing paper dolls. Our entire upstairs hall would be covered with our paper doll houses.
Junior High at Eugene Field was the most fun of my life in memories. Great teachers, good friends, walking from our house to Oakwood or the High School in groups. I continue to have life long friends that I made during those years at Field--Kathleen Huff (Howell), Carolyn Henderson (Dunbar), Bonnie Hartsock (Tischer), Lou Ann Jones (Cobb), Betty Havenner (Alley), Norma Fishback, Betty Reese (Lawson), and so many, many more. Field, (at that time and still) had students enrolled from families of modest or even lower income and it was not unusual for some stigma to be attached to it. What I always found about Field was that we had excellent teachers who taught us that we were as good as anybody else--that what you made of your life, how you entered HHS was not because of your social or economic background, but of you character. That to succeed the following components had to be developed in your life--honesty, hard work, truthfullness, persistence, study, study, study, honoring God, rspect for others, involvement, giving back, bravery, honoring your Father and your Mother, respect for yourself and many more. Miss Emily Troppman, Mr. Wm. Reger, Mr. Chas Christian, Miss Barber, Mrs. Cramer, Miss Jones, Miss Connell, Mrs. Miller were teachers who drilled thise attributes into our heads class after class. There were great teachers at HHS who made lasting impressions on my life as well, Mrs. Nadine Ely, Miss Harrison, Miss Beggs, Miss Shohn...some of which I was able to say in later years--YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE.
Of course the person who has been there with me through the years to make so many, many memories is my loving husband, Bob Yount. God blessed me with a faithful, hard working, loving husband and best friend. God also blessed our marriage with seven beautiful children who have given us so much joy. Six beautiful girls, and one handsome son. It wasn't always easy and everything wasn't always perfect, but that is life. It is from somtimes the suffering, hard work and overwhelming times that God helps us to grow. As I contemplate my life, ah--the memories. How sweet they are.
I know many of you ventured out into the world and I hope that all has been well with you. As for Bob and me, we have never regretted staying here in Hannibal. It's been a good place to live and raise our family. Within our extended families, our staying her in Hannibal has maintened a security and roots for those in our families who have ventured on. They have always had us here and they can come HOME. That has been good for us.
I feel so blessed to have been born at the time that would make me a member of the Class of 1951. I feel we have a unique group, who have maintened a closeness that not all other classes can boast. Some of you have made great accomplishments and you have become leaders in various fields. I am proud to be your classmate. Some of us have stayed in our hometown and become leaders here. I am equally proud of you.
I feel very blessed to have had a wonderful childhood in a small town where there are beautiful memories every where I travel each day. We have lived on Pioneer Trail where we built a house ourselves twenty two years ago. we are pretty much in the same neighborhood where I played as a child on Helen Ave. some may think that's boring--I think "How neat. I almost feel that I have completed a full circle." I sit on my deck in the good weather and reminise about my life, my lover, my family, my friends, my town, my classmates--Life has been good! Hopefully some other of you will see fit to pour out your feelings and thoughts as I have.
