John and Harriet McGavock Page
Wedding notes, early photographs on John and Harriet's family as well as rememberances from family members
Early John as a kid in Beloit, WI.
John was raised by his grandmother after his mother Velma Smith McGavock died shortly after child birth.
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John McGavock
Handsome John had the nickname "Shake" in Beloit. He was very out-going and greeted everyone he met with a hearth handshake and salutation. John was very entrepreneurial
engaging with family businesses and exploring opportunities until his final days. |
WEDDING OF BELOIT BOYS IS SOLEMNIZED.
A wedding of interest to many Beloit relatives and acquaintances is that of Mr. John Francis McGavock, son of Alex F. McGavock, 913 West St. Lawrence avenue, who was married yesterday to Miss Harriet Hawkins, Kankakee, at St. Patrick's Catholic church, Kankakee, Ill. The ceremony was performed at 9 o'clock mass, the couple being parties to a double wedding.
A sister of the bride, Miss Mabel Hawkins was married to Mr. J. Gordon Hagen. The wedding ceremony was an impressive one, being held preceding the nuptial mass. The attendants were Miss Grace Turner, Chicago Heights, cousin of the bride, and Edward Howell, Kankakee. Attendants for the second couple were Miss Jennie Hagen, Harvard, Ill., a sister of the groom, and William O'Brien, Kankakee.
The brides were charming in gowns of white, fashioned similarly and with white picture hats. They carried white roses. Following the ceremony a four course wedding dinner was served at the brides' home. The house was beautifully decorated with flowers, roses predominating.
At 4 o'olock in the afternoon the bridal couples left for their honeymoon trips. Mr. McGavock and his bride will go to Virginia and from there to the east, visiting Philadelphia and other eastern cities.
Both brides are well known and have a wide circle of friends in Beloit having been guests here on several occasions of their grandmother, Mrs. Mary Gallagher, 901 West St. Lawrence avenue.
Mr. McGavock is employed as commercial traveler. Among the Beloit guests present at the wedding were the following: Mr. and Mrs. Alex McGavock, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick McGavock and family, and Mrs. Edward McGavock.
Married April 26, 1916, Kankakee, IL
A sister of the bride, Miss Mabel Hawkins was married to Mr. J. Gordon Hagen. The wedding ceremony was an impressive one, being held preceding the nuptial mass. The attendants were Miss Grace Turner, Chicago Heights, cousin of the bride, and Edward Howell, Kankakee. Attendants for the second couple were Miss Jennie Hagen, Harvard, Ill., a sister of the groom, and William O'Brien, Kankakee.
The brides were charming in gowns of white, fashioned similarly and with white picture hats. They carried white roses. Following the ceremony a four course wedding dinner was served at the brides' home. The house was beautifully decorated with flowers, roses predominating.
At 4 o'olock in the afternoon the bridal couples left for their honeymoon trips. Mr. McGavock and his bride will go to Virginia and from there to the east, visiting Philadelphia and other eastern cities.
Both brides are well known and have a wide circle of friends in Beloit having been guests here on several occasions of their grandmother, Mrs. Mary Gallagher, 901 West St. Lawrence avenue.
Mr. McGavock is employed as commercial traveler. Among the Beloit guests present at the wedding were the following: Mr. and Mrs. Alex McGavock, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick McGavock and family, and Mrs. Edward McGavock.
Married April 26, 1916, Kankakee, IL
New family
Grandma Harriet is holding Bud and Grandpa John is holding Mary.
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The girls
What a good looking group. Mary, Val, Cecil and Cay
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Continuing to grow Mary Agnes, John Francis Jr., Velma Ann, Cecelia Jane, Catherine Ann, Edward Alexander, Daniel Joseph, and Joan Harriet.
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Full House
Front row. Grandma, Grandpa and Joan. Left to right: Cecil, Ed, Val, Mary, Cay and Dan.
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Dashing and Beautiful
John and Harriet at Ed's wedding.
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Last photo
This is John in 1948 getting some sun on Avon St. Rockford, Il. The photo taken in July and he passed away Dec.17th.
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Painting -Especially Horses
Grandma Art.
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Reflections on John and Harriet
Notes from Harriet
He(John) invited me to live in a tent with him and eat snowballs.
He rode on the trains south with me without a ticket- jumped off at Rockton.
He was the most eligible bachelor in Beloit.
After arriving for my first visit I went to Uncle John McGavock grocery store to give me directions to the Gallagher's home. John was there and walked me up Grand Avenue, came in kissed my grandmother. I was smitten with his boldness.
He was a lot of fun.
Harriet worked at the 5 & 10 then got a job at an ice cream factory- she ran the office for quite a few years.
Harriet went through 8th grade?
The Hawkins were a very well known family at Limestone County at Kankakee. They were farmers. Her father was Joel David Hawkins farmed fruit was their main product. He taught school for a while. They brought a house in town as grandma Anna O'Brien Hawkins would not work on the farm alone. There were three brothers and a sisters. Albert, Howard, David and Mable. Harriet was married in a double wedding ceremony with Mable. Grandma Hawkins kept roomers in her big house to help expenses and they were only three blocks from downtown. Grandpa fished, worked at the post office or delivered packages. He played the horses (some) at a very old age Grandma kicked him out and sold the house and moved to a very small house 4 rooms and before he died she took him back.
…except during Rockford, Chicago, Detroit period.
He(John) took us once to his factory on the Detroit River and told us about the Rum Runners from Canada. He was a great storyteller. We went on lots of his sale trips, stayed in hotels, visited factories, and visited people.
He helped lots of fellows start up businesses- encouraged everyone- too busy to do his own thing.
Coming from Detroit date(? 30's). We all came in a truck, some on back, babies in front. A long ride on a pile of furniture. Beloit was such a small town those first moments. Uncle Ed had saved our house by buying from John & then rented it and gave it back to John when moved to town.
In later years John and Harriet went to Indiana. Came to Rockford lived in an Apt. Brought a big brick house on Avon Street. About 1941 or 1942.
He rode on the trains south with me without a ticket- jumped off at Rockton.
He was the most eligible bachelor in Beloit.
After arriving for my first visit I went to Uncle John McGavock grocery store to give me directions to the Gallagher's home. John was there and walked me up Grand Avenue, came in kissed my grandmother. I was smitten with his boldness.
He was a lot of fun.
Harriet worked at the 5 & 10 then got a job at an ice cream factory- she ran the office for quite a few years.
Harriet went through 8th grade?
The Hawkins were a very well known family at Limestone County at Kankakee. They were farmers. Her father was Joel David Hawkins farmed fruit was their main product. He taught school for a while. They brought a house in town as grandma Anna O'Brien Hawkins would not work on the farm alone. There were three brothers and a sisters. Albert, Howard, David and Mable. Harriet was married in a double wedding ceremony with Mable. Grandma Hawkins kept roomers in her big house to help expenses and they were only three blocks from downtown. Grandpa fished, worked at the post office or delivered packages. He played the horses (some) at a very old age Grandma kicked him out and sold the house and moved to a very small house 4 rooms and before he died she took him back.
…except during Rockford, Chicago, Detroit period.
He(John) took us once to his factory on the Detroit River and told us about the Rum Runners from Canada. He was a great storyteller. We went on lots of his sale trips, stayed in hotels, visited factories, and visited people.
He helped lots of fellows start up businesses- encouraged everyone- too busy to do his own thing.
Coming from Detroit date(? 30's). We all came in a truck, some on back, babies in front. A long ride on a pile of furniture. Beloit was such a small town those first moments. Uncle Ed had saved our house by buying from John & then rented it and gave it back to John when moved to town.
In later years John and Harriet went to Indiana. Came to Rockford lived in an Apt. Brought a big brick house on Avon Street. About 1941 or 1942.
Notes from Val (Velma Ann) Van Rens in 1979
Quotes from John (Shake)
"You don't have to do anything, you don't want to."
"He taught us to be independent."
"He thought having a family was great."
"He loved going for visiting."
"He didn't like working for anyone."
"He grafted trees in our yard, at home."
He was crazy about his Uncle Ed, who was the closest to his age and raised with him in his grandfather home. He lived only periodically with his father and 2rd wife. He ranaway from home. He ran away from Grandparents. He was a boxer(street), played baseball, interested in politics was a Democrat.
He wrote love letters to Harriet his first serious love. He called Harriet -Molly.
He sang a lot, loved to dance.
Kankakee girl marries Beloit Boy-.(Shake)
"You don't have to do anything, you don't want to."
"He taught us to be independent."
"He thought having a family was great."
"He loved going for visiting."
"He didn't like working for anyone."
"He grafted trees in our yard, at home."
He was crazy about his Uncle Ed, who was the closest to his age and raised with him in his grandfather home. He lived only periodically with his father and 2rd wife. He ranaway from home. He ran away from Grandparents. He was a boxer(street), played baseball, interested in politics was a Democrat.
He wrote love letters to Harriet his first serious love. He called Harriet -Molly.
He sang a lot, loved to dance.
Kankakee girl marries Beloit Boy-.(Shake)
Notes from Mary McGavock Flynn- childhood memories
Our father was a very strict and controlling Man. Our Mother was very sweet and mild.
Dad always had his own business. He loved having a big family, as he was an only child.
He was generous with his friends. - Gave $100.00 to a friend--told Mother- She went out and brought herself some fancy clothes and also dressed up us girls.
They were living in Rockford, IL and moving to the Chicago area. He had a business car and a family car. We packed up and left Rockford in the late afternoon. He took most of the kids with him and told Mother (she hardly ever drove) to take May and baby Dan and follow him. She was a nervous wreck, so it was a terrible trip, but we all made it in one piece. Dad was fun-- took us on trips and played with us. He then decided to go to Detroit. He was manufacturing and selling metal radiator covers. So off we went to Detroit in the summer of 1929. On a hot day in the summer he would call Mon and tell her to get ready and we would go to Bell Island(in the Detroit River) and swim. We stayed there most of the night, as did other families.
We went to Catholic Schools. Val was in the class with one of the Fisher children(Fisher Body).
Things got bad during the depression and we had a house in Beloit, so back we went. It was hard to get use to a small town after the city. Val and I went to downtown Detroit one day and I said, "Let's go to Canada". So we got on a boat and got over to Canada. The officials in Canada weren't to happy about us and didn't want us to go back.
Dad invented some metal guards to put on our skates, so we could put skates on at home and walk to the rink. He worked with another man on the invention, the friend stole his idea.
We were a big family in our neighborhood, so Mother keep us pretty much in our own yard- couldn't brother the neighbors.
Over all we had our ups and downs, but all in all we had a good childhood- much love and our home.
Dad always had his own business. He loved having a big family, as he was an only child.
He was generous with his friends. - Gave $100.00 to a friend--told Mother- She went out and brought herself some fancy clothes and also dressed up us girls.
They were living in Rockford, IL and moving to the Chicago area. He had a business car and a family car. We packed up and left Rockford in the late afternoon. He took most of the kids with him and told Mother (she hardly ever drove) to take May and baby Dan and follow him. She was a nervous wreck, so it was a terrible trip, but we all made it in one piece. Dad was fun-- took us on trips and played with us. He then decided to go to Detroit. He was manufacturing and selling metal radiator covers. So off we went to Detroit in the summer of 1929. On a hot day in the summer he would call Mon and tell her to get ready and we would go to Bell Island(in the Detroit River) and swim. We stayed there most of the night, as did other families.
We went to Catholic Schools. Val was in the class with one of the Fisher children(Fisher Body).
Things got bad during the depression and we had a house in Beloit, so back we went. It was hard to get use to a small town after the city. Val and I went to downtown Detroit one day and I said, "Let's go to Canada". So we got on a boat and got over to Canada. The officials in Canada weren't to happy about us and didn't want us to go back.
Dad invented some metal guards to put on our skates, so we could put skates on at home and walk to the rink. He worked with another man on the invention, the friend stole his idea.
We were a big family in our neighborhood, so Mother keep us pretty much in our own yard- couldn't brother the neighbors.
Over all we had our ups and downs, but all in all we had a good childhood- much love and our home.
Notes from Dan McGavock
The youngest of three sons and five daughters from Harriet and John McGavock, I was born in Rockford, Illinois on February 4, 1927 and reared in southern Illinois and northern Wisconsin.
We were quite poor but didn't realize it. It was depression time and everyone was poor. My father, John had no job for about five years. Part of the time he worked on a government program called WPA and was paid $25-$35 a month plus some free food. Harriet cooked for the eight children - usually six loaves of bread daily. The Finleys helped support us by leaving six quarts of milk, two pounds of butter and three dozen eggs on our doorstep daily for many years.
From our little red wagon, I traveled door to door selling freshly made donuts and garden sweet corn. My first interest in golf came as a youngster when brother Ed and I built four holes of golf around our house.
Our car was a 1926 vintage Chevrolet, but it spent several years up on blocks in the backyard - -there was no money for gas. The family never went to a restaurant and never traveled. Every Sunday we went to Aunt Mary's farm for a chicken and dumpling dinner. The Finleys even opened up their living room which was used only on Sundays.
My first memorable possession was an old bicycle that I bought for $4. It was a great bike but the seat was missing. We children skated a lot in the winter and swam in the summer, a very inexpensive amusement. The McGavock Quarry, on Town Line Road, drew us like a magnet. It was dangerous but fun.
I remember buying our Christmas tree on Christmas eve after 5 p.m. because the price was cheaper then. We carried the tree home. Everyone helped decorate it using stringed popcorn. We grew our own popcorn in the backyard along with other vegetables including potatoes, beans, tomatoes and sweet corn. We always opened our Christmas gift on Christmas eve so we would have clothes to wear then.
Financially, things changed in 1939 when Hitler was threatening all of Europe. Dad took a job near Michigan City, Indiana in a munitions plant. Brother Ed, Sister and I moved with Mom and Dad to a converted garage. We had two rooms, one large room with a curtain strung across it for a bedroom for Mom and Dad. Our bathroom was out back. Sister Mary, Val, Ceil and Cay remained in Beloit. Dad's Uncle Pat McGavock moved in with them in order to have a responsible adult in the house. Driving to Michigan City from Beloit took two days. We stayed overnite in Chicago Heights with Dad's Aunt Charlotte.
In 1941 we moved back to Beloit. Shortly afterward we moved to Rockford, Illinois, where Dad started his own heating business called Forest City Heating. I was fourteen years old at the time. I worked helping clean furnaces. Because of my small size I could climb inside the furnaces to clean them. At the end of the day, I was covered with black soot. Brother Ed was seventeen years old. He was my boss.
We were able to purchase a 4 bedroom brick house in Rockford. The family thought it was a palace. (Actually, it was a fairly small house for Six children and Mom and Dad.) I remember Dad ruling with an iron hand and our Mild Mother coming to our rescue. We kids were full of antics. Sometimes we would call to Dad, Daddy, spank us. Then we would hide under the blankets with books on top of us. I would hide underneath my big brother, Ed in order not to be reached.
During World War II enlisted in the Navy and served in Hawaii.
Rockford has fond memories for me. It was there that l met the prettiest girl 71 had ever seen, Doreen Joyce Dahl, a Norwegian girl born in North Dakota. We were married in the summer of 1949. Upon graduation from Beloit College, BA in business, 1950, we moved to Highland Park, Illinois where I took a job as a route salesman (milkman) for Bowman Dairy Company Later I owned and operated two employment agencies and two Schwinn bicycle shops.
It was in Highland where the four children were born: Marcia Doreen, John Francis, Mary Kay, and Maureen Adele (Reenie). They all attended Catholic schools and received college education. Four grandchilddren include Barett Daniel McGavock, Alexander McGavock Hill, Christina Doreen Galanis and William MeGavock Galanis.
After living twenty seven years in Highland, Doreen and I moved to Tempe, Arizona, Together we successfully owned and operated Baskin Robbins Ice Cream Shop. My recreation is spent playing golf Doreen and I play competitive bridge. In August 1999 we celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary.
We were quite poor but didn't realize it. It was depression time and everyone was poor. My father, John had no job for about five years. Part of the time he worked on a government program called WPA and was paid $25-$35 a month plus some free food. Harriet cooked for the eight children - usually six loaves of bread daily. The Finleys helped support us by leaving six quarts of milk, two pounds of butter and three dozen eggs on our doorstep daily for many years.
From our little red wagon, I traveled door to door selling freshly made donuts and garden sweet corn. My first interest in golf came as a youngster when brother Ed and I built four holes of golf around our house.
Our car was a 1926 vintage Chevrolet, but it spent several years up on blocks in the backyard - -there was no money for gas. The family never went to a restaurant and never traveled. Every Sunday we went to Aunt Mary's farm for a chicken and dumpling dinner. The Finleys even opened up their living room which was used only on Sundays.
My first memorable possession was an old bicycle that I bought for $4. It was a great bike but the seat was missing. We children skated a lot in the winter and swam in the summer, a very inexpensive amusement. The McGavock Quarry, on Town Line Road, drew us like a magnet. It was dangerous but fun.
I remember buying our Christmas tree on Christmas eve after 5 p.m. because the price was cheaper then. We carried the tree home. Everyone helped decorate it using stringed popcorn. We grew our own popcorn in the backyard along with other vegetables including potatoes, beans, tomatoes and sweet corn. We always opened our Christmas gift on Christmas eve so we would have clothes to wear then.
Financially, things changed in 1939 when Hitler was threatening all of Europe. Dad took a job near Michigan City, Indiana in a munitions plant. Brother Ed, Sister and I moved with Mom and Dad to a converted garage. We had two rooms, one large room with a curtain strung across it for a bedroom for Mom and Dad. Our bathroom was out back. Sister Mary, Val, Ceil and Cay remained in Beloit. Dad's Uncle Pat McGavock moved in with them in order to have a responsible adult in the house. Driving to Michigan City from Beloit took two days. We stayed overnite in Chicago Heights with Dad's Aunt Charlotte.
In 1941 we moved back to Beloit. Shortly afterward we moved to Rockford, Illinois, where Dad started his own heating business called Forest City Heating. I was fourteen years old at the time. I worked helping clean furnaces. Because of my small size I could climb inside the furnaces to clean them. At the end of the day, I was covered with black soot. Brother Ed was seventeen years old. He was my boss.
We were able to purchase a 4 bedroom brick house in Rockford. The family thought it was a palace. (Actually, it was a fairly small house for Six children and Mom and Dad.) I remember Dad ruling with an iron hand and our Mild Mother coming to our rescue. We kids were full of antics. Sometimes we would call to Dad, Daddy, spank us. Then we would hide under the blankets with books on top of us. I would hide underneath my big brother, Ed in order not to be reached.
During World War II enlisted in the Navy and served in Hawaii.
Rockford has fond memories for me. It was there that l met the prettiest girl 71 had ever seen, Doreen Joyce Dahl, a Norwegian girl born in North Dakota. We were married in the summer of 1949. Upon graduation from Beloit College, BA in business, 1950, we moved to Highland Park, Illinois where I took a job as a route salesman (milkman) for Bowman Dairy Company Later I owned and operated two employment agencies and two Schwinn bicycle shops.
It was in Highland where the four children were born: Marcia Doreen, John Francis, Mary Kay, and Maureen Adele (Reenie). They all attended Catholic schools and received college education. Four grandchilddren include Barett Daniel McGavock, Alexander McGavock Hill, Christina Doreen Galanis and William MeGavock Galanis.
After living twenty seven years in Highland, Doreen and I moved to Tempe, Arizona, Together we successfully owned and operated Baskin Robbins Ice Cream Shop. My recreation is spent playing golf Doreen and I play competitive bridge. In August 1999 we celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary.
Notes from Doreen Dahl McGavock
My Father, Nelvin Adolph Dahl, was the son of Peter Findalen who came to the United States in 1890 from Gudbrundsdalen, Norway. Upon entering the United States, he changed his name from Findalen to Dahl. After living in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, he moved to Comstock, Minnesota where he worked on farms until becoming a maintenance foreman for a "section" of railroad track. As a part of his pay, he had the use of a railroad owned section house in Kent, Minnesota. Grandpa Dahl retired to a farm in McCauleyville township, Minnesota.
Grandmother Fredrikka Dahl's parents were Skaugsetters. In Norwegian, the name means forest or woods dweller. "Skaug" being the woods and "setter" being dwellers. The Skaugsetter family farmed in Oster Toten, Norway. They came to America in the spring of 1880 landing in Quebec, Ontario, Canada. They brought with them their own food, wooden trunks, clothes, and three spinning wheels.
My Mother, Adelaide Delia Bye Dahl, settled with my Father, Nelvin on the farm in McCauleyville. Adelaide's parents lived in Canada where her father, Oscar Bye owned a bank but lost everything in the crash of 1929. Life was not easy on the farm. My parents ran a small dairy firm called Dahl Brothers Dairy.
I was born in Fargo, North Dakota on September 12, 1930 At the age of five, my parents divorced. After that, I lived in many places with aunts, uncles, and both grandparents. At the age of 10, I came back to the farm to stay with my father and grandparents. We had no running water in the house, only a cistern filled with water for washing. Drinking water had to be carried from a
neighbor's well. There was no electricity. We cleaned the kerosene lamps every Saturday- the same day we took our weekly baths. We washed our hair from the rainwater from the rain barrels. The bathroom was outside - unheated. I loved to visit my Aunt Sylvias' outhouse. She had pretty magazines to read and "wallpaper" fashioned from the covers of the magazines. I attended a one-room schoolhouse where all eight grades were taught in that room. It was fun to
go with my Dad to the woods and "round up" the cows. Those cows had the prettiest faces.
Another favorite pastime was gathering eggs with my grandmother. The trees and the fields of potatoes and corn were beautiful; it was on that farm that I acquired the love of nature.
Later, I was able to live with my mother in a one-room place in a rooming house in St. Cloud, Minnesota. That was a real treat because we had an indoor toilet, electric lights, and we no longer needed to use a wood-burning stove. My mother and I moved to Rockford, Illinois after she married Clarence White. She nurtured me through my teenage years along with my sister Nancy and my brother, Bill.
When I met Dan and married him in August, 1949.we moved to Highland Park, Illinois, where our four children were born.
We were exposed to some culture in Highland Park through the people we met, the Catholic schools, and the woman's club. The large family of McGavocks were a wonderful happening for me. Val VanRens showed me how to paint. It was my dream to be able to paint someday and to be able to have a real home and family of our own. Dan and I worked side by side at the small bicycle shop that gave us a good living. When the last child finished high school, we moved to Tempe, Arizona where we bought an ice cream shop. I used my frustrated art
talents to create many gorgeous ice cream cakes. "A thing of beauty is a joy forever' I always said. However, these cakes were devoured, and no sign of beauty left --only a happy celebration.
Our four children and four grandchildren are God's greatest gifts. Having a wonderful family can be summed up. I CANNOT TELL IT ALL. DANIEL HAS BEEN SO GOOD TO ME. I CANNOT TELL IT ALL
Grandmother Fredrikka Dahl's parents were Skaugsetters. In Norwegian, the name means forest or woods dweller. "Skaug" being the woods and "setter" being dwellers. The Skaugsetter family farmed in Oster Toten, Norway. They came to America in the spring of 1880 landing in Quebec, Ontario, Canada. They brought with them their own food, wooden trunks, clothes, and three spinning wheels.
My Mother, Adelaide Delia Bye Dahl, settled with my Father, Nelvin on the farm in McCauleyville. Adelaide's parents lived in Canada where her father, Oscar Bye owned a bank but lost everything in the crash of 1929. Life was not easy on the farm. My parents ran a small dairy firm called Dahl Brothers Dairy.
I was born in Fargo, North Dakota on September 12, 1930 At the age of five, my parents divorced. After that, I lived in many places with aunts, uncles, and both grandparents. At the age of 10, I came back to the farm to stay with my father and grandparents. We had no running water in the house, only a cistern filled with water for washing. Drinking water had to be carried from a
neighbor's well. There was no electricity. We cleaned the kerosene lamps every Saturday- the same day we took our weekly baths. We washed our hair from the rainwater from the rain barrels. The bathroom was outside - unheated. I loved to visit my Aunt Sylvias' outhouse. She had pretty magazines to read and "wallpaper" fashioned from the covers of the magazines. I attended a one-room schoolhouse where all eight grades were taught in that room. It was fun to
go with my Dad to the woods and "round up" the cows. Those cows had the prettiest faces.
Another favorite pastime was gathering eggs with my grandmother. The trees and the fields of potatoes and corn were beautiful; it was on that farm that I acquired the love of nature.
Later, I was able to live with my mother in a one-room place in a rooming house in St. Cloud, Minnesota. That was a real treat because we had an indoor toilet, electric lights, and we no longer needed to use a wood-burning stove. My mother and I moved to Rockford, Illinois after she married Clarence White. She nurtured me through my teenage years along with my sister Nancy and my brother, Bill.
When I met Dan and married him in August, 1949.we moved to Highland Park, Illinois, where our four children were born.
We were exposed to some culture in Highland Park through the people we met, the Catholic schools, and the woman's club. The large family of McGavocks were a wonderful happening for me. Val VanRens showed me how to paint. It was my dream to be able to paint someday and to be able to have a real home and family of our own. Dan and I worked side by side at the small bicycle shop that gave us a good living. When the last child finished high school, we moved to Tempe, Arizona where we bought an ice cream shop. I used my frustrated art
talents to create many gorgeous ice cream cakes. "A thing of beauty is a joy forever' I always said. However, these cakes were devoured, and no sign of beauty left --only a happy celebration.
Our four children and four grandchildren are God's greatest gifts. Having a wonderful family can be summed up. I CANNOT TELL IT ALL. DANIEL HAS BEEN SO GOOD TO ME. I CANNOT TELL IT ALL
Notes from Cay McGavock Bramlett
Mary: Being the oldest I understand Mary was the caregiver and protector and as such was the neighborhood bully. About 14 she was the sweetheart of the neighborhood and very much the lady.
Bud: A more gentle human and kind as a child. He was generous sometimes to a fault. Bud would always come to the rescue when we were in trouble. On some of his travels he learned and tried to teach us some of his many card tricks.
Val: Always the teacher- she informed her younger sisters of the things she thought we needed to know. Cleanliness is next to godliness and she practiced that in her person and in cleaning houses. I certainly benefited from that. Val was always determined and it grew stronger with age.
Cecil: Always a good friend- loved nice clothes even when she was very little. Sickly much of her life, but I was always her shadow - She got the ideas, which she was full of and I tried miserably to carry them out. Very good student.
Ed: Personable always. Loved books, people Was usually the teachers pet- excellent student- a little nervy. Great fun- sometimes carries it too far. Loved his food, but mostly milk. Never got over his love for food or gambling.
Dan: Darling baby. At first we thought he was a doll. As it turned out he pretty much was. He was always a competitor- marbles, swimming-golf. I think he still competes. Always wanted a hamburger stand or such. Well it turned out to be a ice cream.
Joan: A little sister to spoil - Eight or nine I guess to work at that. I felt dethroned as I had been daddy's little girl. Rheumatic fever didn't help - as it give us more more cause to spoil. Joan always aimed to please and looked up to others most especially Val. Joan always wanted someone younger in the family. Maybe that is why she had seven babies.
I did not write about myself. You can ask Mary what kind of a child I was.
Love,
Aunt Cay
Bud: A more gentle human and kind as a child. He was generous sometimes to a fault. Bud would always come to the rescue when we were in trouble. On some of his travels he learned and tried to teach us some of his many card tricks.
Val: Always the teacher- she informed her younger sisters of the things she thought we needed to know. Cleanliness is next to godliness and she practiced that in her person and in cleaning houses. I certainly benefited from that. Val was always determined and it grew stronger with age.
Cecil: Always a good friend- loved nice clothes even when she was very little. Sickly much of her life, but I was always her shadow - She got the ideas, which she was full of and I tried miserably to carry them out. Very good student.
Ed: Personable always. Loved books, people Was usually the teachers pet- excellent student- a little nervy. Great fun- sometimes carries it too far. Loved his food, but mostly milk. Never got over his love for food or gambling.
Dan: Darling baby. At first we thought he was a doll. As it turned out he pretty much was. He was always a competitor- marbles, swimming-golf. I think he still competes. Always wanted a hamburger stand or such. Well it turned out to be a ice cream.
Joan: A little sister to spoil - Eight or nine I guess to work at that. I felt dethroned as I had been daddy's little girl. Rheumatic fever didn't help - as it give us more more cause to spoil. Joan always aimed to please and looked up to others most especially Val. Joan always wanted someone younger in the family. Maybe that is why she had seven babies.
I did not write about myself. You can ask Mary what kind of a child I was.
Love,
Aunt Cay
