"Here was a lively young mother who would break into an Irish jig to regale her small brood, my brother, my sister and me (her youngest at the time). A piano practicing session would always end up with some "rag-time" tunes, Maple Leaf rag, etc. Saturdays meant going shopping (groceries) with her and a stop at the barber shop for us children. I had the "Buster Brown" trim, with bangs in front.

Sometimes she would entertain [maybe once a year] for a small group of her friends, with food and cards {bridge}. Her menus were a delight to the eye and palate. We children were not included in these affairs and to our disappointment at missing out on all of the good food and gaiety. Her music club was her main social life during the year. 

She had to give a performance whether solo or with another musician once a year. She spent several Saturdays practicing her part as accompanist for a woman cellist. When she would practice in the evenings and Dad was home, he would correct her so much that it spoiled her enjoyment for playing in his presence.

Gardening was her other interest and everything she planted would grow and thrive under her care. Roses and African violets were among her favorite flowers. Her vegetable garden provided us with the best fresh picked tomatoes, green beans, peas, lettuce, radishes, etc. Radio programs provided her with information on gardening and also entertainment during the '30's & '40's. Increasing bouts of depression forced her to retire to a rest home in 1959 at the age of 61 where she became senile and passed away in 1962."

"Born May 27, 1898 in her father's hotel at Emerson, Nebraska. A second daughter, four years younger than her sister Ruth. Twins (S. U.) and 9 month old younger brother George died in infancy. Her mother died of Bright's Disease in 1914 leaving her motherless at 16. Her personality became cold, scheming and withdrawn. Her father indulged her every whim. She became a society person, cultivated friends who could further her personal ambitions.

Personality traits: Positive. Determined and finished projects once started. Enjoyed humorous situations; was artistic in home decorations & had a "green thumb" in gardening and was very imaginative. She created a cement bird bath; was poised & performed on piano publicly. She also was an excellent gourmet cook.

Negative qualities: Shallow feelings, frivolous and impractical in business; non-communicative & irritable; an unsympathetic listener; selfish, emotionally cold, stilted manner, excessively narcissistic and had a resigned attitude toward life. Attended church only from habit (not religiously inclined in daily living).

For a person of such a refined, artistic nature, it must have caused untold mental distress to be burdened with the responsibilities of raising a large (6) family. Seems to have been totally unfit for this role. Mental outlook was narrow and unbending in an effort to observe normal motherly attitudes. Personality underwent change due to years of stress, where she at first became reclusive, then regressed to immature behaviors and spent the last seven years as a senile patient in a nursing home."