Mama’s Diary - 1964
Wednesday 01-Jan-64
Leaving 1963 in the realm of years past, we begin 1964 with new hopes,
new ideals and a new President of the USA, Lyndon Baines Johnson, who took office after the cruel assassination of our wonderful
and vibrant young President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, for whom we will grieve for a long time.
Thursday 02-Jan-64
I started the new year by returning home from Kate's in Baton Rouge.
Mildred, Jewel, Debbie & I went down there with Floreid Wills. We
stopped in Jasper for lunch and ate the traditional black eye peas. Today Jewel
is 54 years old.
Friday 03-Jan-64
Ray, Rita & Kathy went to Henderson with John Brooks and ate supper at Jay's. I am sick with a sore throat.
Saturday 04-Jan-64
Ray, John, Drew & Clifton went to San Saba Co. for quail hunting. Rita is sick with a sore throat, but went to work.
Tuesday 07-Jan-64
Went to town with Mildred, she got a permanent.
Wednesday
08-Jan-64
A much needed rain fell today.
Friday 10-Jan-64
Real cold, a low of 21ø last night.
I ate lunch with Mildred & J.T.
Sunday 12-Jan-64
Ray, Rita & Kathy took me to Lufkin and I went home with Mournice.
Terribly cold but the sun is shining.
Sunday 26-Jan-64
Monnie Bess carried me to Pat's today.
Tuesday 04-Feb-64
My 72nd birthday. Pat &
I went to the funeral of my 1st cousin Ben Gray. I saw & talked
to six cousins, Lois, Kate, Kit, Bernice, Clint & Cordie, who are the children of my Aunt Sephronia Dove Gray.
Wednesday
05-Feb-64
Today we visited Kit Gray & wife in Beaumont.
Friday 07-Feb-64
Pat & children frought me home and spent the night.
Sunday 09-Feb-64
Nell & children came and I went home with them.
Sunday 16-Feb-64
Today is Pat's birthday. Ray,
Rita & Kathy came to Nell's to bring me home.
Tuesday 18-Feb-64
Mildred & I went to see Jewel and Aunt Fannie. Cold & windy.
Wednesday
19-Feb-64
Mildred & I went to Mr Screws turnip patch and got greens, they were
very good.
Friday 21-Feb-64
This morning some light snow fell, then a little rain which melted the snow, then the sun came out, but is now getting colder.
Sunday 23-Feb-64
We went to Church at Southside Baptist.
Friday 28-Feb-64
Bo & family came, too cold to fish.
Saturday 29-Feb-64
Nell & kids came down. We
all had a nice visit. Kathy came up to the farm this morning, then Ray &
Rita came awhile tonight.
Sunday 01-Mar-64
They all went home today.
Monday 02-Mar-64
I don't feel so good, having trouble with my back.
Wednesday
04-Mar-64
Ray left for De Queen Ark.
Saturday 07-Mar-64
Kathy is sick and my back still hurts.
Sunday 08-Mar-64
Ray came in last night. Is
cloudy & warm. We are having fish for dinner.
Saturday 14-Mar-64
A good rain, I am alone today.
Sunday 15-Mar-64
Stayed home alone today also.
Tuesday 17-Mar-64
Randy's birthday, he is in Bremerhaven Germany.
Thursday 19-Mar-64
Lloyd & Mildred came by this morning.
Sister Mildred & I went to Longview for eye check up at Dr Payton's. She got new
lenses and frames.
Saturday 21-Mar-64
Kathy went with the choir to Nacogdoches.
Thursday 26-Mar-64
Pat, Paul & kids came tonight.
Friday 27-Mar-64
Nell & kids & Kathy came up to farm today. The Byerly's went home.
Saturday 28-Mar-64
James, Dot & Kay came, the kids fished all day with James. We had fish for
supper. Ray & Rita came for supper.
This evening, Nell & I went up to Liberty cemetery.
Sunday 29-Mar-64
A real quiet Easter Sunday. A
beautiful day. The kids had an egg hunt.
Monday 30-Mar-64
Nell went home this morning and I went back to Ray's.
Saturday 04-Apr-64
Gail came home from Cincinatti. M.
Bess & family came.
Thursday 09-Apr-64
Mr & Mrs Kennedy, Gail, Bill & baby came for supper.
Sunday 12-Apr-64
Rita entered hospital for tests.
A long lonesome Sunday.
Friday 17-Apr-64
Kathy went to Shreveport to see a Shakespeare play.
Saturday 18-Apr-64
Rita & Kathy went to Nacogdoches with 4H group. They
won 2nd place.
Sunday 19-Apr-64
James left today for Desert Strike Maneuvers in Calif, Utah & Arizona.
Monday 20-Apr-64
Lloyd & Mildred came by & ate supper.
Tuesday 21-Apr-64
Mildred & I went to see Aunt Fanny & Jewel.
Saturday 02-May-64
Bo & family came in their new station wagon. Nell & kids came. Kathy got a permanent.
Sunday 03-May-64
All went home today.
Tuesday 05-May-64
Kate came today.
Thursday 07-May-64
We went to Jewel's, Kate & I spent the night with Bonnie & Roy.
Saturday 09-May-64
Kate went home tonight. J.T., Mildred
& I visited Minnie Pearl & Vernon.
Sunday 10-May-64
Went to Pittsburg with Rita, Kathy, Mr & Mrs Kennedy to see their Mama Reynolds.
Monday 11-May-64
Sister called tonight to wish me Happy Mother's day. James was there for the week-end.
Thursday 14-May-64
Went to town & got my hair fixed.
Friday 15-May-64
Feel bad today.
Saturday 16-May-64
Went to Dr today, had kidney infection.
Tuesday 19-May-64
Went back to Dr. also went to Dr Payton for eye check up. Rita & I
ate lunch with Mildred.
Friday 22-May-64
M.B. and kids came. Got a
new permanent.
Saturday 23-May-64
Pat, Nell & children came for week end.
Mike came from Phoenix.
Sunday 24-May-64
M. Bess & Nell went to see Charles.
Monday 25-May-64
Mildred & I went to see Aunt Fannie & Jewel. Debbie came home with us.
Friday 29-May-64
Raining a little today.
Saturday 30-May-64
Nell & kids came last night.
Kathy had a party. Going up to farm, M. Bess is coming.
Sunday 31-May-64
Dot & Kay came. I'm going
home with M. Bess. Unusually cold, and lots of rain since Friday.
Saturday 06-Jun-64
Leaving Pasadena at 7:15 with Bo & family with 1200 miles to go. They are going to Calif., I will stop in Phoenix for a visit with Sister. Got out of Houston about 8 o'clock. Has been raining out here. On radio, Eddie Fisher is singing "Oh My Papa".
At 8:30
we go through the small town of Waller. Such beautiful fields of corn, how I'd like to gather my arms full of roasting ears. 8:45 we are in Hempstead, bypassed Brenham. Just came through Carmine,
that was the home of James Ray Gerhard Brunette. Getting hungrier all time seeing
all the corn fields. I think it's beautiful country out here. Bo bought cookies in Giddings, they were good, no one ate much breakfast.
In Austin at 11 o'clock, Clifford is looking at the Capitol and we just crossed the Colorado river.
Have passed thru Oak Hill & Dripping Springs as we enter the Hill Country & rocky too. Is 11:30, now we are in the peach center of Texas, I want to stop at one of the sheds, but peaches would be too
messy. We ate lunch in Stonewall, home of LBJ, also came thru Johnson City.
At 1:20
we just crossed Pedernales River & are entering Fredricksburg
that was settled by Germans. Just entered Junction, crossing Llano River which was inside city limits.
Is 3:00 o'clock & we've crossed the Llano 3 times, have been thru a vast area of rocks & scraggy bushes. Few signs of humanity. I still want some peaches, they are
far behind. The terrain is more level now as we go thru Sonora, see a few cows and sheep. After
we left Ozona we are getting into Davis Mountains & our ears are popping, it's nearly 5 o'clock.
We've crossed the Pecos river and are in Sheffield. 6 o'clock in Ft Stockton, flat, dry & barren
country. 7 o'clock we are in mountains again, just came thru Balmorhea, pretty farm
country here. 9:30 o'clock "The sun is riz, the sun is set and here we is in Texas yet".
Traveling west with the sun it didn't set till almost 8 o'clock. We are in Van Horn,
have eaten supper and settled down in Bell's Motel, so good night all.
Sunday 07-Jun-64
We are up at 6:45, going to eat breakfast. At 8 o'clock we are going thru Sierra Blanco. This is mountain, rocks, cacti & Jack rabbit country, we've seen several Army
vehicles going East but haven't spotted James Riley yet. 9:45 just passed Ysleta, the oldest &
first settlement in Texas. Now inside El Paso city limits. Been
meeting Army convoy all morning, the boys have been waving at the soldiers, but Phil thinks they are all fighting. Across the Rio Grande we see Mexican villages where the poor people live & aren't allowed to cross the river. Most of the vegetation we've seen today has been cacti and tumbling tumbleweeds. They grow in profusion.
At the border we ran our time back an hour so it's 9:30 now as we near Las Cruces N. Mex. El Paso is a huge city spread over a lot of territory. Wish I could describe
this country as I see it. 10 o'clock we are in Fair Acres N.M.
Bo got a big bag of corn crinkles - good! 11 o'clock just came thru Deming N. Mex., wish
you could see the lush green plants atop dry sand dunes.
We are meeting a long, long line of the Army convoy, some of them are 142nd Signal
Corps, of which James is a part I think. Cliff just knows he saw James. We are really in the desert now, very little vegetation, dry & barren. We've seen lots of "dust devils" (sand storms) and tumbling tumble weeds blowing around. Getting into higher mts. 11:30, just crossed the Continental Divide. Still meeting the Army, some beside the highway eating lunch in the heat & dust. 12:30 o'clock, didn't find a place to eat in Lordsburg.
In Arizona now, most of the country thru N. Mex. was a barren wasteland, little bushes look brown & sere but they are
alive. Now & then an alfalfa field, pretty & green - irrigated.
In Duncan Ariz., now in a valley in Peloncillo Mts, some green fields & trees. Just came thru Globe & Miami Ariz. They were surrounded by rock mts., rocks as big as your house,
almost bottomless gorges. It's beautiful!
Crossing Pinto creek, no water in it. Looking across a gorge we all see
a huge salt dome, also passed a huge copper mine & plant. 100 miles to Phoenix.
4 o'clock, just came thru Devil's Canyon & across Queen River, looked as if the huge rocks would topple down on us, came thru a tunnel that
was hewed thru a mt.
Wish you were with us. When we left
hi-way 80 at Lordsburg N. Mex. we left the soldiers. The elevation here is 4400
ft. You have a feeling you are talking thru your ears - well I can't describe
it. We are near the Superstition Mountain range, they do indeed look superstitious. I'd like to know the story of them. We are really in a mountain
range now, going up, my ears are popping. "The Heavens declare the Glory of God,
and the firmament showeth his handiwork". 2 o'clock in Safford Ariz. Just ate lunch at Manor House restaurant.
A pretty town but HOT! Crossed Gila river and San Carlos river, came thru Indian villages (Apache Indians). They live in huts and grass tepees out in the hot sun - poor people, it's 3 o'clock.
We got to Sister's at 5:15. She had a white rag hanging on
a bush in the yard. Written on it, "Sister lives here". She was so excited she was shaking. They have a nice place
and is pretty out here, some trees around. Terry is home & had a friend Dave,
Edna & Marilyn were here for supper. At 9:30 Topsy & Dravelle came, they all
carry a cup of coffee all time.
Monday 08-Jun-64
Cleo cooked a good breakfast, he does most of housework. Bo & family just left for San Diego - it's unusually cool here and the wind blew like a gale all the
way from Van Horn yesterday, but I enjoyed the trip & feel fine. Now for the sad story.
To keep the ants out of the cake, I put it in Mary's refrigerator and we left in such a whirl Mary & I forgot it
- I could cry. Bo said go down there and get it.
Sister said , "mail my cake", but she has an oven now and I'll cook one, tho' it will not be the same. Hope all is well there. You may not be able to read some of
this but I thought you might enjoy it. Thanks for everything.
Love, Mama.
Monday 06-Jul-64
Left Phoenix for Houston by Continental jet. A nice smooth
trip, 3 hrs by plane. M. Bess was waiting for me.
I was glad to get my feet on Texas soil.
Tuesday 07-Jul-64
Called….talked to Kathy tonight.
Durward Shaw died.
Wednesday
08-Jul-64
M. Bess carried me over to Pat's.
Thursday 09-Jul-64
Paul brought us up to Ray's, we will spend a week at the farm. Ray is working in Minden La.
Friday 10-Jul-64
Lloyd & Mildred came by for supper.
Nell & kids came over for the week end.
Saturday 11-Jul-64
We are all going to Lloyd's for supper tonight.
Sunday 12-Jul-64
All went to Waldrop singing today.
Thursday 16-Jul-64
Paul came for Pat & kids. I
am back at Ray's again.
Sunday 19-Jul-64
Mr John T. Brooks died Fri night. Mildred
& I went to funeral home early, stayed till 10 o'clock. Went to Sun School, then ate lunch at Royce's.
Monday 20-Jul-64
We went to Rosborough springs to get peaches, none there.
Tuesday 21-Jul-64
Rita & Kathy got a bu. peaches at Harvey Fite's for $5.00.
Wednesday
22-Jul-64
Ray came home from Minden La.
Friday 24-Jul-64
Had a good rain and is lots cooler.
Sunday 26-Jul-64
Dorothy & Kay came. I'm
going home with them to stay a week.
Saturday 01-Aug-64
James brought me home. Kathy came
home from Port Neches.
Saturday 08-Aug-64
M. Bess & kids came, we went to Nell's.
Monday 10-Aug-64
Rita is painting the living room.
Tuesday 11-Aug-64
Visited Mildred for awhile.
Saturday 15-Aug-64
Had a 3 in. rain.
Wednesday
26-Aug-64
Watching the Democrat convention.
Interesting.
Thursday 27-Aug-64
Bo & family came for the week end.
Had my hair cut.
Sunday 30-Aug-64
Bo went home today.
Monday 31-Aug-64
Kathy started to school. Very
hot weather.
Tuesday 01-Sep-64
Rita got a permanent.
Friday 04-Sep-64
James, Dot & Kay came for week end.
Brought Ray 2 birddog
puppies.
Sunday 06-Sep-64
Nell & all the family came this afternoon.
Monday 07-Sep-64
Lloyd & Mildred came by to see James, but he was fishing. James, Dot
& Kay came for dinner, then left for home. Mildred & I went to the Waldrop reunion for awhile.
Tuesday 08-Sep-64
Went to Longview with Lloyd & Mildred. Dr Norman
treated my ear, such a relief.
Friday 11-Sep-64
Ray, Rita & Kathy went o a ball game.
Sunday 13-Sep-64
I went to Church & SS with Mildred & J.T. then after lunch we went to
Oakland to the annual singing.
Monday 14-Sep-64
Rita went to town and I visited Gladys till noon.
Saturday 26-Sep-64
Pat & kids came & I went home with them.
Friday 23-Oct-64
Pat brought me home. Bo &
family came.
Sunday 25-Oct-64
Pat & Bo went home this morning.
Tuesday 27-Oct-64
Mildred & I got a new permanent.
Sunday 01-Nov-64
Nell & family came. Tommy
is home.
Monday 02-Nov-64
Visited Gladys this afternoon.
Tuesday 03-Nov-64
Voted for LBJ and the other Dem candidates.
Thursday 05-Nov-64
Raining.
Friday 06-Nov-64
Michael's birthday.
Sunday 08-Nov-64
Went to Church.
Tuesday 10-Nov-64
Kenneth's birthday.
Friday 13-Nov-64
M. Bess & kids came.
Saturday 14-Nov-64
We all went to Longview for Dr Payton to check Patsy's eyes.
Monday 16-Nov-64
Went to Dr. I have a rash. Rita went to Eastman.
Saturday 21-Nov-64
Very cold. Ray, Rita &
Kathy went to Allison's camp for supper.
Sunday 22-Nov-64
Still cold. Stayed home all
day.
Thursday 26-Nov-64
M. Bess & kids came, also James, Dot & Kay.
Friday 27-Nov-64
M. Bess & I went to see Mattie.
James, Jerry & Barbara went squirrel hunting, killed 5.
Saturday 28-Nov-64
All went home today.
Friday 04-Dec-64
Rita, Mildred & I went to Longview, I saw Dr Payton.
Sunday 06-Dec-64
Nell & kids came, ate dinner here then went up to the farm & picked
up pecans. Is real cold.
Tuesday 08-Dec-64
Rita went to work at Texas Eastman today. Mildred
& I went to Henderson.
Thursday 10-Dec-64
Lloyd & Mildred came by.
Saturday 12-Dec-64
Kathy's 16th birthday. Pete
Woods was shot & killed by an escaped convict.
Thursday 24-Dec-64
Went to Dr Phillips. James
& Kay came.
Friday 25-Dec-64
We ate dinner at Mrs Kennedy's. Nell
& family came & we all went up to the farm & cooked supper. Nell
went home.
Saturday 26-Dec-64
James & Dot went home.
Monday 28-Dec-64
Byron Ross died.
Thursday 31-Dec-64
Went back to Dr Phillips.
Mama’s Diary - 1966
Saturday 01-Jan-66
Beginning the new year, a warm cloudy day.
We had black eyed peas and "hog jowl' for lunch for good luck. Christine
(Woods) Long died in California.
Thursday 20-Jan-66
Gerald Stone (Peck) Eden was killed in wreck on river bridge at Longview.
Chester Wyatt died the same day.
Friday 04-Feb-66
Had a lovely birthday (74 yrs) supper at Lloyd's with Nell, James, Ray
& families, really a happy surprise.
Sunday 06-Feb-66
Rev. Dewey Barron Jimmerson was killed in a car wreck at Newton.
Wednesday
09-Feb-66
Jimmy Armstrong was buried today at Waldrop.
Sunday 20-Feb-66
Nell & children came this afternoon.
Monday 21-Feb-66
James and Mr Findley from Austin visited us awhile.
Tuesday 22-Feb-66
Went for check up.
Saturday 26-Feb-66
Randy & Bette came.
Monday 28-Feb-66
Prescription No. 423559 refilled.
Tuesday 01-Mar-66
Daughter Mildred took me to Dr. Payton.
Friday 04-Mar-66
Bo & family came.
Monday 07-Mar-66
Willis & Effie came.
Friday 11-Mar-66
M. Bess & Kids & Linda came. We
went to Longview.
Tuesday 15-Mar-66
Charley Jackson died, Ray was pall bearer.
Thursday 17-Mar-66
Got a permanent. Bo &
family, Pat & family came., then Sat. James & family came, called Lloyd & they came, we had a fish supper. All left on Sun.
Friday 08-Apr-66
Nell came for me, we came back on Easter Sun. eve the 10th.
Saturday 16-Apr-66
M. Bess and family came for week end, we went to Nell's on Sat.
Saturday 23-Apr-66
Went to Dr. for check up. Nothing
wrong.
Monday 25-Apr-66
Kate came.
Friday 29-Apr-66
Pat & kids came for me.
Monday 02-May-66
Ray's birthday.
Monday 09-May-66
Pat took me to Pasadena. Got to see "My Fair
Lady" in La
Porte. Bo moved into new house the 12th, I spent the night with them. Came a flood.
Friday 13-May-66
The Jones brought me home.
Tuesday 17-May-66
Sister, Mike & family came.
Thursday 19-May-66
Sister's birthday. They ate supper
here, Lloyd & Mildred came. They left for Phoenix.
Friday 27-May-66
So unusually cool this spring, slept under electric blanket last night.
Sunday 29-May-66
Would have been J.F. Kennedy's birthday, he would have been 49.
Tuesday 31-May-66
Rita's grandmother Reynolds died today - her birthday.
Wednesday
01-Jun-66
Was 58° last night, the coolest on record. Kathy and I went to town, had my hair trimmed.
Eddie & I defrosted the freezer. M.Bess, Randy & kids came to
stay til Sunday. Nell & Tim came Sat.
Sunday 12-Jun-66
Bo & family came by from their vacation, we spent the night at the
farm. He got lots of plums. Installed
air conditioner, went home after supper on the 13th.
Tuesday 14-Jun-66
The Byerlys left on vacation to New England states.
Wednesday
15-Jun-66
Kathy went to dentist.
Saturday 18-Jun-66
James & family came, brought fish, we called Lloyd & Mildred to
come & had fish supper.
Tuesday 28-Jun-66
M. Bess and Linda, Barbara & David came, we went to Rosborough Springs
to get peaches.
Thursday 30-Jun-66
M. Bess & Linda picked plums at the old Wyatt place.
Friday 01-Jul-66
Tim's birthday, I made crab apple jelly.
Saturday 02-Jul-66
Ray & Rita went to El Chico's with John & Jimmie. Kathy & I played Scrabble.
Sunday 03-Jul-66
Went to Liberty singing.
Monday 04-Jul-66
Nell & Coleman kids & Tim came, Tim stayed this week.
Sunday 10-Jul-66
Went to annual day at Waldrop.
Monday 11-Jul-66
Nell & family came after Tim.
Kathy is sewing on her wool dress. Very hot.
Thursday 14-Jul-66
Got a permanent, prescription 423559 refilled.
Monday 18-Jul-66
Betty Sparks was buried and we didn't know it.
Tuesday 19-Jul-66
Buddy Gentry died today.
Thursday 21-Jul-66
Shelled 2 bu. peas.
Saturday 30-Jul-66
James & family came. I
went home with them.
Saturday 06-Aug-66
Ray, Rita & Kathy went to Bo's & to the Astrodome.
Friday 12-Aug-66
Ray, Rita & Kathy came to James’.
On Saturday we all went to San Saba & Richland Springs. We visited
Burl & Britte Martin. Came home Sunday.
Sunday 28-Aug-66
Had the Woods re-union today at Drew's place. James, Dot & Kay, Lloyd & Mildred came.
Tuesday 30-Aug-66
Pat & kids came, went home Sept 2, Friday.
Friday 02-Sep-66
M. Bess, Barbara & David came, stayed till Labor day the 5th. Mrs Tinnie
Brooks passed away Sept. 6.
Friday 09-Sep-66
Went for check up & flu shot.
Friday 23-Sep-66
Went for check up & that night had trouble with my heart, went by ambulance
to hospital.
Monday 26-Sep-66
M. B. & Linda came.
Friday 30-Sep-66
Pat & kids came. Came
from hospital Oct. 4.
Thursday 06-Oct-66
James came & took me to Dr., then Pat came after me.
This was the last entry in Mama’s diary.
*****************************************************************
Mama went to Pat and Paul’s for a visit then Pat brought her over to stay
a few days with Monnie Bess and to visit us too. On the evening of November 10, 1966 Monnie Bess called to tell me Mama was having chest pains and needed to go to the hospital. I called Pasadena Ambulance and they said they didn’t have anyone to help the driver but
they could send an ambulance. I gave them the address and told them I would be
there to help the driver. The ambulance came just after I got there. We got Mama into the ambulance and I rode in the back with her to Bayshore Hospital. I said to Mama,
“Don’t be afraid, we will be there soon and they will take care of you”.
She said to me, “I’m not afraid at all”.
They did what they could for her but she slowly declined. She finally passed away the next evening … November
11, 1966.
