Granny Goose and MaryAnn 1984Granny Goose would have been 90 years old today. I miss her. She's been gone for 5 years now and we thought she'd live forever. She endured so much in her lifetime and was ornery because of it, rightfully so I might add. Her name is Mary Ruth Flowers Ford.
She and her twin sister were born to a man and wife who had five other children. Shortly after their birth their mother passed away. We believe their father wanted to keep the girls but could not and so he gave them to a convent to be raised by nuns. There my grandma lived until she was about 15 years old. She was treated well by the sisters in the convent, but didn't ever have the loving guidance and care of parents in her life.
Granny Goose, MaryAnnMichele & Stephanie
June 1990
Granny Goose & StephanieJune 1990
She met and married my grandfather Jessie Lloyd Ford at a very young age, 15 or 16 years old. Together they had three children, Helen, Richard, and MaryAnn (my mother).
Jessie was a hard worker and a good provider. He was an alcoholic and wasn't very kind. Once my grandma had the nerve to stand on her own, she left. By this time all three of the children were adults and out of the home. Jessie passed away in the early 1970's.
She met and married my grandfather Jessie Lloyd Ford at a very young age, 15 or 16 years old. Together they had three children, Helen, Richard, and MaryAnn (my mother).
Jessie was a hard worker and a good provider. He was an alcoholic and wasn't very kind. Once my grandma had the nerve to stand on her own, she left. By this time all three of the children were adults and out of the home. Jessie passed away in the early 1970's.
Granny Goose led a happy life. I remember her being so optimistic and fun to be around. If she was cooking in the kitchen, then you'd either be helping or you'd better stay out of her way.
She had a lot of friends and they loved her dearly. As a kid, we'd visit her almost every Thanksgiving on her ranch near Santa Margarita, California (near San Luis Obispo). She'd always have another couple of friends over also.
Granny Goose1984
Granny Goose was an excellent bowler and had many, trophies from her glory days. She developed strong friendships through her associations at North American Rockwell where she worked and retired from. Granny Goose was given this nickname once she began her life after moving 'up north' from Bell Gardens, Ca.
She had dozens of chickens, geese, ducks, peacocks, and other birds. She had donkeys, horses and cows over the years as well, sometimes they belonged to other people, but she is the one who cared for them. She had dogs and cats over the years too. Poor Ripper was killed after being bit by a rattlesnake, he was an okay dog. Our favorite dog of hers was Brownie. He'd come in where we were sleeping and lick us until we were awake :)
Granny GooseBrownie and Chicken coop in back
1984
Grandma never knew of the finer things in life that only money can buy. She lived in very humble circumstances as long as I could remember. She didn't have carpeting or new furniture or other comforts we see as necessities. She loved her family, her pets, her friends, her soaps and her coffee. She smoked non-filter Camel cigarettes for the longest time. She decided in her late 70's that cigarettes were just too expensive so she quit. Just like that.
Grandma never knew of the finer things in life that only money can buy. She lived in very humble circumstances as long as I could remember. She didn't have carpeting or new furniture or other comforts we see as necessities. She loved her family, her pets, her friends, her soaps and her coffee. She smoked non-filter Camel cigarettes for the longest time. She decided in her late 70's that cigarettes were just too expensive so she quit. Just like that.
Grandma moved to the boondocks of Arkansas, near Leslie, in the 1980's where she and my Uncle Richard lived and owned about 40 acres of land. They loved it there and that is where she lived until August of 2003 when she passed away. She had been out feeding her chickens, and must have missed a step on her way back in to the house. She fell and broke her hip. Once my Uncle Richard found her and helped her up, they soon realized something was terribly wrong because she couldn't put any weight on her leg at all. She was at this point very small, maybe weighing 90-95 lbs.
Uncle Richard put her in the car and they began the journey. An extremely bumpy and long ride to the main roads and eventually the hospital. She was able to talk to her daughters but then Grandma passed away shortly following surgery. We believe her heart just gave out.
My mom and I joined my Aunt Helen and cousin Wendy in Phoenix and then flew on to Little Rock. We then drove the rest of the way. This was an all day event. Once at my grandma's, my mom and I stayed overnight and visited with my Uncle Richard who, of course, was heart broken. We spent our time there visiting, touring her beautiful land and going through pictures and other keepsakes. Granny Goose was buried about a week later at Rose Hills Mortuary in Whittier, California.
We know she is in a much better place now as we all await the second coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We're grateful she is out of her earthly pain and trust that she is accepting the Gospel of Jesus Christ being taught to her as she awaits the Resurrection.
Mother and Daughter
1984
2 comments:
she looks like a really sweet lady! she reminds me of grandma dunn!
Aww, thanks for sharing those special memories! I'm so grateful I have lots of fun memories with my Grandma too and my kids as well. My husbands parents both died in the last 2 years so all my kids have are my parents and my grandma to make memories with.
Post a Comment