Chapter 28 of Family History - Most influential person & Who'd you like to see again

Who was the most influential person in your life?

Lorraine: That 8^th grade teacher. She was a dilly.

Marcella:  My dad

Arlie: Chief Petty Officer Hackett

Joyce: My father and his two sisters, Velna and Elva

Dale: A woman named Audrey Benschoter, whom I’ve never met. I came across a picture on the front cover of Lapidary Journal and was taken aback by the gemstone carvings she did, especially one made of carnelian from Oregon. I decided then “I have to carve!” It was like a voice from the wilderness type of inspiration. I was so moved that I considered myself a gemstone carver from that moment onward, although I would not carve my first piece for another year. I attained the distinction of master gemstone carver within three years.

Janie: Larry Coffey, co-worker at Community Action. He gave me lots of sage advice.

Sue S: Someone who I do not know. He/she put my name in for a scholarship to Peninsula College and I actually won it.

Marlee: My dad. Even though he died when I was 18, he made an impression on me. I believe the way he paid for most things with cash made me learn to save my money. I’ve never really been a credit card user. Jeff and I have lived our lives that way for almost 27 years.

Cindy: My mother. She always encouraged me and lifted me up when I was down. She is so honest and loving and she helped me to become the person I am today.

Bill: Dad’s youngest sister, my aunt Myra. She is one of the kindest and most generous persons I know. She has always been one who shares a lot of love and supports me in everything. When my mom died, she became my stability.

Mary:  My mother.

 

Who Would you most like to see from your past?

Lorraine: My grandparents

John: John Koontz from Knoxville, TN. We were in the Marines together. (Note: I had never heard dad mention this man so I researched online and found him. Unfortunately, he had died just a few weeks before but I did talk to his wife and told her my dad had fond memories of her husband)

Marcella: a girl friend from college

Arlie: A friend, David Sawyer

Joyce: Probably the aunts, uncles, cousins I’ve lost. If I had to pick just one, I guess it would be my grandpa, L.G. Blankenship.

Dale: Mary Schrader, Helen Plut’s cousin. She was a sweet girl and I was an idiot.

Janie: Helen Severson, my old charge nurse and friend of 20 years.

Sue S: My dad. I learned so much from him and never really told him that I appreciated all he did for me.

Marlee: Cheryl Underwood, my best friend in high school. We had great times and she made me laugh. She didn’t like Jeff, though, and I had fallen in love with him. We parted our ways but I’d like to know if she’s happily married.

Cindy: Darrel Walker, my father’s father.  He died in 1938 at the age of 33. I would really have liked to have known the man that my Grandma Velna was in love with.

Bill: No doubt. It would be my mom. She died Oct. 10, 1969 when I was 8.