Happy New Year 2016

I hope this first post of 2016 finds you well and happy.  I apologize for the long absence of posts, but with any luck at all, I will find myself back on track.

It seems the thing that most people do at the beginning of each New Year is make New Year’s Resolutions.  What is a resolution?  Well, from my own perspective it is a promise that we all make to ourselves and then break at some point during the year, just to make the same resolution at the beginning of the next year.  You know I am right on target!

With that in mind, I am not making any resolutions for 2016, I am just going to keep plugging along in life.  I will continue to go to work each day, I will continue “Searching for Ancestors”, I will continue to post items to my blog (even if I miss some weeks, or even months), I will plan a vacation (if I don’t get to go since for the last three (3) years, work has got in the way), and I will continue the everyday mundane tasks of cooking, cleaning and grocery shopping.  I will also continue to transcribe documents for the Northwest Missouri Genealogical Society so they can get more indexes out on their website (this is my way of volunteering a little bit of time to help others).  Doesn’t that sound more like the truth than making a resolution that won’t be kept?

Some things I have planned for this New Year including adding a page to my blog with all the surnames I am researching.  I also want to retake pictures of all tombstones associated with my family, and that will include going new places to get new pictures.  I will also try to locate new documents in new places instead of relying on the Internet, since we all know that all documents are not on the Internet, yet.

I wish you luck in the New Year and hope you stick to your resolutions.  As for me, I will continue “Searching for Ancestors”.

The Internet Does Not Have Everything (Yet)!

Genealogists are told that the Internet does not have all the information we may need for our family history.  I had always thought it had more to do with specific records and not just general information.  I was so wrong!

I have read lots of information on how to get the most out of my searches, how to conduct search parameters to locate information I may need, and how to use wild cards to expand my search.  I tried hundreds of searches over the last two (2) weeks to try and find some information.  I have had absolutely no luck at all.  Let me explain what I was looking for.

Leona Frances Scott (my mother) graduated from Tunas High School in Tunas, Missouri on April 30, 1953.  I wanted to find out more about the High School, see an image of it, and learn the history of the school so I could provide information in this blog post, and not just an image of the diploma my mother received.  Unfortunately, since I found nothing about the school, I have no information of any value to add.

The 1940 U.S. Federal Census is the last one available to the public.  It shows Leona’s family located in Howard County, Missouri (which later became Bates County), which includes the town of Hume, which is where they lived.  I always wondered why she went to Tunas High School in Tunas, Missouri since it is located about 20 miles northeast of Butler, Missouri which is 31 miles northeast of Hume.  Seems like a long way to go just to get to school.  I called a living uncle last weekend to see if he remembered why she went to a school that was almost 60 miles away from home, and I learned some enlightening information.

At some point after the 1940 U.S. Federal Census was taken, they moved to Brighton, Colorado.  Then, at some point prior to her graduation in 1953, they moved to Butler, Missouri (he thought they lived there a couple of years prior to her graduation).  This makes a lot more sense since Tunas is only about 20 miles away!  I just assumed (and we all know what that means), that they still lived in Hume!

Since there was no information on the school to be found on the World Wide Web, I will need to go to the local library or historical society to see if they have any information that can be gleaned from local records.  When I find additional information, I will be sure to pass on the information, which will hopefully also include a photo of the school, in a later post that will link back to this one.  Below is a photo of the diploma she received.

Leona Frances Scott
High School Diploma
April 30, 1953

More Organization

I am continuing my quest to get organized.  I have gone through some documentation I found on the Internet in reference to the Modrell Family and created Family Group Sheets for everyone.  I also have a copy of the Scott/Mayes book that descendants have compiled.  The only issue with both sets of information, is that I don't know where the documentation came from since most of the information provided does not contain sources for the information.  I will be compiling those Family Group Sheets for the Scott/Mayes families as well.  Once finished, I will be able to find holes in the information I have from both sides of my family and continue my search to find the necessary documents that back up the information provided, and will then be able to provide sourced and documented evidence since much the information is from unknown (to me) sources.

Family Group Sheets help me to see the big picture since the parents and children are listed as well as birth, marriage and death dates, and room for place information on each event and a 2nd page for miscellaneous notes (such as Census information, all source documentation for information provided on 1st page, name of hospital/nursing home for birth or death information, etc).  Family Group Sheets are truly a great source of information.  If you have any missing areas, you see at a glance which documents you need to find to complete the information for each family group.  There should be a sheet for each person as both a child and parent (if they are a parent) or spouse or partner (if living with another individual).  The form I have is in a Word Document so I can change form fields if needed when I have a "Partner" situation instead of "Husband/Wife" or "Spouse/Spouse" for same sex marriages instead of "Husband/Wife".  It can be customized for whatever situation I come across.

I have saved the form I use to Google Docs and by clicking this link you can see the form I am speaking of.  I can't remember where I got this form, but I found it somewhere on the Internet.  There are a lot of forms out there and you can google Family Group Sheet and add Word Document or Excel Document for those forms that are fillable on the computer.  Ancestry.com and Family Tree Magazine also have many free documents which can be downloaded and used by anyone.

Another set of very helpful forms that can be found on the Internet are the Census Forms that date back to the first census in 1790 with readable column headings so you know what information was asked.  When I provide census images and information on my blog, I will provide the information for each column, but that information won't mean anything if you don't know what the headings are (which reflect back to the questions asked by the census taker).

I also need to put tab dividers in my binder to divide each family surname in an effort to make it easier to place information I find.  Then, I will need to create a Table Of Contents for each section so I don't duplicate the documentation I have (which has happened many times before with my complete and total disorganization).  The key will be to remember to update the Table Of Contents when I find new documentation to add to a specific person or family.

I will be back to providing family information in blog posts shortly.  Thank you for being patient during my respite from "searching for ancestors"!

Organization

I am taking a short respite from by blog while I organize my documents.  Why you ask?  Well....

I realized when I spent over 12 hours writing this post about Perry Eneau that I did not have all my ducks (uh...docs) in a row.  I had to look in several places to find the different pieces of information that is referred to in that post.  I now have all that information together, despite the fact that some of that information may be tossed out as I work through that brick wall - although, I have worked with that information for about 5 years and still have not come to any conclusions.  I know there is a missing piece of information that I will find someday that will make all that information come together and my brick wall will tumble!  How I look forward to that day!!

I have spoken before about the fact that I absolutely love to read.  I read two (2) genealogy magazines (Internet Genealogy and Family Tree Magazine) as well as History Magazine.  History Magazine provides me with information about Military Conflicts, Weather Disasters, Heroes and Heroines, Villains and Outlaws, and much more that I can then relate to my ancestors during their lifetime. With each magazine, I mark articles as I read them that have information which I may need later (websites, international research, etc.) and I then tear those articles out and throw away the rest of the magazine.  Those articles are then separated according to content and placed in a page protector which is then placed into a binder.  I have binders for: International Research, State/City Research, Specific Record Categories (Census, Obituary, Church, Land, Military, etc.), History Articles, Specific Website Tutorials, and the last one has miscellaneous articles broke down by category (organization, photo identification, social media/apps, etc.).

I also use binders for my genealogy research.  I have a binder for my proven family members and another for my possible family members.  Once I find a document that confirms their relationship, those documents are then moved into my proven family member's binder.  Despite the number of years I have been conducting research, I only have up to some of my great-grandparents confirmed. Many people have hundreds of names by now, but I want to be careful and make sure my family really is my family and not people that others have linked to my family with no proven sources. There are too many stories out there of unconfirmed family members and I started this research wanting no part of that.  I don't want living family members "thinking" they are related to someone just because I decided to take the word of someone else, instead of finding the information that would prove/disprove that family relationship.

I want to include a Family Record Sheet for each family, as well as a Research Log for each person. That way, I will have information at the touch of a finger for everyone who is related to each other and how they are related, as well as a log for each person showing the searches I perform and whether or not I am successful in finding anything.  I also want to keep a running list of the documents/information that I need to find in order to provide more information about each ancestors life.

Please bear with me as I find a place for everything and put everything in it's place.  Who knows if I will get the entire task completed, but I hope to get the majority of it done so I can concentrate most of my time and energy on what I love doing most - "Searching For Ancestors"!!

Census Sunday (Scott, Guy Calvin)

This is the 1940 Census for Guy Calvin Scott.  Below the image is the information for each of the columns.  Guy Calvin Scott is my grandfather on my mother’s side.  My mother is listed as daughter.

For Occupation – this census states he is a tractor man for the W.P.A. (columns 28 and 29).  W.P.A. stands for Works Project Administration.  I need to find out more about what that means.  My understanding is that the government put people to work in different occupations, but I need to confirm that by doing some research on the Works Project Administration and what Tractor Man consisted of.

Column 27 states duration of unemployment in weeks for Guy Calvin Scott was 96 weeks.  Since he wasn’t working, is that what constituted him working for the W.P.A.?  Column 30 states GW which indicates Government Work.  Again, need to research this.

 

1940 US Federal Census
Guy Calvin Scott Family, Howard, Bates County, Missouri

State - Missouri; County - Bates; Township - Howard; Incorporated Place – Blank; Ward of City – Blank; Block No. - Blank; Unincorporated Place - Blank; Institution - Blank; Supervisor's District No. - 6; Enumeration District No. – 7-13; Enumerated By Me On – April 15, 1940; Sheet – 4B; Enumerator – Paul Jennings.

Line No.54

Column 1 - Blank; 2 - Blank; 3 – 97; 4 - Rented; 5 - Blank; 6 - Yes; 7 – Scott, Guy C; 8 - Head; Code - Blank; 9 - M; 10 - W; 11 - 47; 12 - M; 13 - No; 14 - 8; Code – Blank; 15 – Kansas; Code - Blank; 16 - Blank; 17 - Same House; 18 - Blank; 19 - Blank; 20 - Yes; Code - Blank; 21 - No; 22 - Yes; 23 - Blank; 24 - Blank; 25 - Blank; Code - 2; 26 - Blank; 27 - 96; 28 – Tractor Man; 29 – W.P.A; 30 - GW; Code - Blank; 31 - 19; 32 - $486; 33 – Yes; 34 - 86

Line No. 55

Column 1 - Blank; 2 - Blank; 3 - Blank; 4 - Blank; 5 - Blank; 6 - Blank; 7 – Scott, Cora V; 8 - Wife; Code – Blank; 9 - F; 10 - W; 11 - 42; 12 - M; 13 - No; 14 - H-2; Code – Blank; 15 - Missouri; Code - Blank; 16 - Blank; 17 - Same House; 18 - Blank; 19 - Blank; 20 - Yes; Code - Blank; 21 - No; 22 - No; 23 - No; 24 - No; 25 - H; Code - Blank; 26 - Blank; 27 - Blank; 28 - Blank; 29 - Blank; 30 - Blank; Code - Blank; 31 - Blank; 32 - Blank; 33 - Blank; 34 - Blank

Line No. 56

Column 1 - Blank; 2 - Blank; 3 - Blank; 4 - Blank; 5 - Blank; 6 - Blank; 7 – Scott, Tommie L; 8 - Son; Code – Blank; 9 - M; 10 - W; 11 - 18; 12 - S; 13 - Yes; 14 – H-3; Code – Blank; 15 - Missouri; Code - Blank; 16 - Blank; 17 - Same House; 18 - Blank; 19 - Blank; 20 - Yes; Code - Blank; 21 - No; 22 - No; 23 - No; 24 - No; 25 - S; Code - Blank; 26 - Blank; 27 - Blank; 28 - Blank; 29 - Blank; 30 Blank; Code - Blank; 31 - Blank; 32 - Blank; 33 - Blank; 34 – Blank

Line No. 57

Column 1 - Blank; 2 - Blank; 3 - Blank; 4 - Blank; 5 - Blank; 6 - Blank; 7 – Scott, William G; 8 - Son; Code – Blank; 9 - M; 10 - W; 11 - 13; 12 - S; 13 - Yes; 14 – 6; Code – Blank; 15 - Kansas; Code - Blank; 16 - Blank; 17 - Same House; 18 - Blank; 19 - Blank; 20 - Yes; Code - Blank; 21 – Blank; 22 - Blank; 23 - Blank; 24 - Blank; 25 - Blank; Code - Blank; 26 - Blank; 27 - Blank; 28 - Blank; 29 - Blank; 30 Blank; Code - Blank; 31 - Blank; 32 - Blank; 33 - Blank; 34 – Blank

Line No. 58

Column 1 - Blank; 2 - Blank; 3 - Blank; 4 - Blank; 5 - Blank; 6 - Blank; 7 – Scott, Jason; 8 - Son; Code – Blank; 9 - M; 10 - W; 11 - 11; 12 - S; 13 - Yes; 14 – 5; Code – Blank; 15 - Kansas; Code - Blank; 16 - Blank; 17 - Same House; 18 - Blank; 19 - Blank; 20 - Yes; Code - Blank; 21 – Blank; 22 - Blank; 23 - Blank; 24 - Blank; 25 - Blank; Code - Blank; 26 - Blank; 27 - Blank; 28 - Blank; 29 - Blank; 30 Blank; Code - Blank; 31 - Blank; 32 - Blank; 33 - Blank; 34 – Blank

Line No. 59

Column 1 - Blank; 2 - Blank; 3 - Blank; 4 - Blank; 5 - Blank; 6 - Blank; 7 – Scott, Leona Frances; 8 - Daughter; Code – Blank; 9 - F; 10 - W; 11 - 5; 12 - S; 13 - Blank; 14 – Blank; Code – Blank; 15 - Missouri; Code - Blank; 16 - Blank; 17 - Same House; 18 - Blank; 19 - Blank; 20 - Yes; Code - Blank; 21 – Blank; 22 - Blank; 23 - Blank; 24 - Blank; 25 - Blank; Code - Blank; 26 - Blank; 27 - Blank; 28 - Blank; 29 - Blank; 30 Blank; Code - Blank; 31 - Blank; 32 - Blank; 33 - Blank; 34 – Blank

Perry B. Eneau Obituary

According to his death certificate, Perry B. Eneau passed away on July 14, 1955 at St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri of Thrombophlebitis due to gangrene in his left leg.  He is buried at the Ashland Cemetery, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri in Lot F-11, Location 2W, according to the cemetery record.

I have two (2) newspaper clippings for Perry B. Eneau.  Both are from unknown newspapers which I someday hope to identify.

Perry B. Eneau

The body of Perry B. Eneau, who died last night, is at the Meierhoffer-Fleeman funeral home.

Mr. Eneau, 82, died at his home, 418 North 29th street.  A lifetime St. Joseph resident, he had been a gardener at the William Albrecht home until six years ago and prior to that, for 35 years, had been an employee of the old Noyes-Norman Shoe Co.

Mr. Eneau is survived by his wife, Mrs. Carrie A. Eneau of the home; a daughter, Mrs. Harry Modrell, Dearborn, Mo.; two half sisters, Mrs. Sophia Wiscamb, Denver, Colo., and Mrs. Priscilla Lavelette, Colorado Springs, Colo.; a grandson and a great-grandson.

Eneau Services

Services for Perry B. Eneau will be held Monday at 1:30 p.m. at the Meierhoffer-Fleeman chapel, the Rev. E. C. Hunt officiating.  Burial will be in Ashland Cemetery.  Mr. Eneau, a lifelong resident of St. Joseph died Thursday night at his home, 418 North 29th street, at the age of 82.

Who Are The Parents?

Perry B. Eneau is a man that has confused me to no end.  The brick wall with him is so tall I can’t even see to the top.

Perry was born August 15, 1872 in St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri, according to his death certificate.  He married Carrie A. Young on October 28, 1898 in St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri, according to his marriage license.  They are the parents of Maxine W. Eneau (my paternal grandmother).

I believe Perry was actually born with the last name of Heneault, which was shortened at some time to Eneau.  I don’t know when, why or how.  I find records under both names and his siblings and possible parents records always refer to Heneault (with various spellings, never Eneau like his records).

I need to look at the christening record from Immaculate Conception which is indexed at FamilySearch.org that shows his name as Perier Eduardum Eneau, however, I have a note handwritten by my father (Jerry Eneau Modrell), which states his name is Perry Baptiste Eneau with the same date of birth as above and also states he was born in the French Bottoms of St. Joseph, Missouri.  His death certificate and marriage license both show his name as Perry B. Eneau, as well as his obituary and tombstone.

His death certificate states his parents are Stephen Eneau and Victoria Lavelette.  There are several issues with this theory:

·         Victoria Lavelette married Xavier Lavelette on January 7, 1879 and they had no children (still trying to figure out if they were related – cousins maybe?).  This is according to FamilySearch.org, so will need to look at the record for this to see if there is any additional information.

·         Stephen Eneau married Victoria Didlo November 29, 1883 which is 11 years after Perry was born.

·         Victoria Didlo was born January 18, 1865 which puts her at 7 years old having Perry as a child which is not likely to have happened.

·         Stephen Heneault obituary from the Catholic Tribune states he leaves a brother, Perry Heneault in St. Joseph.

·         Victoria Didlo obituary from the Catholic Tribune states she leaves two (2) sons, Edward and David.

His christening records states his parents are Stephano Eneau and Victoria.  Again, only the above records and issues were discovered.

The 1880 US Federal Census states he is the son of Sylvester Henault and Lucinda Henault.  Following is a synopsis of the information found on Sylvester/Lucinda:

·         Sylvester Henault was 56 years old in the 1880 Census which would have put him at 48 years old in 1872 when Perry was born which is more likely than 7 year old Victoria.

·         Lucinda was 59 in the 1880 Census which would have put her at 51 years old in 1872 when Perry was born – is that likely?  I am not sure.

·         The 1900 US Federal Census shows a Sylvan Eneau living with his daughter, Victoria Richart. Most likely her maiden name was Eno, was she the Widow in the 1880 US Federal Census?  Was she married before Richart?

·         The 1880 US Federal Census shows a Victoria Eno as a widow living with Michael and Priscilla Lavlett.  It states Delia and Edward as daughter and son respectively, supposed relationship to head of household, however, Victoria Lavelette and Stephen Heneault were parents of Delia according to her marriage license to Julius Henry on September 9, 1918, not to mention Victoria Didlow (who married Stephen Heneault) also had a son named Edward.  Are these the same women?  Due to supposed age at birth of children, I doubt it, but I can’t find any other references to a Victoria Heneault, Eno, or Lavelette.

So, as you can see, I am so confused.  I can’t seem to find a record that will straighten all this out and provide me the information I need to move forward (or backward in the case of genealogy).  If anyone out there has any ideas, please feel free to let me know.

Grandma Scott

Cora Viola Main was born December 1, 1897 according to the Social Security Death Index, her tombstone and also a funeral brochure I received when I attended her funeral.  She was born in Amos, Vernon County, Missouri according to the “Scott-Mayes” book and was known to everyone as Viola.  Her parents are John Lewis Main and Diana Anna Louisa Austin (Polly).  Her siblings are: Reuben Erwin, Sarah Elizabeth, George Sylvester, Ida Nevel, Clark Brewster, Jason Archie, Nettie Diantha and an unnamed brother who was either stillborn or died the same day he was born.  I need to locate a record to prove her birth place information.

Photo provided by an aunt and uncle.
The Main Family
Back - Sarah, Clark, Jason, George, Nettie
Front - John, Cora, Polly

Viola married Guy Calvin Scott on July 18, 1919 in Butler, Bates County, Missouri.  Their children are Evelyn, George William, Leona Frances (my mother) and two (2) living sons.

After Guy passed away, Viola was moved to a Care Home in Denver, Colorado.

Viola passed away on June 20, 1981 and is buried at Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins, Colorado.  Her funeral brochure provided the following information:

            Time of Service:  Tuesday, June 23, 1981 at 10:30am

            Officiating:  Dr. Joseph Laughlin

            Organist:  Mrs. W. J. Fredling

            Soloist:  Mr. W. J. Fredling

            Escorts:  Living Scott, Living Green, Living Barber, Living Scott, Living Gallegos, Living Alcaraz (name is spelled wrong on Funeral Brochure, see Correction for updated information).

            Arrangements:  Russell Funeral Chapel

Grandma Modrell

Maxine W. Eneau was the only child of Perry B. Eneau and Carrie Alice Young.  She was born May 24, 1907 according to the St. Joseph, Missouri Record of Births.  My father had told me her middle name was Wilhelmina, however, he had told my stepmother it was a different middle name so I guess there is some debate there.  I have nothing stating what her middle name is.  I will update my information when I find something (if I ever do).

She graduated in 1926 from Lafayette High School in St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri in 1926.  Her High School Yearbook states “Humor is my philosophy of existence”.  It went on to say “Maxine is a prominent member of the orchestra.  She says she is going to be a stenographer but we are inclined to believe she will be a musician and maybe a professional.  Glee Club, ‘Gypsy Rover’ and ‘College Days’.”  I can only assume the latter two (2) are plays she was in.  I have a violin that she had played, but I am unsure if it was one she played in High School or one she acquired thereafter.

Harry House Modrell and Maxine W. Eneau
in front of our house in Grandview, Missouri

She married Harry House Modrell on July 8, 1927 in St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri.

I don’t have any memories of her other than they used to have a bird in a cage (maybe a parakeet).

She died September 17, 1967 and is buried at Ashland Cemetery, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri.

Grandpa Modrell

Harry House Modrell was born October 24, 1903 in St. Joseph, Missouri according to the St. Joseph Record of Births, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri.  He was the only child of Arthur Ernest Modrell and Hattie Catherine House.

He used to tell a funny story about growing up across from a graveyard and having to check on the animals on their land on the other side.  It was a very dark night and he couldn’t see much.  He said he heard a noise behind him and turned around to see eyes staring back at him.  He was so scared that he doubled up his fist and hit the thing between the eyes.  After it stammered away, he realized it was a donkey he had just hit.  I can’t do this story justice, he was the only one who could tell this story to both keep you on the edge of your seat and, at the end, laugh until it hurt.  I hope to someday discover where this land was that he lived on.

He graduated from Central High School in 1924 in St. Joseph, Missouri.  His Senior Yearbook states “Harry has an enviable record, he has attended Central for four years and has never missed a day in spite of the fact that he must drive a long distance. He will attend Junior College.”  This is very impressive to me, and was something my father (Harry’s son) instilled in me.  My dad always said, you will go to school and if you can’t make it (due to illness), I can come and get you.  It sounds to me like my dad and I learned a valuable lesson of dedication from my Grandpa Modrell, one I still follow to this day.

He married Maxine Wilhelmina Eneau on July 8, 1927 in St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri.  I need to find the marriage record so I can discover where they were married.  I wish I had a wedding photo of them. 

Harry House Modrell and Maxine Wilhelmina Eneau

They had one (1) child, Jerry Eneau Modrell (my dad) who was born April 27, 1928.

In the 1950’s, they owned and operated a Grocery and General Store on Main Street in Dearborn, Platte County, Missouri.  I have a newspaper article dated April 14, 1977 titled “27 Years Ago” from the Dearborn Democrat in which it speaks of them as the owners.  The store was on the bottom level and they lived on the top level of their building.  I need to see if I can find an earlier article from when they opened the store.

At some point after Grandpa Modrell retired, he came to live with me and dad.  I believe it was around 1972.  Dad relocated to Topeka, Kansas in 1973 and Grandpa Modrell did not want to move with us.  We kept our house in Grandview, Missouri and Grandpa Modrell kept his house in St. Joseph, Missouri.  We would drive back to Grandview every weekend to take care of our house, while Grandpa Modrell would drive to St. Joseph every weekend to take care of his house.  Grandpa Modrell had told me he was keeping his house in St. Joseph for me to have someday.  This arrangement continued for many years.  In the latter 1970’s, someone had broken into Grandpa Modrell’s house and he had it boarded up.  He didn’t go to St. Joseph as often after that, but we continued to drive to Grandview every weekend to make sure Grandpa Modrell had groceries, and to pay the bills.

Each year on Memorial Day Weekend, I would go with Grandpa Modrell to lay flowers on the graves of my mother and Grandma Modrell.  I still make that trek as often as possible.  Grandpa Modrell’s health declined over the years and he eventually started walking with a cane, then went to a walker, then was placed in a small house owned by a nurse that would take care of her patients daily when he was unable to walk anymore.  On January 21, 1982, she called trying to get a hold of my dad because she had taken my Grandpa to the hospital.  I gave her his work number and waited for dad to let me know something.  When dad came home from work, I asked about Grandpa and he said my Grandpa passed away that afternoon from complications of Pneumonia.

He is buried in Ashland Cemetery, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri.

1967 - Not A Typical Year

I was only five (5) years old, so I can only assume this year started off as a typical year.  However, before the year would end, I would have a few tragic losses.

On May 18, 1967, my parents (Jerry Eneau Modrell and Leona Frances Scott) filed for divorce.  The divorce was granted June 30, 1967.  I have the Kansas City Times newspaper clippings that prove those dates.  My dad had told me that he was granted the “care, custody and control” of us kids.  I need to get a copy of their divorce decree that would prove that statement.  He had said he was one of the first men in the state of Missouri to be awarded that type of custody.  My brother lived with my father, and for a very short time, I lived with my mother (see this post).

On September 17, 1967, my Grandma Modrell (Maxine W. Eneau) passed away.  I was told it was from eating with a dirty fork in a restaurant.  She got real sick and was placed in a hospital and within a short time, she passed away.  I do not have proof of this story and I did not hear this from my dad so I need to see if I am able to find some documentation to prove this statement.  She was laid to rest in Ashland Cemetery, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri.

On November 7, 1967, my mother (Leona Frances Scott) passed away.  She had not been feeling well and called my dad to see if she could get a flu shot (according to my dad, she was still on our insurance since back then the only choices were either a family plan or single plan and since he had custody of us kids, he carried the family insurance).  He let the clinic know she would be coming in for a flu shot.  On the way home, she stopped at friend’s house as she was getting sicker by the minute.  She laid down on the couch and within a few minutes, she had passed away.  She had a reaction to the Streptomycin shot she had received.  My Uncle Bill (one of her brothers) had told me he worked with a man who was in the hospital and received the same shot and died before the needle was out of his arm earlier that year.  I lost my mother twice this year – once to divorce, and then forever when she passed.  She was laid to rest in Green Lawn Cemetery, Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri (it is located in Swope Park).

Several people have told me this year is the reason I don’t have a lot of memories of my childhood.  From this point, I can only provide maybe five (5) different memories until I reached high school age.

Goin' To The Chapel

Scott-Modrell Marriage License

Jerry Eneau Modrell and Leona Frances Scott were married on June 12, 1954 in Raytown, Jackson County, Missouri.

Following is a rather long newspaper article that was cut from an unknown newspaper describing the wedding in great detail.  I will have to locate the newspaper so I can source this clipping.  It was given to me by an aunt (the wife of one of my mom’s brothers).  There are a lot of misspellings in this article and I will try to bracket [ ] those as much as possible.

SCOTT-MODRELL

            Miss Leona [Francis] Scott, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Guy Scott of Buffalo, Mo., became the bride of Mr. Jerry Modrell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Modrell, of Dearborn, Mo., June 12, 1954 at the First Christian Church in Raytown.  Large baskets of colorful [gladolius] and white carnations decorated the chancel.  Rev. [Canegy] read the impressive double ring ceremony in the presence of the immediate relatives and close friends.

            The bride, who was given in marriage by her father, was lovely in a white lace and net gown.  The lace fitted bodice had self covered tiny buttons down the front from a Peter Pan collar to the waist line.  She wore matching elbow length mitts.  The skirt was double net over white satin with lace incersion panels down each side.  Her illusion veil fell from a band of lace and seed pearls.  She carried a white Bible topped by a single Orchid, with white satin streamers.

            Mr. and Mrs. “Bud” Miller, close friends, attended the couple.  Mrs. Miller, who acted as matron of honor, wore pale blue nylon with a halo of blue Lilacs and carried pink Carnations.  Mr. Modrell wore a navy blue business suit.  “Bud” Miller, acting as best man, wore a grey business suit.  Each had a white Carnation boutonnieres.

            Mrs. Scott chose for her daughter’s wedding, a blue-grey nylon with white accessories.  Mrs. Modrell was dressed in [biege] with white accessories.  Each wore a corsage of pink Carnations.

Scott-Modrell Wedding Photo

            Shortly after the wedding ceremony, a reception was held in the lovely home of close friends of the bride and groom.  In the living room the arrangement for the receiving line was most beautiful with huge baskets of flowers and palms.  The bride’s table was very pretty – covered with a [corcheted] lace table cloth which the bride’s mother made as a wedding gift to her daughter.  The wedding cake was three-tier topped with a miniature bride and groom, and was surrounded by a blanket of fern and blue daisies, flanked by white candles.  After the bride cut the first piece of cake and served her husband and herself, Mrs. [Isarode] (Main) Mann, cousin of the bride, had charge of cutting the cake.  Mrs. Geneva (Beth) Jennings presided at the punch bowl.  Mrs. Wm. Scott, sister-in-law of the bride, assisted in serving of the guests.  Mrs. John Roy Johnson had charge of the guest book.  Mrs. Mattie (Main) [Laffon], cousin of the bride, assisted by an aunt, Mrs. Raymond Johnson, had charge of the beautiful as well as useful gifts.

            Mr. and Mrs. Modrell left on a two [weeks] honeymoon trip through the West.  Upon returning, they will be at home in Kansas City.  They both are employed by The Kansas City Life Ins. Co.

I Wish I Had Known Her Better

My mother, Leona Frances Scott, was born March 2, 1935.  I am still awaiting proof of that birth date, but for now, that is the only date I have.  Her tombstone only gives the year of birth and death, so that proves to be of no value here.  I also need to find out where she was born.  I know she lived in Hume, Bates County, Missouri, but I don’t know if she was born there.

She married my father, Jerry Eneau Modrell, on June 12, 1954 in Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri.

My mother and father were divorced on June 30, 1967 and my father was awarded custody of us children, although I do remember living with her for a very short period of time in an apartment in Belton, Cass County, Missouri.  When I was in my early teens, I asked my dad why I was living with him at the time of her death.  He told me that one day I had called him crying really hard and told him I wanted to come home.  He told me he did not ask any questions, he just hung up the phone, drove over to my moms and took me and my things back to his house.  And that is where I remained.

She passed away November 7, 1967 and her funeral was on my 6^th birthday.  This is where I pulled the title of this post – I wish I had known her better.

According to my father, one of her brothers (I believe it was my Uncle Bill) requested that he bury my mother as his wife and the mother of their children instead of just a single woman leaving two (2) children behind.  I was never able to confirm this with my Uncle Bill prior to his death.  I just know that my father did make all the arrangements for her funeral and even purchased a plot next to her in the cemetery in case something happened to one of us kids.

I know very little about my mom as my memories seem to be suppressed.  Some people believe it is because I suffered a lot of tragedy when I was young (my Grandma Modrell - my dad's mom - passed away just two (2) months prior to this and just three (3) months prior is when my parents were divorced).  So I had a lot of life-changing events in a very short time frame while I was little.  I am in the process of getting some “stories” about my mom from her family so I can get to know her better.

Some members of my mom’s family have found a few mementos and photos and were gracious enough to pass them on to me.  I am extremely thankful to them for those items.

My mother is buried at Green Lawn Cemetery in Swope Park, Kansas City, Missouri.