You are, when I was a small child of two, holding me on your lap.
You are a quick cookie on my way home from school when I was in grade school.
A sandwich at lunch time in junior high.
Watching American Bandstand when I was in high school.
And Lawence Welk on a Saturday night.
You are sewing aprons,
Working on things for the church bazaar,
Embroidering pillowcases for us for Christmas,
Crocheting afgans for all of us to snuggle up in on a cold winter day,
You are summer time sitting in the swing in the back yard,
And vacations down on the Oregon Coast.
And the watching the county fair parade from your front lawn,
And going to Pendleton to see the Round-Up Parades in my new jeans.
You are cooking great meals from left-overs,
Fixing me beef stroganoff for my birthday,
Picnics in the back yard,
And terrific holiday meals.
You are patients teaching me to crochet,
And smiling at me and my impatients when I made a mistake and you made me take it out!
You are walking to church on Sundays,
And listening to you and Pompo sing, "It Is No Secret," while you play the piano,
"Nanny" was born Margurite A. Lemert on the 26th of April, 1906 to Dr. and Mrs. Lemert at South Bend, Indiana. She has told me wonderful stories about when she was a young girl going with her Daddy when he made house call to sick neighbors. In those days money was scarce and often they would receive eggs, meat, etc. for his fees. (To bad it's not like that today!)
When "Nanny" was a young teen-ager her Daddy, after purchasing property in Oregon decieded to move the family there. "Nanny" has told me how their family in Indiana were really worried about them moving out to the "wild west."
Grandpa Lemert then proceeded to make, on the back of a farm truck, what was probably one of the first "campers." They first came to Pendleton, Oregon and then went to Bend, Oregon, where the land was he had purchased. They had been lead to believe that the land was lush and green but much to their surprise it was basicly a rock pile.
While in Bend,Grandpa Lemert went out to the country to help a friend install a well. After all if water was there it could be of use. This was when a tragedy occurred when Grandpa Lemert, while installing a device he had invented, a chain broke, wrapping around Grandpa, and giving him fatal injurys.
Nanny at about 23!
It is unclear from the stories at this point, how and when Nanny and her Mom moved back to Pendleton after his death. I do know though that while they were Bend Nanny had already met "Pompo" (my Grandpa) because my Aunt has love letter that they wrote to each other.
Nanny and Pompo!
On the 7th of January, 1923 Nanny married Pompo at Pendleton, Oregon. From the day of their marriage Nanny's Mom lived with the newlyweds. On 6th of December, 1926 my Mom, Joyce Louise, was born. Several years later my Aunt Phyllis was born in 1930.
Life was not easy in the beginning for this young newly married couple. Pompo worked for a while in a grocery store which Nanny told me was a God sent during the depression. The reason being he was able to bring home food that was no longer sellable for his family. Grandma Lemert worked as long as she was able to at the Pendleton Woolen Mills to help contribute to the household income.
Nanny was always a stay at home Mom to her two girls. She has told me how she did volunteer work at the school in what seemed to be the first cafeteria.
While in Pendleton they bought their first home.
Eventually, he also got a job working for the Union Pacific Railroad Express and after living in Pendleton all of their married life they moved to Hermiston, Oregon in the 50's. By then we had also moved to Hermiston and lived about six blocks from Nanny and Pompo.
Nanny and Pompo
On their Twenty-fifth Anniversary
Their family was now grown and they had grandchildren. Nanny's time was taken up with the Methodist Church where she was always an active member.
In 1974 after more than 50 years of a wonderful marriage Pompo died. We were all very worried about Nanny, how she would do alone and all. We should of realized that she was a strong lady and was very lonesome of course for Pompo but did just fine. She was still in the house they had bought in Hermiston and for several years lived there before she finally sold it and moved into an apartment with less upkeep.
I know this is short but it would be impossible to tell the whole life story of this wonderful lady, my Grandma, my Nanny, in just a few words.
Nanny about 1985
Happy Birthday Nanny
I LOVE YOU
Thanks to Cricketfor framing all my pictures, I couldn't of done it without you. (((HUGS))) and Blessings!