19	Winter	96
PO Box 522	PAMPA, TX	79066-0522
Volume 6	of the family, by the family, for the family	Issue 3
806 669 6009	Poetry | Merry Christmas... | News From Idaho Joy for the Journey | Crossword | Plum Picking... | Edwin Watts	puzzler@pan-tex.net

Poetry Louada has decided to retire from vegetable gardening. She said that the corn crop wasn’t very good anyway. After turning 65 on November 9, she’s now getting Medicare. She continues to do mending and alterations and also still gives piano lessons. Sharon is staying busy having part of her house renovated. The garage is going to be the new master bedroom plus a sewing/laundry room. She also had new kitchen cabinets and storm windows installed. She’s doing some of the finishing work herself. Sharon has just got a day job at the county hospital; it’s in ICU where she’s been working nights since getting her RN degree. Jeremy’s 12 now and is doing better in school. He is glad that Mom’s going to be working days. Jason’s still in Missouri with his dad. He’s 14 now and he just got his deer hunting license. It won’t be too much longer before he’ll get his learner’s driving permit! I have begun a new hobby this year that has taken an interesting turn lately. For part of my wedding gift to Cecil I wrote a poem about when we met, our courtship, his marriage proposal, etc. Some of you saw it framed and on display at the wedding reception. Anyway, since then I’ve written about 10 poems. One of them was for a poetry contest. It was the North American Open Poetry Contest and I was notified a few weeks ago that my poem is a semi-finalist! That was sure exciting news. It won’t be until Spring before they decide whose poem gets first place, second place, etc. It doesn’t matter if I win or not, I never expected to--I just wanted to enter a Christian poem as a witness. It was interesting that I had shared with some church friends that I wanted this new hobby to develop into a ministry to people. About an hour later, I saw the newspaper article about the poetry contest, so I knew instantly what I was supposed to do. As a plus, they plan to publish it in their annual anthology! We ordered a copy, but won’t get it until after they publish it in the summer of 1997. Cecil is still working nights at the post office sorting mail, but is sure getting tired of that. That kind of job is so monotonous--the same exact thing all the time. You’ve heard about ‘disgruntled postal employees’--Cecil understands why that is so. He’s ready for a change and we’re thinking ahead about future changes. He enjoys playing golf now and then and is working on improving his game, although his game is the envy of many of our friends. He also helps me with some ‘honey-do’s’ around the house. Cecil is very good at helping out with the housework, paying the bills, etc. Jeanne Hart Merry Christmas to All! This year has been filled with events, enough "not so good" ones to make us appreciate the good ones all the more. This time last year we didn’t think Ed would still be with us, but God saw fit to give us the opportunity to store a few more precious memories. My eyes have been opened to the rich heritage we share. Not all families are so fortunate as to share such a close, loving relationship. I wrap myself in the warmth of that love and thank God for allowing me to be a part of it. I became a full time, permanent employee at the Veterans Medical Center Sept. 3, 1996. With family help, this house is much more comfortable this winter than last and I successfully finished another semester of Chemistry. God sent us an angel (Angelica) to take care of Ed while I work and when I went to school. I thought I would have lots of time to do all those things that I kept putting off until "after chemistry". Now that chemistry is over and I no longer have tons of homework problems to work, I spend all that extra time napping, ha. Since I have a good sitter for them, the dogs tolerates me going to work and leaving early. I try to sleep late on my days off, at least until 6 am. No, ma’am! I normally get up around 4 am on work days. Marm will start bouncing off the side of the bed if I’m not up by 5 am. At first, he’ll stretch up to take a look. If I don’t stir, I think he must surely back up, clear to the back door, to get a good running start to hit the side of the bed as hard as he does. When he does that, Gretchen moans. She loves to sleep late. She stays in bed until I get dressed. I see that little black nose sticking out from under the cover as she watches me in the mirror in the headboard of the bed. That done, she is ready to take a nap with Ed. Merry Christmas, everyone! Love, Monta News from Idaho There’s not much news from Idaho this issue of the newsletter. We are doing good. T.J. is pretty much the same, however, I felt he was better during the spring and summer when he was outdoors a lot. I was at the end of my visit with Elmeda in Oklahoma City when I sent my news for the Fall issue. I enjoyed visiting with Elmeda, Jessie Ann, Joe and Carol and John and Rachel. Shannon is still commuting to I.S.U. in Pocatello and has one more year to go! She and her husband Kenneth have had a well drilled and a septic system installed on their acre on Kenneth’s father’s farm preparing to have a manufactured home to be moved onto their property. Barbara and Dennis are doing very well- Dennis went to Canada on that fishing trip- had a good time, saw lots of beautiful country, had perfect weather but didn’t catch a fish! No keepers that is. Roger spent Thanksgiving in Orlando, Florida with his best friend, Pattie Reid. Last Christmas, Pattie and her 2 children were here which we enjoyed very much. They are special people. Our Thanksgiving was wonderful with Barbara, Dennis, Kenneth and Shannon here with us. Happy Holidays everyone. Virginia Patterson Associate Editor Joy for the Journey Once I was enslaved like a prisoner in chains, In emotional despair and turmoil I was bound; When God released me from all of my pain, He offered the Key, and Love was found; Though I felt I could no longer cope, And it seemed like there was no solution; His Word revealed a ray of heavenly hope; And inspired me and granted eternal resolution; Through Christ, God provided total forgiveness, Like a slate wiped clean, I was then set free; His grace and mercy are pure and timeless; And are forever offered for you and for me; So in times of grief, when you seek internal peace; And need to press on with hope and perseverance; His wisdom and guidance can yield eternal release; As you claim God’s love and strength for endurance; And let His wise and all-powerful arms of comfort, Reach out and direct your paths and grant security; Then you will know that our Lord is a true Stalwart; When you experience serenity and joy for the journey. Jeanne Hart Crossword ACROSS 1 Ready, willing & ____ 5 Wait a ___ (abbr) 8 Syphilis (abbr) 10 Hair cut 11 Vocalize 13 Stop drink meet (abbr) 14 Faucet 15 Leg appendage 16 Arm extension 18 Extra hours (abbr) 19 Cats call 20 Duty 21 Tiny 23 Warrior 24 Craft 25 Hopeless 26 In order 28 Quality of sound 30 An unpleasant person 31 Belonging to us 32 Every 33 Has lunch 34 Lame support 35 "We bring good things to light" 36 Stops a river 37 Military unit (abbr) 38 Response aid 39 Deprive 41 Lively 42 Appraise 43 Baseball position (abbr) 45 Event 46 Pieces 47 Road repair substance 48 Used before a vowel sound 49 Direction 51 Laze around 52 Football score (abbr) 53 Type of bread 54 Fence holder DOWN 1 Small metric value 2 Disobedient children, slang 3 Back talk 4 Unit of measure, typeset (abbr) 5 Demonstrate 6 Have lunch 7 Unit of measure (abbr) 8 Weather channel 9 Father 11 Autumn temperature 12 Rose sticker 15 Touched 17 Everything 19 Female horse 20 Invasion 22 Most 23 Listeners 25 Experienced 26 Heat source 27 Miners find 28 Label 29 A dollar 30 Nomenclature 31 Edify 33 Direction 34 Two twelve packs 36 Miniature arrows 37 Almond joy has ___ 38 Visualize 39 Sworn promise 40 Open handed blows 41 Hang in the balance 42 Form 44 Fuss 45 Bath rug 46 Purchase 47 Also 50 Either 51 Security guard (abbr) Roy Plum Picking along the Red River When we lived on the Davis Ranch, it wasn’t very far to the Red River. In the summer, probably July, our family and our neighbors, the Krugs, went plum picking-a pleasant relief from hoeing cotton. All of us loaded into the wagon with our dinner and buckets to go wild plum picking. We pretty well knew where the plum thickets were and it didn’t take long to get all the plums we wanted. Our mother canned a lot of plums for plum cobblers and made lots of plum jelly. There were wild grapes along the river too but they weren’t ripe yet. However, most members of the family liked green grape cobbler but it wasn’t my favorite dessert. Later, we went again to the river for ripe grapes. Mama canned gallons and gallons of grape juice and stored for the winter. It was very good-such a healthy drink of course, we also had lots of grape jelly. Daddy could find a "bee tree" if anyone could and he knew the right time to rob the "bee tree" for the honey. We really lived off the land, mostly during those times and it was not an easy job to make the most of what was available. Just a remembrance from my childhood. Virginia Patterson EDWIN WATTS August 5, 1925-December 25, 1996 Edwin Watts passed away Wednesday December 25, 1996 at his home in Amarillo at 606 S. Prospect. Services were held Saturday, December 28, 1996 at the First Baptist Church in Wheeler, with Rev. David Fletcher, pastor of Northwest Baptist Church in Amarillo and Ted Lawler with Caprock Health Services in Amarillo officiating. Burial commenced at the Wheeler Cemetery by Wright Funeral Home in Wheeler. Edwin was the third child born to Richard and Annie Mae Watts in Somerton, Arizona, on August 5, 1925. He attended school at Kelton and then worked in the shipyards in Portland, Oregon, before entering the Army Air Corp on October 22, 1943. Ed served with the 817 Bombardment Squadron in Europe and North Africa during WWII. He was a top turret gunner and engineer on the B-17 airplane and received an honorable discharge on April 3, 1946 as a Technical Sergeant. On the same day he enlisted in the Reserve Corp and served for 3 years. On August 13, 1947, Ed and Luella E. Sherfield were united in marriage by Rev. A.C. Woods in Wheeler, TX. Ed was a longtime resident of Wheeler County. He was a farmer, employee at Twitty Gas Plant, master carpenter and worked at Ashland Chemical Company near Shamrock until his retirement in 1983. Ed was a life member of the 483rd Bombardment Group H Association and also the American Legion. Although Ed was not a church going man, he believed in the Lord and asked Jesus to come into his heart when his oldest daughter was a baby. Ed was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years, his parents, 2 brothers; Richard in 1990 and Julian in 1921, 1 great grandson, Holden, in 1994. Survivors include his mother-in-law Myrtle Deen of Tulsa, OK, Aunt Pearl Smith of Tulsa, OK, his children: Linda and Curt White of Cheyenne, OK, Richie and Judy Watts of Hammon, OK, Jerry Bob and Teresa Watts of Wheeler, TX, Nancy and Randal Patterson of Groom, TX and Amy Carter of Amarillo, TX; his sisters and brothers: Elmeda Elder of Oklahoma City, OK, Virginia Patterson of Blackfoot, ID, Garland (Pete) Watts of Pampa, TX, Dale Watts of Hull, TX and his baby sister Monta Boyd of Amarillo, TX whom God sent to be his special care giver for the past 4 years. Edwin leaves 11 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, as well as a host of nieces, nephews and friends. (Taken from Amarillo Globe News)

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