Person:Carmen Smith (1)

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Carmen Smith
b.19 Nov 1903 Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, United States
d.13 Nov 1988 Oklahoma?
Parents and Siblings
(edit)
m. Nov 1902
  1. Carmen Smith1903 - 1988
  2. Fredrick Smith1907 - 1973
  3. Courtland Smith1910 - 1971
  4. Madeline Smith1912 - 1982
  5. Margaret Smith1916 - 1974
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Facts and Events
Name Carmen Smith
Gender Female
Birth? 19 Nov 1903 Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, United States
Death? 13 Nov 1988 Oklahoma?
Burial? ashes scattered at University of Oklahoma

Carmen was baptised a Catholic with the name Carmen Ruth, though family stories have it that she was actually Carmen Ruth Bridget Amanda, etc., with about seven names.

Carmen's father died suddenly just a few days before her 13th birthday. Her younger siblings were sent to orphanages, but Carmen was sent out to work. According to my mother (her sister-in-law) she made a living of a sort delivering typewriter ribbons in downtown Minneapolis.

She gave birth to an illegitimate son less than a month after her 16th birthday. He was given up for adoption, but she either knew the adopting parents or found out who they were, and all during her long life she "kept an eye" on her first-born son. She finally revealed herself to him as his mother when she feared she was probably going to die soon. At the same time she told her legitimate surviving son about the brother he never knew.

Carmen was musical, and played saxaphone for a time in a travelling girl band in the 1920s. Later in life when she could afford it she acquired a piano and was a good pianist.

Otherwise, she worked most of her life in various office capacities: bookkeeping, etc. For a time she had a shop called Carmen's Gift and Party Shop in Downey, California. Later in life she worked very successfully in real estate with her elder (legitimate) son, Jack. She continued working into her 80s.

She was married three times: to Roy Preston, who was father of her two (legitimate) sons, someone I think was named Ted Creasey, and finally to Herman Joerimann.

She died following surgery that resulted in a deep vein thrombosis in her leg. Her leg was amputated, but the repeated surgery was too much for her and she died. At the time she was staying with her youngest son Donald, who taught at the University of Oklahoma. She apparently liked the formal flowerbeds at the entrance to the university and that is why he scattered her ashes there.

References
  1.   1910 Census MN Ramsey Co St Paul
    ED141 p14B, 1910.

    aged 6 living with parents at 2520 Chilcombe, St. Paul

  2.   1930 Census MN Hennepin Co Minneapolis
    ED 327 p 40A, 1930.

    aged 28, wife of head, living with husband and sons, 4318 Oliver Avenue, Minneapolis

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