Family:Jack Reed and Alma Becker (2)

Memories of nephew Bill Black

Aunt Adele, Alma, and Olga all tried to spoil Bill as much as possible. He would ride out on his bicycle to see Adele and Lew Ahner Sr. who lived in Oak Lawn, have lunch with them, spend the day and then ride back home. Aunt Becky (Alma) lived in Oregon and Bill would spend the summers from age 13-15 with her and Uncle Jack (Reed). Jack Reed was a real character. They lived on a hill and Jack would sit there, playing the organ and their Doberman Pinscher who would howl along with him. The two together were quite a sight. Jack's aunt was Belle Starr (a famous outlaw). His brothers had a big ranch in Wyoming. His other brother had a big ranch in California that Bill got to go to. City slicker Bill learned a lot on the ranch. He learned how to ride a horse, how to rope a calf, how to cut & bale hay, and how to slop hogs and feed chickens. Uncle Jack was very big on manners. When Bill came back from a summer with them his mother was amazed at his behavior. In the 3 summers Bill spent out there with them Aunt Becky taught him how to drive a 1935 Chevy Pickup with a stick shift on the floor.^s2

Memories of niece Cheryl Ahner

Out west, Jack and Alma Reed knew Tom Mix (the silent cowboy movie star) and I have a photo of dad standing in the water in Venice, CA with Thomasina, Mix's daughter. Dad mentioned a Thomasina a few times but I don't think I ever really knew who she was until my mom told about this and I said, oh yeah. I've seen the photo.^S3

1. ↑ Cheryl Ahner. Charles Cunningham Black Family History: Transcribed by Cheryl Ahner. (E-Mail, Fri Oct 4, 2002).
2.   William (Bill) Black. William (Bill) Black Interview. (Interviews, 1998-2002).
3.   Srblac/Cheryl Ahner e-mail - April 12, 2008.