Person:Mary Willis (59)

Oral Traditions

Excerpts from Gary Miller's letters to Vera Bastin (28 February 1978)

I remember grandma a little when we all went back to visit her (I think in the early 1960's). We went into the house, and one of the first things I noticed was the odor of fuel-oil (we also burned it at home in Idaho). I perceived her poverty. It seemed like she was barely able to make ends meet.. She said that because we were there, she'd leave the stove on that night. I saw a tiny back room - I don't know what it was used for - but it seemed so bleak.

She seemed nervous, distracted. Possibly because my dad Clint was there. There was surely a delicate relationship between the two of them.

Mother used to comment about grandma's sweet disposition while she was in the nursing home - and how alert she was. Grandma would write us and, using the first-person pronoun, she would write "i". I felt sorry for her, yet she seemed so brave.

Mother told me a little about grandpa, how hard he worked. How grandma would boil coffee grounds twice, serve water-gravy, give only grandpa a piece of meat because he worked. How there were no screens on the door or windows.

Freda related these incidences to me (Vera Bastin):

Twelve days before Walter Kowalke's death, Mom was over at Freda's place in Brewster, Kansas. Freda was giving the kids a bath, and Mom was doing dishes. Suddenly, there was a sound at the door like a bunch of kids talking and throwing their hands on the door. They couldn't understand what was being said. Freda got up and said "Is that you, Mom?" Mom said "No, did you hear it too?" They went to the front door and looked, but no one was in sight. They looked out the back door, but nobody was there. That evening they heard about the auto accident that eventually claimed Walt's life. Mom seemed sensitive to spiritual things, and believed she received warnings when someone was about to die.

Memories of Vera Bastin

Many memories connected with this place. Mom with her broom sweeping the dirt -round. Mom making pretty paper lace doilies by cutting out paper a certain way. She would put these in the cupboard. Mom smoking her pipe behind the stove and Mom wearing- Dad's old shoes. What a hard, hard life this little woman had! Mom made the fires to keep us warm. I can remember drifting off to sleep close to the pot-bellied stove, and Mom helping me off to bed. I remember a little coat she handmade me. She loved her chickens. She would feel sorry for the chicken that wasn't doing well, when the other chickens would start pecking on it. She made and wore sunbonnets, and loved to garden. Strangers who came to our door during those hard times were given bread and water by her. I don't ever remember anyone being turned away, or what else she may have given them to eat. We were very fortunate to have food to eat ourselves. She could make wonderful bread! She had to do hard things that were against her sensitive nature. I remember once she was reducing the cat population by drowning the little kittens in the water tank. I just have a glimpse of that in my memory. I think I heard her say "I hate to do this, and then thrusting the little kitten in. I remember also how it had bothered her to pour the boiling water over the fresh catch of fish. Again, I think I hear her say "I hate to do this. She would walk to town and pack home the groceries. She had a fiery little temper, and was a very high-strung person. We had a cave close to the house. We would go to this cave in case Dad thought a storm looked threatening. Mom did some canning and this would go down there. I remember Mom would bundle up their little clothes (when a child would die) and bring them to the cave.

Mother could play the piano "by ear". She did pretty well, the little bit I heard. She loved pretty aprons and beads.

Obituary

MARY ALICE MILLER

Mary Alice Willis was born in Blockton, Iowa, Feb. 19, 1887. She died Sept 13, at the age of 87. She was the daughter of Peter Van Willis and Mary Maud Freeman.

At an early age she was baptized in the Christian Church and has remained a devoted follower of Jesus.

She was married to John Miller in Champion, Nebr., on Feb 10, 1907, They had ten children, five of whom preceded her in death. Her husband, John Miller, and four sisters and two brothers also preceded her in death.

She is survived by three daughters and two sons; Thelma Arie, Wallace, Kans., Freda Ribordy Atwood, Harold Miller, Corvallis, Or., Vera Bastin, Boulder, Colo. and Darold Miller, Scottsbluff, Nebr. She also is survived by 21 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and many friend and relatives.

Funeral services were held at the Harrison Chapel Monday, Sept, 16. Interment was at the Brewster cemetery.

Burial

Mary is buried at the Brewster Cemetery in Brewster, Kansas.

External Links

Mary's grave at www.findagrave.com.

Footnotes

1. ↑ Mary Alice Miller, in Find A Grave.

   Brewster, Sherman, Kansas, United States (sic)

2.   Vera Louise Bastin. Vera Bastin's Genealogy Notes; 1963 - present.