Mary's Memoirs

Just another week of attending functions and making decorations. Mary does like to socialize!

Sunday, April 3, 1953

Today was a busy one. As soon as I ate, cleaned house and got ready to go to Havasu Club Installation. They served a nice lunch and I sat next to Ruby. She had some delicious shrimp and potato salad there. I left as soon as Ruby was installed as chaplain as I wanted to get my hair done. Wilma Westing's mother-in-law had passed away, so she said as the funeral was Tuesday, she had better do my hair Monday. After my hairdo to Duffield's where I changed my dress. I went to Starlight Club dinner with Amm Rabbin. She is so nice. At 7:30 I left the dinner and got to Philathea before the door closed. There was a good crowd at the installation, and it was a nice evening. Leta Youh was a wonderful matron, and they had several addenda for her. Hazel wore a dark blue gown and carried red carnations, the gift of the past matrons. All her officers were in pastel colors. Refreshments were open-faced sandwiches and cookies. Hazel opened her own gifts, Lovey, Eunice de Long, Eunice Duffield, Maimee Gould and Florence Tillett came in after Starlight dinner, but Lovey and Gladys went before the Installation.

Monday, April 4, 1950

Today was windy but very warm and I sat out by the Navy Table to write. Slept late. Then just as I was ready to eat Sam came in from Seattle with great stories of how wonderful the reception was for Harold Lloyd, imperial potentate. Cleaned house. Just put away all my clothes. Sam washed clothes. Worked in my scrapbook and went over my installation speech a couple of times. Called Alma Nelson. Made clam chowder for dinner. Tom K. and Sam will fix coils in the stove and put tile back of it tonight. Stopped at Evelyn Hydes and she combed out my hair. I met Helen Mitchell, and we attended the installation at Port Orchard. There was Lovey, Esther Miner, Eunice, Maimee Gould, Bette Livingston and Lois from Olympia. A great many visitors but not many members. Ruby looked so nice and I think Earl was very happy to see her installed as an officer. Willa wore a teal blue dress and carried red roses. She looked lovely too. The officers wore red carnation corsages. Downstairs was their pink tablecloth and a lovely cake in the center which Willa cut. A nice evening. Sent a card to Blanche who is in the hospital in Mass. Dolores was a splendid installing officer and Margaret a fine marshal.

Tuesday, April 5, 1950

Today we ate late in a cold kitchen as Sam had not put the coils in the stove yet. As soon as we ate, he began to work on it and by 1:30 had the stove going and all the mess cleaned up. Jim Huffman came down and they will work on the grape arbor Friday. Billy Hydes came down, so she combed out my hair for tonight. They borrowed the wheelbarrow as they are working on their lawn. I put away all the clothes, ironed, mended, and after Sam ate clam chowder, I cleaned up the kitchen and oh! Is it nice? Raining again but good for the flowers. Mother Mann called. She has a loaf of bread for me. To Belfair No. 241 where they had a very fine installation. The addenda of "Alice Through the Looking Glass" very clever. Downstairs Christine Ahl had made a table of pictures of Alice's life. Was it cute and Alice never caught on until she saw the two ducks on the pond. I took Betty Fischler home, so we had a nice visit. Signe Larson of Greenwood Chapter and Helen Sisson's sister-in-law were there. A wonderful crowd.

Wednesday, April 6, 1950

Today started out bright but then were April showers off and on. As soon as breakfast was over I got dressed and went to Alma Nelson's. Had a nice visit with her. Then to the printers where we checked the ode cards. The programs were ready, so I took them along, and the envelopes to Maimee Hamberg's. At Maimee's we checked all the addresses, and I did not leave until about 5. I'm glad I have it done. Home to find Sam away but I checked stoves. Got dinner underway. Will try to get my other address book up to date too so I can give it to the Sunshine Committee to use. Rec'd several waster cards today. Cleaned up all the address books so they are ready for Sunshine chairman. To bed late. But I really got a lot done.

Thursday, April 7, 1950

Caught the 9:30 boat to Seattle and saw 2 girls from Poulsbo so talked to them. Just as I was getting ready to go downstairs met Higgins and the Geros who were going to Seattle to look for rugs. To instruction meeting which was very good. Dolores Moore was there. After she left, we decided to wear blue dresses to grand chapter. They selected me secretary. No one else so it was unanimous. So, I have another chore to do. Shopped and got everything done. To Renton. Ate and changed my clothes at a gas station. To Nesika Chapter to Florence Morris installation and it was lovely, but I never saw so few flowers. I miss the decorations and we always have such lovely ones. There was a good crowd and Florence did so well. Everyone seemed so happy. Drove to Tacoma and home. To bed at 1:45. But my scrapbook is up to date. Cold out. Sam has an Easter lily here for me. Very nice.

Friday, April 8, 1950

Today I got up late and got my stuff together. Put all my clothes in the car and went to Alma Helson's. She had all the forsythia cut so I took the bowls up to temple and met Ruby just as I got everything unloaded! We trimmed the chapter room first and the forsythia looked beautiful alone in the bowls. Then we decorated the refreshment table with 20 bowls of forsythia. Couldn't find out who the committee on the table were when Gertrude and Helen Pistone came, and they set the tables. At 2 we were all done. I don't think Hazel Kaufman got her committee lined up very good or else they fell down on her. Then Ruby and I went thru the practice. It took so long for them to get started that it was after 4 when we got done. Out to Gorst and got my hair combed. It looks so nice. Picked up Eunice Duffield and up to Gertrude Reynolds where I cleaned up for dinner. We went down and enjoyed a fine turkey dinner. There were 62 present. A good crowd out and Eunice and Jesse and Sam seemed to enjoy it. Back to Gertrude's and put on my white dress. So did Ruby. The installation started about 8:10 and everything went pretty much as per schedule. Alma was lovely in a white dress with yellow roses and white stock. The group looked lovely and Alma presented each woman with a gardenia and men with a carnation. It was a wonderful thing to do. There was a good crowd out. Must have been at least 150 out. Our refreshments were pies and they were delicious. The tables were lovely with our forsythia. Helen Pistons brought a lovely Easter lily which we put on the refreshment table. The new officers gave Alma a lovely suitcase for her trip to Supreme Shrine. Dolores Moore sang "My Happiness" and one other song. It was lovely. Francis Huson did not know she needed a white dress to be installed in until today, so she flew downtown, found one, wore it and was happy. Some people are just lucky! To the dance where we got in three dances. Could just as well stayed at the temple where we could have talked to friends. Home late and to bed.

Saturday, April 9, 1950

This was a cool, windy day but we had sun part of the time. Up late and just ate a small breakfast and left for Holly at 11:30, we found quite a few there already. At 1 we ate and oh what a lunch. There were lovely cakes, pies, and enough for all. The egg hunt was fun as always. There are so many small children and oh what fun they have. Sandy really found a lot of eggs. We all went up to the old Andrew's place where the men played ball and we stayed until we got too cold. Ate again and then went home. Mother liked the picture fine, and Grandma liked the heather. Home and visited with Henry and Laurice. We had a nice time. Sam opened oysters so Henry took them home. To Skenes' and saw Graham who has been ill with the flu. He has been in bed for several days. But is in good spirits again. At home and wrote again in my book. Edith has my linen mats started, 12 are done. Oh, are they lovely. To bed early. A big day. Queenie killed a weasel behind the cabin. Was I sure surprised.

■ Clydene Hostetler was a longtime Belfair resident and historian. She now lives on a classic wooden boat on the Columbia River. She has been researching Mary Theler's life for the past 17 years. She can be emailed at [email protected].