Mary's Memoirs

Sam leaves for Los Angeles. Alice Duckwiler passed away this week. Lots of Chapter meetings. The weather is dry and so Mary does lots of watering.

Monday, June 12, 1950

Today Squires boy came down and planted annuals. I cleaned house and cabin good and threw out all the old flowers. Looks very good. To Bremerton and called on Bertha Zoe Els and delivered her a baby cup in the name of the chapter. Met Eliza Jane and Helen Hanberg there so heard all about the weddings, etc. To Maimee Gould's but she was away. Called Esther Miner she will be on our cheer committee for the summer months. I'm so glad as she knows just what to do. Home and cooked venison steak for dinner with strawberry shortcake. It was very good. Tonight, will catch up on my writing if I can. Very cold out all day, but it can't seem to rain. Saw Allen the fern man today at the jewelers and he says, "You're doing a good job getting the women home the same day they start." So at least people are happy about getting home early.

Tuesday, June 13, 1950

A cool morning but it turned out warm. Put away some of the clothes and Sam went to Seattle right after breakfast. To Belfair and mailed a raft of letters and met Alice Pope and Alma Sundstrom and went to Line Officers. We picked up Maimee Gould and Vera Harrison where there was a good group out, save not a one from Bainbridge. A lovely lunch was served and from Vera Harrison I shall get her good rice dish recipe. After the meeting we drove out to Herman Laes and saw the Reliance, Poulsbo and our group. They thought it was cute. Home and to Mae Housen's where we got the scarf dancers lined up. Rode to Elinor Chapter with Alice Pope and Alma Sundstrom. We met Bertha Johnson, Ann Conon and Pedra Sutton there and 3 worthy patrons. We had a very good time and laughed so much. Helen is really witty and really gets away with murder! As for the rules, they don't use too many of them. Pansies were on the table, and I cut the lovely cake at the head table. Home late and to bed.

Wednesday, June 14, 1950

Today Sam left for Los Angeles about 10:30. He thought he would get as far as Bend, Oregon. To Bremerton and called on Mrs. Ella McCallum, June Casebeer, Theo Style and Robert McKay. Was at Alice Duckwiler's with some flowers but I could not see her. She is very ill. To Maimee Gould's and her girls will make the bows for Father's Day. We shall have fun! Took Maimee downtown and went over to Alma Nelson's where I ate a lovely chicken dinner. Called a few folks from there also. Then home and up to Mae Housen's but her machine was on the fritz, so she had little sewing done. Home and watered some. Cleaned up my desk. Wrote letters and pasted in my scrapbook. Mrs. McCallum is an old friend of Blanch Hackett's. It's a small world! To bed late.

Thursday, June 15, 1950

Arose early and cleaned the house and started dinner for Michaels at 1 o'clock. Addie Jones called up and asked, "when do you want your strawberries?" So, I called up and said I'd come up about 2 for 2 cannery flats. Michaels came at 12 and we ate just before one o'clock. Then as soon as we had done our dishes, we picked up the berries. We cleaned 33 pints and put them into the locker and then we ate a big soup bowl apiece. They were delicious and the Michaels did so enjoy them. They left about 5 so I went to Rainbow 12, visit of the worthy grand advisor. It was a long meeting with many introductions. Then the Grand Cross of Colors was awarded later. George Bucher received it and oh we were proud. Edna Pettibone, Willa Boughman and Hazel Noshir and Edith Michaels were there. Later Edith and I sat in East as Grand Cross of Colors was awarded. Home late. Saw Eunice de Long, Mrs. Pulver Miller and many more I knew.

Friday, June 16, 1950

Today, Alice Pope, Hazel Noshir and I caught the 8:25 ferry to Seattle. We attended Floss Bush's last instruction meeting for this year. We do not know just what Dolores has set for us as far as instruction is concerned. A nice lunch was served, and we discussed addenda and several other things. Then I shopped. Bought a nice girdle, a linen duster, a few cards and met Alice Pope at the 3:30 boat. Tried on my dress at Manette and I'm to get it Tuesday all complete. It looks very nice. Hazel got a yard of material she needed. Home and watered good until time to go to bed. Thundered for a couple of hours. Wish it would rain as it is so warm. Today it was so hot in Seattle. Wrote in my scrapbook. Wrote up minutes for September meeting.

Saturday, June 17, 1950

Today I slept late and ate breakfast just before going to our practice. We were all there except our Adah and Warder and everything went very well. Harold did his part so well. I was proud of him. He certainly has been studying hard, you can tell that. Home and got my hair done at Gorst on my way. It looks very nice too. Then I went to Installation at Jobs #20 and oh, it was beautiful. There was the most wonderful decorations I've seen for a long, long time. There were quite a few Olympic #216 members there and we all enjoyed ourselves. There were colored crepe paper fans on the tables and oh how gay it was. The gift table was full. Home late and to bed. Very dark out.

June 18, 1950

Today I watered over 2 hours before I went to Bremerton and picked huge bouquet of blue delphinium, pink peoples and wild fuzzy flower which I gave to George Duckwiler as I met him. Culbertsons, Howard Gorst and another lady in front of the hospital. They said Alice was not conscious but a short part of the time. To the temple and Alma came by. It was early so I went home with her, made several calls. Practiced for White Shrine and it was very good. Everyone is doing so much better. After the practice I delivered a baby cup to Betty Musci and Lovey was there. We had a very nice visit. Home and ate a bite. Watered the lawn some more. Eudora Gorst called up and said Alice Duckwiler passed away at 5:12 and that she wanted an Eastern Star Funeral. They thought it would be Wednesday. To Belfair to call but only could get Ruby Gray. Everyone is away. Such a lovely warm day. So, I cleaned up my desk. Very calm out. No wind. The auto races had a giant crowd.

■ Clydene Hostetler was a longtime Belfair resident and historian. She now resides 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]