#52Ancestors - Favorite Photo

I've been very lazy about blogging lately.  I'm hoping that Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestor challenge will help get me motivated again.

This week's prompt is "Favorite Photo"  - this was hard to choose but I picked a darling photo of 3 children and a goat.

This was taken in 1924 in Toledo, Ohio.  Apparently there was someone who traveled around with a goat and a cart posing for photos.  My grandmother saw the opportunity and posed her three oldest children (the others weren't born yet) with the goat.

Pictured are the three oldest children of  Jessie Marie Hill Ormsby Kern, born 8 October 1895, died 20 March 1963.

She married Harold Basil Ormsby (26 April 1895 - 4 April 1919) in 1916.

After he died, she married James Harold Kern (19 March 1884 - 23 Jan 1944) in 1923.

Pictured are (left to right) -

Wilma Jane Kern, (9 October 1923 - 19 January 2000).

Donald Edward Ormsby, (30 December 1918 - 2 July 1988).

Charles Victor Ormsby, (1 April 1917 - 16 September 1996)

Amanuensis Monday - Grandma Hill's Poetry, week 21

There were two little boys, very proud of their goat

For this pet wore a very soft, silky, white coat.

They hitched her to their wagon, she went down the hill

And the two little boys, from their wagon, got a bad spill.

The two little boys got up, brushing off the dirt.

Says Bob, to Dick, "Brother, are you very much hurt?"

"No", says Dick, "to hurt me, nothing has a chance

For you know, I'm wearing a pair of Dad's old pants."

Note:  These two little boys are grandsons Robert Leroy Kern (1926-1990 and James Richard "Dick" Kern (1929-2011)

I couldn't find a picture of Bob and Dick with the goat, but this photo from 1924 shows their 3 oldest siblings, Wilma Kern, Donald Ormsby and Charles "Victor" Ormsby

Nancy Jane Wiley Hill (1875-1960) was always writing something.  Many of those poems are now in the possession of her granddaughter Shirley Kern.  Shirley, with the help of her sister-in-law Ruth Ormsby, transcribed these poems in 1996 for a Hill-Ormsby-Kern family reunion.  I am going to post many of these poems so that they may be enjoyed by all.

These are copyright 1996 and reprinted with permission.

Thankful Thursday - Aunt Mary

Today I am thankful that I knew a wonderful lady - my Aunt Mary Kern.

Jean Marie "Mary" Goris was born on 23 April 1926 in Bingham Canyon, Utah to William and Jean (Bennie) Goris.

She married James Richard "Dick" Kern on 5 November 1951 in Reno, Nevada.  He was my father's half-brother.

They moved to Toledo, and later, Sylvania Ohio where they raised four children: Dorothy Jean, Kathleen, Craig and Timothy.

Aunt Mary died on 27 November 2012 and will join her husband and son Craig in heaven.

April 1953 - Bill Watkins, Mary Kern, Don Vail and Ruth Ormsby (spouses of Kern/Ormsby siblings)

April 1953 - Mary & Dick Kern, Vic Ormsby, Ruth Ormsby

Most of my memories of Aunt Mary make me feel warm and cozy.  She was a gracious hostess, and it was a tradition on Christmas Day to have dinner at her house.  In addition to her children (and later her grandchildren), and my immediate family, who would go every year, there were always other cousins, friends, and neighbors around the table.  Mary would open her doors to whoever wanted to stopy by - for appetizers, dinner, dessert, or just to visit.

Christmas 1967 - Don Ormsby, Shirley Kern, Mary & Dick Kern

Christmas dinner was something of a tradition as well.  Aunt Mary made the best lamb roast I have ever tasted - and have never been able to duplicate.  Another favorite dish was "Greek Macaroni" - noodles with butter and cheese.  This has become a tradition in my family as well - I taught my daughter Donna how to make it last Christmas, and am planning to have it on my table again this year.

Christmas 1985 - Uncle Dick and Aunt Mary

Dick and Mary spent a lot of time at their lake house on Cub Lake in Michigan.  Again, anyone who stopped by was welcomed with open arms.  Dick would entertain guests on his pontoon boat and Mary would be sure they were well fed before they returned to their homes.

July 2011 - Shirley Kern, Wimp Hill, Ruth Ormsby and Mary Kern

One of Mary's hobbies was painting.  She liked to paint landscapes - mostly for relaxation, I think.  I am honored to have one of her paintings hanging in my bedroom.

1968 painting by Jean Marie "Mary" Goris Kern

 

Goodbye, Aunt Mary.  I will miss you.

Hill-Ormsby-Kern Reunion

Last month, we had a reunion of our family.  It represented the descendants of Charles Taylor and Nancy Jane (Wiley) Hill.  Almost 70 of the descendants of their son William Hill and their daughter Jessie (Hill) Ormsby Kern met at the house of my cousin D.J. in Swanton, OH.  She has a large great-room for entertaining, a large yard and a pond with a beach which kept the younger members entertained.

Family members came from across the U.S. - those who came the farthest were Mike and Jane (Watkins) Trefren who drove from Florida, Don and Kathy Hill who drove from North Carolina, Arlene Hill who flew from Washington, D.C., Aunt Shirley Kern who flew from New Orleans, and Chuck and Kathy Ormsby who drove from southern Illinois.

We had a great time visiting with our cousins who we don't see very often.  Of course, there were some younger cousins and some spouses who I hadn't met yet.  Everyone had a great time despite the 90-plus degree heat.  I hope that we have another reunion soon.

The Hill Family - 4 generations of descendants of William and Marguerrie (Spray) Hill

The Ormsby Family - 3 generations of descendants of H. Basil and Jessie (Hill) Ormsby

(her first marriage)

The Kern Family - 4 generations of descendants of James and Jessie (Hill) Kern

(her second marriage)

The "Elder Statesmen" of the Family-

Shirley Kern (daughter of Jim & Jessie)

"Wimp" Hill (son of William)

Ruth Ormsby (widow of Basil & Jessie's son Don)

Mary Kern (widow of Jim & Jessie's son Dick)

R.I.P. Uncle Dick

I have sad news to report.  My Uncle, James Richard "Dick" Kern passed away yesterday.  I will attend his funeral tomorrow.  It's sad to think that my dad's siblings are almost gone.  Uncle Dick was 81 - his 5 older brothers and sister are all dead, only his younger sister is still alive. 
This serves as a reminder to talk to our older relatives now - while they are still able to tell us about their families and their experiences growing up.  Once they are gone, those memories may be lost.
Of course, I will remember to save his obituary and funeral notice as primary evidence.  And, hopefully I can get my aunt to reminisce a little at dinner tomorrow night.