Dinner At Grandma & Grandpa Zinn's House
Mari (Nance)Zinn

Aunt Mari Zinn who has helped me so much with this book wrote me this story and I wanted to share the story as written by her. In reading this little trip down memory lane brings back so many memories of this simple but loving couple that was our Grandparents. I remember going to their home so many times and how much fun it was. I can just see them both and it causes me to smile and remember where our roots came from. I can read this story and see much of our mother in Grandpa Zinn. Mother was a firm believer in "if you can’t say something good about someone then don’t anything at all". She lived by that rule her entire life and we see by this story that she must have learned it from her Dad.
Story as written by my Aunt Mari (Nance) Zinn
Janice, I was thinking about what it was like eating at Grandmother and Grandad Zinn's table and I wondered if you remembered it too. It was always the same - the table against the south wall of the dining room with the black telephone just above (number 802). Dad sat at the west end and Mom at the east end near the kitchen - that is if there were only a few there. If there was a large crowd, she rarely sat at all. Dad liked and expected breakfast, dinner and supper on the table at a certain time. For those kids visiting, there was always an early morning call from Dad, "Breakfast is ready". Of course, it wasn't but by the time we got up and in there it was. Dinner (not lunch) was on the dot of 12 noon and you could set your clock by it. When the gin whistle blew we would be sitting down to eat. Dad's prayer was always the same and it would be nice if you could include it in your book. Sunday dinner was always roast - often pork roast with sweet potatoes baked with it. Any left over roast became ground sandwiches for supper. I don't remember Mom using recipes - by the time I came along, she didn't need them. Dad did the shopping and Mom did the cooking and we all did the dishes! As we look at our kitchens now, we would do well to remember that tiny kitchen Mom used all those years - just big enough for the long sink and a cabinet on either side, the cook stove, a tiny table big enough for 2, the refrigerator and the cart with the roaster oven on it. And don't forget that one window on the north - not too cool in the summer time. My favorite dish of Mom's was her macaroni and cheese always fixed in the loaf pan and in the words of our grand daughter Gena "Dee-lith-shus! Later when she was alone I remember seeing her cook 2 okra pods for herself and she liked hers boiled whole. Gathering in the back yard for a watermelon was a special event there as in most homes of the time. If you want a taste of Grandmother's green beans, just order some at Cracker Barrel where they cook them a long time with just the right seasonings - none of that crispy crunchy stuff. Oh, it is good to gather again around the table in memory lane. Remember when all the uncles came home from the war and everyone came "home" and there were so many we set up tables in the yard on the south side of the house? Dad just loved to eat and nothing made you feel better than he did when he ate at your house because he enjoyed it so. His favorite comment was "Now that was laripin". I have no idea where that word came from and have never heard it from anyone else but there was no doubt what he meant. Grandad originated the warm fuzzy for cooks! Taking him to a cafeteria was a real experience since he took such delight in food that he wanted one of everything. But then your Grandad Zinn loved everything and everybody. I never once, after I came in the family at 17, heard him say a bad word about anything or anyone. I have heard him say on more than one occasion, "If you can't say something good about somebody, don't say anything". Of money and material things, they had little; but of the things that matter, they left us all with not only wonderful memories but a great legacy of dignity and honor and integrity and just the joy of living a good, simple life. Weren't we all blessed! I have always felt that true communion takes place around a table with shared food and shared time. I want to thank you for planning it so we can be a part of that again. Love, A. Mari

Note: by Janice (McConnell) Cowan
This is a special story given to me by Aunt Mari Zinn to use in my book of memories. Just to read this story make me smile and my heart happy with memories of a true loving family that did not have a lot in material things as said in this story but so rich in family love and values. This is something that each and everyone of us can and should be proud of. I have had much joy in gathering the stories and putting this book of memories together for our children and their children to read and know where their roots are in this life. Life is what we make it and if we could just follow the pattern set down by our grandparents and their parents wouldn’t this life be so much more than what we make of it. Life was based on the simple truths of love of God and Family what better pattern could we follow. Truly "Memories Last Forever".
Another thing that comes to my mind about Grandpa Zinn was that at Christmas time he always bought these really large peppermint sticks. Now to a child they were gaint ones and I remember the peppermint sticks that he gave to me just as if it were today. I would make that peppermint stick last for days and days. We looked forward to getting this wonderful gift of candy from our Grandpa Zinn each year. I also remember picking up Black Walnuts in the yard behind his house. We would pick them up and he would help us crack them with a hammer and a brick. Boy they were tough to crack but so good to eat. I think that is one reason I love Black Walnut ice cream to this day. Memories just last forever.

This is Wylie & Rosa Zinn’s family home in Hobart, Oklahoma.
I remember spending so many days at this little white frame house where my grandparents spent so many years. I myself spent time there when I worked as a teenager during the summer and stayed in this home. I worked for a short time at Gains Drug Store in downtown Hobart. I think about those times each time I drink a milk shake or eat ice cream. I remember the day I learned to make a Chocolate Soda at that soda fountain. Just part of the memories of my childhood that are special to me. I think that most people have good memories of visiting Grandma and Grandpa’s house in their childhood. I know that in our family and it was a large family with lots of aunts, uncles, cousins, we had so many good times together. Most family get together meant food and we always had lots of good food.

Lone Wolf School

Note from Janice McConnell Cowan
I ask my cousin Mary Lou McConnell Heslip to write me some of her memories of going to school in Lone Wolf. Not to my surprise her memories are so much same as mine are. I know that I have only good memories of the school years and I love thinking back and remembering those special days. Mary Lou is a few years older than me but the same age as Arlene one of my sisters. The memories are the same and treasured by me to this day.
School Days Memories of Lone Wolf School
1945-1957
by Mary Lou McConnell Heslip
"Would I ever get to go to school?" This was the question that I must have asked myself as I turned six and still had never been to school. Lone Wolf School had no kindergarten in 1945, the year that I finally began first grade at over age six. What a joy to be in Mrs. Davis’ first-grade classroom, even if we did have to learn to write in cursive right away and even if we had to sit in heavy wooden chairs around tables and watch one another tip backwards and land on the floor!
One first-grade story I love was hearing how one of my sister’s classmates still needed a nap when he was in first grade, so the school allowed a crib to be set up in the first-grade classroom for his nap!! (The school wanted to make everyone happy, I guess.) Recess was always fun although the playground had no fancy equipment, but we loved sliding down the tall metal slide and bouncing up and down on the teeter-totters and going on the merry-go-round. (Once in third grade, I tore my underwear when a nail that was sticking out from the side of the slide "snared" me. When I got to the bottom of the slide I just ran home to get a new pair!) We loved to turn "flips" around the bars that were part of the teeter-totter framework. And what fun to play the "chase" game of "Bear", for which we used one of the playground’s few trees for the "safe base". As we got older, we played such games as Red Rover, Who Stole the Cookie from the Cookie Jar?" (a rhythm game) and softball games. Sides were chosen for some of the games andyou always hoped that you wouldn’t be the last one chosen! The annual class play was a highlight of each school year. I remember being Cinderella in a crepe-paper dress once. Every class was in a play at least once a year. The annual Christmas program, which could feature all the Christian music that was wanted, included something by each class in the school, although the older kids usually sang in choirs. (The choirs sat on steep, wooden risers. You always wondered if you might fall through the open part down by your feet.) The high stage (it really seemed high then) was decorated, sometimes by pinning stuff on the backdrop curtains. It was always a challenge to be quiet while waiting your class’ turn to go on stage. (By the way, those steep, rickety risers were also used for the spectators at the basketball games, which were also played in the auditorium.) A tornado blew straight towards Lone Wolf when I was in fifth grade! The teacher, Audette Smoot, had all of us get under our desks. While crouched here, my dad, Dub McConnell, came into the room to get me and take me home to our storm cellar. I saw the tornado bearing down on the town, about ½ mile south and traveling north. We got to the cellar fine. Later, we learned that the tornado had turned and had detoured to the east, bypassing the town. What a relief! But how sad going out to see the McLain’s house which had been destroyed! After this scary incident, a town storm cellar was built on the ne corner of the square block where the school was located. On top of it was built the school music room, (which wasn’t a bad idea because now the music classes couldn’t disturb other nearby classes) I can still remember going to the cellar in the middle of the night when the storm siren blew and being fascinated by seeing various townspeople in nighttime attire, sometimes (for the women and girls) complemented by hair rollers! It was a social event! Since I grew up to be a public school music teacher, I must comment on the importance of the music program in my childhood. I had the opportunity to be in various music ensembles (like trios and triple trios), in choirs and to do a lot of accompanying. The music teachers entered us in lots of music "contests" such as the Roosevelt Music Festival and the one at Southwestern State College. I entered lots of piano and voice solo events in these festivals, also. These gave me confidence and experience and enjoyment (as well as dread of forgetting notes or words!) The town valued music. I can think of several other Lone Wolf girls who also earned music degrees due to this nurturing. We didn’t have a band (unless you count the tonette and flutophone band that Mrs. Myers had when I was in the elementary grades), so vocal music had lots of support. All students were encouraged to take part in sports, also, regardless of ability. These provided fun for the kids and entertainmentfor the adults. (And taught a person how to be a good loser or gracious winner!) Basketball, football and baseball were about the only sports, but we didn’t know what we were missing by not having soccer, cross-country, track, tennis teams, etc.I don’t know if other people raised in other small towns felt as good about themselves, but I don’t recall any serious self-esteem problems arising in Lone Wolf. Acceptance, encouragement and tolerance were the norm for everyone. And it wasn’t implanted just by the teachers. All in the community seemed to care about the young people and "boost them up", including the dear "Lone Wolf News" which gave "ink" to almost every accomplishment of the school students. (Remember, the 6-week honor roll, the semester honor roll, the "all A’s, the "B or Better" lists and all the accounts of the ball games and reports of all the class activities and school organizations?) I have a feeling that this was typical of this time in history and wasn’t just indigenous to Lone Wolf.

It was a post-war,pre-drug era. Family life was valued and happiness seemed to reign.

Thanks to Lone Wolf School for playing an important part in my childhood happiness and development. As the words to the refrain to the Lone Wolf Alma Mater say:
"Lone Wolf High School, Lone Wolf High School,
Ere to her be true.
She’s the pride of every Coyote.
Hail to Lone Wolf High."

Elizabert Threatt (A Special Friend)
Ulysses Grant & Elizabeth(Hilton) Threatt
Written by: Elizabeth Threatt
In putting together this book I could not imagine it without putting in some of the memories that mean so much to me. When I was in the Second and Third grades, we live Luther,Oklahoma
and it was there that we met Ulysses & Elizabeth Threatt. They owned a Service Station just up the road from where we lived on Hwy 66. I have really good memories of that time in my life. For over 45 years I have kept in contact with Elizabeth. There has not been a year that goes by that she has not sent me a Christmas card. I have always felt especially close to her because of this kindness she always showed me. When I was deciding what to put in my book I wrote to her and ask if she could send me some information on her and her husband for my book. The following information was given to me by Elizabeth Threatt for my book

Elizabeth (Hilton) Threatt was the fourth of nine children born to the late Samuel Hilton and Elizabeth (Hogg) Hilton. She was born on July 4th , 1911 two and half miles East of Luther, OK. She entered Booker T. Washington School third grade May 16th 1929 in the fall of 1929 she entered Langston University , Langston Oklahoma. In 1931 she received a life time certificate to teach grades 1 through 8. She has gone to summer school, night classes, Saturday classes and taken corresponding courses. In 1954 she received a BS Degree from Langston University in Langston Oklahoma in Elementary Education. In 1959 received her Master Teacher Degree from Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma. Other certificates, Math. Language Arts, Fundamental Reading and American Bible Course. She has been a Service Station Operator, Full Line Groceries, Gasoline and Oil with Conoco Company, Wheat Farmer, White Face Cattle Producer, Chef/Cook. She says she has fried a many of strips of bacon. sunny side eggs and poured any number cups of coffee on route 66 where you get your "kicks" before she went into the classroom from 8:20am until 4:30pm. She taught everything but football and someone ask why she did not teach that and her reply was the Luther School Board of Education and Supt. E.E. Supt. E.E. Cox didn’t ask her. Her hobbies are all types of needle hand work, baby clothes specialty, fancy aprons, sun bonnets. In 1937 she married the late Ulysses Threatt. Their marriage lasted 18 years until his death on January 10th, 1956. Ulysses was a strong believer in God and a friend to all mankind. On January 10th, 1956 God in His great wisdom welcomed him to a great heavenly home. Elizabeth continued to operate the business and farm until 1974. After 44 year in the Luther Public Schools, and a number of years serving the public, May 1976 she retired. She has been a widow for 44 years and active member of First Baptist Church of Luther, Oklahoma. She is a member of Order of Eastern star Chapter # 15, Delta Kappa Gamma, Shawnee, Oklahoma, Associated with Easter Seal, Red Cross, March of Dimes, Negro College Fund, Booker T. Washington Club,, Langston University and Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma and the Luther Historical Society.
Elizabeth said she set her goals when she was just five years old. They were: 1. To be a Teacher, 2. To own a modern farm, 3. To live beside the road and be a friend to all man kind. (From what I know of her she did all three and much more.) She says there are two things that she found out that won’t hurt you. These are to know God personally and hard work. God ask for no credentials and He accepts us with out flaws and He is kind and understanding and he welcomes us because we are His Children. He loves us every one and He freely and completely forgives all that we have done, asking only if we are already to follow where He leads, content that in His wisdom He will answer all our needs.
Since retirement she has done extensive traveling. She has visited the Hold Land, France, Rome, Hawaii, Switzerland, England, Canada and Turkey, to name a few places. Whatever she has accomplished in Life, she says she owes to three persons, God, her Mother and Father.

Ulysses Grant Threatt, was the fourth of sixteen children born to Allen Threatt Sr and Alberta Wallace, Threatt on January 10, 1912 in Vincent, Alabama. His parents seeking better opportunity for their families moved to Oklahoma in 1917 settling on a farm east of Luther, Oklahoma. Ulysses helped his parents in every phase of farming. Tilling the soil was his first love. Soon he became an outstanding 4-H Club boy, raising pure bred pole cattle exhibited at the Township Fair, his prize cattle won at the County Fair. Ulysses graduated from Washington High School, May 1934 and in the farm of 1934 he entered Langston University for two years. In 1936, he was employed by the United States Agriculture Soil Conservation. During the time fruits and vegetables were at their peek, Ulysses would set a certain day in each neighborhood for the ladies to bring their fruits and vegetables, and he would help them to process their garden produce, using a very , very large Pressure cooker. With a vision for betterment for humanity, Allen Threatt Sr, with the help of Ulysses built a Service Station long before Highway 66 was built. Here his father sold gasoline, high test 17 cents a gallon, and regular 15 cents a gallon and a can of oil 25 cents a quart, bulk oil was 15 cents a quart, kerosene was sold for 5 cents a gallon. His father operated the Station until Ulysses eight hours each day ended with his Government job then he would work the Station.
On May 1, 1937 Ulysses married Elizabeth Hilton Threatt in El Reno, Oklahoma. They thought if they married outside Oklahoma City, Okla. no one would know but as soon as Judge Lorenz looked at the marriage license, he said "are you Judge Hilton’s daughter? So they weren’t so sharp after all. His father left the business in Ulysses hands were he also continued to farm attending the Service Station during the day until 4:30pm and Elizabeth took over after her eight hours in the classroom. She said she poured a lot of coffee and turned many, many eggs for Truck Drivers, at that time they all got their Kicks on Route 66. The Threatt Service Station was the only black on Hwy 66. In 1942, Ulysses Grant Threatt was one of the first around Luther to receive his Greetings from Uncle Sam. He passed his physical test and was given two weeks to get his business taken care of. His father returned to operate the Service Station. In September, 1942 Ulysses left Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with a very large group of young men, headed to Fort Sill, Oklahoma remained there for eight days. From Fort Sill to Enid Army Air Field 76th Aviation Squadron. He became a M.P for several months. As Staff Sgt. He was in charge of Aviation Cadets Mess Hall. Ulysses served his country for four years. With a Honorable Discharge from Fr. Scott, Illinois, December 1946. He returned to Operate Threatt Service Station and farming on a wide range scale, 340 acres, 35 Purebred white face Cattle, wheat, peanuts, purebred Chester white hogs. After a very brief illness, Ulysses Grant Threatt passed away January 10th, 1956, Elizabeth continued to operate the Station, caring for their livestock until May 1974, two years before she retired in May of 1976. She says she Thanks God for the wonderful years they had together.
I feel really honored to be a friend of Elizabeth Threatt and count her among my special friends. I appreciate her letting me include her in my book of" Memories That Last Forever". This goes to show that you can remain friends over the span of many years rather you see then often or not. I will always appreciate her staying in contact with me for all these many years. I find myself just looking for my Christmas Card each year that has arrived every year for over 50 years. I only remember one year that I did not get one and I was so worried that I didn’t but sure enough the next year there it was.

Vernard & Janice
I am not one for having my picture taken in fact I rarely let anyone take my picture. This picture was taken at Candice wedding. It is a special picture for me because if you will look at this picture you will see that Vernard is more than likely telling me a story. He would tell me stories that I love to hear about my past and mostly about my Daddy and brothers. It just happen that Vernard also had a nickname that he called me when I was little. He called me little bit and I guess because I was very little for a long time. I of course have special memories of Vernard and every chance we got when we went home Linda and I would go see him. We hve shared a lot of memories with him over the years.
A special time and a special memory that I have would be that I had given Vernard and Sue a CD of my singing that I had made for family several years ago. He had ask me a long time ago to sing at his funeral. I of course told him I would and his choice of song was "How Great Tho Art" so when he passed away I did just as he had ask I sang that song for him. I look at it as a honor that he would ask me. Then on the day of his funeral I was given a gift bag from the funeral director and it contained a lovely beautiful Elephant actually a mother elephant and baby. This was a really special gift and one I treasure and always will. Anyone that knows me at all would hav to know that I collect elephants and have for many years. I have quite a large collection. I have given some of my collection to a young man that I taught in Sunday School Derek and I have packed away a lot of them for Randy and Anthony. I however have several elephants that are so special to me that I will keep them in my china hutch until I am gone and those will go to my great granddaughter Kyleigh Marie. This elephant is amoung those special one.
I have a lot of stories that Vernard shared with me and I will share them on my blog site from time to time. This is another time when Memories Last Forever, Thank You Vernard and I love you .

Reflections From The Past
Written By: Mari (Nance) Zinn
When the 19th century turned into the 20th century and Wylie Potts Zinn and Rosa JaneWard had not yet become wed, things were much the same as they had been at the turn of the last century and the one before that and before that. Even the new inventions and beginnings of change in the big cities meant little to a mostly rural community in Indian Territory. People still lived in sod houses and warmed themselves by wood or coal stoves and tried to push away the night with lamps filled with coal oil. Few people traveled far from their place of birth and if they did it was by foot or horseback or wagon or for the privileged few a carriage. The fields were still plowed walking behind teams of mules. But the turn of this century seemed to be propelled by progress. Soon to come were cars and tractors and electric lights and houses made of wood in little towns throughout this new state. Henry Ford became benefactor of the open door. Through his Model T people could now travel from town to town and even state to state. World War I, the war to end all wars, came and went. One room schools dotted the country side and churches not much bigger sprung up on the corners of the towns. The machine age came into full swing with cars, cars, cars. And trucks and now that unthinkable - the airplane. But still the country home remained little changed. Often it was a four room bungalow with a cistern out back and now if one was lucky the coal oil lamp was supplemented by an Aladdin lamp with its bright white light and fragile mantles. The toilet was still outdoors at the end of the path. And so it remained until the late l940s when Rural Electrification came to rural Oklahoma. Then came the depression and as if to punctuate the misery, the Dust Bowl. Only another World War brought prosperity and with it came change out of the genie’’s bottle. The returning soldiers had seen the world and pain and grew up in the process and few returned home. The far sighted government had anticipated the return of large numbers of young men with no employment and had in place job training and the GI Bill so millions could be educated and employed in the new industries.
And now a new century, the 21st!, has come and we look back on more changes for thehuman race than in all centuries combined. Because it has been so rapid people have had too little time to adapt to the drastic change. The artificial world of movies, TV and now computers interject us into an unreal world and their values have blurred the age old values of home and family and integrity. Charles Dickens, if here in 2001, would surely say again, ""These are the best of times and the worst of times"". This then is our opportunity, and our burden, the new century is ours to make. Like the old Girl Scout song, we must make new friends but keep the old. Can you imagine if Rose and Wylie had a crystal ball in that Beaver County sod house what they would have seen for their 9 children and their children and their children too? I like to think that in it all they would still see the love and values shared and instilled in thatfamily and to them we would say, ""Well done"".

Thank You AUnt Mari for this lovely story from the past.

Queen & Sue Daddys & Grandpa Zinn's Dray Team
Clarence LeGrande (Shug) McConnell

Oklahoma Transfer Company
This was one of the Teams that both Grandpa Zinn and Daddy used to deliver freight from the train station to different business places around Hobart and the surrounding area.
I would call this a early trucking business. I find it very special that Daddy would have a trucking business from the very beginning. Of course Daddy did many other things in his lifetime. He owned and operated a couple of café’s in Hobart and bought, sold and hauled a lot of cattle, sheep and many loads of hay. This however was a very intersting start to the trucking business that he had later in life. I cant watch Little House On The Prairie on TV with out thinking of this horse and wagon. They also had a team names Dan & Button. I love these memories that will last forever in my heart as told to me by my Mother and my Aunt Mari

Aunt Mari and Janice

Over the years and in recalling my memories one thing that has helped me more than anything or anyone would have to be Aunt Mari. She is the wife of my mothers youngest brother Domby. She has a special gift to recall her memories and share them. I have so many of the stories that she has shared with me over the years. I think of all the stories that she has written would be the one she wrote about the "Five Stars" Banner. I also have a picture to go with that story of my grandparents holding a flag that was given to them while all five of their sons served in the armed forces. The five white stars repersent the five sons. I will be posting this story and picture at some point in time. I am so proud to have her as my special aunt.

Sweet Little Candice Elaine
Our sweet little Candi is busy reading Miss Rabbit a story. Look at the serious look on her face.
This is one of so many precious pictures that I have of her when she was a little girl. Her little
room was all done up in Mickey Mouse. Candi really loved Mickey Mouse.

I have spent many hours with my only two grandchildren Anthony James andCandice Elaine. They are my pride and joy and always have been. Now theywill have to share their Granny with Kyleigh Marie my great granddaughter.Nothing quite as special as grandkids. I have enjoyed them so much over theyears and they have given me and still are given me so very many happyMemories That Last Forever.

Most anyone who knew daddy would know he was a truck driver and her owned several trucks they he and the boys and Uncle LeLand drove for many years.
It was after Daddy had his heart attach and was not able to work anymore he bought a building in downtown Lone Wolf and put in Surplus Store. He had all kinds of things in that store but most of all it was something to keep him busy. He had worked hard all his life and it was pretty hard for him to just stop working. He had the store until the time of his death and after he died we had a auction and sold the stuff and the building so Mother would not have to mess with it.
Above are a couple of the trucks that Daddy used in his trucking business. Over the years all of the boys, Lloyd, Kenneth and Johnny and Vernard his nephew drove with Daddy Uncle Leland, Daddy’s only brother also drove a truck with him. From what I can gather from several sources Daddy was pretty particular about who drove his trucks and I know that he was sure picky about how a load of hay was stacked. On more than one occasion I hear that he made the boys unload and stack the load again. I would think that did not happen to many times. I know this was a hard life but he supported his family doing what he knew. He hauled lots of hay and lots of cattle and was quite the trader. I will always remember him and his life.

Josie Aiken
Written By: Janice (McConnell) Cowan
I could not write this book without including a short story about Mrs. Josie Aiken who was our next door neighbor as long as I can remember and long before. I could only find one picture that had her in it and it was a snapshot of Mrs. Aiken, Arlene, Linda and me sitting on her front porch. I treasure this picture since it is the only one that any of us have.
I can remember sitting on that porch many days for hours and listen to her tell us stories of the olden days. It always amazed me how a blind person could live like she did all by herself and her house always be so clean all the time. Not a speck of dust to be found. I don’t know how long she has been blind. Arlene said that she could see shapes for awhile when we were small. She had diabetes and she was blind from complications from the diabetes.
I remember when we would go over to her house, she would always say "let me see your hands." We would put out our hands to her like she could see them and she would feel of them and if they were dirty she would tell us to go in her bathroom and wash them. After we did, she would then give us a cookie or apple and most times it was graham crackers. She was a wonderful lady and we all loved her very much.
She only had one son his name was Bob and he lived somewhere in Idaho. He did not come to see her very often so we were really her family. After she died, Daddy bought her house so no one else would move in there. Mrs. Aiken was a part of our life growing up and a memory that last forever.

ThT

This elephant picture was drawn by my son William Randall Cowan

Elephants, Elephants, Elephants Everywhere My Love For Elephants
By: Janice (McConnell) Cowan

In the early 70’s a friend of mine gave me a little elephant that she brought me from her vacation. Little did I know that this was the beginning of a collect that has no end. (smile) Over the years I have received hundreds and hundreds of elephants from friends and family. I have elephants from every size and shape. Some more meaningful than others but all appreciated and loved by me. I can pretty much identify who gave me each and every one. Out of the hundreds of elephants that I have I have never purchased oneOne that is really meaningful to me would be a lovely elephant table that is made out of Rosewood and is carved elephant made into a little table and the table top is the shape of Africa. This was brought to me from Africa by a deal old friend from Hattiesburg, Mississippi that we went to Church with for years, Lloyd Reidhour. He was a Merchan Marine and his run was from New York to Africa twice a year. He brought me several elephants over the years but this table was just so special to me. He has since passed away but I have found memories of him and his thinking enough of me to bring me elephants from Africa.Another one that means a lot to me would be a little black wooden elephant with purple painting that was brought to me from Thailand where my niece Diana was a Missionary for two years.I also have very unique set of little elephants that was given to me by Dr. Chandy which was a Orthopedic Surgeon from India that worked at Claremore Regional Hospital where I worked. He would drop by my office and see my elephants and see if I have new ones and one day I received in the mail a little package from India, and init was what looked like a bean that had been carved out and a lid on it. Inside was 12 tiny ivory elephants and they actual had the shapes of elephants. It was really special to me that he had sent these to me from India.My friend and former Boss at the hospital has given me several very special elephants over the years.Her husband Bill made a lot of trips to India, Paris and China and he brought me very unique elephants from each place and Gail has given me really nice porcelain elephants that I am sure cost a pretty penny.Over the years my grandchildren have given me elephants as well and I love each and every one of them. Memories Last Forever. Some elephants have stories behind them that I love to remember. For many years I was the secretary to the director of the Senior Care Program at the hospital. I would have many elephants in my office. Ken Siedel was the CEO of the Hospital and I knew him pretty well and in fact we went to the same church. He had this really nice large leather elephant in his office and I would go in there from time to time and tell him that elephant was in the wrong office and needed to be in mine. He would laugh and one day told me that if I would get him a butterfly he would trade. He liked butterflies a lot. I would laugh and know that I could never afford a nice enough butterfly to trade. He would pop his head in my door and say “you better take me up on my offer”. When it was time for him to retire I just decided that if I was going to get that elephant which I really wanted I had better move on it. I went to J&J Pharmacy & Gift store and found him a little porcelain butterfly and took it in to his office and said “ I am hear to trade”. He said “OK you have yourself a elephant”. So this is a wonderful little memory of my friendship with Ken and I am the proud owner of a large expensive leather elephant.On August 4, 2007 my cousin Vernard Holbrook passed away and he had asked me several times over the years to sing “How Great Tho Art” at his funeral service. Well as he had requested I did sing what he wanted. To my surprise after the service the funeral director gave me a gift bag and said it was left for me. When I opened it I found a lovely Mama Elephant and baby. I was told that Vernard had personally picked this out for me some time ago to be given to me on this day. He had bought it at a antique shop and had Sue to put it up for the right time. I will always treasure this gift forever and very special to me. This proves to me that” Memories Last Forever” and that Vernard truly loved me.

Mother and Linda two of my very favorite people in the world. Mother was the most wonderful Mother that a person could have. She worked hard raising us eight children. Daddy was gone a lot with his work and she was left to tend to all our needs and wants. There was never a mother that gave so much for her children. She saw to it that we were in Sunday School and Church every Sunday. This was a guide for the rest of my life. I loved Church and Youth Group and I credit Mother for that. She was always very active in the Lone Wolf Methodist Church and anyone that you ask could tell you all the wonderful things she did. Can't imagine a Church dinner without our Mother in the kitchen. She could cook for eight or eighty, and did just that many times. I appreciate all she taught me in my life and I did learn how to cook from her and I compare everything that I make to what she cooked. That is a high standard to live up to. (smile) I can't make a pie crust with out remembering her saying "don't handle the dough to much or it will be tough". How right she was and that is why I make a good pie crust. And her homeade biscuits are just the best bare none. I try and mine are good but hers were better.So you see she was a good teacher as well as a mother. I dont think the other girls paid quite as much attention to her cooking as I did because they reallly didnt enjoy cooking like I do and I am sure that it why. Now I am not saying the rest of the sisters were not good cooks, but they sure didn't measure up to her (No One Could) not even me. (smile) So my mother is the most special person in my life and I will always remember what she stood for. You never heard her complain or never spoke a word against anyone. Boy how I wish I have paid more attention to that part of her life it would have come in handy these days.Mother I Love You More Than Life Itself.

My boys - now are they not just darling little boys?

Randy and Rickey

this picture taken at Mother and Daddy's in Lone Wolf, Oklahoma

This would be the first four McConnell Children

Lloyd, Kenneth, Doris Katha

Two more of the McConnell Children Janice and Linda

Granny's Beautiful Little Angel
Have you ever seen a child with a smile like this one?
I think that she is the most precious child in the world.
Kyleigh's Granny