Myrna wrote: Toni, what do you think? Do you think you look like your Grandma?
Photo taken January 1953.
Toni wrote: Gee.... what was the happy occasion? LOL... they all look pretty grim! It says 1953 so that means Grandma Jessie was 53 years old, or more likely, 52 since her B-day is in Dec. I remember her dress... and that round mirror is hanging in my dining room right now! I ought to go put on a black dress, my red lipstick & pose by the same mirror. If I do, I'll send it to you.
And HER Mom, Great grandma Pritchett was probably about 70-72 at that time. I'm glad we look better now days. Who is the other couple? And thanks for sharing!
Myrna wrote: The other couple is Woodrow Selby and his wife. Woody was the son of Mina's sister. She died at an early age and the Pritchetts raised Woody from the time he was small. He always called them his parents. He lived in Idaho and was a officer of some kind with Wonderbread. When he lived with Mina and John, he went by the surname of Pritchett. When he went to college, he went back to Selby. He did have a brother who went to live with another relative. Woody was quite the basketball hero. This photo was taken after Great-grandma had a stroke. That is why she is in a robe and that is why, I am certain, he was visiting.
The photo is of Grace and Woodrow Selby, Mina Ericksen Pritchett, and Jessie Pritchett Brighton, your grandmother. This was after Mina had a stroke. At this point, she seemed some recovered though still weak. Grandmother Vivian Smith and had spent quite of bit of time during the summer in California and stayed with Aunt Jessie and Uncle Gilbert where Great-Grandma Mina was making her home. We then went back to Utah so my grandmother could teach and I could go to school.
Toni wrote: Oh OK... the only pics I've seen of Woody is when he was quite a bit older. I thought he was a well known artist and lived in Manhattan...or something. I think Mom called him when Grandma died and that's the last I ever heard of him. Don't think I ever met him.
Myrna wrote: He did come to the funeral of Uncle Frank. He came, along with his brothers. My grandmother, was very sad, because she opted to stay with me because I had just given birth to my second child when Uncle Frank died. She was torn between the two. I understand now. If I knew then what I know today, I would have urged her to go to her brother's funeral. I know that she wanted to. Your grandma sent her photos and that is why I know the Selby boys were there. There are times when I still feel bad about her staying to be with me. Especially since I was so independent that I didn't let her be as much help as she wanted to be. It is sometimes too bad that youth is wasted on the young.
Toni wrote: Well you and I must have a kid about the same age then because I remember when Uncle Frank died it was Thanksgiving Day and we were at my Mom's. I was lying on her couch with severe cramps and bleeding from my first period after the birth of my first child, my son Rick, who was born 10-6-64. So he must have been 5 or 6 weeks old. I must have gone to the funeral but I have no memory of that or of meeting Woody. I think most of the family (that part anyway) is buried at Valhalla Cemetery which is right next to the Hollywood-Burbank airport, which wasn't so busy in those days. I know I went to several burials there but can't remember which was which.
I remember Uncle Frank was 55 when he died as were a couple of other men in the family and my Mom worried for years as Dad approached that age. She was SURE he would die at 55. I thought 'so what, that's old anyway'.......my perspective seems to have changed on that, LOL.
My daughter, Melanie, was born on November 11. So we do have two children who are close in age. In the old days, when people stayed put for a generation or so, they may have known each other. Now, we could be standing next to each other at the airport and we wouldn't know.
Jared wrote: Didn't anyone smile back then? Jared
