Dads Truck

Dad made a mistake and it cost him his life. We had been estranged for years mainly because of his second marriage and that situation. On Thursday 27 June 1974 I met him outside in the yard of his cousin Buck's house as I was leaving and he was arriving. He was never one to discuss anything, it was only: he spoke-you listened! But this day we had a real discussion about our relationship, family and such and I'm so glad we did because on Saturday 29 June 1974 I closed his eyes in the ER of St Mary's Hospital and said goodbye. Later I went and looked at the truck with it's melted wheels/tires and took his helmet which I still have. I thank God for that meeting and discussion.
  Dad was dumping gravel on the driveway of a new home. A state cop owned it and they were given "special favors" by companies to avoid situations. Drivers donated their time to avoid tickets. He was in a hurry because he had a frozen pizza business and he had to do his tavern route. The truck never touched the wires but it was close enough for the current to jump to it. The cop didn't attend the funeral but he went to the graveyard for those services although he stayed at the edge of the proceedings.
  I have the weekly paper from Clifton as well as the Kankakee paper from this date. I use to have a huge stack of newspapers but over the years it has shrunk; from moving, a flooded basement and I gave some away.
 

Rulo School picture

 

Subject: rulo    Rulo School, not sure of the date. Back row: Teacher Janie Hansford, Tilo McDonald, Bea McCalister, Liz Arthur, Nola Whitaker, Dice Arthur (Hargis), Frances Arthur; Middle row: Ted Arthur, Lina Whitaker, Cora Whitaker, Virge McCalister (Taylor), Rose McDonald, Burta McDonald; Front row: Earn Whitaker, Willie Arthur, Dave McCalister, Virgil Adkins, Henry Adkins, Jess Whitaker, Ida Adkins (Hash), Anna Arthur (Turner); and Rendy McCalister. -- Doyle Speaks

 

Lina Whitaker (1904-1994) married Grandma Etta Arthur Arnold's  brother Tom (James Thomas Arthur). Gramma's brother Alonzo "Ted" Arthur b. Jan. 26, 1903 d. Feb. 12, 1985  and sister Anna are here too. Tom and Lina were the first ones of the family to move to Kankakee. It was printed in the local newspaper when he left, I have the reprint here somewhere and it was about 1920.

Arthur's

Christine Arthur Woods on left, sisters Helen, Melba with Marlene and their Mother Lina Whitaker Arthur. Lina married James Thomas Arthur, Grandma Etta Arnold Arthur's brother. Another brother was Lincoln, Christine's father.

Barbara Owens

This was Mom's cousin, by marriage. Her mother-in-law was Sarah, sister to Grandpa George Arnold.

 

Obituary for Barbara Owens

Visitation for Barbara Owens, 88, of Bradley, will be from 9 a.m. Friday until the 11 a.m. funeral service at the Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home, Bourbonnais. Burial will be in Kankakee Memorial Gardens, Aroma Township. Memorials may be made to Vitas Hospice. She died Monday (June 10, 2013) at the Miller Center in Kankakee.

Mrs. Owens was a licensed practical nurse. She retired from St. Mary's Hospital, where she had worked at the Sisters Infirmary. She was born Aug. 30, 1924, in Pineville, Ky., the daughter of Estil and Maggie Murphy Gooch. Her husband, Clarence Louis Owens, whom she married March 23, 1946, in Harlan, Ky., died May 2, 1987. She was an active member and past oracle of the Royal Neighbors. She enjoyed traveling, reading, doing crossword puzzles and sewing.

Surviving are one son and two daughters-in-law, Doyle and Jackie Owens, of Bourbonnais, and Beverly Owens, of Evanston; one daughter, Ann Schroeder, of Bourbonnais; six grandchildren, Brandon (Cassie) Owens, Megan (Brian) Cooper, Scott (Marnie) Schroeder, Jason (Monica) Schroeder, Hillary (Nick) Owens-Limber and Blake Owens; and seven great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one son, C. David Owens; sister, Mabel Comber; and two brothers, Oliver Preston Gooch and Bud Gooch.

 

 

Mom, May 2013

Her mind is so much clearer since they reduced her medications.

Mom Having a Beer

After many years without she asked for a beer! Granddaughter Pam Walwer Burch brought her some.