Ernie came to live with us when he was a senior in High School. He was Daddy Roy's nephew and needed a place to stay. Mom and Dad always found room for relatives in need of help and I'm glad this wasn't an exception. Larry had gone to Germany by the time he came, so Darlene and I welcomed a new "big brother." He would take us to get a chocolate malt at Foster Freeze, buy us Lanz dresses, he'd take us with him to the show. He was wonderful. Ernie was quickly very popular at school as he became a star "Tackle" on their football team. He worked on the side, learning the plumber trade, from my Dad
. Ernie had a great sense of humor and loved a good joke. We loved just being around him and hearing anything he wanted to share about his friends or his day. Lots of things happened during his stay with us; we got news of Larry's death, my really good friend was hit by a car on his bike on the frontage road, by our house, and killed, Grandpa Koehler died, and my little Chihuahua was run over. Through it all, he was always someone gentle to lean on, always loving and respectful. I really don't think he ever realized how much we learned to love him and depend on him while he was living with us. I just remember how 'safe' he always made me feel.
Ernie went home to visit and soon married Rosie. I remember going to see them after many years, just before I got married. They had a house full of happy kids and they all seemed to get a kick out of each other. I loved seeing them all together. They encouraged one another to do something cute, then would just laugh and point out that someone had done something amazing. It was the cutest thing.
Again, lots of time went by and we heard about a family reunion for the Moores. By this time, Norm & I had 6 kids and a motor home so it would be manageable. We packed up and took the gang to Missouri and had a great time getting to know Ernie's, now, grown up family. What a great sense of humor and personalities he and Rosie had passed on to their kids. How much fun we had at that reunion. They lived by a lake next to Aunt Midge & Uncle Don, and Barbara & Roy. We had great food, great fun at the lake and wonderful memories to take back with us. We became acquainted with Ernie & Rosie's girls, Lisa, Gina & Sheila. We somehow really connected with Lisa and it wasn't very long before we received a phone call from her, wanting to come live with us for a time. We were so happy to have her with us. We all had a great time with her, and she eventually went to live in Scottsdale with a friend.
We recieved a call a few years later that Ernie had had a heart attack and had died... in the same hospital where he and Rosie worked. It was a tough thing to hear and I was very glad for the years we as a family had with him and the fun he brought into our lives.
. Ernie had a great sense of humor and loved a good joke. We loved just being around him and hearing anything he wanted to share about his friends or his day. Lots of things happened during his stay with us; we got news of Larry's death, my really good friend was hit by a car on his bike on the frontage road, by our house, and killed, Grandpa Koehler died, and my little Chihuahua was run over. Through it all, he was always someone gentle to lean on, always loving and respectful. I really don't think he ever realized how much we learned to love him and depend on him while he was living with us. I just remember how 'safe' he always made me feel.Ernie went home to visit and soon married Rosie. I remember going to see them after many years, just before I got married. They had a house full of happy kids and they all seemed to get a kick out of each other. I loved seeing them all together. They encouraged one another to do something cute, then would just laugh and point out that someone had done something amazing. It was the cutest thing.
Again, lots of time went by and we heard about a family reunion for the Moores. By this time, Norm & I had 6 kids and a motor home so it would be manageable. We packed up and took the gang to Missouri and had a great time getting to know Ernie's, now, grown up family. What a great sense of humor and personalities he and Rosie had passed on to their kids. How much fun we had at that reunion. They lived by a lake next to Aunt Midge & Uncle Don, and Barbara & Roy. We had great food, great fun at the lake and wonderful memories to take back with us. We became acquainted with Ernie & Rosie's girls, Lisa, Gina & Sheila. We somehow really connected with Lisa and it wasn't very long before we received a phone call from her, wanting to come live with us for a time. We were so happy to have her with us. We all had a great time with her, and she eventually went to live in Scottsdale with a friend.
We recieved a call a few years later that Ernie had had a heart attack and had died... in the same hospital where he and Rosie worked. It was a tough thing to hear and I was very glad for the years we as a family had with him and the fun he brought into our lives.
3 comments:
That's MY Dad...Isn't he the cutest? Thanks Sheri for adding him. He was such a good dad. I still miss him every single day. Reading this made me cry. He always loved your family and talked so fondly about you all and of his time he spent in CA with. Having to make the call to you to tell you he was gone was the hardest call I had to make. Ok, I have to stop for now...I'm really crying now...it' just been so long.
Thanks for sharing that. I remember that trip. Playing in the dirty lake, bringing home huge stinky shells, Lisa and Sheila taking us to the d--- dam. (Their words, not mine) :)
I remember that trip too! That was so fun having Lisa live with us. I remember she gave the best back-rubs!I'm glad I got to read about her dad. That picture of he and you is really cute, and I can see the resemblance of Lisa in her daddy. Thanks for writing mom!-Lori
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