COUNTY LIFE
Final resting place: Sailor buried near his family
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
With hope that lives within a mother’s heart, Ester Walters wrote a letter to her 24-year-old son, Bethel, on Dec. 13, 1941. It was less than a week since the attack on Pearl Harbor where his ship, the USS West Virginia had been moored on Battleship Row.
“We’ve spent seven long days and nights of dread fearing we would get a telegram from Washington, D.C., but we haven’t. We began to feel better… we know you’re real busy now,” wrote his mother.
After urging him to rest when he could and asking if he needed money for supplies, she wrote Homer was sending a Christmas card and a box of stationary; Ellen had a box of candy and two letters on their way and Lois was waiting to hear news to start her letter.
“As long as we don’t get a telegram we feel more certain, but we hope we don’t get it. Don’t worry about us back home, keep your nerves steady so you can do your part better. From all of us. Mama.”
That dreaded letter arrived a few short days later on Dec. 16, 1941 stating Bethel Elbert Walters was lost in the performance of his duties and service to his country. It continued if his remains were recovered they would be interred in a local cemetery. The note was signed by Admiral C.W. Nimitz, chief of the bureau of investigation.
The sailor was finally laid to rest with his family at his hometown cemetery this past Saturday. Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
It has been quite a busy few days at the Montague County Youth Fair with schedule changes, juggling of events and trying to cope with the unexpected snow storm. However, the youth fair always rolls on thanks to the dedicated volunteers, coordinators, parents and students.
Friday the rabbit how starts at 10 a.m., with heifer and steer show at 2 p.m. Ag. mech. check-in at 6 p.m. with that show at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Swine will move into the barn later today with its show at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Saturday the home economics silent auction will start at 6 p.m. and run to 9 p.m. in the show barn. Showmanship buckles will be presented at 6 p.m. in the barn followed by leadership day awards. The premium sale is at 6:30 p.m. Make plans to come out and support these hard working kids and families.
See all the winners in the Thursday Bowie News.
Top photo – Poultry show photo taken by Rashonda Hobbs of Unfazed Creations, official photographer for the youth fair. Make sure and check out her photos.
When we were going through my grandmother’s house in Nocona after it sold, I found a few neat keepsakes, but the biggest treasure I thought I had found was her biscuit cutter. I was so excited to show my mother (her daughter) and just knew she would be happy it was found and would still be used after all this time.
My mother, however, had a different thought about my precious biscuit cutter. She said, “Suzanne, you know that biscuit cutter is just an old tomato paste can that has both ends cut out.”
I was still no less delighted with my cutter. I continue to use it today. My husband has bought me vintage, new and fancier cutters, but this cutter is something I go back to time and again.
My Memaw was recruited to be a lunch lady from 1952 to 1958 at Nocona Elementary, back when lunches were cooked, not “fixed.” Lenora Brown Burnett was an excellent cook and everyone knew it. She went on to work at the Nocona Major Clinic kitchen from 1958 to 1969.
You could only use shortcuts if you knew how to do it the long way. That is how I still approach cooking. You can only use a cake mix if you know how to make a cake with lots of ingredients, time and effort.
Read Suzanne’s Love & Luck column in the Thursday Bowie News on the On the Table page.
Top photo – Grandmother’s biscuit cutter and hand written recipes. (Photo by Suzanne Storey)
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