The First Rainey in Branson

Dad anticipated our Branson family vacation each summer. Mother, a confirmed homebody, supported our yearly trip primarily because Dad looked forward to that one week of summer all year long. (That’s some sort of commentary on how to make a marriage work.)

This week, Mother unearthed a cool little personalized key chain from our first trip to Branson, Missouri, in 1994. Mother commented on how the little commemorative memorabilia captured Dad’s exuberance and even hers on that very first Branson excursion.

The inaugural year found us seeing only one show. As a bibliophile, I petitioned that we take in a performance of “The Shepherd of the Hills.” During that evening this photo of Mother and Dad was taken. 

Mother then began recalling her grandmother, Rosa Jarrell Rainey, and her love of reading. Mother spent much time with her maternal grandma and Alice, her aunt. Her grandma never spoke of attending school, but she had learned to read. She loved stories with interesting plots and strong characters.

One of her favorite books was The Shepherd of the Hills by Harold Bell Wright. Wright set the heartwarming tale in the Ozark Mountains in Mutton Hollow in Taney County based on his time in the area as he recovered from tuberculosis.

Rosa and William Rainey were born in Missouri but in their early marriage left their home state for “Bill” to work for the railroad constructing new track in Texas, Oklahoma Territory, and Indian Territory. Even though Rosa and Bill raised their children, Daisy, Lewis, Gladys (my grandma), Alice, Gene, and Emma, in the brand-new state of Oklahoma, Rosa always felt a fondness for Missouri.

In the 1930s, following Great-Grandpa William’s death, Emma and her husband, Bill Buckley, treated Rosa to a trip of her life. She revisited Missouri. They toured the area of Taney and Stone counties, experiencing picturesque Mutton Hollow, the actual setting of Harold Wright’s wildly popular novel.

The portion of Aunt Emma’s photographs that Mother inherited included this photograph of her in the Evergreen Cemetery near Notch, Missouri, in Stone County.

The real-life couple, John and Anna Ross, who befriended the ailing Wright when he sought quietness in the Ozarks was buried exactly four months apart in this cemetery in 1923. Their graves remained unmarked until an effort by fans of the characters of Old Matt and Molly in Wright’s popular novel raised money to erect the monument. Mr. and Mrs. Ross inspired Harold Bell Wright’s endearing couple in his book.

Many of Rosa Jarrell Rainey’s descendants have taken trips to Branson, Missouri. Likely none of us realized the woman from whom we descended toured the Ozark area before it reached its worldwide vacation status.

As I perused my own copy of The Shepherd of the Hills purchased for $2.95 in 1979, this powerful, scathing quote of warning leaped off the page,

…we buy bibles, but will not read them; believing in God, we do not fear Him; acknowledging Christ, we neither follow nor obey Him. From page 287 of the 1978 edition published by Grosset & Dunlap, New York.

            What insight into a deeply grounded ancestor! Great Grandma Rainey loved reading and chose good books because she recognized their impact on her life. May we embrace the power of reading our Bibles, believing and fearing God, and following and obeying Christ. Our diligent commitment to these life-strengthening actions honors an unassuming god-fearing, wise woman of yesteryear. 

Rosa Jarrell Rainey in a custom-fit dress
she created herself. Each of her dresses
were designed by her to fit perfectly at
her shoulders. She stands on the porch
of her last home. This precious lady with
impeccable standards would be appalled
beyond words at the 10th Circuit Court's
ruling on equality allowing both men
and women to appear in public areas
without wearing a shirt of some sort.
This lady who insisted on a dress that
buttoned near her chin, with a skirt hem
falling between her calves and ankles,
would be shocked that anyone - whether
man or woman - would choose to appear
topless in public places. Our society
needs more like Great grandma Rainey
with her attitudes about life and modesty.

To learn more about Rosa Jarrell Rainey and see earlier photographs of her, go to these links:

https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-matriarch-of-rainey-family.html

https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2013/10/william-marion-rainey.html

https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2014/10/a-frightened-mama-and-her-baby-at-red.html

The Photobomb on the Farm

T. Tommy’s Photobomb

            I’m not one for taking selfies. Taking photographs is another matter. Beginning with Dad, each summer I snapped photos of his garden in various stages. His flowers were my favorite subjects.

Dad planted marigolds for pest control. His mother, Mamie Irene Tripp Gates, planted zinnias. Dad said he planted them for color. Several years, Dad planted sunflowers to provide bird food for the sparce months of winter.

Regretfully, even though I plant flowers, I never produce the show-stopping spectacle like Dad had. Finally, this year, my late planted zinnias began to bloom. I told myself as I watered the tomato plants, Go ahead and shoot a photo or two of the little zinnias.

I framed one of the brightly colored zinnias in my camera’s viewfinder. Just as I had composed a good shot of the selected zinnia, suddenly a huge cat face entered my picture. My finger was already poised and in motion for the photo. T. Tommy, the abandoned tom cat, photobombed my zinnia shot!   

T. Tommy, a name given by my sister to him, was dropped off in front of Mother’s farm house. The first morning I spotted him brought unbelief to me. This enormous cat could not be in our yard. No one would do this to us. We had all the cats we wanted or needed.

 I carried the heavy cat out of the yard, but he determined to come back into the fenced-in yard. Upon reentering, he raced to the feeding area and scattered our “tiny” farm cats in thirty different directions at once.

Finally, I took a small amount of food outside the yard, near the road. He devoured it ravenously. Even though I tried this day after day, the enormous tom cat decided he liked living on Big Bend Road and persisted in staying. Thus, began our T. Tommy saga.

T. Tommy has complicated feeding time since I feed him separately to ensure harmony and adequate nutrition for other cats. I warn our visitors that the friendly tom cat must have been hand-fed treats because anyone who talks with their hands runs the risk of a nip.

Many times, he still meows with a high-pitched, squeaky sound at the front door hoping to get into the house. I tell him, “T. Tommy, you picked the wrong house. Mom doesn’t like cats indoors.”

I sometimes physically move him so Mother has a clear path to the car. He is such an assuming feline, appearing confident that wherever he has stationed himself is the  precise spot that he should be.

Occasionally, we encounter people who are demanding, assuming, belligerent, and downright pushy. Mother likes to quote the scripture phrase from I Corinthians 13:4 –

Love suffers long, and is kind;

Mother prefers “suffers long” instead of “is patient.” She says “suffers long” conveys more effectively the difficulty of dealing with some people and situations. These two words express the reality of love given by God as the only impetus for being kind in such troublesome times with troubled people.

            Just as T. Tommy coming to the pink house on Big Bend Road created new challenges, so do high-maintenance, high-strung people who venture across our paths. Yet T. Tommy enjoys the family in the pink house. He has even learned to jump in the crate where his food pan stays. I no longer lift him into it.  In the same way, overwrought people require us to lean upon the Lord for His strength and wisdom to interact positively with them. Just like the progress we have seen with T. Tommy, so our high-strung friends can grow in “learning to rest in the Lord.” But don’t be surprised when just like T. Tommy, they photobomb a picture unannounced.

His Corn Sheller Mesmerized Mother

Mother’s Uncle Ernest Rice

            This Saturday, September 21, will mark the 131^st birthday of Ernest Emil Rice. He often signed his business “E.E. Rice.” He was married to my grandmother’s older sister, Daisy Dean Rainey. (To read about their wedding day, access the blog posting entitled Some Weddings Aren’t Perfect at https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2016/02/some-weddings-arent-perfect.html) My mother, as an only child, visited frequently to play with their youngest son, Virgil. (To access a tribute to Virgil Rice, click on https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2015/05/an-example-of-humility-and-excellence.html )

                Mother reminisced of the innovativeness of her Uncle Ernest. As a little one, she was fascinated by watching him shell the corn he grew. The ear of corn was placed in an opening of the sheller. A handle was turned at the side. Lo and behold, out came kernels of corn. Her parents had to shell their corn by hand, even the popcorn they grew. Mother thought her Uncle Ernest was remarkably clever, finding the “smart” way to do his farm tasks.

            Mother witnessed his constructive parenting. He was instructive, fair, and consistent. Her aunt, Ernest’s wife, loved her children and might err on the side of permissiveness. 

Ernest, Daisy and Dean Rice from Gladys Rainey Smith's
Collection - Mother often said her cousin, Orlean, the oldest
son of Ernest and Daisy, reminded her in his appearance and
temperament of her uncle.

            One stormy night, Mother was staying with the Rice family. Ernest directed Elmer, his middle son, to get his chores done before the storm hit. Her teenage cousin delayed doing the chores until the inclement weather arrived. His father said simply, “Go get the chores done.”

Aunt Daisy began wringing her hands, lamenting her cherished son being forced into the beating rain and blustery wind. Mother said Uncle Ernest answered her tersely, “I told him to do it early.”

This small glimpse into his parenting was reflected in his children. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren have benefitted from this consistent discipline style resulting in the necessary stick-to-itiveness to instill character for ensuring success in living.

Mother recalled Uncle Ernest handling family finances. He advised Aunt Daisy, "Don't buy something just because it's on sale. Just buy what you need." (People do go broke trying to save 50-75% off purchases.)
 Not only did he manage the family money, but often he made purchases for the home eliminating stress on Aunt Daisy. This enabled her to concentrate on the enormous job of being a keeper of the home and rearing their six children.

As his quiet little niece, Mother noticed her uncle’s morning ritual the innumerable times she stayed with them. He awoke at 5 a.m., put the coffee pot on the stove, and then sat down to smoke. He was only 60 years old when he died of cancer of the throat and lungs according to Grandma's diary entry the night of his death on June 18, 1949. 

            I have chosen to conclude this posting with writing by my grandmother, Gladys Vivian Rainey. She developed a close relationship with her brother-in-law because as a trained nurse, she stayed many days with him during his numerous hospitalizations.

Grandma came into a relationship with Jesus as an adult. She never forgot what it meant to be “lost” or “dead in one’s sin.” She became a “radical fanatic” in her speech and focus for making sure her loved ones knew how to have their sins forgiven. She shared faithfully for a couple of decades with Ernest - a moral man, a devoted husband, and a good father – his need for Jesus.

Grandma served as the Belford community correspondent, writing the news of the week for publication in The Fairfax Chief. These are the words she wrote following her brother-in-law’s death in June of 1949.

          In January 1949, Ernest accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his own personal Savior, realizing that nothing but faith in the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ could save man from his sins. Ernest’s one desire was that sinners would accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, while there was yet time.

  An afterthought -Ernest Rice has descendants whose morning ritual begins with Bible reading and prayer that sets the tone for the day and establishes an attitude to propel them through it as well. They share the same desire that was birthed in their grandfather and great grandfather the last six months of his life. They pray that each family member and friend internalize the life-changing faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord.

When the Resurrection Lily Landed On Its Head

The Resurrection Lily on its Head

          A few weeks ago, after a thunderstorm, I discovered a cluster of resurrection lilies broken from their stalk. Drops of rain intermingled with the mud and dirt on the thin, delicate pink petals. The wind gusts had snapped the blossoms from the tall stem and dashed the pink lilies to the ground. The blustery wind twisted and twirled them so they landed upside down – on their pretty little heads.

          I could not let them lay in the damp bed in such disarray. Mother would enjoy looking at them in one of her vases. Sure enough, I found a cute, white milk glass vase in which the decapitated resurrection lily fit perfectly.

The tiny spatters of mud and dirt are visible 
on these lilies treated roughly by the wind.

          How many times do we feel the storms of life blow us about indiscriminately and slam us down? The Psalmist addressed this in Psalm 34:18

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

When we experience brokenness, do we dissolve into depression or do we recall God’s promise to “be near” to the brokenhearted? When harsh words or actions have “crushed” our spirit, the Lord’s promise stands strong to soothe and save us.

Eugene Peterson paraphrased “saves the crushed in spirit,” in The Message with this phrase, “He’ll help you catch your breath.” Most of us remember as children falling and “getting the breath knocked out of us.” The first few seconds were downright scary, as we were sprawled on the ground, feeling as though we would never get another breath. We tried to gasp for air but were powerless to do that.

When a crushing of our spirit happens in our life, God will ensure we breathe again. Just as I reached down and saved the little broken resurrection lily from utter destruction and extended its beauty and life, so God picks us up, holds us upright again, and uses us despite our short-winded state.

Lord, when I feel I am gasping for breath, remind me of Your presence with me. Give me eyes to recognize You reviving my overwhelmed spirit, knowing You are lifting me back onto a path of service to honor You.

90 Years Ago at the 101 Ranch Terrapin Derby

1929 National Terrapin Derby

            Grandma, Gladys Rainey Smith, kept a single page of a magazine article. Flourishing cursive script at the top of the magazine page indicated the page had been taken from Southwest Wilds and Water. It was about the 1929 101 Ranch Terrapin Derby, but further research puzzled me. A couple of sites devoted to Ponca City and Kay County history reported different winners than Grandma’s keepsake magazine page. 

            When I found the saved periodical page, I knew its significance for Grandma and Grandpa were the two photos of Ford Jarrell. Ford Jarrell was the oldest son of Bob and Bina Jarrell. Mother, Bernyce Smith Gates, remembered Ford as a masterful magician and an accomplished dancer. His talents impressed her since Ford was twelve years older than Mother. She was a preschooler at the time.

Photographs from the vintage
magazine. One mystery I did
not solve was the discrepancy in
the name of the winning turtle.
The newspaper article identified
the terrapin as "Bobby Jones"
whereas this above photo gives
its name as "Lilly."

My grandparents were friends and socialized with Bob and Bina when Mother was a young child. I wrote more about this friendship in the blog post of December 20, 2015 entitled Ralston’s Tie with the Founding of Oklahoma Agriculture and Mechanical College. It can be accessed at https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2015/12/ralstons-tie-with-founding-of-oklahoma.html

                Faced with an obvious discrepancy in facts, I searched and located a digital copy of The Miami Daily News-Record published in Miami, Oklahoma, on September 3, 1929. That date was one day after Labor Day ninety years ago. It detailed the annual Terrapin Derby sponsored each Labor Day by the 101 Ranch situated south of Ponca City, Oklahoma. (Another blog posting about the iconic terrapin race entitled Labor Day at the 101 Ranch and Family Connections can be accessed at https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2017/09/labor-day-at-101-ranch-and-family.html)

                On September 2, 1929, 50 entrants wandered behind the barrier of the “tortoise” race course – a 75-foot distance from the circle’s center to its perimeter. Here is a link to a video of the Labor Day Celebration in 1931 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pae6r6MF0fo). About 3 minutes into the video, one can see how the terrapin race was run.

Labor Day 1929 marked the fifth year for the Miller family, owners of the 101 Ranch to host the event. Sadly, only the younger brother, Zack was still surviving. Both older brothers, Joe and George died in automobile-related accidents. Ironically, the interest of people and the prize money grew each year.

            Then I was met with the discrepancy. Instead of indicating Ford Jarrell won, the news article heartily congratulated two men from Ralston, who shared the ownership of the victorious turtle wearing the number tag of “3912." The triumphant turtle was dubbed “Bobby Jones” in honor of the greatest golfer of the 1920s . The determined reptile veered neither right nor left and crossed the finish line in one minute and ten seconds.

            The article went on to say neither of the men who had each invested $1 each to cover the $2 entry fee were present to collect the accolades and the winning cash. But true to the photographs on the magazine page saved by Grandma, the Miami newspaper reported 17-year-old Ford Jarrell dashed to join in the celebration and collect the $6,580 first place winning. Ford had permission to receive the trophy and the check since he was the son of R. S. “Bob” Jarrell, the Ralston banker friend of my grandparents, who shared ownership of the speedy tortoise with Ward McCague, identified as the Ralston postmaster.

            To give a monetary perspective, I researched the comparisons. The $2 entry fee paid by Bob Jarrell and Ward McCague would be an expense of around $30. The check  for $6,580 that young Ford Jarrell garnered in the winner’s circle would be equivalent to $96,673.28 in 2019!

            Ford’s love of the excitement on Labor Day in 1929, served as a precursor to his future. Some revelations from an interview with him in the Tulsa World in 1985 supported my mother’s early memories. She characterized Ford as a performer. He divulged to his interviewer that he reasoned that he had to run away from home in Ralston to become a circus clown with this statement, “I always knew I wanted to be in show business, and that I couldn’t be in show business in a town of 400.”

            He did a short stint in the circus, earned a degree in English from A & M at Stillwater, danced in movies, and finally taught dance to many aspiring hoofers, even Tulsa Ballet stars, during his later years in Tulsa.

            Ford Jarrell was 85 years old when he granted the interview to Ashley Parrish of the Tulsa World. The kid who ran away from his Ralston home in pursuit of a career in the performing arts lived until age 94. He died in 2007.

            If you get to watch the terrapin derby at the 74^th Labor Day celebration in Ralston this year, remember 90 years ago a Ralston-owned terrapin put the little town on the map and raked in a heap of money.

Sobering Afterthought - Within weeks after the big win for the Jarrells and Mr. McCague in the terrapin derby, the Roaring 20s ending with the Stock Market Crash of October of 1929, ushering in the Great Depression that affected every American for over a decade.