Memories that Matter
for families, friends, family history and fans.
Eddy Rodriguez:
"Unbelievable what that poor girl went through my condolence to the family it absolutely incredible what devastated me for such a strong girl to be 4 days in the wilderness could have got ate alive by animals in the cold to survive and eventually die going to see her grandma God Rest her soul in peace she deserved better in this here life and a good man and kids and family rest in peace amen"
Gale McKiddy:
Melvin's family - Melvin grew up in St. Louis City where he attended school. As a young man he worked for the Conservation Corps in Oregon before he enlisted in the Army. He was among the first troops to enter Hiroshima about one month after the atomic bomb. He had been on the ship The Missouri. Melvin trained as a carpenter and built temporary hospitals for the wounded Japanese and those suffering from radiation illness. After returning home to St. Louis, he married Jean (Spitzmiller) Baldwin and continued his career designing and building beautiful homes. He and Jean had three children, Gale, Connie and Kenneth, and later raised the son named Ricky of his favorite sister, Francis Huffman. The Huffmans moved to Seffner, Florida in 1981 for retirement. Melvin was a Mason, later became a Shriner, and was very active in the St. Louis and Tampa Shrine groups. He and his wife, Jean, were regular volunteers in the burns' unit at the Shriners Hospital in Tampa. In 1993 Melvin was diagnosed with lung cancer and completed extensive radiation therapy. He had not had sufficient breath support to have his lung removed. He was in remission until 1996 when his cancer returned as Leukemia. He died at 70 years old in 1996 and was buried at Florida National Cemetery. Mr. Huffman had a reputation as a skilled woodworker and finish carpenter. His many interests and hobbies included boating, raising fish, photography, building clocks and woodworking.
Kathy Pinna:
Melvin Eugene Huffman was born on January 10th, 1925 in Missouri to Charles Franklin Huffman (1886 - 1944) and Ida Bell Poston (1894 - 1992). He had sisters Stella Mae, Mary, Daisy, Frances Aline, Frankey, Helen and Hattie.
An comprehensive view of Melvin's life is available at Melvin's family.
Joseph Smith:
Freeman was my pawpaw. Last HOORAH - He worked up until the day he left this earth. The nearest hospital was about 25-30miles away. I had came down to help a cousin move her things and he saw me.
PULLS UP
PAWPAW: I need you to come and take me and Earl(Grandma) to the hospital.
Me: Yes sir I can hurry and get this off my truck.
PAWPAW: No time come we gotta go.
Me: Scared as all get out for my grandma. Jumps in his van and drive to the house.
PAWPAW: Gets out and goes in then comes right back out. She said she not going lets go.
Me: Even more confused he not showing one sign of pain. Take off driving normal.
PAWPAW: Off the rock rd now. Come on lets go.
Me: Looking at him closely now I see this huge lump like in his chest to stomach area I speed up but curves are coming I gotta maintan the road. I get off the gas for curve then stomp it because hes still up but not in his riding postion.(iykyk) The van jerks and starts to lose power.
PAWPAW: Whats goin on
Me: It turned off. Close to st charles was going to coast to the gas station for help.
PAWPAW: Pull over and pop the hood.
Me: Yes sir
PAWPAW: Grab that stick from the back. Hold up the hood. 2-5 minutes under the hood. He say go try it.
Me: cranks up. Picture this he climbed all the way up in the hood to put on or reset whatever it was. I get back out to get the stick hes down with the stick and closing the hood.
PAWPAW: Lets go. Drive
Me: I thought I was in a corvette the way I was moving passing people getting on down.
PAWPAW: He jumps out and walks in the hospital tells the lady whats going on she jumps up grabs a chair and take him to the back.
Nurse: Do you have his meds
Me: No maam. I didnt even know I was taking him to the dr until we was getting ready to back out.
I called who could help with all that then they said they was taking him to little rock and somebody was on the way to ride. I was to go back and head to the airport my aunt and uncles was on they way. Not ever imagining that would be my last time talking to him. So much more I wouldve said or did
Anthiony Gentile:
My spiritual sister - I got to know Mirella when I was 16 (1961).
As an only child for 15 years I had always wanted a sister. Mirella to me was the perfect sister. we lost touch over many years an caught later in life when I travelled through the US and visited Mirella and Paul.
A wonderful memory was when the three of us went to an amusement park in San Francisco. Mirella and Paul as I was were unafraid of whatever ride we went on.
I visited Mirella and Paul a number of times over the years and was witness to her illness.
She will always remain in my memory as the sister that I wished I had. Paul, looked after her to the end, and for that he has my eternal gratitude.
Tony Gentile
Diane Annunziata:
My Uncle Dean - My uncle Dean was a very nice man who had a pug named Susie. I remember my uncle telling us that she was going to have puppies. I asked him if we could have one of her puppies and he said we would see and that Christmas we got one of her puppies and named her Heidi.
Justin Johnson:
Grandmother - I’m a one of Lillian’s grandchildren. I have only very few memories of my grandma. But I do remember being under her everyday. Always wanting some of her coffee, touching the gas stove. We ate pecans all the time from the tree in the backyard. I wish she was here for me to talk to sometimes. To watch me grow to become a father myself.
Linda Dreyer:
Billy Joe as he liked to be called by his full name. He loved people and made friends with everyone… And remained friends forever. He remember friends from school and the army and passed residence.
He was a great Deer hunter. And loved being with his friends hunting at Deer season.
Loved to dance which he loved going to Archie Blue, in Bandera, Texas which was the town he had Hunting lease at..
He never met someone that he would not be friends with forever.
BEST FRIEND EVER he loved every one……. Miss you, Billy Joe!
Kathy Pinna:
Helen Davis (Roling) Bessey was born on January 22nd, 1921 in Colony Township, Iowa to Theodor Benard Roling (1880 - 1942) and Frances Welchert (1891 - 1969) and she had 14 siblings: Rose, Agnes, Amanda, Mary, Hilda, Leona, Raymond, Viola, Theodore, LaVerne, Arlene, Alvin, Donald and one more brother.
Helen Roling married Roy Earl Bessey (1916 - 1986) on April 1st, 1939 in Delhi, Iowa and they had two daughters: Virginia Mae and Sue Ann.
Bobbi Smith:
Our Friend Legatha - We were neighbors 50 years ago. For a while Legatha taught me minor techniques in finishing pots for firing. As I progressed she advanced my instruction to throwing on the kick wheel. I was ‘hooked’ but unfortunately we moved before I became more than a little proficient. After a year or two in Florida I took more classes, bought an electric wheel and kiln. I progressed to enter some art shows, my pots sold pretty well but I was never the potter Legatha was!
As far as I am concerned , someone has to be extremely good to meet her proficiency and artistic ability.
She was a wonderful neighbor and friend,
Watching out for my kids while I worked, sharing recipes, spending good times. I consider her as one of my few best friends!
I still have more than a few pieces of her pottery.
Peg Hartwig:
Vila Kading was a teacher in a 1 room school house. Among many things she taught her students, one was how to draw a bird without lifting your pencil.
She married Martin Kading. They had a farm in Cadot Wisconsin.
Upon retiring, Martin and Vila moved to Helen st. In Kimberly WI, across the street from John Dale Kelly, his wife Theresa, and their 7 children.
After Martin passed, Vila became wven closer to the Kelly family and became the Honorary grandmother to the Kelly children. She celebrated every birthday making angelfood cakes. She celebrated every holiday with the Kelly family. Vila was also known for her creation of Christmas Stollen that was truly the best.
Vila attended mass often with the Kelly family, dressed with her mink wrap and white gloves.
Vila was a very loving grandmother to the Kelly children ❤️.
