Paul Lundgren 1936 - 2009

When I was young growing up in Winterpeg (Winnipeg, Manitoba) it was just about every Sunday we had big family dinners at Nana’s house. What I observed and stuck with me was the hugging and kissing as we arrived at the house and as we left. I was told it was an European tradition.

As you got older the tradition got more embarrassing and I would avoid eye contact with anyone that would mean a hug or kiss. It was not that I didn’t like it, it just wasn’t cool. And if I had said anything like, “Mom, do I have to?” it would naturally lead to “it’s ok, let him go – don’t want to force a hug on anyone…besides maybe he is getting to old for this.” That’s right, I am to old for this, after all I must be almost 13!

I am much older now…maybe not any wiser as I have learned that one does not go with the other. However, it was at a family dinner at my Mom and Dad’s that I mentioned how I missed those family dinners, in spite of all the kissing and hugging every time we came or went. Mom replied that all that hugging and kissing was for a purpose. Not only were they happy to see you but upon leaving it maybe the last time they might have a chance to express how much you meant to them and to remind you that they loved you. Oh…really…

So where I am going with this narrative?

A few days ago I lost an Aunt on my wife’s side. Yesterday my brother-in-law Paul also passed away.

Paul was not feeling well over the last couple of weeks and went to the Doctors. In less than a week his is told he has cancer, that he might have 3 months and then turns for the worse and dies. I am some what relieved that he did not suffer like so many I have seen and experienced, however we didn’t have a chance to say goodbye – that we loved him and that he truly made a difference in our lives.

Paul lived his life as simple and as hard as he could. Color blind he drove around in a purple truck when he was in business, because it was the color that looked the best to him. He had more ups and downs in business and life then most could endure and he always remained positive and strong. He just worked harder. Later he lost most of his eye sight to a work accident, but he still managed to build a workshop and renovate a mobile home from feeling and a magnifying glass. I am amazed that he didn’t cut off a finger or two! The little things never slowed him down and yet he did fine time to enjoy a break – a puff on the pipe and a few laughs with friends and family.

The picture above was a trip we did last year. I was taking pictures of the river and fauna of the area and looked back for a second and noticed Paul had found a perch to have a smoke and reflect. Although he couldn’t see very well, it appeared something caught his attention or ear and it was the moment I was waiting for. To me that was Paul – an ordinary man who made an extraordinary difference to those that were around him. No he was not perfect – but he lived his life as an expression of who he was.

I will miss you Paul…thank you for being part of my life…goodbye and I love you.

We have nearly 200 Butts County obituaries and news items for persons related to the Thaxton family. It is somewhat time consuming to do the transcriptions, so they will go up in random segments.

__________________
Jefferson Davis Kinard and his wife Irene “Nezzie” Thaxton, daughter of John Franklin Thaxton and Martha Amanda Fears, granddaughter of William R. Thaxton (1813-1888) and Martha Clark, great-granddaughter of Charles G Thaxton and Nancy Ward, great-great-granddaughter of William Thaxton and Lucy Clay:

Jackson Progress-Argus, Friday, 21 Aug 1931:

DEATH SUMMONS COMES TO MR. DAVIS KINARD

Kollowing a protracted illness, Mr. Davis Kinard, 71 yeas of age, passed away Tuesday afternoon at 1 o’clock at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Harkness. He had been in declining health for several months and recently his condition had been the matter of concern to the family and friends. His death will be mourned by a host of friends over the county.

Mr. Kinard was a native of Butts county where he had spent a long and active life. He was a man of fine qualities of character and of recognized honesty and uprightness. He was for a long number of years engaged in business, first near his home and later in Jackson where he conducted a variety store. He had a large circle of friends who admired his honesty and his stand for clean and constructive measures.

Mr. Kinard was a son of the late Mr. Barney Kinard and Mrs. Prudie Vickers Kinard, well known residents of the county. He was a member of Antioch Christian church. He is survived by one son, Mr. Frank Kinard, of Texarkana, Texas; two sisters, Mrs. J. R. Carmichael and Mrs. W. P. Thaxton, both of Jackson; five brothers, Messrs. W. T., W. C , S. B., and W. J . Kinard, all of Butts county, and J. M. Kinard, of Baxley.

Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at 3 o’clock at Fellowship Presbyterian church, with Rev. David Arnold officiating. Interment was in the family lot in the churchyard.

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Jackson Progress-Argus, Friday, 24 Apr 1925:

MRS. DAVIS KINARD SUMMONED BY REAPER

People of the entire community were saddened to learn of the death of Mrs. Davis Kinard, 56 years of age, which occurred at her home at 6 o’clock Thursday morning. She had been ill for a little more than a week and her condition had been critical for the past several days. She was surrounded by the members of her immediate family when the end came.

Mrs. Kinard was one of Jackson’s most widely beloved women and sincere regret is felt at her passing. She possessed many admirable traits of character and was held in the highest esteem by all who knew her.

She was Miss Nezzie Thaxton, daughter of the late Dr. John F. Thaxton, before her marriage to Mr. Kinard about 35 years ago. The family moved to Jackson several years ago from Towaliga. Mrs. Kinard was a consistent member of Antioch Christian church and exemplified in her daily life the highest qualities of Christian womanhood.

She is survived by her husband, well known Jackson business man; one son, Mr. Frank Kinard, of Shreveport, La.; one brother, Dr. J. M. Thaxton, of Griffin, and the following sisters, Mrs. Fannie Martin and Mrs. Sallie Laster, of Griffin; Mrs. Della Ridgeway, of Atlanta; Mrs. Mattie Tarpley, of Hampton; Mrs. Mary Harkness and Mrs. Alva McClendon, of Jackson. Funeral services will be held from Fellowship church Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock.

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James Marion Columbus Thaxton (1838-1925), son of William R. Thaxton and Martha Clark:

Jackson Progress-Argus, Friday, 06 Nov 1925:

MR. J.M.C. THAXTON FALLS ON LAST SLEEP

The death of Mr. J. M. C. Thaxton, one of the best known citizens of this section, occurred at the home of his daughter, Mrs. John Collins in Forsyth, on Monday. Death was attributed to the infirmities of old age.

He was born and reared in Butts county and spent all of his life in Georgia, with the exception of the time he spent in the army during the War Between the States. About fifteen years ago he moved to Griffin and for the past few years had made his home with a daughter, Mrs. Collins, of Forsyth, and another daughter, Mrs. O. L. Weaver, of Jackson. He was esteemed as an honorable, upright citizen and many friends regret to learn of his passing.

Mr. Thaxton, who belonged to a pioneer family of Butts county, married Miss Sara Elizabeth Carmichael, on November 26, 1857, who preceded him to the grave. He is survived by the following sons and daughters: John W. Thaxton and Mrs. N. C. Fears, of Birmingham, Ala., J; R. Thaxton, of Griffin, Mrs. Georgia Collins, of Forsyth, Mrs. O. L. Weaver, of Jackson, Mrs. L. M. Harkness and Mrs. W. W. Hammock, of Miami, Fla., W. P. Thaxton of Jackson. Mr. Thaxton was a loyal member of the Chrstian church and was a Mason.

Funeral services were held at Fellowship church Wednesday afternoon at 1 o’clock, with Rev. G. H. Hinnant, of Griffin, conducting the services. Interment was in the church cemetery.

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Osceola Alvin Thaxton, son of David Jasper C Thaxton and Margaret Clementine Carmichael, grandson of Green Clay Thaxton:

Jackson (Ga.) Progress-Argus, 11 Mar 1943:

O. A. Thaxton Taken By Death in Milledgeville

The death of Professor Osceola Alvin Thaxton, former resident of Butts county and long prominent in the field of education, occurred Tuesday at his home in Milledgeville. Funeral services were held Wednesday at the residence and burial was in the Milledgeville cemetery.

Mr. Thaxton, 63 years of age, was a son of the late David J. Thaxton and Mrs. Maggie Carmichael Thaxton, prominent and beloved residents of Jackson. His father was one of the early editors of the Middle Georgia Argus.He was educated at the old Jackson Institute and Mercer University and received his master’s degree at Columbia University. He was formerly superintendent of schools in Colquit county, teacher of education at Bessie Tift, president of Norman Park College and for twenty-five years had been connected with GSCW in Milledgeville. He was a member of the Baptist church.

Surviving are his wife, the former Miss Beulah Jones; one son, Capt. O. A. Thaxton Jr., Detroit, Mich.; three daughters, Mrs. John P. Dyer, Savannah; Mrs. R. B. Carmichael, Winston-Salem, N. C, and Miss Beulah Thaxton; a brother, Sherwood Thaxton of Texas; three sisters, Mrs. W. H. Robinson, Folkston; Mrs. C. M. Brakefield, Ocala, Fla., and Mrs. B. L. Holton, Camilla.

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Cullen David Thaxton, another son of David Jasper C Thaxton:

Jackson Progress-Argus, Friday, 31 Jul 1925:

MR. CULLEN THAXTON SUMMED BY DEATH

News of the death of Mr. Cullen D. Thaxton, aged 44, which occurred in Milledgeville Monday, was received with keen regret in Butts county. The family formerly resided here and many relatives and friends were grieved to know of his passing. Mr. Thaxton, who was born and reared in Jackson, was a son of the late Mr. D. J. Thaxton and Mrs. Thaxton. He was educated in the Jackson schools and spent his boyhood here, going as a young man to the Atlanta pdst office as a clerk. He remained in Atlanta until the building of the Panama Canal, when he was transferred to the Canal Zone and remained in that area until the completion of the canal, serving as post master in a number of towns. He was on the first ship that passed through the canal.

Soon after the completion of the canal he returned to the states and made his home in Georgia and Florida. He served for some time in the post office at Savannah and Albany. He was regarded as young man of exceptional ability and his training made his service in demand. He was a member of several secret orders.

The family is an old and prominent one and has long been identified with the growth and progress of Butts county. The late Mr. D. J. Thaxton edited newspapers in Jackson for a number of years. He also published a paper in Dublin.Mr. Thaxton is survived by his wife, who was formerly Miss Fay Noble, of Atlanta; two children, Frances, aged 16, and Noble, aged 8; his mother, Mrs. D. J. Thaxton, of Camilla; two brothers, Prof. O. A. Thaxton, of the department of Education in the Georgia State College for Women at Milledgeville, Mr. Sherwood Thaxton, prominent hotel man of Jacksonville and former manager of the Foy Hotel at Indian Springs; three sisters, Mrs. W. H. Robison, of Folkston, Mrs. C. M. Brakefield, Ocala, Fla., Mrs. D. L. Holton, Camilla.

The body was brought to Jackson Tuesday morning and short funeral services were conducted Wednesday morning at 10 o’clock by J Rev. J. S. Hartsfield. Interment was in the Jackson city cemetery.

_________________

Joseph Walker Thaxton (1883-1949), son of Jackson Lee Thaxton and Mattie Kimball, grandson of Yelverton Thaxton, Jr., and Susan Campbell, great-grandson of Yelverton Thaxton and Dicey Ward:

Jackson Progress-Argus, 07 Apr 1949:

Joseph Walker Thaxton, native citizen of Butts county but for 15 years a resident of Macon where he was an automobile salesman, died at his home Friday at 5:15 p. m. of a heart attack.

Funeral services were held in the chapel of Hart’s Mortuary Monday at 11 a.m. and the Rev. James W. Waters officiated. Burial was in the County Line cemetery near Jenkinsburg.

Mr. Thaxton was born in Butts county, son of J. L. Thaxton and Mrs. Mattie Kimball Thaxton. He formerly lived in Florida but had resided in Macon for 15 years. He was a member of County Line Baptist church.

Survivors are his wife, the former Miss Laura Jane Tolleson of Macon; four sons, Otis L. and Harris L. Thaxton, Macon; E. J. Thaxton, Detroit, and J. P . Thaxton, Griffin; two daughters, Mrs. B. B. Holmes, Carrollton and Mrs. Bob Carter, Miller, Ohio; four brothers, J. L., Van and W. L. Thaxton, Griffin, and Rev. Theodore Thaxton, Jackson; three sisters, Miss Sarah Thaxton, Atlanta; Mrs. John Lamb and Mrs. Ruth Fowler, Griffin; his stepmother, Mrs. J. L. Thaxton, Griffin and six granddaughters.

_______________________

Bessie Louise Smith and her parents Eugenia Maddox and Augustus Smith, granddaughter of Harriet Dorcas Thaxton and James Gaston Maddox, great-granddaughter of Green Clay Thaxton and Martha Weaver:

Jackson Progress-Argus, 25 Oct 1962:

Funeral services for Mrs. Paul Burford, 55, well known Jackson matron who died Thursday night at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta following a serious illness of several months, were held Saturday afternoon at the Jackson Methodist Church. The Rev. William L. Cawthon, pastor, officiated with interment in the Cedar Rock Cemetery.

Mrs. Burford, the former Miss Bessie Louise Smith, was born in Butts County, daughter of Mr. A. M. Smith and Mrs. Eugenia Maddox Smith. She was a member of the Jackson Methodist Church and worked for many years in clerical positions in stores in Jackson.

She is survived by her husband, Paul T. Burford; one daughter, Mrs. Charles McMichael, Stone Mountain; two sons, Thad H. Burford, Madison, Fla.; Jerry I. Burford, Jackson; five sisters, Mrs. Ben Moss, Mrs. Lena Mason, and Mrs. Elmer Britt, all of Jackson; Mrs. Ruth Norton, Hapeville; Mrs. Onree Mackey, Cuthbert, two brothers, H. O. Smith, Jackson; Bill Smith, Blakely.

Pallbearers were Virgil Smith, Gene Norton, Warren Smith, Forest Mason, Nesbit Moss and Kenneth Smith.

Haisten Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

________________

Jackson Progress-Argus, 02 Dec 1937:

The death of Mr. A. M. Smith, 71 years of age, one of the county’s best known citizens, occurred at 8 o’clock November 25 at his home near Worthville. He had been in declining health for several months and suffered from a complication of diseases.

Born in Butts county July 25, 1866, Mr. Smith spent his entire life here. He was a man of industrious habits and was esteemed for his sterling character. He reared a large family and lived to see all his children take their places as useful citizens in the state. Mr. Smith was a member of the Worthville Baptist church.He is survived by his wife, the former Miss Eugene Maddox, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Maddox; eleven children, Mrs. H. G. Cook and Mrs Clyde Norton, of Atlanta; W. P. Smith, of Blakely; H. O. Smith, Mrs. B. H. Moss, I. C. Smith, Mrs. F. B. Mason, Mrs. Paul Burford, J. W. Smith, Mrs. Elmer Britt and Mrs. Ehri Mackey, all of Butts county. He is also survived by several grandchildren and two brothers, Messrs. Frank and Bob Smith, of Jackson.

Funeral services were held at Worthville Baptist church Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock and Rev. J. B. Stodghill, Rev. R. B. Harrison and Rev. H. E. Gaddy officiated. Interment was in the church cemetery, with S. H. Thornton in charge of arrangements.

_________________

Jackson Progress-Argus, Thursday, 23 Dec 1948:

Mrs. Eugenia Maddox Smith, widow of the late Mr. A. M. Smith, died at 12 o’clock Monday night at the home of her son, H. O. Smith. Death resulted from a sudden illness and came as a shock to the family. She was in her usual health and crocheted after supper but near midnight she complained of not feeling well and a physician was summoned but she had passed away upon his arrival.

Mrs. Smith, who was 79 years of age October 16, was a daughter of the late James G. Maddox and Harriet Thaxton Maddox, esteemed residents of the Worthville community. She spent her entire life in the county and was known for her industry and devotion to her family and her friends. She was a member of the Worthville Baptist church.

Surviving are nine children: H. O. Smith, Mrs. B. H. Moss, Mrs. Festus Mason, Mrs. Paul Burford, Mrs. Elmer Britt, all of Jackson; Mrs. W. C. Norton and Jim Smith of Atlanta; Willie P. Smith of Blakely; Mrs. Onre Mackey of Cuthbert; three sisters, Mrs. Jack Stewart of Rex; Mrs. J. E. McNair and Mrs. L. J . McMichael of Jackson; one brother, Glenn C. Maddox of Jackson; several grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held Monday at 11 a.m. at the Worthville Baptist church. Rev Aaron Spinks, pastor, and Rev. R. E. Chambers of Atlanta officiated. Burial was in the church cemetery and the Thornton Funeral Home had charge of plans.

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William Elmer Britt, husband of Mary Dorcas Smith, daughter of Eugenia Maddox and Augustus Smith:

Jackson Progress-Argus, 21 Jul 1966:

Elmer Britt Was Buried Sunday at Macedonia

Mr. William Elmer Britt, widely known resident of the Stark community, died about 10 o’clock Saturday morning, July 16th, at Sylvan Grove Hospital following a lengthy illness that included several operations.

Mr. Britt, 64, was born in Henry County the son of Mr. John L. Britt and Mrs. Sara Paxton Britt. Mr. Britt was a carpenter by trade and was a member of Macedonia Baptist Church.

Funeral services were conducted Sunday afternoon at two o’clock from the Worthville Baptist Church with the Rev. Jack Branan, pastor, Rev. Bill Thomas and Rev. A. L. Spinks officiating. Interment was in the Macedonia Baptist Church cemetery with Haisten Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Mary Dorcas Smith Britt, of Jackson; two daughters, Mrs. James Connie Lamb, Atlanta and Mrs. Bennie Branan, Jackson; one brother, J. L. Britt, East Point; three grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.

Active pallbearers were Wayne King, Bobby Fincher, Aubrey Hamlin, Glenn Smith, Virgil Smith, Nesbit Moss. Honorary pallbearers were John Wesley Cook, Oscar Young, Onree Kitchens, Harold Standard, Haywood Hodges, Horace Pulliam.

Jean Grey Morgan
May 25, 1910 – November 28, 2009

Jean Grey Morgan, 99, was born in Davidson, NC, and moved at age eight to Hendersonville, NC, where, as the middle child of three, she started her life-long role as a central connecting person for her family.

She had a wide range of interests. As a young athlete, she played basketball, field hockey, and softball (as the catcher!) for her college, Agnes Scott College, and coached basketball during the year she taught high school science in Greenwood, SC. In college, she was President of her Senior Class and a member of Mortar Board, the honorary leadership sorority. She exercised her curiosity in the world around her—people, animals, trees, birds, flowers, all of life—by getting a Masters in Biology at Emory Medical School, where she participated in a study of Dementia Pugilistica (the dementia of boxers) and also worked as a teaching assistant.

She married her late husband, Alec C. Morgan, in 1934 and spent the remainder of her life caring for family members in a multitude of ways. Her love of learning was central to her own life and to what she transmitted to her family. An avid reader, she recommended books she thought others would enjoy. She played the organ and piano, with which she engaged in a state competition as a teenager. She passed this yen for music on to her children and grandchildren, all of whom have been musical performers, most as amateurs, but some as professionals.

She was a loving helpmate for her husband, who relied on her for everything from food and friendship to help with yard work. On one occasion, a visiting TV repairman, on seeing her on the roof cleaning the gutters, told her husband that “she’d be a handy thing to have on a fishing trip.” She was key to helping him in his work and in his play, often accompanying him to Tech football games, fishing trips, and other outdoor activities.
In the 1960’s, at the request of the Principal of North Fulton High, she served two terms as PTA president because she could be relied upon to advocate for keeping the schools open in a time of turmoil. She also made sure her home on Stratford Road was a place her children’s friends could play and simply hang out, always having a full supply of frozen hamburgers ready to cook for a crowd. When her grandchildren visited, her home became their second home, with a special corner for toys and art supplies. She lovingly involved herself in the lives of her grandchildren while being respectful of her own children’s parenting.

In her later life, she remained active in being involved with others. When her church, First Presbyterian, started an afterschool program for Spring Street Elementary School, she took her sewing machine to the church and taught sewing. In 1986, she and her husband moved to Lenbrook Retirement Community, where she chaired the Library Committee, deciding on book purchases, and later the Food Committee, working to integrate residents’ food concerns with those of the dining services.

Jean Grey Morgan served as the “glue” for her family and friends. Her words and actions endeared her to all. Everyone who knew her, from grandchild to caregiver, was delighted by her droll and playful sense of humor. She occupied a loving and fulfilling place in the lives of her children and their spouses: Alec Morgan and Donna Morgan of Newton, MA, and Betty Morgan Sanders and the late Marthame Sanders, Jr. of Smyrna, GA; her grandchildren, Marthame Sanders, III, and Elizabeth Andrews Sanders of Chamblee, GA, Ian Morgan of London, England, Alecia Sanders Gray and Benjamin Gray of Lawrence, KS, and Elise Morgan and Lee Matsueda of Jamaica Plain, MA; and her great grandson, Ramsay Marthame Sanders. She left a legacy of love and care that will not be forgotten.

A service of witness to the resurrection will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta on Tuesday, December 1, 2009, at 2:00 pm, the Reverend Chris Moore-Keish officiating. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Community Ministry of First Presbyterian Church, 1328 Peachtree St., NE, Atlanta, GA 30319.

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Editor’s note: This story was updated Saturday (Nov. 28, 2009) at 6:32 a.m.

POTTSTOWN PA – Funeral services have been set for both Pottsgrove High School victims who died Monday (Nov. 23, 2009) in an automobile accident on Route 724 in East Coventry.

• The obituary for Michael D. Cantamaglia, 16, of Barto PA, can be found at the website of the Catagnus Funeral Homes. The public can leave messages of condolence here also.
• The obituary for Andrew Curtis Case, 17, of Lower Pottsgrove, can be found at the website of the Devlin-Rosmos-Kepp Funeral Home in Phoenixville PA. The public can leave messages of condolence here also.

A funeral service for Michael will be held Saturday (Nov. 28, 2009) at 10:30 a.m. in St. James United Church of Christ Church, 321 S. Limerick Road, Limerick PA. Burial will follow in the Limerick Garden of Memories, Limerick PA. Calling hours will be held Saturday from 9:30-10:15 a.m. at the church, and also were held Friday night (Nov. 27, 2009) at Catagnus Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 711 N. Franklin St., Pottstown PA.

A funeral Mass for Andrew was held Friday (Nov. 27, 2009) at 11 a.m. in St. Basil the Great Roman Catholic Church, 2300 Kimberton Rd., Kimberton PA. Burial followed in St. Ann Cemetery, Phoenixville PA. Calling hours were Friday morning at the church.

Related:

• Pottsgrove Student Accident Widely Covered
• Social Media Reflects Sorrow And Loss

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Despite mentioning yesterday that I would be posting an
obituary to Edward Woodward, in the process of adding an
entry to A Disintegration Loop (the blog I use to collect
the tired scribbles I collect in the morning having
attempted to write down what I was dreaming) I noticed
Edward's name pop up part way through. It seems the name
is all about the place at the minute:

Edward Bedford

As tribute, or rather garbled confused nocturnal
rambling, I thought I should put it up here, with
fictional additions. You can read the original to
check the differences if you're that way inclined.
Most of it seems to be about me drinking, which
says a lot for the state of my mind when I
originally conjured the thing (sometime in 2006/7
I think, prior to moving to York for the first time
any way)

"In Luton, well...initially some nondescript countryside
outside Luton, where a small community has sprung up
around an impressive tree, with a face carved in to it.
There are buildings of various kinds, a factory, a
threshers (in the tradional sense of that word), a
milliners and a pub called 'The ____ Horse'. I go there
with friends, as a sort of pub crawl. Start in the
country and move to the town is the idea. Fresh air and
all that. We take up a table in front of the bar. Behind
us is a window with a view of the tree and then rolling
hills. many people are outside, and seem to be trying to
get in. For once, they are not zombies.
The staff treat their presence as a joke. I drink several
beers, all of which are good as I remember it (this was
obviously important to me; I maintain a habit of writing
down what I've had to avoid drinking things I hate and
have forgotten the name of...sad but practical). I also
order food. On the menu, the food I like is 6.95. I eat
it, but when it comes to paying, a charge of £26 is made.
Apparently I ate some incredibly pricey popcorn. I don't
understand how this has happened. I protest, loudly and
for an extended period. The barmaid seems angry. I think
she is married to the owner, making her the landlady.
Her husband looks very much like Edward Woodward. He
offers no help. Leaving my companions behind I storm off
without paying for anything. 

Outside is deserted, the odd horde of people are gone.
I stroll leisurely in to the town, knowing I am not being
chased for non payment. Back in Luton I attempt to board
a train at the new station (located where P&T music used
to be, if you know the area). I then remember that I am
meant to be meeting Chris for a drink. I make my way past
several establishments; one is called 'Pete's Place'.
They are all along High Town Road. 

When I finally reach the pub where Chris resides, he is
on the way out, trying to find me. We return. He too has
ordered food. He says 'I thought I was eating alone again
this week' but I am unsure what to make of this. I respond
by recounting my story. Two identical men sit near us,
staring intently at both me and the meal Chris is eating.
Eventually I order a drink, which is called Harvey's
_______. It comes in a small glass and looks like coke.
I try and pay with a ten pound note but the barmaid wont
accept it as she believes I have a smaller denomination."

[Submitted by Mike Berneathy]

Samak finds food and politics don't mix

Former Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej died yesterday. He succumbed to liver cancer in Bangkok’s Bumrungrad Hospital, aged 74.

Samak was PM when I moved to Thailand in April last year. He was quite a character and his presence – along with the movements of his rivals and his interactions with the press – could at times be quite comic, if not downright farcical. Before Thai politics turned sour with mob protests, airports seiges and coups, it could even be quite fun to read about Samak’s exploits.

He was the first of three PMs in my time here (three leaders in 19 months in itself is an indictment of the state of Thai politics) and by far the most memorable. He was nowhere near as photogenic as current PM Abhisit Vejjajiva, nor was he anything like as polite as his successor, Somchai Wongsawat, but that is precisely why he made his mark. He behaved aggressively, he was beligerent to the media, he sulked in public, he was unafraid to belittle people if he felt they deserved it, he was stoic in the face of political pressure – and his hardened appearance matched these, ahem, qualities.

In deeply-divided Thailand, he certainly had his critics and enemies. It was his very presence as PM – and the fact that he was an open supporter of Thaksin Shinawatra and his ideology – that sparked the “yellow shirt” protests of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), who laid seige to the grounds of Government House for weeks while Samak was in charge, and which ultimately – under Somchai’s premiership – led to deaths and the one-week closure of Bangkok’s two airports, causing untold damage to the nation’s economy and reputation.

But I respected Samak’s single-mindedness in the face of such pressure, with not only the PAD but also significant political commentators calling for his head. Not for him the weak attempts to appease all of successor Somchai, whose two and a half months in office were among the more forgettable even in a country known for the transciency of its leaders. Nor for him the squeaky clean, ever-smiling PR profile of Abhisit, who was surely appointed (notice I didn’t say elected) more for his appearance and undoubted charisma than for any heavyweight political credentials.

No, Samak told it the way he saw it, and while that of course didn’t mean he was always right, it did at least show he had the courage of his convictions, and to express himself publicly without first needing a spin doctor to polish his words.

Now, as stated before, I’m not a political analyst. This is not my area of strength, although like most people I have my own political opinions. But the news of Samak’s passing gave me cause to remember some of his more colourful moments.

Cake-eating cat

First of all, before the squabbling erupted into violent demonstrations, there was the usual tit-for-tat name-calling in Government House, with one opposition politician (I forget her name) bringing Samak to task for his choice of cafeteria food. As a man in his seventies, she said it was inappropriate for him to choose a piece of cake for lunch, washed down with a glass of bright red soft drink. She suggested Samak seek psychological help, because Adolf Hitler was known to have similarly immature tastes.

Now, even within the realms of political cat-calling, which often amounts to no more than childish spats along the lines of “You smell!” “Yeah? Well, you smell worse!”, this was adorably convoluted. Never mind education, employment and crime – “Prime Minister, would you care to justify buying that cake? Because I’m rather worried it is a sign you may be a tyrant in the making, capable of ordering the slaughter of millions.”

Samak, as was his wont, barely dignified the comment, choosing instead to fix her with a customary silent staredown.

But Samak’s finest hour would not have looked out of place in an episode of Fawlty Towers, such was the level of high farce.

Pursued on motorbikes by a press pack from Government House to Chatuchak Market, Samak sought refuge in a public toilet. Not wishing to speak to the media, he remained in a cubicle, but unfortunately for him the journalists proved even more stubborn than he. More than an hour later, Samak could no longer stand the heat, moisture, smell and mosquitoes (I have been to the toilets at Chatuchak Market and they’re no place for a dignitary, let me tell you), and emerged, furious and doused with sweat.

He ignored the reporters’ questions (surely the fact he spent an hour inside a toilet cubicle would have told them he was in no mood to speak?), instead bearing down on them with a fuming glare of which Charles Bronson would have been proud. After staring them into silence, he set about berating them and their conduct, and labelling them “disgusting” no less than a dozen times.

Reaction to this incident depended, of course, on which side you were on – either Samak was rightly defending himself against media intrusion, or he showed an arrogant disrespect towards the free press, who were just doing their job in the public interest.

There’s a bit of truth to both sides, but the bigger picture for me at the time was the fun factor of living in a country where the PM is forced to flee halfway across a city as hungry hacks literally chase him into a stinking, mosquito-blown long-drop. Add to that the picture of the nation’s leader stewing there for over an hour, followed by his ultimate outburst, and clearly you can see Samak Sundaravej was not your average politican.

And his eventual dismissal from office in September 2008, after just eight and a half months, was also unorthodox, if not comic for its irony. While the country’s leading industries of tourism, exports and foreign investment were taking near-death blows from the effects of the protracted demonstrations, and while the spectre of corruption hung over everything Thaksin and his allies did, it was none of these concerns which spelled the end for Samak. No, he was booted out because he had twice appeared on a TV cooking show. Innocent enough, except politicians are not allowed to accept money for working with private enterprises. Samak’s fee was nominal and his appearance of no bearing whatsoever to his political standing, but this was a conflict of interest. Not quite along the lines of Thaksin using his position to allow his then-wife Potjaman na Pombejra to purchase multi-million-baht swathes of land, but still, rules are rules…

Ultimately, it may have been a face-saving move. As pathetic a reason it may have seemed for removing a democratically elected PM, Thailand was at the time being virtually held hostage by protesters, with the international news coverage doing the country no favours. There were far bigger concerns than the PM’s appearance on a cookery show, but Samak was steadfast in his refusal to stand down or dissolve the cabinet, the two main demands of the PAD, despite the presence of 30,000 protesters camping out on the lawns of his workplace.

So while the cookery show controversy was of negligible importance, by following the law to the letter, the courts could remove him from office legitimately. And with that removal came a lull – as temporary was it was – in the tensions. The PAD had not been placated, as the Thaksin-backed People Power Party was still in charge, but tempers were nevertheless calmed, and at a critical time.

It also proved timely for Samak himself. Despite being disqualified from the premiership, he had the opportunity to return to power if voted back in, but instead he accepted the judgement and retreated from politics. It seemed strange for such a combative man to slip away from the spotlight so quickly and readily.

But then news came less than a month later that he had been diagnosed with liver cancer, and it all made sense. It’s unknown how long he’d been sick. Indeed, it’s likely he was running the country while ill. Considering how stressful a task that must have been in the late summer of 2008, that shows either remarkable devotion or unwavering stubborness. In Samak’s case, it was probably a bit of both.

He flew to the US for treatment in the new year, returning to Bangkok and continuing to be treated at Bumrungrad, one of the country’s best hospitals. After roughly a year battling the disease, he passed away at 8:48am yesterday morning.

Freddie Mercury
5 sett. 1946 – 24 nov. 1991

Funeral arrangements have been made for the mother and her parents from Nevada who were killed in that terrible head-on car crash last Friday, north of Rockwall on Hwy 205.

Read m0re at TheRockwallNews.com.

Childhood comes to an end
for some it is measured
a word, a gesture
it adds up : it’s over

for you it came abruptly
tomorrow was, such lark
then death claimed all glory
The child’s journey ends to send Love on another.

Amy was the daughter of Miles Leroy Hineman and Elizabeth Ann Rowan.

She was born 30 Jun 1896, in Tomah, Wisconsin. She married Earl Benjamin Scott and moved to Eau Claire Co., Wisconsin. Earl was born 16 May 1891 and lived in Augusta.

-From the Tomah Journal, 02 Oct 1914

A quiet wedding took place at the home of Mr. and Mrs. M.L. Hineman of the town of Tomah on Thursday, Sept. 24th, when their youngest daughter Amy was united in marriage to Mr. Earl Scott of Augusta. The ceremony was performed at noon by Rev. Jonathan G. Smith of the Congregational church. Only the immediate relatives of the contracting parties were present. A wedding dinner was served and the newly wedded couple took the afternoon train for La Crosse. They intended to go from there to Milwaukee but were called back next day by the death of a nephew of the bride. They left Tuesday for Augusta where they will make their home, Mr. Scott being engaged in the moving picture business there. We join with the bride’s many friends in wishing them happiness and prosperity.

NOTE: The nephew mentioned was Virgil Frederick Hineman, son of Ralph W. Hineman, Amy’s brother. He died from TB, as did the wife (Bessie Martin, died Aug 1914) of Amy’s oldest brother, Gardie.

*****

Name:  Amy Louise Scott
Home in 1920: Otter Creek, Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Age: 23 years
Estimated birth year: abt 1897
Birthplace: Wisconsin
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Spouse’s name: Earl B
Father’s Birth Place: Wisconsin
Mother’s Birth Place: Wisconsin
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Household Members:
Name     Age
Earl B Scott 28
Amy Louise Scott 23
Elizabeth A Scott 3 11/12
Elvin H Scott 2 9/12 [Elaine]
Allen E Scott 7/12

*****

Name: Amy L Scott
Home in 1930: Augusta, Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Age: 33
Estimated birth year: abt 1897
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Spouse’s name: Earl B
Race: White
Household Members:
Name     Age
Earl B Scott 38
Amy L Scott 33
Elizabeth A Scott 14
June E Scott 13
Allen E Scott 10
Robert M Scott 8
Kathryn N Scott 6
Rose M Scott 4

*****

Name:  Amy L Scott
Age: 67
Sex: F (Female)
Birth Date: abt 1896
Death Date: 14 Oct 1963
Location: Eau Claire
Certificate: 030181

*****

Name: Earl B Scott
Age: 68
Sex:     M (Male)
Birth Date: abt 1892
Death Date: 28 Apr 1960
Location: Eau Claire
Certificate: 013875

*****

Children of Earl Scott and Amy Hineman:

Elizabeth A. Scott married Shirley Franklin Campbell

June Elaine H Scott married Charles A Cain

Allen E. Scott married Elaine C. UNKNOWN

Robert Miles Scott** (see obit below)  married Eny Loradean Lucille Harke

Kathryn N Scott married UNKNOWN Hanson

Rose M. Scott married Don Grams

Richard Scott (I have no information on him)

John Scott (died as infant)

NOTE:  Any additional information and/or corrections on the spouses would be appreciated.

*****

Robert Scott

AUGUSTA : Robert Scott, 86, of E19110 County Road N, Augusta, passed away at his home Wednesday morning, May 30, 2007.

Robert Miles Scott, son of Earl and Amy (Hineman) Scott, was born January 16, 1921, in Scott?s Valley, rural Augusta. At the age of 2, he moved into the city of Augusta, where he attended grade school and graduated from Augusta High School. He was united in marriage to Loradean “Eny” Harke on February 7, 1940, in Cresco, Iowa. The couple lived all their married life in Augusta. During WW II, Bob served in the U.S. Marine Corps in the Pacific Theatre, stationed mainly in China. Bob had been employed in Eau Claire by Dolly Madison Dairies and Gillette Tire Company before taking a job with Northern States Power Company in 1950. During his 32 years of employment with NSP, he worked as a ground man, lineman and eventually as the district manager in the Augusta office. Since February of 2006, he had enjoyed making his home with his son and daughter-in-law in Ludington Township, rural Augusta.

Bob took pride in his community, and throughout his life volunteered his time for the betterment of Augusta. For many years he had been a member of the Augusta-Bridge Creek Fire Dept., where he had served as secretary-treasurer. In the 1960s, during the construction years of the elementary school, he had served on the Augusta School Board. He also served on the Augusta Nursing Home Building Committee and eventually on the Nursing Home Board. Since 1950, he was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Augusta, where he served in various capacities. He served on the Augusta Cemetery Board, and was an active member and officer with the Augusta Lions Club, American Legion, and past commander of the Augusta VFW Post. He was a member of the Eau Claire County Conservation League, and during this time was instrumental in establishing the Eau Claire County Public Hunting Grounds and Coon Fork Lake. While working for NSP, he became a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union, and in 1970 was awarded the Citizen of the Year for NSP.

Bob enjoyed the time he spent coaching girls softball teams and being involved with his children and grandchildren?s activities. He was an avid deer hunter, and looked forward to the annual family hunts. He also enjoyed fishing, playing cards, pool and bowling.

He is survived by his son, William and Kathryn Scott; daughter-in-law, Lynda Scott; brother, Allen and Elaine Scott; and sister, Rose and Don Grams, all of Augusta; four grandchildren, Jon Scott, Michelle (Don) Wade, all of Kenosha, David (Lisa) Scott of Omro and Richard (Kristine) Scott of Sherwood; nine great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Eny, on October 26, 1990; son, Larry Scott, on December 9, 2003; and siblings, Elizabeth Campbell, June Cain, Kathryn Hanson, Richard Scott and infant brother, John Scott.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 2, 2007, at Grace Lutheran Church in Augusta. Burial, with military rites conducted by the Augusta VFW and American Legion, will be held in the East Lawn Cemetery, Augusta.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday at the Anderson Funeral Home in Augusta, and one hour prior to services Saturday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to the Augusta VFW Post, Augusta Lions Club or Augusta Cemetery Association.

-From the Leader Telegram, 01 Jun 2007 Eau Claire, WI

*****

I would love to hear from any descendants of Earl Scott and Amy Hineman, and am hoping they might be able to provide more information and/or pictures, especially of the Hineman family. Amy’s brother Gardie, was my great-grandfather, and I don’t have any pictures of him or his first wife, Olive Bessie Martin.

Amy had a sister, Pearl, who lived in Augusta as well. Pearl was married to Ralph W. Bowen, and from what I can tell, they never had any children of their own. However, according to one census record, my grandfather, Nathan Hineman was living with them shortly after his mother died from TB.

Any info would be appreciated!

Herbert Miller, standing. Image from The New York Times Online.

Herbert Miller, who drafted the pardon for Nixon’s role in the Watergate scandal, died today.

The New York Times has the following obituary detailing Miller’s long legal career including his achievements in the 1960’s (pursuing Hoffa on jury tampering charges) and his work with President Nixon and several other players in the Watergate scandal.

Mr. Miller told Nixon that he could not get a fair trial and that the case would be likely to drag on for years. He eventually persuaded Nixon to accept a pardon from President Gerald R. Ford, despite its implication of guilt. To clear the way for his client, he said in 1999 in his first public discussion of the case, he sought assurances from Leon Jaworski, the Watergate special prosecutor, that Jaworski would not oppose a pardon, a potential stumbling block that Nixon feared.

Mr. Miller, who represented Nixon for more than 20 years, also asserted Nixon’s ownership rights to the White House tapes and documents, a hotly contested issue that took years to resolve. Before the pardon was granted, an initial compromise was reached under which the material went to the National Archives, where neither Nixon nor archives officials would be allowed access to it without the other’s permission.

Finally, Mr. Miller persuaded Nixon to sign a statement admitting that he had been wrong in “not acting more decisively and more forthrightly in dealing with Watergate, particularly when it reached the state of judicial proceedings.” The pardon, granted on Sept. 8, 1974, spared Nixon indictment and trial.

“He was the ideal attorney for Nixon,” said John J. Cassidy, a founding partner of Mr. Miller’s law firm. “Nixon was so embattled, so hated, that he needed a strong lawyer to stand beside him, and Jack never flinched. He was fearless.”

…

After working on the Nixon pardon, Mr. Miller continued to defend his client’s interests tenaciously. He carried on a long legal struggle to block access to Nixon’s presidential tapes and papers, arguing they were private property. In a case that reached the Supreme Court in 1982, he successfully argued that Nixon could not be held civilly liable for acts performed while he was president. Nixon had been sued by a Pentagon employee who claimed he had been fired after testifying about cost overruns.

Christo & Jeanne-Claude

In the whirlwind of information crammed into my brain as a college student, there are many things that I learned throughout my classes that I have since forgotten. I remember reading a book really enjoyed in my Literature courses, but I can’t recall the author, or even the exact plotline, or listened to a particularly compelling lecture in History, which conclusion or ideas presented have since escaped me. But regardless of how foggy my memories of some of my favorite moments as a student become, I will never forget the first time my Art professor presented the vivid oranges and blues of art pieces created by husband-and-wife team Christo and Jeanne-Claude.

Their story of life-long love and companionship is as compelling as the bright hues that appeared in their art, and perhaps even worth noting – Jeanne-Claude’s signature blazing red hair. Collaborating on Christo’s artwork for over 50 years, their relationship rested on deep respect and true teamwork, rather than a muse-artist or assistant-manager relationship, translating into profound and globally famous works for decades. While Christo’s art is known for its temporary outdoor installations, works such as The Gates, which created an orange trail of rich orange fabric draping tall beams throughout a Central Park have created long-lasting impressions. Their work was meant to give viewers a new appreciation for their environment, whether it was a bridge or a landscape or a park.

The Gates in Central Park

The world will miss Jeanne-Claude, who died this week at age 74. Though she famously espoused, “Artists don’t retire. They die. That’s all. When they stop being able to create art, they die,” she and Christo had in fact been working on their next installation, which he will continue on without her. perhaps, if for no other reason than to live by her very quote. Her many achievements as an artist may only be shadowed by her successes in her personal journeys, a life many only dream of; she died having found the ability to make a living doing what she loved while continually inspiring people world-wide, all while finding a deeply profound love in a partner of kindred spirit.

Even as our memories fade to make room for new information, if nothing else – not even her fiery red hair and creative statements that have captivated art-lovers for a half a century – remember her passion for life, and ability to continually create and inspire the world, and use it as an example in your own life.

For an obituary on Jeanne-Claude from the Washington Post, please click here.