Kathryn, A Missouri Girl

By Kay Timberlake Bryant

Ida Kathryn VanMeter tells you first hand about her life from ages 6-10 growing up in a small mid-western farming community from 1918-1922. The events and the people in this book are real and will come alive for you as Kathryn sheds much light on what life was like during those times. You see life when it was simpler, full of little joys, and ge

• Language: English
• Publisher: URLink Print & Media, LLC
• Release date: Jul 19, 2019
• ISBN: 9781643676081

Kay Timberlake Bryant

The author, Kay Bryant, is the daughter of Ida Kathryn VanMeter. Kay was an educator for thirty-two years with both a B.S. Degree and a M.S. degree in Education, and an additional degree in English as a Second Language. She has taught elementary school, at the university level, and traveled throughout the U.S. as an ESL Teacher Trainer. Kay and her husband are retired and live in Tehachapi, California. Their children are grown and married and Kay and her husband have six grandchildren. Previously published books are "Let's Talk", an ESL Curriculum Guide and "Whisper Bay", a book on values with original poetry.

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Kathryn, A Missouri Girl

Copyright © 2019 by Kay Timberlake Bryant. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the author except as provided by USA copyright law.

The opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily those of URLink Print and Media.

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Published in the United States of America

ISBN 978-1-64367-609-8 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64367-608-1 (Digital)

18.08.19

Contents

1. Grandmother, the Songbook and Heaven

2. 56 Cousins and Gooseberry Pie

3. Grandfather, Mother and Me

4. Persimmons and Paw-paws

5. Christmas, Bonnie Bess and Tiny Girl

6. Elocution, Rex and the Perm

7. Events and Surprises

8. Double Digits, a Watch and a House

9. Fifth Grade Diary

Grandmother, the Songbook and Heaven

Odessa, Missouri in 1918 had a population of 1800, was located about 35 miles south of Kansas City and was a small farming community. It was also home to a six year old girl named Ida Kathryn VanMeter. Everyone called her Kathryn. Now Kathryn’s father, Isaac, was the youngest of 13 children who were all married and had children of their own, except for one brother, Joseph, who died at age 19. Most of the others still lived in Odessa or on farms around Odessa. Isaac used to tell Kathryn, I always say hello to everyone I meet, because I never know when I might run into another VanMeter. Isaac, Kathryn, Kathryn’s brother Rex, and Kathryn’s mother Minnie, lived in town because Isaac owned a feed store. Minnie was active in the First Baptist Church and everyone knew Isaac and Minnie. Kathryn said hello to everyone also.

Today is a special day because mother and I are going to the farm to see my grandparents, Kathryn said to her doll. We’ve been going out to see them several times a week as grandmother is sick. Mother and I ride out in the buggy a few miles to the farm where they live. Their farm house is pretty and, in another month, there will be beautiful colored flowers all around the house. Grandfather is always happy and full of the joy of living. He enjoys his friends, his fishing, the beauty of nature and his family. Grandmother loves flowers, thought Kathryn, especially sweet peas, zinnias and peonies. She is usually very cheerful and always has a special treat for me when I come to visit.

Something yummy, she says, I made just for you.

Grandmother, I say, you didn’t have to do that, but I’m glad you did. Then we laugh. But today, there are no treats because grandmother is sick in bed and I’m feeling sad for her.

Grandmother’s name is Ida Belle Smith Rex and grandfather’s name is Elgin Oscar Rex. Mother is the oldest of three children. Her brother Archie is several years younger and lives with his family in Colorado and her sister Pearl is ten years younger and lives in Colton, California where she is the Colton City Treasurer. Grandfather would tell Rex and me stories of the Rex family and how their ancestors had come from France. My father told us the VanMeter ancestors were from Holland. I’ve just learned that the word ancestor means one of your relatives who lived a long time ago. Anyway, mother stayed with grandmother in her bedroom and they visited and I went to the barn to be with my grandfather. He always has stories to tell me. Grandfather reads a lot. He loves books and he knows about places far away across the ocean.

Grandfather said, "Polly-Kate (his special name for me was short for Pollyanna and