Independence Day

Let me ask you this, does England have a July 4th? Yep, they do! Silly question, I know. It's the Fourth of July and the work has begun. Toyia started her cooking on friday evening. I guess she's getting a head start on her feast. Yes, tradition continues -- there will be a family meal today. I do like to eat up a bunch food on days like today. Hell yeah I do!!! I enjoy it more when I have little or no cooking to do. This year I will help on a few things. Mom requested I make sweet potato pudding. I have made it before, but never for July 4th. It's not what we'd normally have. There will be the old favorites; barbeque ribs, chicken, burgers and brats. I'm sure Toyia "the barbeque queen" will put a few ears of corn on the grill, too. I like that. While preparing and then enjoying our delicious meal and good time together, there will be tales of holidays and relatives long past. Family history and traditions will be told by the "wise ones" and passed to the young ones to tell at future gatherings. Years from now, when some of us are gone or just plain OLD, Maurice will share these stories with his family. I know I'll be there to make certain he tells them correctly. This is a photo (one of my favorites) of Ethyl Johnson Cooley, with her sister-in-law Victoria Cooley Cogwell and friends. They were known to take many roadtrips throughout the midwest in the 1920's. The location of this picture may be Chicago or Minneapolis.

Anna Belle Burns Lites Harris

On March 19, 1907, Anna Belle Burns was born to thirteen year old Victoria Cooley and thirty-eight year old Lee Burns in Bevier, Missouri. Lee was married with children and couldn't provide much help to Victoria for the care of their baby. To earn money, Victoria begin working in the kitchen of the local train station. After living with Uncle Harry and his family for three years (more on him later), Anna Belle was sent to live with her grandfather George Cooley, his wife Mary, and their three children; Edward, Curtis and Georgia Elizabeth.

By 1920, Anna Belle had moved to Des Moines with her mother and stepfather. It was about this time Anna Belle showed an interest in painting. She allowed her artistic talent to become a job for her. She found work painting china in department stores in downtown Des Moines. Anna Belle would continue hand painting china until her retirement. Anna Belle had two marriages in the course of her life. The first was to a man know only as "Lites." Mr Lites first name is unknown. For a brief time she and her husband lived in Detroit. Anna Belle had moved back to Des Moines when the marriage ended. Her second to Ike Harris lasted much longer. They stayed married until his death. Anna Belle had no children, but loved the children of cousin Edward and his wife Ethyl Cooley. Vel, Dideo, Eckie Bud, Maxine, their children and grandchildren were recipients of her love. From an early age she saw strength and unity in family. Her favorite quote was, "Don't do as I do, do as I say do." Wise words from a wise woman.