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| Elizabeth Kuykendall Keller |
Her grandchildren called her Momaw. The following was paper-clipped into the guest book from her funeral service. I'm guessing Ivah wrote it for Sarah Jane Keller Castleman as she was the only one of Momaw's daughters that had all boys at the time. I remember Ivah was a very sweet aunt. She wrote bio's on several family members. I'm glad we have this one about Momaw...
Sept. 14, 1979
Elizabeth Kuykendall Keller
About the first thing I can remember was Elizabeth and me playing-- jumping from one rafter to another while the carpenters were building the porch on our new house where the Shetleys live now. She was about 3 1/2 years and I was 2 years (almost) older. Then came time for me to go to school. Mama asked the teacher if Elizabeth could go with me and they let her start. We made it fine going because we had Claudia to take us. But we only went 1/2 day and poor Claudia spent her lunch hour walking part of the way home with us. Mama met us and we made it fine.
Somehow Elizabeth was more aggressive than I. She had gone with Claudia to Central College and Had seen her first piano. She took a plank and made a key board and she imagined she was making music. I was so dumb, I didn't know what she was doing. Papa and Mama decided she had talent and they bought an organ and she and Hettie learned a few tunes. Mama's uncle could play so he taught them a few tunes. It was a beautiful piece of furniture. Papa bought a place in front of Hendrix College and we moved there so the little ones could be closer to school. Then he bought a piano. That was 70 years ago. They gave Elizabeth lessons with Mrs Nell Cole-- paid her in cream and butter.
When Elizabeth and I were in 6th grade they took her out of grade school and sent her to Central College so she could take lessons there and not walk from school to Central. I was lost-- never had any more interest in school after that. She begged for me to go to Central but papa wasn't able to send both of us. She got a wonderful education then and finished her musical degree under the very best instructors. She gave her recital in 1917 and got her degree then. While she was at Central she had a studio close to public school and taught some pupils.
Then she and Claudia were asked to go to Wellford, the first consolidated school in Arkansas. They stayed there 2 or 3 years. Got wonderful salaries. She was engaged to Perry Herrin and she spent most of her money on her trousseau. Then she came home in the summer and started dating your father, Bill Keller. They were married the next year-- 57 years ago.
Elizabeth was always the favorite of the whole family. She was the bright spark in everyone's life and she expected lots of love and attention from every member. She was a devout Christian from the time she could toddle off to the Church and Sunday School and BYPU.
She was always kind and thoughtful of every member of her family. Nothing was too good for any member of the whole family.
Elizabeth had many many true friends. She attended U of A in Conway and took some manual training so she could be in the class with your dad. He did most of the work for her.
She used to go with Papa when he would go on his 2 or 3 nights trip to places where they had pianos and she would play for them. They would call in the neighborhood and they would all have a ball. She was very popular.
She and I loved our double cousins, Ida and Marietta King- and we spent each weekend together- either at their house or ours. We were all about the same age.
Friday AM
Guess you're home by now and taking care of all your boys. Was that biography kinda what you wanted? If there is anything else you want me to tell, let me know. I could have written a book on her.
I'm glad you were with your dad for that week. I am really doing fine and I think I will be entirely well in a few weeks. Has it snowed yet up there? Believe me it is chilly here, but wonderful. You won't believe it, I sold about a bushel of pom-granite this morning. They were so big and beautiful. I got 25 cents each for them. It's better to sell them than see them hang there and burst open. I will have about 20 or 25 dollars worth-- not bad eh.
The Kordsmeier's gave me a bushel of the most beautiful tomatoes and yesterday I canned 13 quarts and 3 pints of tomato juice. Tomorrow I am going to can pears. I have already made preserves as I decided to can these. I tell you there's not a free minute as long as I have a garden, pond, and everything around.
Ida and I are going with some friends of ours to the Toad Suck fish place this P.M. I want to take you all over there if you ever come and stay long enough. You'd love it. Must stop now and mail this.
I love all of you,
Ivah
