My Great Uncle Russell passed away this June. I wish I had been doing this when he was alive, because we could've had one heck of an interview together, along with my Great Aunt Cleo. However, I was able to meet up with her on October 26th and we had a lovely discussion.
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| Aunt Cleo and Uncle Russell, late '40s or early '50s - I love this photo of them. |
I went to her home to chat with her and her son (my second cousin), Kevin, who I keep up with through Facebook. My grandparents decided to join me in the 45ish minute journey since they jump at any chance to visit them.
I've been wanting to ask Aunt Cleo about her memories of growing up and her life with Uncle Russell. Russell - my Grandma's brother - was known as a truly lovable and exciting guy.
Aunt Cleo has many memories from years gone by. I asked her about getting to eat at drug store counters. She informed me that the toasted ham salad sandwiches which were served at a local drug store many years ago was some of the best food she's ever eaten. The sandwiches were always served with a glass of Coke. Also, it was popular to go for a Coke with friends and on dates.
Aunt Cleo told me that she used to have a scrapbook filled with photos of classic film stars. I threw out some names to her and we tossed names like Lana Turner, Frank Sinatra, and Rita Hayworth around. My Uncle Russell worked as an usher at one of local movie theaters when he was young, which is something I dearly wish I had asked him about. I hadn't realized he had that job until after his death.
Speaking of Uncle Russell...
The two met in a chance encounter - a blind date when they were teenagers. Uncle Russell was a mutual friend and came along with a group and took Aunt Cleo out. She simply told me that it was love at first sight. What stood out to her was that Russell was well-dressed and that he brought her candy on that first date.
Aunt Cleo was eighteen when they married in 1950. Less than a year later, Uncle Russell went off to serve in Korea for about eighteen months. During this time, Aunt Cleo went to work as a secretary. When Uncle Russell returned home, he resumed work at a local shoe factory.
They raised a family and went on many adventures. They loved going camping together and doing things like going to shows at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis, and seeing movies at drive-ins.
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| Aunt Cleo has vivid memories of visiting a local burger chain (no longer in existence) with the family. My cousin, Kevin, is holding a little A&W root beer glass that they got from the restaurant. |
In the '80s, Uncle Russell and Aunt Cleo helped start a local -and vibrant - jazz society which lasted for over thirty years.
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| These albums are filled with photos from a cruise Uncle Russell and Aunt Cleo took and from the early days of the Great River Jazz Preservation Society, which they helped found. |
Uncle Russell passed away less than four months before their 65th anniversary.
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| Uncle Russell gave gifts like these stuffed animals to my Aunt Cleo for Valentine's Day. |
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| A life of love |
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