Carol's Chapter · 1948–1998, with earlier childhood memories
Next-Door Friends and a Lifetime of Kindness
told by Carol Mae Guild Sutton
Carol remembers the McFarlands as next-door neighbors and closest friends. She played daily with Marilyn and Patty and attended school with them through high school. Virginia and Carol's mother supported each other through hard times over coffee and cigarettes. Despite working outside the home, Virginia helped with housework, ironing, babysitting, and overnight stays, once washing the girls' hair outdoors with collected rainwater. The two women were charter members of a 500 Card Club founded in 1948 and belonged for over forty years. The McFarlands moved into town in 1952, and Pat later moved away when she married. Carol and Marilyn remained close. Carol recalls the losses of Dale in 1994, Virginia in 1996, and Marilyn's husband Bill in March 1998.
In the family's own words
The McFarlands—Virginia, Dale, Marilyn, and Patty—were our next door neighbors and closest friends. We played with Marilyn and Patty everyday and attended school with them through high school. Mom and Virginia were close from the beginning, helping each other cope with the trials and tribulations of daily living. Life was hard and money was scarce. They would visit back and forth and commiserate over a cup of coffee and a cigarette. Even though Virginia worked outside the home, she helped our family many, many times in many, many ways, for which we owe her a big debt of gratitude. She helped Mom with her housework and ironing and she helped take care of us kids. She baby-sat for us and we often spent the night at her house. Once she washed we girls’ hair outside using rainwater she had caught in a bucket. Mom and Virginia belonged to the same 500 Card Club for over forty years. The club was started in 1948, and they were charter members. The McFarlands moved into town in 1952, when I was about fourteen. Pat moved out of town when she got married, but Marilyn and I have remained close friends through the years. I loved Virginia as if she were my favorite aunt, so it was a very sad day when she passed away in 1996. Dale, her husband, passed away in 1994. Marilyn’s beloved husband, Bill, passed away in March of 1998.
Referenced in
Carol's Chapter, told by Carol Mae Guild SuttonRelated stories
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