Stories from Grandma IV- And then he started school...

Then, Keith started to school! Mrs. Rainwater was his first grade teacher. She had 1st grade and half of the 2nd grade class. Keith was in her half of the 2nd grade class. This was Mrs. Jones 1st year to teach. Keith was constantly telling her how to do things. She told me that he was a really big help, even though she wanted to scream! She said sometimes she would start a sentence and Keith would finish it. Keith started to school in 1965 and I started working at the school the same year. Rose Varner and I were Cub Scout leaders for a while.

In 1968, Keith was in the 4th grade. We had moved into Grandpa Algie’s house in the spring. The school had a Halloween Carnival every year. I was working first in 1965 as the High School Secretary. Curtis Pharr was the Superintendent back then, Keith’s little girl friend was Jan Pharr was Curtis’ daughter. At Christmas that year Keith drew her name. We went shopping; he picked a beautiful dress which would not do because they had a $1 limit to spend for gifts. (We couldn’t afford to buy the dress anyway!) I had a hard time convincing Keith that we couldn’t buy the dress so he picked out a $.10 cent doll instead. We finally agreed on a more appropriate gift.

In October of 1968, I was teacher’s aide and one of my responsibilities was planning activities such as assembly programs and the Halloween Carnival. This included going to local stores to gather donations and prizes for the costume parade. Early in October, I asked Keith and Kent how they wanted to dress up. They said they weren’t interested. So, I bought a few things that Brenda wanted and that I thought they might need including costume makeup. They had gotten into the make-up and by Halloween all the black was gone. I was very busy helping with the carnival over all. Well, Keith was not going to dress up until the last minute. While I was rushing around Keith decided he wanted to be Aunt Jemima. The black make-up was all gone, SO I got soot out of the fireplace and mixed it with cold cream and covered his face! We stuffed pillows around him and put a read and white polka dotted skirt, fully gathered skirt, a white shirt and a red bandana on his head! We had to get to town early enough for the PTA Chili Supper and he went trick or treating with some other kids. By the time the costume contest came around, his make up was all smeared. He was quite a sight! He did not want to be in the costume parade, but after all that effort; I insisted that he inter it. He ended up winning a prize for his category!

I always had fun dressing them in costumes!

When Keith was 10 he went to Church Camp at Christ Forty acres in Hornobia, OK. While there he was saved and they were having a baptismal service in the Kaimichi River with the preacher’s holding the camp. Keith would not let any of them baptize him, but wanted Bro. Tom Moore to baptize him. Bro. Tom was our pastor at First Christian Mena and he drove over there to baptize him.