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Grateful to Have Had a Special Mother

By
Real Estate Agent

So much of who we are is based on what kind of childhood we experienced. I was fortunate enough to live in a home with both my parents. And, I had an especially wonderful mother! Dad worked approximately 10 minutes from home at the Western Pacific Railroad. We could hear the Western Pacific whistle blow at 4:00 pm each afternoon from our home. It signaled the end of the work day. Supper was at 4:15 each afternoon, and I could set a watch on my family’s routine - When Dad went to work each morning, when he would return home, when we would sit down for supper, and when Dad would walk out onto the front porch to pick up the evening paper.

 

Mom was the perfect 1950s style housewife and mother. Albeit, a bit prissy, but not to her detriment. Her 5 foot 2 inch frame never varied 5 pounds in weight which hovered around 105 pounds. Mom was an expert seamstress, and very practical. She often took in alterations and dress making. She could create perfect things out of almost nothing. 

Our garden, especially the roses, which Mom watered along with the lawn, in her high heels, was always spectacular. The picture below is a testament to how far Mom carried her way of dress. She’s at a picnic in the woods, and that’s a suit, she is wearing, with hair perfectly coiffed, makeup on. . . And, once again, high heels!

 

Sadly, Mom passed in 1975 at age 65 from Cancer. In this photo, which was taken circa 1967, she would have been 57. 

I have very s
pecial memories of Mom, who looked very much like a younger Queen Elizabeth. I wish all children could be as blessed as I was, having her as my mother.


http://www.myrljeffcoat.com
Photo of Francie Myers Heady - Circa 1967

 

Posted by

Myrl Jeffcoat ActiveRain Signature
  

Comments(14)

George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Myrl a very different time than today.  Family was very important, and moms and dads have very distinctive roles.

Nov 08, 2018 10:06 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat

They really did have different roles.  My mom was the traditional stay at home mother, although she did take in sewing and alterations to make a little extra money.

Nov 08, 2018 04:07 PM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Wow, the resemblance to Queen Elizabeth is remarkable Myrl Jeffcoat. I can feel the ultimate love in this post and your mother would be so proud of you! 

I also lost my mother to cancer at age 64. I have been the matriarch of my family for a long time.  

Nov 08, 2018 10:10 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat

She really did!  I will try to locate a better "head on" shot, so you can see the resemblance more.

Nov 08, 2018 04:06 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Myrl, what a lovely tribute to your mom!  And yes, she does look like a young Queen Elizabeth!

Nov 08, 2018 10:30 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat

If this photo hadn't been a side shot, I think you would see the resemblance even more.

Nov 08, 2018 04:06 PM
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

I grew up in a similar home and my mother was just 4"10". The small size belied how strong she was. To say I couldn't guard her in basketball when as kids we played our Moms was an understatement.

Nov 08, 2018 11:08 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat

I have a granddaughter who is 4' 10".  Although she is sometimes called, "Chicken Nugget," she is a force to be dealt with!

Nov 08, 2018 04:05 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

That's a beautiful tribute to your mother Myrl Jeffcoat . My mom was also 65 when we lost her.

Nov 08, 2018 01:41 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat

I lost both my parents when they were in their 60s.  I was a late life baby for them both.  I was 23 when my dad passed, and 32 when mom passed.

Nov 08, 2018 04:04 PM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Myrl,

We can see the resemblance between you and your mom.  Love that she wore heels when watering her roses.  A

Nov 08, 2018 03:08 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat

I'm sitting here smiling at your comment, Alexandra.  If you could see how I am presently dressed, you wouldn't see the resemblance to my mother.

Nov 08, 2018 04:03 PM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

She does look like Elizabeth and what a beauty she is. What a lovely post, Myrl.

Nov 08, 2018 07:28 PM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

Such a good looking woman, your Mom, and she certainly sounds like a special woman indeed!

Nov 09, 2018 07:09 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

And to think just yesterday I heard horrendous tales of growing up from my coffee-mates at Kona Haven, so it is refreshing to read about a normal 1950s childhood. My own mother started out like yours, Myrl, but by 1967, let's just say she was very different.

Nov 09, 2018 09:18 AM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

What a lovely tribute to a beautiful mother, who looks very regal in this picture. I was also lucky to have a stay at home mom while growing up and I think it was a great way to grow up. I learned a lot from my mom.

Nov 09, 2018 11:05 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thank you very much for sharing some of your special memories of your mother.

I was also blessed to have a wonderful mother.

Nov 10, 2018 08:19 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Myrl- you're right about the resemblance to Queen Elizabeth. REading about your mother made me think of June Cleaver!

Nov 10, 2018 01:34 PM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

Myrl Jeffcoat - thank you for sharing your mother's beautiful photograph and a glimpse into her life. That is a very special photograph and she was a wonderful mother. I think you got your good looks and quest to stay healthy from your mom who definitely looks like the striking Queen Elizabeth in younger days herself. 

I love the intro to this family story as well. I grew up in a similar household and could tell the time by how our lives were shaped by my father's work schedule and our dinner time too. When it came to dinner time, I didn't need a watch. Although my dad didn't work for the Rail Road, he was a Union Man and that kept our family very organized and proud to be an American. Plus, we knew the value of money and strong work ethics.

My mother (including me) were housewives but neither one of us looked as graceful or good looking (nor did we wear heels during the day) like you or your mom. Oh, it must have been fun for you to grow up, listening to the sound of the 4 p.m. whistle, having a mom be a role model, wearing and having the talent to make beautiful garments, watching the roses that she watered grow simultaneously while you grew up too. Parents setting good examples for children is something I think is lacking in many households today. 

Having read many of your blog posts, I can now better understand how setting good examples and family values is important to you and your grandchildren. What a wonderful life and legacy.  

Nov 14, 2018 04:38 PM
Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
SIB Realty - Sunny Isles Beach, FL

You are look like your Mom, Myrl. What a wonderful post about your Mother. 

Nov 16, 2018 07:19 PM