Lillie Opal Teeter life history

Lillie Opal Teeter[1]

I, Lillie Opal Teeter, was born 5 March 1906 at Galena, Cherokee County, Kansas. I was born at home, West 10^th and Elm Street. Doctor Jones was the attending doctor.

At birth the doctor said the only child he ever attended before with as long hair as I had, was an Indian baby.

I am the second child of eight children born to my parents. I have two sisters and five brothers.[2]

My father is Robert William Teeter. He was born 22 Feb 1882 at Galena, Cherokee Co., Kansas. His father is Ransom Alonzo Teeter. His mother is Elizabeth Katherine Eckles.

My mother is Myrtle Pearl Love. She was born 27 Aug. 1884 at Kansas City, Jackson, Co, Mo. Her father is James Preston Love and her mother is Mary Eva Smith.

My parents loved each other very dearly and were faithful to each other all their married life. Dad said before he died, she was his first sweetheart and the only sweetheart he ever had.

We moved from Elm Street when I was three months old to West 9^th Street on Widow’s Row.[3] We lived there until I was 30 yrs. old. My parents sold their home in 1936 and I took them to California, where my father died in 1937.

I remember one Christmas we could not afford a Christmas tree, so we got a persimmon tree near our home, wrapped it with colored crepe paper which we had, made bows of paper and tied all over the tree. Prettiest tree I remember.

School years

I started school at the age of five years, attending the Galena, Kansas elementary schools at both the Columbia and Central Buildings.

I attended the Columbia School in Galena, Kansas, the first three years. Miss Perlson was teacher in the first grade. I believe she was my second grade teacher (I don’t remember.) Miss Ketcham was my third grade teacher. They closed that school so I went to the Central School until I graduated from the eighth grade. Miss George’s (?) daughter was my fourth grade teacher. Miss Ethel Downing was my fifth grade teacher. Miss Swarty was my sixth grade teacher. She really taught us English, especially grammar and diagramming sentences. I learned from her to love English. Some of my teachers in the seventh and eighth grade (junior high) were Miss Downing, Miss Josephine Duncan, Mrs. Schumerhorn. Some of my high school teachers were: Miss Pearl Smith (Latin), Mr. Hergog (chemistry), Miss Pearl Hunt (history), Miss Matland (home ec.)

One of my close friends was Nellie Pickett. My favorite teachers were Miss Ester Swartz and Miss Boughten. I had Miss Ethel Downing in the 4^th, 5^th, 7^th, and 8^th grades. I did not care for her. She picked on me. My special teachers were Mrs. Schummerhorn, Miss Josephine Duncan and the principal (I don’t recall his name).

One time a student, Leora Mueller, and other planned to chew gum in Miss Duncan’s class because they didn’t like her. Everyone but Franklin Elder and me were chewing when she came in. She didn’t say anything, just took out her gum and chewed with them.

I attended junior high at the Central School in Galena, Kansas. I was shy and didn’t have many friends but a special friend was Willa Proutze. In my class were Virginia Buand(sp)?, Lenora ?. Willa was also my friend in high school.

I graduated from the eighth grade in May 1920, from high school in May, 1924. I attended Galena High School. A special teacher that I remember was Miss Pearl Smith. My sister Audrey and I received a nice graduation present: a new baby brother, Dexter Lee, born May 8, 1924. We both received ruby rings when we graduated from the eighth grade and Elgin watches when we graduated from high school from our grandmother Love and her daughters.

We were the first in the family to graduate from high school. I was the first to graduate from college. All of my brothers and sisters (5), except one, Robert, who was sick nearly all his life and could not attend school. My sister, Audrey, set a record in Galena for not missing a day or being tardy for eight years (if I remember exactly). I attended school and taught school thirteen years without missing a day because of sickness. I was absent a few days for other reasons. I graduated in May 1924, the third on the honor roll. Audrey was fifth.[4]

I always enjoyed going to school. I was third on the Honor Roll when I graduated from the eighth grade and from high school.

I attended college at Kansas State Teacher College. I got my ___ (life?) certificate for two years study. I majored in English and home economics. All but 16 hours was done in summer school. I graduated in May of 1928.

While I attended one spring, or second semester, the freshman class held a party. A red-headed boy (don’t remember his name) and I were partners. We won at a Rook game at all the tables.

I attended State Teacher’s College in Springfield, Missouri in 1934. From 1952-1968 I attended Arizona State College in Flagstaff, Arizona. I completed for my B.S. Degree in Education in 1956. I graduated in May 1957 (major in English, minor in home economics and education).

Church

My sister, Audrey, and I joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day Saints the summer between our freshman and sophomore years.[5] I was baptized June 25, 1921 in Lakeside Park, Missouri by Elder Louis H. Peterson. I was confirmed by Elder Herman Blau. [6]

All our friends turned against us. I did not attend seminary; there was none held in our town.[7]

I received my patriarchal blessing on 5 June 1929. The blessing was pronounced by Joseph Keddington.

On 29 May 1933 I departed for the Central States Mission. I served this short-term mission until the last of August 1933.[8]

Marriage

I was married to Byrtle Vernon Kartchner in Los Angeles, California by Stephen E. Grover (Elder) on 29 January 1938. [9] I was endowed in the Arizona Temple, Mesa, Arizona on 6 Dec 1938. Vernon and I were sealed on the same day.[10]

My physical and health history

I had unusually good health with only the childhood diseases: measles, whoup (sic) cough. I did not have any vaccinations until I was grown. I had to have the smallpox vaccinations in order to teach in California in 1946.

In January 1978 I became legally blind because of cataracts in both eyes. I could not read, sew, drive, etc. On September 26, 1979 I had an operation on my left eye and a lens implant was put in my left eye. I can see.

Jobs

My first job was in an overall factory in 1921 (summer) in Joplin, Missouri. I earned $16.75 a week.

I taught eleven years before I was married and sixteen years after I was married, 27 years in all.

My personality

I sing, did leather work, textile painting, crochet some, enjoy sewing and reading.

Added from her life sketch:

Opal taught school for 27 years. She loved to sing, and she knew the hymns and how to sing. Her beautiful voice was enjoyed in church choirs and for many special occasions. She loved little babies, and thought they were the closest thing to heaven. She spent many long hours doing research on her genealogy, which is an expression of this same feeling of an eternal family.

Her daughter-in-laws have expressed how she was always hospitable and enjoyed talking with people. She loved to share food with those who came—from treats to dinner, never wanting to turn anyone away hungry.

She was very independent, even in these last few years. Always insisting on paying her own way.

She was always looking for ways to help her family, both in large and small ways. From rubbing your feet to paying your bills. You had to be careful of what you said concerning any need, as she would do her best to help, something with giving you something you felt she couldn’t afford.

She had a strong inner strength of courage. The family feels she could do anything she really wanted to do. She always said she’d rather die than have an amputation. But, when the time came to make this difficult decision in her life, she put aside the tears and bravely faced the operation, and came through fine. There were some tough times in her life, but she always showed that same strong courage.

She was a very good mother-in-law, and treated us like we were her own daughters. We grew very close and did many things together.

Opal and Vernon had five children, 20 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren. She was left a widow for one year and three months.

The family wishes to express their gratitude to the many special people who came by to visit her, and who have helped in any way these last months. And to especially thank the nurses, Laura Huddleston and Alice Blakeslee, who stayed with her from the start of her sickness until her passing.

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[1] This history was typed by Deniane Kartchner, granddaughter-in-law, from digitized copies of Opal’s handwritten personal history pages. Originals are kept with Eugene and Mary Kartchner, P.O. Box 273, Taylor, Arizona, 85939.

[2] The following names and dates of siblings are found in Opal’s handwritten history:

1. Audrey Viola Teeter, born 12 Dec 1904 in Galena, Cherokee Co., Kansas. Died March 1975. Audrey married Len Lee Matson, 11 Nov. 1927 in Joplin, Missouri.

2. Lille Opal Teeter, born 5 Mar 1906 in Galena, Cherokee Co., Kansas. Opal married Byrtle Vernon Kartchner 29 Jan. 1936, in Los Angeles, California.

3. Walter William Teeter, born 16 June 1908 in Galena, Cherokee Co., Kansas. Walter married Hazel Mae Harpool, 30 Nov. 1929 in Galena, Kansas.

4. Robert Alonzo (Pat) Teeter, born 17 March 1910 in Galena, Cherokee Co., Kansas. Unmarried. Died 23 Dec 1941 in Bell Gardens, California.

5. Earl Howard Teeter, born 26 April 1912 in Galena, Cherokee Co., Kansas. Earl married Dorothy Birchett Rodgers 3 Aug 1935.

6. Eva Elizabeth Teeter, born 22 Sept. 1914 in Galena, Cherokee Co., Kansas. Eva married George Stanley Smith 20 Dec 1933 in Joplin, Missouri.

7. Loren Teeter, born 22 Oct. 1922 in Galena, Cherokee Co., Kansas. Died 22 Oct. 1922.

8. Dexter Lee Teeter, born 8 May 1924. Dexter married Ethabell Frances Herron, 27 May 1945 in California.

[3] Dr. E.G. Updike of Madison, Wisconsin wrote in the “Annual Report of the Wisconsin State Board of Agriculture for the Year 1910-1911, (p. 396) “In Kansas there is a street in a certain town called ‘Widow’s Row,’ because it is occupied by the widows of retired farmers. The farmers sold their farms, went to town to live, spent their lives in idleness and they died very soon and their widows were left, and that street got the name ‘Widow’s Row.’” (The report was encouraging the continuation of farming.)

[4] Life Sketch of Lillie Opal Teeter Kartcher, p. 1. states, “Opal graduated from high school at the top of her class, with high grades. She went on to school and received her teaching degree. She taught English and home economics in the area around Galena, Kansas, and later in life taught in Taylor, Burton, Linden, Concho, Vernon, and Lakeside. She loved to teach and help her young people to learn.”

Notes from Eugene and Mary Kartchner:

“As far as who wrote the story of Opal’s life—as we both recall at the time of Opal’s death her bishop was Harvey Palmer, and he came to the family and asked us all to pitch in and write what we could. So the answer is we all wrote it.”

[5] Mary Kartchner added this information: “Opal told of when she first heard of the church; it was in their home in Joplin on a very cold morning. I think her Aunt Jewel had arrived there the night before very late from Oklahoma. The next morning the house was cold, so the ladies were yelling back and forth from one bedroom to the other and staying under the covers. It was a long hallway with bedrooms on each side. Aunt Jewel was telling Pearl about the Mormon missionaries who had visited her in Oklahoma. ‘What did they say?’ She told Pearl (Jewel’s sister, Opal’s mother) about baptism for the dead and families being sealed forever. Opal, a young girl of 15, thought that was the most beautiful concept she had ever heard. Later, she was the first one in her family and also in her town of Galena to join the church—in a place where there was strong anti-Mormon feelings. She remained there for 15 more years before they moved to California.”

[6] Opal’s life sketch (written collectively by the family) states, “At the age of 15 she heard the gospel, from the Mormon missionaries, on eternal families and right away she knew it was true. She had to be strong in her beliefs as she made her decision to be baptized; she was not only the first member of her family but also the first member in her town—in an area where strong anti-Mormon feelings existed. She decided to be baptized soon, because of so much persecution in the area. Therefore, she didn’t wait one week so her sister could join her. Opal loved the gospel, and she and her family helped the missionaries in their area many times by feeding them meals, providing lodging for the night, and would drive them to the different places they needed to go. She was true to her testimony of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and encouraged her family to gain this same testimony all the days of her life.” (From Life Sketch of Lillie Opal Teeter Kartchner, copy held by Deniane Kartchner)

[7] Mary Kartchner stated, “Opal had often talked of a particular part of her patriarchal blessing which stated that she had a “great testimony” and that Satan would try to get her to deny it. Many times she would get her feelings hurt at church and say she was not going back, but she’d remember that warning and always work through it and go back.

More explanation from Mary:

On the last day she was alive—she must have had a stroke because in the morning when we went in she could not move or talk, but she could move her tongue. We tried to communicate with her. Finally I asked her if she wanted a blessing from the bishop to wiggle her tongue, and boy, she wiggled her tongue like crazy. When the bishop came, Eugene and I both remember him saying, “Today you will be encircled in the arms of your Savior.” She died later that day here at our house in Taylor and she still had her “great testimony.” One of the visiting nurses, Laura Huddleston, was here.

I want to say that in the end I know she won. She never denied her testimony and was able to meet her Savior with great love and with her precious and great testimony still very much intact. She won that one!

Told by Mary Kartchner to Deniane Kartchner via email October 13, 2008.

[8] Life sketch states “Opal served a mission in her home town area. Her companion was Annis Jackson Flake from Snowflake, Arizona. Annis told Opal about Vernon Kartchner, and got them to write to each other for some time. Then Opal’s family decided to move to California.”

From Mary Kartchner, “We took Opal back to Galena to visit and found a lady that remembered her and the day the family left Galena. She showed us the boarding house that her grandmother had. It was a two-story house and pretty big. I think she said she was born there.”

[9] Life sketch, p. 1. “On the way to [California, Opal’s family] came through Taylor and Opal met Vernon in person. They were married January 29, 1938 and were sealed in the Arizona Temple, December 6, 1938. They began their early life in California and their first son Ronald Lee was born there. They then moved to Taylor, where Vernon Eugene and Lois Gayle were born. Again, they moved to Bell Gardens, California, where Eva Joyce was born, and one son died at birth. The four children are living today. The family lived in California during World War II, where Opal taught school and Vernon worked in the shipyards. In 1948, Opal and Vernon’s family moved back to Arizona, living in Woodruff for a short time and then bought their home here in Taylor.”

[10] Life sketch, p.1, “This family was taught to love the gospel, to be active in it, and as grandchildren came along, they were always encouraged to keep the commandments. The important things in Opal’s life were her family, the gospel, and teaching. She had a strong testimony of the gospel, and loved life and lived it to the fullest. She and Vernon helped support grandsons on missions. As a family they loved to travel, to go on camping trips, and had many enjoyable times camping in the White Mountain area in the summer. And many enjoyable times were spent in the winter time setting around the old wood stove, playing games, eating popcorn, and drinking hot chocolate.”