This was my beloved aunt. She was the first child born to Velma (DeVall) Swift and Malcolm "Aden" Swift in Reeds Spring, MO. Louise never liked her first name, so she was always known as Louise. She was only 12 years old when her father died of tuberculosis. Although Velma tried very hard to keep her family together, she finally had to send the four youngest (Maxine, Charles, EmmaJean, and Robert) to the Masonic Home in St. Louis. According to my mother, Louise refused to leave her mother alone. Louise always hated the extremely hot summers in Oklahoma where she and grandma lived, so ultimately she moved to San Francisco, CA. During World War II, she met a merchant marine sailor, Maurice Alvin "Al" Smith. They were married on November 30, 1945, in Las Vegas, NV. Louise and Al had two children, Judith Lynn and James Aden. My Uncle Al stayed in the Merchant Marines after the war, so he travelled extensively. On some tours, the family accompanied him, as when they were stationed in Hawaii in the late 50s-early 60s. (My mother always said there was no justice. Her sister's husband got orders for Hawaii, while my dad got orders for Morocco.) For the most part, however, my aunt and uncle lived in San Francisco. In the 1970s, they bought a house in Santa Rosa, CA, where they lived for the remainder of their lives.
I remember my visits to both their homes in San Francisco and Santa Rosa with warm memories. My mom adored her sister, Louise, and missed her so much when she passed away. I know she was happy to meet her again in heaven and to be reunited with their parents, brothers, and other sister. I look forward to seeing her again too someday. Ironically, the name she adopted for herself, Louise, has become sort of a family tradition. There are four women in our family who now have (or have had) the middle name of Louise, including me and my daughter.
This was my beloved aunt. She was the first child born to Velma (DeVall) Swift and Malcolm "Aden" Swift in Reeds Spring, MO. Louise never liked her first name, so she was always known as Louise. She was only 12 years old when her father died of tuberculosis. Although Velma tried very hard to keep her family together, she finally had to send the four youngest (Maxine, Charles, EmmaJean, and Robert) to the Masonic Home in St. Louis. According to my mother, Louise refused to leave her mother alone. Louise always hated the extremely hot summers in Oklahoma where she and grandma lived, so ultimately she moved to San Francisco, CA. During World War II, she met a merchant marine sailor, Maurice Alvin "Al" Smith. They were married on November 30, 1945, in Las Vegas, NV. Louise and Al had two children, Judith Lynn and James Aden. My Uncle Al stayed in the Merchant Marines after the war, so he travelled extensively. On some tours, the family accompanied him, as when they were stationed in Hawaii in the late 50s-early 60s. (My mother always said there was no justice. Her sister's husband got orders for Hawaii, while my dad got orders for Morocco.) For the most part, however, my aunt and uncle lived in San Francisco. In the 1970s, they bought a house in Santa Rosa, CA, where they lived for the remainder of their lives.
I remember my visits to both their homes in San Francisco and Santa Rosa with warm memories. My mom adored her sister, Louise, and missed her so much when she passed away. I know she was happy to meet her again in heaven and to be reunited with their parents, brothers, and other sister. I look forward to seeing her again too someday. Ironically, the name she adopted for herself, Louise, has become sort of a family tradition. There are four women in our family who now have (or have had) the middle name of Louise, including me and my daughter.