My great grandma Smith and the things that were handed down - week 24

Grandma & Grandpa Smith holding me when
I was 3 months old in 1972

  I’ve mentioned this before, I was extremely lucky to not only have grandparents that were quite involved in my life, but great grandparents as well. I’ve missed several SEVERAL weeks of the #52ancestors52weeks but I’ve been meaning to write this story and it fit perfectly for this weeks them which is “Handed Down”

  Helen Lora Morgan aka Grandma Smith was born to Mary Jane Anderson and E.P. ‘Ted’ Morgan in 1905. She was one of their 6 children born in Newton County, Mo and would live her entire life there. In 1923 she would marry Lewis ‘Garner’ Smith and have 3 girls— Mary Jewell, Louva Joyce, and my grandmother Melva Norene. 

  Grandma and Grandpa Smith were quite special to my mom and I remember visiting their house in Diamond, MO often. When Grandma found out I was marrying a farmer she seemed to be a little worried, especially when she heard we were digging potatoes. I think she remembered what life was like growing up on the farm. Times had changed and thankfully farm life is a little easier than what she remembered. They had purple phlox that grew along their retaining wall along their driveway and when they were in bloom it was beautiful. We would go pick strawberries in their garden and grandpa

Smith would show us his victrola he had in the garage. One of my biggest memories though was her snacks. She would always give you a can of Dr Pepper from her refrigerator and a straw, and then bring out a tin out of the freezer with her famous chocolate chip cookies. They were an absolute favorite of mine!! After she passed away in 1992 we realized that no one had her recipe. We searched everywhere and it couldn’t be found. We even tried different recipes thinking we might get it. My sister had one that was close, but it just seemed to be missing something. About 5-6 months ago I was searching for another relatives recipe and I thought about Grandma Smith. I had a church cookbook from the church she attended that had been given to me as a bridal shower gift. I searched the cookbook and to my surprise and delight I found her recipe. It even said ‘Grandma Helen Smith’ below it. Here I had had this recipe for 28 yrs and didn’t even realize it. This recipe will definitely be

handed on down!! You 

  When my grandparents died they had a sale and I bought a doll quilt. I never remembered seeing it at their house, but thought it was cute and in good shape. Quilts also mean a lot to me. I’ve always

Hazel Grace loves playing with the blanket that was
made for her Mema by Grandma Smith all those years ago

had it sitting out but I don’t think my mom noticed it til about a year ago. To my delight she told me that one Christmas grandpa Smith made them a doll bed and grandma Smith made them a quilt to go with it. She didn’t know what happened to the bed, but this was the quilt. The colors are so bright and vivid that my grandmother must have put it away. My own granddaughter is almost 2. This quilt is a favorite of hers. She loves to wrap her baby up in it and put it to sleep. It was made by her 3rd Great Grandmother and given to her great grandmother and now handed down to her. Grandma Smith passed in 1992, just several months after we were married, but her love continues to keeps on giving!