Page 14 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine 2020 Spring - Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS
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Senior Senior

Dorthy Lou Conrad

A Model

Grandma

by Hallie Thompson

he was the type to pull the sheets was wearing a new white hat and was
back and leave the porch light on upset that the hat had turned brown
Sfor you, the lady to show up to by the end of the day. When she was
every school event, piano recital and 26, she met the love of her life, Harold
rodeo you participated in, no matter Conrad, on a family trip to Kentucky.
the weather. They later moved to Texas and got
married in Borger.
My great-grandmother, Dorthy Lou
Conrad, was the rock of our family. All of my life, we had fried chicken and
For 18 years, I spent many summers cherry pie for her birthday. After she
and weekends with her. l have many passed away in October, we found a
memories of her, although much of her note that her mother Hallie had written
life was told to me by my mother. to Grandma’s husband, Harold.
She talked about how she missed
Grandma was born July 10, 1920, Grandma and that she was sorry that
in White Deer, Texas, to Hallie and she couldn’t see her for her birthday.
Bruce Martin. She told us a story Hallie sent some money for Harold
about traveling in a sled with her to buy some stationery as a gift for
parents to meet her new baby cousin Grandma. Hallie told Harold to make
Roberta. Grandma enjoyed her days sure that she had fried chicken and
in White Deer and growing up on the cherry pie for her birthday. Hallie and
farm. She went to school in a one- Harold both passed away years before for a wartime manufacturer in Pampa.
room schoolhouse outside of Pampa. I was born, but this letter offered a little By the time I was born, Grandma had
Sometimes, we would drive out with glimpse into their lives. moved into town, but she never let the
Grandma to that little red schoolhouse memories go.
and listen to all her stories about it. My Grandma was an outgoing lady.
favorite stories were those of the farm - She was a member and an officer in I always paid attention to her crazy
like the time when they tied ropes from many clubs in White Deer. She was tales of a life so different than mine,
the barn to the house so they could well-known and loved, and being knowing I would cherish them.
find their way during dust storms. She introduced as her granddaughter was Grandma’s stories demonstrated how
was interviewed by PBS in 2014 for something I took pride in. She owned much she loved her life; they were
a documentary about the Dust Bowl. and operated the White Deer Drug never focused on how hard times were.
She was sixteen at the time and talked Store when she was younger. She also She was definitely the grandma
about going to town on a date. She worked for the US Postal Service and
everyone would want. Not only was

14 Amarillo Senior Link