Tender Tears

It is true --  once you start delving into your family history you start to feel really connected with those relatives or ancestors.

Since I chose to do my first research and story finding about my Grandma Davies I have been thinking about her a lot.  My feelings are so close to the surface and I had tears collecting as I had so many memories about her. She was really an amazing woman and really didn't have an easy life..

Her husband (William George Davies) died on the 18th birthday of her youngest child, Murray Davies. Her two daughters were already married by then, as Murray was 11 years younger than his sister, Glenna (my mom). Glenna Elaine Davies was married to Allan King Fowler, and Shirley Maxine Davies was married to Walter Joseph Griffin.
 

Grandpa Davies was a dry-land farmer in southern Alberta, Canada. What a difficult time that must have been, to be widowed early and to now have to take care of herself and her son. Grandma knew that there was really no way that she could take care of the farm with just herself and her son.  Her decision was to sell the farm, and move into town and learn a skill or a trade. At the time she didn't have much more than a sixth grade education (very typical for those days).She went to school to become a CNA or nurses' aid and she worked that skill for the remainder of her working days.

The watch she wore while going to school and while working as a nurse was one that my mom had bought for her dad- it was the only watch he ever owned- but that is a story for another day.