Anna Augusta Carroll

Life Story of Anna Augusta (Seefeldt) Carroll Written by Anna and Russell Carroll in 1986 (Additions/changes by Anna Carroll and Maxine Tinney) 8 August 1921 - 23 June 2015 On the night of 27 August 1921 stormy weather caused the Seefeldt family to take refuge in the cellar outside the house on the Moody farm in Marshall, Oklahoma. Anna Sophia Seefeldt was pregnant and in the early morning of the 28th Anna Augusta Seefeldt was born. Anna started school when they lived on the Mahan place, northeast of Marshall, and Anna's first grade teacher was Miss Ingle. Since the older girls had school until 4:00 and Anna got out at 3:30, she waited outside. In the winter, she and other waiting children warmed their hands around the crack in a window and waited for time to pass for the older sisters to be out, so that parents could pick them up. The girls generally walked, but on cold, rainy days Gus would get the girls in a covered wagon and on icy, snowy days would fetch them with the homemade sled. The girls wore long underwear that came down over their legs and then covered them with black stockings, and purple bloomers under their dresses. The dresses were generally made of cotton. Mother, Anna, cut the girl's hair with bangs and the side and back were ear length. Lunches were carried in round lunch pails and consisted of a biscuit with butter and jelly or sausage or speck (bacon) and a roll, cookie, or piece of cake. Water could be drunk from the water fountain. Anna remembers teachers reading stories to the children after lunch. The children had both a morning and afternoon recess. Each grade had about 20 to 30 students and had to present a chapel program in the auditorium during the year. Grade cards were given every six weeks and had to be signed by the parents and returned. For a summer church program mother Anna made dresses for Anna, Jo, and Almeda in one day's time out of flowered material that was 5 cents a yard. Anna's favorite house as a child was the Mahan farm with 2 beds upstairs, where she generally slept with Jo. They enjoyed playing house, making mud pies decorated with tamarack branches (and sometimes tasting them), playing hop scotch, jacks, water fighting, and barrel rolling by standing on the barrel. Sometimes one of the girls would get inside the barrel and be rolled around. Other activities included taking music lessons, playing the piano, playing school on rainy days and making homemade ice cream on Sunday afternoons. Anna did assorted chores including dishes, watering and feeding the chickens, gathering eggs, milking cows, feeding cows and hogs, but her main task was carrying wood and kindling for stoves and kerosene for the lamps and stoves. The girls were delegated specific chores and did them without question as the tamarack switch lying on the stove served as a reminder. If the girls misbehaved the switch was used. When Anna was in the third grade Gus and Anna took their children to the Oklahoma State Fair in Oklahoma City during the school year and the girls were excused from school for the day. They packed a lunch and placed it in the wash boiler and tied it on the running board of their 1928 Chevrolet. At the fair Anna remembers watching people ride a canvas dirigible balloon which would take them aloft for a short time. Anna remembers riding the merry-go-round. They stayed late in the evening to watch the fireworks. They got in a rain storm on the way home and at Brown's corner; north of Crescent they stopped and slept in the car under a big tree, hoping that by morning the muddy roads would be dry and passable.   About 1930 on a shopping trip to Enid, Gustav carried an extra large box to the back seat of their 1928 Chevrolet. When they arrived home the box was carried to the house and not mentioned again, but knowing Santa would soon be on his way, the inquisitive young girls discovered dolls in one of the storage trunks. The Christmas tree was decorated with homemade paper chains, popcorn strings, decorated cookies, and traditional family ornaments, and real candles were placed in holders and attached to the tree. The candles were lighted for a short time on Christmas Eve. The children hung their stockings and on Christmas morning, they would find them filled with apples, oranges, and hard Christmas candy. One Christmas Anna remembers being given a box of dominoes by Aunt Laura. One Christmas Gus dressed in a sheet and played Santa and brought gifts for the children to the door in a pillow case. Anna then wrote a poem that "Santa wore shoes just like our Dad". Another Christmas when Richard still believed in Santa, the girls secretly placed a wagon by the Xmas Tree, then participated in a Christmas play at church, and Richard was delighted to find the wagon by the tree when they came home. A man from a traveling medicine show asked Gus if he could store some things on his farm for awhile, and Gus agreed. One of the items was a piano which was kept in the house and the girls enjoyed making music on this piano along with their own piano. Our music lessons were paid for by our mother quilting quilts for the music teacher, Mrs. Ingle. In high school the students imitated the teachers for an assembly, and Anna imitated the band director. She participated in glee club and played clarinet for 4 years in the band. Music theory was her favorite class. Anna attended the Junior/Senior banquet and wore a long yellow, store bought, taffeta dress with three ruffles around the bottom that cost $5.00. Permanents were $1.00, and Anna's hair was curly on the sides and long in the back. Mascara and lipstick were about the only makeup worn. In her senior year Anna got a wine-colored tweed coat and hat. After graduation in 1939 Anna worked at the Co-op Grain Elevator as a secretary a short while. During World War II she worked on the draft board registering boys who were being drafted into service. She also helped families with new born babies in caring for them and doing household chores. During the harvest time she also helped haul wheat in the pickup and team and wagon. Wheat was hauled to the home granary with team and wagon. and to the elevator with the pickup. Later Anna moved to Enid and lived in a rented room and worked as a waitress in a restaurant. Anna Seefeldt and Russell E. Carroll met in Enid where he was stationed at the Enid Army Flying School. They met one March evening in a cafe and both attended a public dance where they became acquainted. They went dancing and bowling on other dates. They saw each other occasionally and Anna then retuned to Marshall for the harvest season. Russell came to Marshall by train to see her for the weekend. Another weekend he came by car with another couple and the roads were muddy, and they got stuck. Russell walked to the Seefeldt home and mother, Anna Seefeldt, drove the tractor and pulled the car out. In the fall, Anna return to live in Enid, and they began dating. On one occasion Russell gave Anna a heart-shaped, mother-of-pearl pin inscribed with the name Ann. They decided to marry, but the minister tried to talk them out of getting married due to the war circumstances. They set a date, but were unaware that it was an election holiday. Mother Anna came to Enid on the wedding day; Jo also came, a friend from work was bridesmaid, and an army buddy of Russell's served as best man. They went to the court house for the marriage license and found the office closed for the election holiday. The county sheriff came up and asked what the problem was. He unlocked the door, and called the county court clerk, who came in and issued the marriage license. The evening paper related this story with the heading "Holiday no barrier for Enid soldier". They were married mid-afternoon in the Presbyterian Church. Anna wore a two piece blue dress with white collar, and Russell wore his army uniform. After the ceremony, buddies of Russell gave them a dinner reception at the Tijuana Club of 'Chicken in the Rough'. Three days after they were married in November of 1942, Russell was transferred to a new base in Independence, Kansas. As housing was hard to find the first month they lived in a sleeping room and ate meals at restaurants. They did not have a car, so lived near the street car line, and Russell walked six blocks to catch a ride to the air base. They moved to several different houses. Russell's mother, Beatrice Irene Zimmerman visited in the summer of 1943 and on July 12, Beatrice Anna was born in the Independence Hospital. Diapers were washed in a wash tub. In 1945 Anna spent three days in the hospital waiting for the birth of Almeda Maxine on 12 January. Anna's sister, Almeda, and mother Anna had come from Oklahoma to take care of Bea while Anna was in the hospital. In February 1945, Russell was sent to Scott Field, Illinois for training to become a tail gunner in aircraft. World War II ended and he was given an Honorable Discharge from the service after serving 4 years 8 months. Russell and Anna began civilian life at Chelsea, Oklahoma with Russell in the Job Training Program as an auto mechanic. They returned to Marshall in the winter of 1947, and lived 1/2 miles west of Anna and Gustav in a house called the "mousy house" while they built living accommodations on the back of 1 1/2 ton truck which consisted of bunk beds for the girls, divan used for a bed, two burner kerosene cook stove, an ice box, trunk for storage, and a six volt radio. On February 3, 1948 they left for Coos Bay, Oregon where Russell's sister, Maxine, lived with her husband, Harry Campbell. The morning they left Bea did not want to leave her grandmother's house, and said "I only want to travel this one day." They trucked south near the Mexican border across Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona to California as the mountain passes were snow covered. They continued up the coast of California. Arriving in Coos Bay, Russell worked in the saw mill pulling slabs off the green chain. Many summers, weekend days were spent enjoying Sunset Beach on the Pacific Ocean. After a wiener roast on the beach, Russell's step-mother, Alice, remarked to Maxine, "You roasted your wiener on a stick", and Maxine said, "Yes, but I didn't eat it." On a fishing trip Maxine made her a pickle sandwich with two pickle slices and a small piece of bread. Clams were often dug on the beach when the tide was low. Coming home in the car from one beach outing, Maxine was frightened because a crab climbed out of the bucket. Russell got bronchitis so they decided to leave the misty, rainy climate of the coast and went inland to Roseburg to pick English walnuts and onto Bakersfield to pick olives. In 1948 they returned to Oklahoma for Christmas and planned to pick lettuce in Arizona, but weather caused the lettuce to freeze, so they headed back to Oklahoma. Russell got auto mechanic work with Dale Wilson Chevrolet, drove the school bus for Marshall school, tied steel on the Enid grain elevator, and managed the Marshall pool hall. Russell drove the school bus with the Marshall High school band to the Guthrie 89ers Parade, and the girls spent the day with Anna and Gustav on the acreage. While running across the yard, Bea ran into a barbed wire fence and cut her lip. Grandmother Anna took Bea to Dr. DeWitt for stitches. While Russell worked at Enid, he brought home small plastic Easter baskets with candy eggs for the girls. Anna and her father Gustav connected two small houses together to make living quarters for the family. New tricycles were bought for Bea and Maxine, and Santa brought them large dolls for Christmas. During the winter the hardware store caught fire, and with no fire department, the men helped as they could. Russell climbed the ladder to the first story awning, and as he headed up the ladder to the top of the building, the ladder slipped and he fell to the awning, slid off the awning, and down to the curb. Russell ended up with a broken nose, a broken arm, and two sprained knee-caps. Bea started school and they moved again. Close to the following Christmas when Maxine was in the first grade, she decided she was tired of school and wanted to stay home. Allowed to stay home one day on the advice of her teacher, Ms. Draegor, Maxine concluded that school was more fun. Bea was director of the Marshall primary school band, and Maxine played the sand blocks. They wore white slacks and shirts with red capes and pillbox hats. It's a fascinating and beautiful journey to parenthood, and along the way we learn so much, not just about our kids, but ourselves. Anna listens to her family, consistent with discipline, rules and boundaries, provides a sense of security, ability to laugh, teach, set good example, always present, expresses her love, empathy, creativity, patience, and supports dreams and decisions. In 1951 Russell began a career in Civil Service at Vance Air Force Base in Enid by dispatching airplane parts and supplies. The family moved to Waukomis where Bea and Maxine attended school. Anna also worked at the base as dinner cook for the Base Exchange Dining Facility. She made a dozen pies each day, prepared vegetables and meats to feed a hundred people, plus stew and chili. About twice a week she ordered food supplies for the cafeteria. She then attended the Enid Business College. The family moved to Oklahoma City in 1960 where Russell issued registration and N-numbers for civilian aircraft for the Federal Aviation Agency and received Outstanding Performance and Sustained Superior Performance Awards. Ann began working for the American Fidelity Insurance Agency and later did clerical worked with the State of Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. Russell retired from the Federal Government with 30 years of service, and Anna retired from the State of Oklahoma with 14 years of service. In 1961 when Anna turned 40 years old, Russell said "Im going to trade you in for two 20s". Anna responded "You're not wired for 220." Bea and Maxine attended and graduated from Northwest Classen High School in Oklahoma City in 1961 and 1962. They both received their Bachelor of Arts Degrees from Oklahoma City University in 1966. Bea was married to William Lee Carl and had two sons, Tony and Keith Carl. Lee (Buddy) was a pharmacist and owned the Palace Drug (1972-77) and Duncan Drug (1976-83) in Duncan, Oklahoma. Bea taught for the Duncan Public school from 1974 - 2000. She received her Bachelor's Degree in 1966 and Master of Arts Degree in Education in 1987. They built a unique geodesic dome home in Duncan and later moved to Norman. They served several years as volunteer coordinators during the summer months at the Glorietta Conference Center. Bea and Lee's son, Tony graduated from Duncan High School in 1985 and Oklahoma University 1989, married Candi Thornton in 1990, and currently works in the Human Resources Department of the National Division of Hertz Rental Car. Tony and Candi have two children: Lauren, born in 1992 and Braden in 1995. Bea and Lee's other son, Keith, received engineering degrees 1992 and MS in 1995 from Oklahoma State University, married Mary Hoffman in 1998 and currently works for Bell Helicopter. Keith and Mary have a daughter, Katelyn Card who was born in 2007. After 50 years of marriage, Lee passed in March 2014. Bea met Roy Woodard and they married in October 2014 and currently live in Norman, Oklahoma. Maxine received her Bachelor's Degree in 1966 and Master of Arts Degree in 1969 and has more than 100 graduate hours beyond her Masters including courses in Computer. Maxine married Robert D. (Bob) Tinney in 1975 in Ansbach, Germany and have traveled throughout the world to some 75 countries, living in Germany for 8 years and Saudi Arabia for 17 years. Bob holds both his Bachelor and Masters Degrees in Business Education and Administration. Maxine served as Coordinator of Computer Instruction and Bob as Human Resource Director for the Saudi Arabian International School in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and in the Taipei American School in Taiwan. After 32 years as overseas educators, they are retired in Prescott, AZ in 2001. Anna's favorite activities have included fishing, playing the organ, cooking (angel food cakes), crocheting, quilting, making hand crafted items, and canning garden vegetables. During the bead making craze of the 1970s she made many necklaces, rings, bracelets, and sold them at work and to friends. Although living in the big city, Russell always planted a big, backyard vegetable garden including corn, tomatoes, peas, potatoes, green beans, carrots, cucumbers, radishes, lettuce, onions, and okra. He roto-tilled the garden and always gathered the vegetables and helped prepare them for Anna to can. Fishing has been a favorite sport for Anna and Russell throughout their years. They had a 30-foot travel trailer and enjoyed numerous fishing trips during the year, often being joined by family and friends. They enjoy walking, playing cards, and having friends over for fish fries. They have traveled throughout their married life and have traveled to many US States, including yearly retirement trips to Michigan and Florida with their trailer. Anna and Russell also visited Europe twice. They toured the countries of Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Belgium, and Netherlands with Bob and Maxine. Russell fell in the bathroom of their home on 10 December 1999 and passed away from a Subdural Hematoma. After about a year, Anna sold her home and travel trailer and moved to the Baptist Village Retirement Center in north Oklahoma City. She sang in the Center's Singing Saints Choir and walked the treadmill and was an active member of the New Hope United Methodist Church where she attended Church and Sunday School on Sundays and the Keenagers Group on Thursdays. While living independently at the Baptist Center in Oklahoma City Anna had a lovely two bedroom, two bathroom home and did her own cleaning. She had an angioplasty and a stent inserted in 2002, a pacemaker placement in June 2005, and in March 2011 she had a pacemaker replacement. In April 2011 Anna moved to Rivermont independent living in Norman, where she participated in various activities including Choir, floral arrangements, Bingo, Sunday/Monday Church services, and Exercise Class. She continued an active and enjoyable life style. In December 2014, she moved to Rivermont Gardens Assisted Living to receive assistance with dressing, bathing, and hygiene. Needing more assistance in a safer environment, she moved in February 2015 to Rivermont Reflections Memory Care. Anna's life traits are that she was guided by traditional family values, had a strong work-ethic, loved unconditionally, and was a caring wife, mother, grand-mother, great grand-mother and friend. Anna is remembered as the Heart of our family.