Celebrating All of Our Moms This Mother's Day

Today, we are honoring all of the mothers who created our family tree.

These women come from all different walks of life and backgrounds, but it took each and every one of them to create the family we have today.

Pictured in the top row are: Katherine May Doty, Ruth Brown Ross, Amy Pryor Ross, Margaret Bush Brown Brewer, and Julia Postic Marodi. In the second row are Mary Balsis Brown, Maria Krisfalussy Postic Paroda, Roberta Phillians Ross, Viola Doty Marodi, Annabelle Ferguson Shipley, and Olivia Horner Phillians. In the third row are Martha Jane Mobley Horner, Blanche Shipley Phillians, Susan Unks Garbart, Margaret Price Bush, Laura Garbart Ferguson, Sandra Fadness Kraus Ross, and Lelia Sanders Ross.

Of course, there are many more female ancestors to honor, but these are the ones that I have photos of. We are thankful for the love, sacrifices, and the nurturing of all of these beautiful women.

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A 60-year-old letter from my Mom!

As I celebrate my 60th birthday today my thoughts are very much focused on how much I miss my mom and dad. When my mom passed away 10 years ago, I found letters she had written to her mother while she and my dad were living in St. Louis, Mo. in 1964 and 65. I’m so thankful that my grandmother Blanche saved everything, because the following letter details the day I was born: November 29, 1964. My mother was 19 at the time and my dad was 22. The letter was addressed to Mr. and Mrs. George Phillians, Box 883, Clarksville, PA 15322 with a St. Louis, MO Postmark of Dec. 7, 1964. Although my mom’s name was Roberta, her parents and everyone in her family called by her middle name, Lee, which is how she signed this letter. Saturday afternoon (December 5, 1964) Dear Mom & Dad, How are you? Fine I hope! We are all three fine here. Randi is the greatest. (We changed our minds about how to spell her name. We dropped the e & spell it Randi.) She’s so pretty. I guess I’m prejudiced though. H...

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