Momma Was a 50's Girl!

 Momma Was a Fifties Girl: Emma Faye Laney

 You know those 1950s girls, those bobby sock-wearing, sweaters, saddle shoes, and peanuts in their Coca-Cola, who thought “fun” was their middle name? Those girls of the fifties who wore their hair snipped in bobs or a swinging ponytail made a fashion statement for sure! My mother was one of those girls.

 

Emma Faye Laney, born on the family farm near Laney Ridge Road in Barry County, Missouri, was the third daughter of Charley and Belvia (Ross) Laney.  Charley worked for the Works Progress Administration on road projects. He was killed in August 1947 when a hay truck hit the car he rode in. Mom was nine years old.

 Belvia remarried in September 1949. The children were dispersed to adoptive homes. But Mom went to live with her aunt. In 1951, she became the foster daughter of Dr. and Mrs. James Holmes and their daughter, Sandra. Sandra was overcome with happiness to have a sister! Mom and Sandra were best friends, continuing their friendship into adulthood. The Holmes family was beloved in their community. Mom was proud to be part of their family.  

 

School days consisted of Mom’s favorite studies: Home Economics and Art Class. She was a High School cheerleader. She normally kept her hair cut in a wavy bob. She and her friends were the typical teenagers who loved the radio, parties, dreaded homework, and lipstick and nail polish. One thing is for sure, my mother rocked her lipstick. And her life was good again! I have many photographs of her and her friends in their zany, wild, wonderful teenage days.

 During each Halloween, the local businesses participated in storefront window painting. The high school kids worked in groups to paint the windows. Prizes were awarded to the best-dressed windows.  Mom and her group of painters won multiple times each year. Halloween celebrations included a street dance, a carnival, games, and food galore.

 At the 1953 Halloween Street dance, Mom met Ronnie Utter, and sparks flew. It was love at first sight. They married in December at a local church. They made their home in the neighboring town, where his folks lived. I was the first-born child and the only girl. They had three more children, all boys.

 

An unfortunate event occurred in 1960. Dad asked for a divorce. Like a slap in the face, his request hit Mom hard, and she fought it. But to her remorse, several months later the divorce was granted. He worked on the Northern States pipeline and road district projects, and he stayed up north.

 

Mom remained at home living with Dad’s grandmother. Mom was a twenty-four-year-old divorced woman with four young children. In the 1960s, people frowned on women in that category. Life was surely hard during that time.

 One day, Grandma needed a screw for a piece of furniture she was working on. She sent Mom to the Hayden Garage to get the needed screw. She met the local mechanic, Frank Bartkoski, and he helped her find what she needed. They began dating. Soon, they joked that Grandma sent Mom to get a screw and she got one! (True story!) Mom married Frank in 1961 and moved back to her hometown. A few years later, they had one son.

Mom was the model housewife of the 1960s. She kept a tidy house, and she cooked scrumptious meals. She helped at the elementary school with the other mothers. She sewed Barbie doll clothes and sold them to her friends for their daughters. During the school programs and events, she sewed costumes and worked doing whatever was needed.  In later years she worked as an Avon lady and stored the products in a pink hardshell case. We loved opening that little case. The array of Avon cosmetics was tucked neatly inside, their colors and fragrances tempting like candy.  

 All through the years, Mom stayed in touch with her family, especially her brothers and sisters. Through the years she organized reunions and get-togethers. They were always welcome at our house and we visited them often in their homes. We grew up with our cousins and memories were definitely made!

 During summers, my brothers played little league baseball. We attended all the games. Each Sunday we were in church. I was a Girl Scout, and the boys were Boy Scouts.

 Gardening was a special talent for Mom. The acre garden we tended was alive with all varieties of vegetables. A long row of glorious Zinnias and Marigolds divided the garden. She told us the flowers kept the bugs away from the veggies.

 The bounty of the vegetable garden was stored in glass Ball canning jars. Each summer the kitchen was a hot mess with Mom and her canning adventures. One year she had so many Rutgers tomatoes that she decided to learn how to make homemade ketchup. The ketchup was delicious, but she never made it again as it took bunches of tomatoes, and processing those tomatoes was a huge and exhaustive chore.

Mom loved making blackberry and strawberry jam and jelly.

 I was her sidekick. Where she was, I was. Whatever she attempted, I was beside her learning. She taught me all the secrets to keeping a house clean, washing laundry, hanging laundry on the clotheslines, making beds, ironing (sprinkling the clothes and rolling them tight), and cooking.

 Mom and Frank divorced in 1971. She found a good job working as a supervisor at a poultry plant. She was loved by her line workers, and she stood beside them doing as much work as they did. She bought her first home and embraced life.

 Unfortunately, Mom suffered debilitating strokes. She worked through the illness, retired, and adapted to the new way of life. The last stroke ended her freedom of living alone. The doctors insisted that she be monitored day and night. She lived in the nursing home until her death in 2013. 

 

Through the happiness and hardships of life, Emma Faye Laney never gave up. She stood for what she believed in and taught her children how to live right. I am my mother’s daughter. She made me strong and industrious, learning to survive in the world. I celebrate my mother this month during Women’s History Month.

I miss you, Momma! I wish we could see each other one more time, and spend the day together, and I'd ask a million questions. I love you and I'll see you again one of these days in the Gloryland! 

Momma truly was a fun-loving Fifties girl!