Do Unto Others... Part 2

Gloria Ann Hoffman (named after her grandma Anne Hoffman who lived until she was 99 and whose dishes Gloria still uses) was born in Yocum Hospital on a blistering hot July 18, 1935. Her parents were Edgar (Ted) Henry Hoffman from Bauer and Myrtle Mary Kathryn (West) Hoffman from Oskaloosa. Gloria was joined by twin brothers-- Jerry Joseph and Larry Henry-- on July 26, 1939 and by Rodney Edwin on February 24, 1943. They all lived on a farm north of what is now the Hy-Vee ice house.

Gloria was here daddy's girl. She followed him around the farm and tried to be his helper. Once little Gloria took water to him in the field, but found two interesting robin eggs while she was on her way and dropped them into his water to keep them. She had to go back for more water after her dad saw her floating treasures. Another time-- when she was about eleven-- Gloria got up early so that she could milk all of the cows and surprised her busy father. Her dad was more upset than pleased, however, because he was worried that his little daughter might have been kicked by one of those cows. When he wasn't farming. Ted was quite a good pool and softball player. In fact, he hit two home runs the day his twin boys were born. Ted also enjoyed fishing and hunting. Gloria recalls going hunting with him and moving around the trees to get the squirrels into places where her dad could get clear shots at them.

When she wasn't tagging around after her father, Gloria lay on blankets and looked up at the stars, made mud pies in jar lids, and played with her pet pigeons and her dog named Lassie. She also tried to do stunts on her pony, Trigger.

When she was 12 or 13, the family had gone to town to shop and go to a show, but they received word that their farmhouse had caught fire. Ted hurried back to the farm to try to save the house. He was slightly injured from being hit on the head with a brick, but he and others were unable to save the house. Gloria remembers her grandpa Henry Hoffman, a big man who seem "eight feet tall," putting his arm around her saying, "Now, Gloria Ann, you need to be strong for your mother." After the fire they moved to Curtis Avenue.

Myrtle's own mother, RoseMary (Kilfoil) West died at age 36, and so Myrtle had to quit school to care for her three brothers. Myrtle loved to cook and was sweet and loving. Her family was her life. She was also "the most particular woman in the world." When-- in later years-- Ted and Myrtle move in with Ken and Gloria, Gloria recalls having to wash and set her mother's hair in the morning before Myrtle went to the beauty shop to have her hair done in the afternoon. Every spring and fall every dish, every cupboard, everything was cleaned. Once Gloria found her mother cleaning her console television with a toothpick so that she could get rid of every bit of dust.

Gloria's parents were good Catholics who saw that she was baptised within one week after her birth and who faithfully attended Mass and took part in church functions. Gloria remembers how at Christmastime they baked a birthday cake for Baby Jesus and how one Christmas she portrayed and angel in a parish program. She and the other angels wore white dresses and wings and stood near the altar while holding their hands up. she recall looking up at little cherub heads on the ceiling and at Fr. O'Connor, who gave a stern look to any angel who forgot and lowered her hands.

Gloria walked two miles to Corey Country School, just west of West Lake. (Her dad said two miles wasn't that far; he had had to walk five miles to school.) Once while at recess three older boys put little Gloria up in a tree, and she couldn't get down until the teacher missed her and went looking for her and helped her down.

Gloria went on to attend Alma Clay and then Chariton High School. Unlike her friends, who enjoyed going to Roush's or Ligget's drug stores for Cokes and visit after school, Gloria had to go home to do the ironing and other household chores and to start supper because her mother worked at the cake decorations factory above Steinbach's meat locker. That was when Gloria really learned to cook. (And aren't we at Sacred Heart glad she did!)

Eventually Gloria got herself a job. At sixteen she worked as a waitress at the Corner Cafe on the southeast corner of the square. She earned 25 cents an hour, and so she especially remembers her customer Raymond Johnson, who left 25 cent tips for his malts. Gloria went on to work thirteen years off and on as a night operator at the telephone company, for Suzi James at a tanning and exercise salon, and then for seven years at Brown Shoe Fit Company, which she and Ken bought in partnership with Joe and Mary Paulsen.

To be continued...