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Written by Regina (DeCoursey) Sinsky, 1995
In Kansas City, Kansas
Dad was a humble and unassuming man, a good, good man. He would never be the first in line.
Once, he and mom were dressed to go to a formal dinner - a Notre Dame dinner - mom in a long gown and dad in a tuxedo. When Mary saw them, she said, "Oh Daddy, you look just like a Sinator!
I remember cruising around KCK with Dad and Mom in the evening to see how the other ice-cream parlors were doing. And I remember driving with them to go out to the Indian - or Big Chief as it was named - to get a root beer soda. Of course, Big Chief or Indian isn't PC now! The stand or building was shaped like an Indian Chiefs head, feathers, war paint and all. Does anyone else remember it?
In California
We moved to the orange grove - Yankee Grove on Placentia Ave in Anaheim when Aileen (Sister Regina) was at St. Mary's College in Leavenworth. I was a freshman in Ward High School, and Mary and Jack were still in St. Peter's. The four and a half acres cost $4800.1 That included orange trees, a chicken house, and the house.
On the orange grove, the only time I can remember Dad saying "Damn" (outside of the stock market) was when he caught one of the chickens loose on the driveway. Dad said, "Damn chicken." We chided him, but he explained that Damn was the name of the chicken.
As far as being a non-drinker, Dad did like his bourbon with a little sugar and water. He didn't encourage drinking. I remember once, a Jesuit (whose name I've forgotten) was visiting. We offered him fresh squeezed orange juice. The priest asked if we had any gin in the house to put in the O.J. Of course, there was none so Father had to drink his juice straight!
Another time, a priest, a distant relative from San Francisco was visiting. I remember his name, Father Pope (that's POPE!) Just as Father was leaving, Dad slipped a folded bill in his hand. I can still see the size of Father's eyes when he saw how much it was for!
They were such generous parents and gracious. Mom would always keep eating as long as guests at our dining table were eating. And with the huge number of soldiers, sailors, marines who came to us during WWII - and their appetites! - Mom had to eat a lot. She felt the boys would be embarrassed if they had to finish the meal alone. While Mom was getting dinner (fried chicken, mashed potatoes and case of ice-cream for dessert) she said she couldn't bake any good pies. Imagine that in KCK!
While Mom was doing this, Dad would take the guests on a tour of the area. Those were great tours! I'm sure half of the information was false, made up by Dad as he went along. Marie Wilson - older folks will remember her did not live down the street for one thing. But we really liked to listen to his spiel. It changed all the time.
Incidentally, Mom came down with typhus! I think it was in 1947 or 1948. She was taken to St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica. She nearly died, but there was a new drug Streptomycin (!) that worked for her. The health department wanted to know everywhere Mom had been so they could track down the source. But we never found out the results or their conclusions.
I remember at Dad's funeral. He died of a heart attack. All of the relations from KC came out. We had the "funeral meats" in the yard of their home on Leonora in Anaheim. We all thought that Dad would have loved it! He did enjoy having visitors.
But at Mass, the priest almost caused a miracle to happen! He said that Mr. DeCoursey was a fervent Catholic (True). He said that Mr. DeCoursey had raised a fine family (remains to be seen). And this is where the miracle almost occurred - the priest said that Mr. DeCoursey paid his taxes honestly and gladly (Not True!!). Dad hated paying taxes. He seemed to be always feuding with the State of California, the State of Kansas, and the IRS. He probably said a few "damns" during these times. Anyway, when Father said Dad gladly paid taxes, I thought Dad would rise up out of the casket and object strongly!
1 $4800 had about the same "purchase power" in 1941, when Yankee Grove was bought, as $67,600 did in 2007.
[picture] Mike and Jerry Sinsky (grandsons of William Benedict DeCoursey) at the Colorado mines, 1985.
