Memories of E. Sue Johns Terhune
The Early Years
This is a continuation of my Dad's story, although not in as much detail
as his wonderful account of his and Mom's early marriage days. Harold and
I were born when Mom and Dad lived on Stout in Northwest Detroit. It was
a small house for such a growing family so, in 1941, we all moved into
a much larger house on Trinity in the same section of Detroit and not far
from the homes of Dad's brother (Harold and Virginia Johns) and sister
(Elliott and Hazel Burnett). This is the house we grew up in. Trinity was
a beautiful tree-lined street with lots of wonderful neighbors and plenty
of children, who became life-long friends.
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World War II was raging in Europe and the Pacific, and although Dad
wanted to enlist, he was rejected because he had four small children and
his job was too important to the war effort. He became the Civil Defense
Captain of our neighborhood and Mom helped the Red Cross. Even though almost
everything from food to gas was rationed, I don't ever remember going without
enough food to eat or clothes to wear. I was the youngest in a line of
three cousins and my sister to get "hand-me-down" clothes but I was always
thrilled to get a box of "new" clothes to wear. This worked out fine until
I outgrew the donors. They stayed in the five-foot range and I eventually
reached five-foot seven in the eighth grade. In order to make a little
money and help the war effort, once a month I would take my wagon around
the neigh borhood and collect grease and newspapers. The local butcher
would buy the grease for two cents a pound and it would go to the making
of soap for the troops. The newspapers were taken to school during paper
drives for recycling.
| I remember when this photo was taken. The studio was hot and stuffy
and the photographer had taken about five shots by the time this one was
taken. That is why I look so glum.
Tom and Joyce standing, Harold and Sue seated - 1944 |
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Dorothy - 1949
Because of Mom and Dad's background in music, we all learned to sing
and Harold learned to play the ukelele. We would sing, often in four part
harmony, as we did the dishes each night. Harold got out of doing a lot
of dishes because he played his uke to accompany us. After dinner in the
summer, we would sit on the front porch and start singing for our own entertainment.
Before long the front yard would be full of our neighbors singing along
with us. Once, when my friends and I were teenagers on a hot, sultry summer
afternoon, we decided to have a party in our backyard. For want of a better
name we called it an "Unbirthday Party" and got the word out to the neighborhood
that all were invited to come. We made graham crackers with icing on them
and Kool-aid for refreshments and set up lights and a record player on
the back porch. The party was a great success with about 30 people, old
and young, dancing and singing in our backyard until it was time to go
home to bed.
AVALON BEACH
Uncle Harold and Aunt Virginia had (and their daughter, Florrie, still
owns) a cottage on Avalon Beach in Marine City, MI that they were nice
enough to share with their family. It is located on the waters of the St.
Clair River which flows between Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair, about 50
miles north of Detroit. When summer got hot in the city, we looked forward
to spending a week of swimming, sunning, and watching the large ships passing
by the cottage. We used to wave at the boys in speed boats as they went
by, hoping they would pull in at the dock and take us for a ride or water
skiing. This is how I met my future husband, Ed. When he was a Senior and
I was a Junior in high school, we hung around together for the summer and
even dated a few times when I went back to Detroit. We then went our separate
ways and, ten years later, on a vacation back to Avalon Beach with my Mom
and sisters-in-law, I spotted Ed going by in his boat and waved. He pulled
in to the dock, asked me to go for a ride, we talked for hours and three
days later we were engaged. I don't know if that was the slowest or fastest
romance on record but we have just celebrated our 32nd. Anniversary.
| Sue, Mom, and Joyce ready to go to my wedding shower. We look more like sisters than mother and daughters. Take a look at my hair-do. I sure am glad that back combing has gone out of style. |  |
| We all dressed up and took Mom and Dad to a fine restaurant for their 40th wedding anniversary in 1972. The red bow is on a wreath behind Mom, not on her head. ;0) |  |
| Jim and Dorothy's 50th Anniversary portrait. We invited all of Mom and Dad's family and friends to celebrate this milestone. About 60 people showed up and they were delighted. The biggest surprise occurred when Joyce walked out of the bedroom. We had flown her up from Texas the day before and Mom and Dad had no idea she was going to be there. |  |
| Here we are in my dining room in 1982 for Mom and Dad's 50th. Anniversary. The large globe is my chandelier (I always seem to have photos with something on top of someone's head.) Left to Right: Tom, Joyce, Dad, Mom, Sue, and Harold. |  |
Mom died 2 April 1991 at Faith Medical Center in East China Township, St. Clair County, MI. Dad died 29 June 1995 at Marwood Manor, Port Huron, St.Clair Co., MI. Dad wanted to be cremated so his ashes are buried with Mom in the same grave. They are together in death as they were in life.
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SUE'S GENEOLOGY PAGES FOR JIM
AND DOROTHY
TOM'S GENEOLOGY PAGES FOR JIM
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