While I know that today is not Mothers Day, which of course is observed on Sunday, it is Mothers Day for me. My Mother, Anna Hartzler King, was born on May 7, 1891. Her parents were Joseph Hartzler and Susan Hooley Hartzler. The rose on the left is in honor of my mother. Mother passed away on February 5, 1981. If she would have lived another three months she would have been 90.Mother grew up in a home where her help was needed at an early age, due in part at least, to the death of her father when she was only five years old. Later on, her marriage to my father, Henry J. King, did not change her need to work, as Pop, as we called him, became a traveling evangelist and was away from home a lot while the children were growing up. Mother became an entrepreneur of sorts as she needed to find ways to help support the family, especially during the depression and following. In my lifetime she ran a hatchery, bred registered dogs, and started a greenhouse, which is still in existence in Arthur, IL, known as the Arthur Flower Shop.
I have many fond memories of my mother, including one at a very early age on the farm near Harper, KS. I can remember my mother holding me on her lap in a rocking chair in the front room of that farm house. During my teen years I can also remember many "discussions" between Mother and Father, some of which grew a bit loud, and most of which ended with Pop just becoming quiet and letting Mom talk. That was his way of ending a not-so-pleasant discussion.
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till think of my parents often, even though its been almost 30 years since their passing. Growing up some of my siblings used to think I got special treatment from our parents since I was their "baby." I don't know about that but I do know that I learned to respect my parents very highly and always sought to please them, even though I know I failed a lot with that. I regret that I was not able to spend more time with them in their waning years, but that was not possible since we lived a long way from them then. I was glad that two of my sisters, Estella and Dorothy, were able to be with them a lot during that time, and that they were able to be there during or soon following their deaths.And so time goes on. Some day my children will have the opportunity to reflect on my life. I trust that their memories will be as good as mine are of my parents.
Pilgrim on the way
