I was lucky enough to be a part of my Grandmother Elizabeth Carsey's last 40 years. We played countless card games, read books, played dress-up and many other games at her house. My family spent almost every holiday with her and Grandpa (until his death in 1985.) She was loved by the entire neighborhood and was often referred to as the Neighborhood Grandma. I held a special pride in the fact that I could call her mine!
Through her simplicity, she taught me the basics of life and the things which make you happy. Love your family, your church and music. The only thing worth crying over is beautiful music. And above all else, approach life with a sense of humor. I have done my best to live up to her expectations and pass those lessons onto my children.
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(No Post today) I’m sure she is overwhelmed with the first week of school activities. We will soon find out where she will live and who she befriends. Stay tuned!
Here is what else was happening 80-years-ago today.
The 8th Nuremberg Rally formally opened in Nazi Germany. Adolf Wagner read a proclamation written by Hitler which first established the concept of a “Thousand Year Reich”, declaring that the Nazi revolution was complete and there were to be no more revolutions in Germany for the next 1,000 years.
11,000 public transit workers went on strike in Tokyo, Japan
Now lets go back an entire century! I found another article written by her father the Rev. JP Lancaster about the family’s adventures while living in Torreon, Mexico during the Mexican revolution. See the Escape from Mexico page. Elizabeth was 4 at this time, her mother Elsie was pregnant with Ditty – her third child. **I am beginning to translate the article which is very hard to read. Check back regular for updates.
School! Not so hard as I had expected with crowded conditions – Forty six 8th in my home room to being with. Went to girls chorus with Mrs. Burdette. Given up on the apartment idea….
Here’s a look at what else was happening 80-years-ago today.
The Senate Munitions Committee met for the first time in the Caucus Room of the Senate Office Building to investigate whether arms makers had unduly influenced the U.S. decision to enter World War I in 1917
Eight were killed by bombs in Havana during a nationwide strike of government workers. President Carlos Mendieta promised a relaxation of martial law
Teacher’s meeting – I got there a little late but heard about the same old tale. Met everyone (?) of the teachers. In the afternoon I got some money and looked for apartments. None to be had sans roommate. Took glasses to be fixed.
Here’s a look at what else was happening 80-years-ago today.
The textile worker’s strike began in the United States as approximately 1 million workers walked off the job shortly before midnight.
Left Van Horn at 3:45 A.M after a hectic day of packing. Saw Copenhavers and lost my money but Junior lent me enough to get to Roswell – Very nice trip over. Did not deliver Mrs. Ballard’s polvera* in the scramble . Mrs. Burdette me-
*spanish dictionary
What else was happening 80-years-ago-today.
The college All-star football game between the best college players and the Chicago Bears was played at Soldier Field in Chicago.
The German press office announced that 65,000 Jews had emigrated from Germany since Hitler became chancellor on January 30, 1933. 21,000 of them had gone to France, 10,000 to Palestine, 8,000 to Poland and 4,000 to Czecheslovakia.
The Nightmare of 1934 painting was vandalized by an illegal immigrant who set it on fire because he found it offensive to the Roosevelt family.
www.snipview.comChicago Daily Tribune Aug 31, 1934
(no entry) We know she is spending time with family in El Paso and preparing for the move to Roswell for her second teaching job. Her next entry is tomorrow!
A look ahead: She is getting ready to leave for Roswell. I’m surprised how often this teacher stays out late on a work night. And we find out what movie inspires the latest dance craze!
Here’s a look at what was making headlines 80 years-ago today.
The Reichsmusikkammer banned non-Aryans from playing in German orchestras.
Nazi Germany ordered workers under 25 years of age to surrender their jobs to older unemployed men, especially fathers of large families. All employers would be required to submit reports to the labour office divulging the number of workers they employ under the age of 25 and what measures they would be taking to replace them
(no entry) We know she is spending time with family in El Paso and preparing for the move to Roswell for her second teaching job.
What’s ahead for this working gal in the Wild West – stay tuned to find out why Ty-Ty scolds her after receiving flowers from Elizabeth following an operation.
But here’s a look at what was happening in the news 80-years-ago-today.
Interesting headline from the El Paso Herald-Post August 29, 1934
Arnold and Elizabeth 1953
While Elizabeth is on hiatus, I have invited guest writers. This poem is one from her daughter-in-law Dixie Carsey. Who has published her own book of poetry. It describes the first time she met her future in-laws.
(no entry) We know she is spending time with family in El Paso and preparing for the move to Roswell for her second teaching job.
A little bit to look forward to in the coming months – she hopes to get her own apartment in Roswell – it’s harder than you think. And you’ve heard of school overcrowding – wait until you find out how many students are in her homeroom class!
Here’s what else was happening 80-years-ago today:
In an address to 2,000 Catholic nurses, Pope Pius XI commented on the Abyssinia Crisis by saying, “A war of sheer conquest and nothing else would certainly be an unjust war. It ought, therefore, to be unimaginable – a thing sad and horrible beyond expression. An unjust war is unthinkable. We cannot admit its possibility, and we deliberately reject it … if it be true that the need for expansion and the need for frontier defence do exist, then we cannot forbid ourselves from hoping that the need will be met by means other than war.”
A crowd protests the courts closing The Caravan Club, a gay friendly club in London.
Some more about the W.A. Carsey Family.
Carsey family 1953: From left: Alan, Norman Elizabeth, Tommy, Arnold, Frank
Elizabeth and Arnold married in 1938. They celebrated 47 wedding anniversaries before Arnold died of a stroke. They have four children – all boys. Weldon Alan was born in 1939 and earned a BA in Electrical Engineering from the University of NM. Norman was born a year later and attended the University of NM before going into business with his father and Alan in Flagstaff, AZ. Alan went on to purchase a campground in Maine and Norman retired from the Westinghouse Nuclear Facility in New Mexico. Frank came along in 1943. He and younger brother Tommy, born in 1946, went on to earn PHD’s. Frank earned his Doctorate in Physics from UCLA. He worked on experiments in Antarctica. Before retiring, he was published in several scientific journals and even appeared in two scientific documentary’s. Tom has been published in many journals as well for his research for NOAA in the Coastal Ecosystem Group and Ocean Chemistry. Grandma was so proud of her son’s. She said she was only waiting for one to receive a Nobel Prize!
Obviously intelligence was not on short order in the Carsey household, with two teachers at the helm, it was probably expected. Please remember, Grandma taught Spanish and English – they were probably the only scientists and engineers with proper grammar!
Throughout their childhood, the Lancaster siblings were also a strong influence for the Carsey boys. They grew up knowing their aunts, uncles and cousins. Many keep in touch to this day. In fact, since I grew up in the same town as my grandparents, I was also privy to the Lancaster’s special connection. We would often attend celebrations where the group would open up singing “Hallelujah” at the top of their lungs – often with wine glasses raised in the air for a toast! Such love and fun!
The Soviet Union rejected the U.S. government’s protest note, replying that it had “no facts which could be regarded as a violation on the part of the Soviet Government of its obligations.”
Grandma is on hiatus for a few days. She was not only a big part of my life, but of my siblings as well. Below is what my sister had to say at her funeral.
Hello everyone, my name is Alena Carsey Gfeller, I am Elizabeth’s granddaughter. I have been asked to eulogize my grandmother today, and I am honored to do so.
Alena and Grandma 2007
As many of you know, this is not the first funeral I have had to attend recently. Last August, my nephew Matt (on my husband’s side) died at the young age of 15. As you can imagine, Mattie’s death has given me a new perspective on a lot of things. But, having gone through such a tragic event has actually made my job today easier. The simple fact is that I think we all would consider ourselves lucky to live to age 99 and to be able to say we have lived such a joyous and fulfilled life as my grandmother.
Elizabeth 6 months
Elizabeth Lancaster Carsey did, in fact, live a very long and full life. She was born in 1909 at the turn of the century in Camagüey, Cuba. Grandma died just 3 months short of 100 years old. We can only imagine what she saw and experienced in her 99 years and 9 months of life. There are events that you and I have read about in history books, but my Grandma actually lived them. Think, since 1909, grandma witnessed changes such as in the:
1910’s – sinking of Titanic and the first world war
1920’s – color television, Lindburgh’s famous flight
1930s – the FIRST great depression
1940’s – Attack on Pearl Harbor and WWII
1950’s – construction began on the interstate highway system
1960’s saw the civil rights movement
And, all of this happened before I was born. I was born in 1969 – when Grandma was 60. But… we are not here for a history lesson. We are here to celebrate the life of an extraordinary woman. A woman who played an integral part of my life.
What I want to remember today and always, and what I want to share with you, is the legacy that Grandma created, the memories that she inspire including her children and her grandchildren.
As we sit here today, a day to celebrate a life – Elizabeth’s life, we should remember what an amazing woman we had as a mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, neighbor or friend.
I have such vivid memories of this wonderful woman. I was lucky enough to be born and raised here in Flagstaff. I was lucky enough to have grandparents who lived just down the street. Grandma and Grandpa Carsey were always in our lives – beginning with my earliest memories as a child.
When thinking about what to say here today, my mind filled with colorful memories of this vivacious, proud, special (and sometimes stubborn) woman. My memories of Grandma can be triggered by simple words – words that associate my childhood, my teenage years and then my adulthood with my grandparents. I am sure that many of you have special ways to remember loved ones – but I think we may share many of these memories of Elizabeth via certain what I call “trigger” words..
Let’s start with the word Arnold, in my mind AKA Grandpa – in more formal terms, Willaim Arnold Carsey.
Carsey family 1953: From left Alan, Norman, Elizabeth, Tommy, Arnold and Frank
Grandpa was the love of grandma’s life, the father of her children and most importantly for me, my grandfather. Grandma and Grandpa met as young teachers, they married and had 4 children – all boys, Alan, Frank, Norman and Tommy. Grandma and Grandpa were inseparable – doing everything together – working, living, teaching, raising a family, going into business with their son, traveling after retirement, taking care of perfect grandchildren. One particular memory of Grandma and Grandpa was that when taking care of those perfect grandchildren, they would talk in Spanish when they did
1937
not want us to know what they were saying. Grandpa suffered a debilitating stroke in 1975 and Grandma never left his side. Grandpa died 10 years later having experienced a wonderful quality of life that was completely attributable to grandmother. Grandma catered to Grandpas every need during this time without complaint. Now, my Grandma and Grandpa can be together, as they always have been and should be as eternity dictates.
Another word to describe Grandma – Music! Grandma loved music. She studied music while attending DePauw University and we all know that her piano was a part of her. Grandma shared her gift of music with her countless piano students from the neighborhood, her family, friends and pretty much anyone who wanted to listen. I know I will always remember the music that filled her home.
Mexico. Grandma spent many of her young years living in Mexico with her missionary parents and siblings. Anyone who ever stepped foot into Grandma’s house – knew of her love for Mexico. Yes, that little red house with the lime green carpet and lime green walls was filled to the brim with Mexican art, rugs, and knickknacks. Also, her enchiladas were fabulous!
Red. Grandma loved the color red. She had a red house, red cars, loved red everything. Pretty much the only thing about this woman that was not red was her thumb (which was undeniably green).
Christmas – Grandma loved Christmas. As many of you may remember, as I do, Grandma played bells right here at Trinity Methodist. I can vividly remember sitting in these pews year after year watching and listening to the Christmas concerts of bells and being so very proud that MY grandma was part of such a beautiful concert. In addition, the word Christmas for all of the neighbors from Smokerise will be reminiscent of the Christmas pageants at the Carsey house year after year. The camaraderie, the festivities and the music that filled that little red house. You may also remember that my brother (Warren), sister (Shanna) and I were the nativity scene (Mary, Joseph and the Angel) year, after year, after year…
These are but a few of the memories that I have of my grandmother. I am sure that each one of you sitting here today has a loving and lasting memory of this very special woman..
I can only hope that I can inspire my children and grandchildren as Grandma has inspired me. I find comfort that Grandma is in a better place. I find comfort in knowing that I was a part of her life.
Look around. Who has come here to celebrate Elizabeth’s life. I see family from as close as Flagstaff, to as far away as Seattle and Miami. I see friends including neighbors and church goers. I see what an impact my grandmother had on others. This is a tribute to her, to her life and her lasting legacy.
I thank you for letting me share my thoughts and memories. My memories run very deep for my very special grandma. I love you Grandma – rest in peace and say hello to Grandpa for me.
The 8th Nuremberg Rally formally opened in Nazi Germany. Adolf Wagner read a proclamation written by Hitler which first established the concept of a “Thousand Year Reich”, declaring that the Nazi revolution was complete and there were to be no more revolutions in Germany for the next 1,000 years.
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