Walked to the local pharmacy/soda shop/convenience store. I believe it was called Pages Pharmacy ran/owned by an old pharmacist named Max. We bought candy and cherry coke sodas there, back when they mixed it fresh in your glass. 

Played ball in the streets and actually watched out for oncoming vehicles and got out of the way for them. I rode my bike everywhere and went to the local movie theater on Saturdays, they had specials for kids. For six bottle caps, we got into the movie, and got a box filled with candy & little toys. We walked two miles in Iowa summer heat to Burns Park to go swimming. And went to the park across the street from our Aunt Polly's house to go ice skating in the winter. 

All the neighbors knew your buisness and would tell Mom & Dad if you didn't behave when they went shopping. **These are just a few of my fonder memories growing up.**

(he adopted us four oldest children in 1958 when he married Mom) I don't think he had no idea how much of a handful we were going to be. 

He was a Letter Carrier, a democrat, member of the Letter Carriers Union. He was in the Navy when he was young and was very proud to have served our country.

What I remember most is.... he was intellegent, serious, suffered from gout and heart murmer, he enjoyed listening to "Paul Harvey" every day, had a lifetime membership to National Geographic, read Readers Digest also. Dad spent every evening reading the local newspaper, watching the six o'clock news and liked the Road Runner cartoon. 

He was closest to sister Mary when we young, I beleive he felt they were on the same intellectual level. Also I think it was because Mary was a good child and was almost never in trouble. 

Dad also believed that his family should all be together for supper every evening. He helped all of us learn table manners and it was also a time to learn to have respect for your parents. 

Dad was athiest (I believe) but did everything to back up Mom as far as religion teachings with us kids. He also made sure we had prayer before supper started. He supported Mom and paid for me to go to catholic school. But the rest of the kids went to public school, so in my fifth grade of school, Mom allowed me to transfer to the public school. But Mom sent us to mass every Sunday and Dad also support her in that effort. 

Mom was married four times in her life. She was a dedicated Mother and worked very hard to make sure we had a clean, healthy & happy home when we were growing up! 

What I remember about Mom is... being on the couch next to her when we watched T.V., she kept chocolets in dishes in the livingroom (she was diabetic and said it was for if she had a hypoglycemic episode *smiles*), She liked clean windows and a clean and tidy home, she was very strong in her beliefs of raising well behaved children (she didn't know I was going to be so stubborn).

Mom went to T.O.P.S. every Tuesday with her sisters and I went for a while with them after having my children. They would not eat all day, weigh in at their meeting and then go out to dinner after the meeting and eat like there was no tomorrow! *evil grins...they sure knew how to party!* 

Mom came to visit me when I was in the reform school and she struck me as such a beautiful lady and very sad to what had happened with me. Most kids parents wouldn't come and see them, my Mom knew I was just going through a bad teen rebellion. 

She was always there for me when I was a struggling young mother and when I moved to Washington State and she moved to Florida, we kept in close contact. We called each other at least once a month and when she passed away I lost a wonderful Mom. I think of her every day and when I end my email I use the angel symbol ~Å~, that is my way to always think of Mom. 

And no matter what some may think of as a failure of following her Catholic beliefs, she was the best Catholic person I have ever met. I am sure Mom is in Heaven working hard to keep God's windows spotless and clean!! I really believe God knew what was in her heart and that is all that really counts!

This is from the left....
Lloyd, Bogie, Vickie, Keith, Howard Baugues. 

**Vickie & Bogie are Howard's parents nick names, but for the formal picture I felt it more respectful to use their given names.**