Today is Dec 15, the day Denny James Merideth Jr. was born. He was born in Caruthersville, Missouri in 1923 to Dennie James Merideth Sr. and AttieLorene Buchanan Merideth. D.J. (as he later became known) was the only son of Dennie and AttieMerideth. He had an older sister, Flossie. He had another sister, DorothyOpal who died before he was born.
D.J. (or Daddy - as I called him), was well liked and popular with all. Heplayed football in high school graduating in 1941. Years later, one of his teachers would share with me how well liked he was. He had a very infectious smile, and with blue eyes and black hair he was very handsome. Seems like he enjoyed the girls as much as they enjoyed him.
He first went to school at Arkansas State University, but left there to enlist in the Air Corps of the Army in Nov of 1942. He flew B17's and according to his combat record he flew 35 missions from England over Germany. He was awarded the Air Medal and an Oak Leaf cluster to the AirMedal. He ended his military service in 1945 and returned to Caruthersville.
Following his return to Caruthersville, he entered the University of Missouri in Columbia where he met our Mother. When it came time to graduate, a fluke in his transcript prevented him from graduating due to a lack of a few hours. He and Bonnie married in Nov of 1947 and moved toCaruthersville, into the house where we were raised. (Where Barbara lives now).
He began farming with his Dad. Daddy was active in his community, serving on the RIII school board, the Pemiscot County Hospital Board and several other organizations. He ultimately ended up in politics by running for Presiding Judge of theCounty. There were many times, the "kids" would go "politicking" by ringingdoorbells or knocking on doors, posting signs or standing close to the voting areas. Daddy basically never met a stranger, approaching them with his outstretched hand.
As kids, Daddy would borrow a friend's plane and on Sunday mornings wouldfly us to Reelfoot or Dyersburg for breakfast and then would fly us backhome for Sunday School. As we got older, he would attend church with us, sitting in the balcony at the Eastwood Memorial Methodist Church. He and mother would attend a monthly dance club and he played couples bridge with mother and several other couples in Caruthersville.
Known for his practical jokes, Daddy would do what he could to elicit a laugh. He called mother "Bonnie Mae" even though she acted like she didn't like it. He would wear red socks with his suit and sit on the stage at graduation for RIII. (He would hike his pants leg up so Mother could see the red socks). He loved surprises. His Christmas shopping was always putoff until Christmas Eve. Most of the time it wouldn't be wrapped, but he would bring it out on Christmas morning and "toss" it to the person it belonged to. (Sometimes he gave me Denny's or vice versa).
Daddy was one of the most loving men I know. He was fair and honest and extremely patient. He enjoyed his kids, all four of us, from the time we could hardly walk until we were adults ourselves. Sometimes, as kids, you could see us riding on the bumper of his truck as he was driving down the gravel road. (This would drive mother nuts). He had high expectations for us and the desire that we all would do good.
There is so much more that I could share, but I'll save some for another day-- like how he could cook a mean omelet, or swim forever under the water with us on his back, or how he and Aunt Barbara would fuss over the Christmas gravy, or he could lay on the floor at Ma Attie's and take a quick nap while we washed the dishes .
For those of you who never met him - or don't remember him -- you missed agreat man. Today he would have been 85. And I know he is smiling down on us all and wishing us a happy life and a wonderful Christmas.
God bless you all - Denise
No comments:
Post a Comment