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| Asbury and Katie lived behind the train depot at 611 W. 10th in Shawnee, OK. I loved the sound of those trains. I can remember staying the night and hearing them blow their whistles, change tracks, and make all kinds of noises. I still find pleasure, and a secure feeling, listening to trains. |
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The following is from an article in the paper, either OKC or Shawnee OK. It was cut off the article, as well as the date, but must have been 1948. Golden Wedding of Pioneer Couple Marked by Reunion The fiftieth wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. A. B.
Burt, 611 west Tenth, pioneer residents of Shawnee, which occurred May 3, was
celebrated with a most enjoyable family dinner and reunion at the home of
their son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Burt, at Oklahoma City,
Sunday, May 2.
The Children of Katie Cothern and Asbury Brazier Burt It is a pleasure to give record of those I can recollect so easily. It also brings me happiness to add the wonderful notes of another grandchild, Jimmy Gayle McKinney, son of Laura Burt and Roy Homer McKinney. Hopefully, together, we can breathe some life into these whispers of our past. Click HERE .
Katie and A.B. Burt had six children. They were all born and raised in Seminole and Pottawattomie County, OK. Katie and A.B. had six children:
My Memories of Katie and A.B.
My recollections of their home are of a time gone by, that I miss, and hope by collecting memories, to preserve just a little. During my childhood, the late 40's and 50's, we visited Grandma and Grandpa with some consistency, on occasional week-ends, and holidays. Generally when we went for more than an hour or two, we took prepared food. Everyone else did the same, and there was no meal preparation needed, as a rule (except on planned holiday meals). The more people that came, the more variety in dishes there were. Usually someone else showed up while we were there. With luck, maybe a cousin my age. There were always bottles of pop in the refrigerator. The rule was that we helped ourselves (after asking, of course), and put the empty bottle in the case when we were finished, so the delivery man could pick them up. Groceries were delivered to Grandmother's door, or Grandpa brought them home. My mom told me sometimes Grandpa would buy the same thing over and over, and remembers when they had liver every day for one or two weeks! Central heat was unknown at Grandma and Grandpa's house. A space heater was in the living room, and probably one in the bedroom. How soothing to ease the chill, coming in from Oklahoma cold. Not an air-conditioner, but rather a fan, cooled us in the summer days which sometimes reach over 105 in Oklahoma. I don't remember being uncomfortably warm. Their home was a duplex. While I know they did rent the "other" side at one time, it was vacant most of the time I was growing up. Uncle Buddy lived there occasionally. Usually it was just storage, and a wonderful place to play. Grandpa Burt was charming. I remember his eyes. He had
what we always called "Burt eyes". Now I know it is just a family trait that
is too much skin on the eyelid, and above it, but it made a grin look so
much more. I loved those eyes. Grandpa's hair was thin on top, but he had
enough to make a very distinctive curl. It was a very special look. He had
his own teeth, and they were locked together in the front in a way that made
them protrude in a partial overbite, just the tiniest bit. He must have been
missing some back teeth because when he smiled the teeth on the side gave no
competition to the special front teeth. He loved to argue more than anyone I
have ever been around....except maybe me.
It was
such a delight to hear the men getting him off
on some issue when we were at family gatherings. I remember giggling when he
was so insistent that the television people just used "trick photography"
when acrobats were on. He didn't think people could really do that. "Dog my
cats" he would say when someone made a point, usually laughing, and
scratching his head.. Of course most of the debates I heard were just jovial
jests. Like telling him he had only seen 70 Christmases when he was 70 years
old. He would try to explain that wasn't so, because he was a baby when he
saw his first Christmas....not one yet, so he had actually seen 71
Christmases. The funny way his sons, and grandsons would change the facts,
play dumb, and torment him in this loving, teasing way was typical of our
visits. At least when there were a number gathered. Grandpa was a yarn
spinner, and would make up the most far fetched things. We believed him, of
course. Grandpa used to "sup" his black coffee out of the saucer. It was
something they just used to do, I supposed. I remember going on walks with Grandpa down on Main Street in Shawnee - A warm feeling in my memory. He was a jovial, and friendly outgoing sort. He loved to go to the courthouse and listen to the arguments. I believe he was there when he had his first stroke. He lost some feeling in his hand after that, and was always working that hand, trying to regain the lost strength. He died after suffering a second stroke. I was only 12 years old. How cheated I still feel.
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Katie crocheted constantly, if she was sitting. That's an
example of her crochet work above. I remember the year she made quilt-tops
for all her grandchildren. I was young, and didn't appreciate it so much
that Christmas. But now, a grandmother myself, I know how priceless it was.
She sewed lovely things, and crocheted the most beautiful table doilies
out of heavy thread. I was always fascinated by the index finger on her left
(I think) hand. She had somehow entangled a crochet needle in it, and lost
the end of it at about the joint. It was then shaped oddly, with the skin in
a peculiar pucker at the end. She was a unique person. I was
fascinated by her. In her 60's when I was born, so she was always the same
in my memories. She wore long white hair, which had never been cut, in a bun
at the back of her head. She used to let me brush it. She always wore a
housedress with an apron. Grandma dipped snuff. She always had a container
to spit in hidden under, or near her chair. Grandma was a good cook, and I
remember an orange chiffon cake she used to make. She always made me
feel welcome, and I always loved her. She adored grandpa, and that was
obvious to me. Everyone treated her with respect. The only place I ever
remember visiting was their house at 611 W. 10th in
Shawnee.
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