A special lady, valued above the price of rubes and then some. A loving wife and mother, much loved grandmother, and very huggable great-grandma to six little munchkins. Grandpa Hooker built the farmhouse. His friend Oscar Frain pitched in to help and fell in love with his winsome year-old daughter Nancy. Like her mother, petite Nancy was a fine cook, with bright blue eyes and ready smile.
The house overlooked Trout Lake, which is right behind the present Milwee Middle School, which originally was Lyman, grades 1 through 8, until they added four more grades. Nancy Hooker and her sister, Annie, learned to fish that lake most every day, then show off their catch and share it at the next meal.
They learned to swing in that lake, too. Nancy and her sis wore dresses and aprons. They worked hard, just like everyone did, and the girls certainly did their share, helping in the kitchen, as well as where ever else they were needed. Hooker, their mom, was known for good, stick-to-your-ribs cooking, and there forever seemed to be hard working people grateful to eat at her long table.
There was a garden for vegetables to be enjoyed and eggs to gather, milk from the cows to be skimmed, and cream to be churned into butter. Sometimes you had to chase an ornery rooster or old hen that was no longer laying eggs, so Mother Hooker could make them useful in the next meal! If you had a toy, it was really special to you and might be the only one you had. Maybe a cloth doll that Mom made for you, or a nice strong stick you found with a round stone that you could bat around.
They walked everywhere they needed to go. Mules are very strong and very smart. Sometimes they can be very stubborn and refuse to pull the wagon or anything you wanted help with. The girls and their brother did lots of things kids do today, like play with friends, go to school, and go to church. Nancy liked going to church, loved to sing, loved to bring a pretty bouquet of flowers she had grown to the church service for everyone to enjoy.
