Don’t Forget the Steps
Families may come in different configurations. This is a photo of my grandmother, Alta Jones Watkins (she was my father’s stepmother), me holding my sister Angelina (who is the daughter of my mother and my stepfather, Ralph), and my mother, Jerrie Bernal (Geraldine McLeod Watkins Bernal).
In 1966 my immediate family moved to Bartlesville, Oklahoma from Beaumont, California. We lived with my grandparents for a short time before moving into a house down the street from them.
My grandmother, Alta May Jones Watkins, was born on August 3, 1913 to George and Estelle Jones.
She married Donald Watkins and became the stepmother of my father, Billy Dean (I think they married when my dad was about 9), and his older brother, Donald Claud. For more information about Fanny Vandyke Watkins (my dad’s biological mother) leaving her family see my blog posts of January 21, 2021, Namesake and February 20, 2021, Unusual Source.
Alta and Don later had two other sons, Kenneth Gerald “Jerry” and George Edward “Eddie.”
While raising their sons, Alta and Don enjoyed square dancing.
Alta also stayed busy with the Washington School PTA. This is the elementary school where I attended sixth grade, the year we lived in Bartlesville. (This is also where I had my first starring role in a play. I was the Statue of Liberty.)
Alta was very gracious though reserved and had very high expectations. Her house was always perfect and she really enjoyed cooking and baking.
Let all the steps in your life enrich you.