35 YEARS - Wedding Announcement of Connie Sessler and Gregory Miles

Mr. and Mrs. W. Robert Sessler
of Amarillo, Texas
are happy to announce the marriage
of their daughter


Connie LeAnn
to
Gregory Lance Miles


son of Mr. and Mrs. Farrel T Miles
of Los Angeles, California
Saturday, the twentieth day of December
nineteen hundred and seventy-five
in the Los Angeles L.D.S. Temple


Reception
Saturday, December 20, 1975
from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m.
7806 Reseda Blvd.
Reseda, California

Open House
Monday, December 29, 1975
7:00 until 9:00 p.m.
home of the bride's parents
Amarillo, Texas

Marjorie Sessler Patterson

Marjorie Sessler

Marjorie Sessler Patterson

Marjorie Sessler and Bill Patterson

Rena Marjorie Sessler, the first of six children, was born to Warren and Beulah (Boaz) Sessler, on 13 Jun 1924 in Elkhart, Baca, Kansas. She lived in Pratt, Pratt, Kansas (1926) and Hugoton, Stevens, Kansas (1930) where she graduated from Hugoton High School in 1941/1942. She married Bill "Pat" Patterson, also from Hugoton, and they owned and operated a successful tile business in Phoenix Arizona for many years. They had three children: Kyle (1944), Charlotte (1946), and John (1950).

On Sunday, 2 May 2010, Marjorie passed away quietly in her sleep at her home in Sun City, Arizona. She was 85 years, 10 months and 19 days old. Survivors include her children, one grandson, Dane Patterson, three brothers: Robert (JoAnn) Sessler of Amarillo TX / Quartzsite AZ, Mike Sessler of Glendale AZ, David (Ann) Sessler of Phoenix AZ, one sister: Betty Tackett of Hugoton KS, and numerous nieces, nephews and other extended family members. She was preceded in death by Bill Patterson, brother, Harry Sessler, and her parents.

Aunt Margie was as kind and generous as she was beautiful. She was an intelligent and successful businesswoman who worked first as a secretary in Baltimore, Maryland and then many years as Bookkeeper and Office Manager of Phoenix Tile. She was loved by all who knew her and she is greatly missed.

Forward Farm 1930-1940

This farm, located 3 miles South of Feterita, a tiny town south of Hugoton Kansas, is where Glenn, Ann and their 7 children lived from 1930 to 1940. The twins, Maxine and Mildred, were 10 years old and the youngest, JoAnn, was almost one year when they moved here in 1930.The children's school teacher lived with the family during the school year. The parlor was converted for her bedroom and she ate her meals with the family.

Photo courtesy of Glenna Jean Forward Coulter. (Thanks Aunt Jean!)

Warren Martin Sessler

This is a photo of my grandfather, Warren Martin Sessler.
So Handsome!!

Sessler Family and Great Grandpa Henry Clay Boaz

front - Margie, Bobby, Harry
back - Warren, Beulah, Henry Clay Boaz

Warren Sessler, holding Bobby on the colt
with Margie and Harry in front

Harry Sessler

Harry Sessler - 1943

Uncle Harry Sessler ~ 1944

Harry Elliott Sessler was born 31 July 1926 in Pratt, Pratt, Kansas. He was the 2nd of six children (1st of 4 sons) born to Warren Martin Sessler and Beulah Maybelle Boaz Sessler. He graduated from Hugoton High School in the spring of 1944 as class Valedictorian. 

Harry served in the United States Marine Corp during World War II and enlisted on 18 Oct 1944 at Hugoton, Stevens, Kansas - Board #1; Service #950614; Registered Order #10305.  

He fought in the South Pacific and witnessed the deaths of his closest buddies. After the war he suffered from Post War Traumatic Stress and never fully recovered from it. 

He attended college in Stockton California but left after the first semester and then worked in Colorado on a bridge building job. He fell from the top of the bridge and suffered a head injury. He was mentally handicapped afterwards, partially because of the fall and partially because of his experiences in the war and post-war from the electric shock treatments he received in the Veterans Hospital. 

Harry lived with his parents until their deaths and then spent the remainder of his life in rest homes. He never married. 

The Sessler Family ~ December 1951

The Sessler Family ~ 1951

Greg Sessler ~ December 1951

Greg - 18 months

Greg - 18 months - Dec 1951

My Brother - Gorgeous Greg

1956 - Greg - 6 yrs

1957 - Greg - 7 yrs

I love these photos of my brother, Greg. In the first one he looks like he's such a little scrapper. He could be a character right out of the Little Rascals. I love how he is smiling big to show us his missing teeth. I hope the Tooth Fairy was good to him. 

And in the second photo he is such a lady's man. It makes you want to reach up and gently brush his hair back as you drown into his gorgeous blue eyes.

Connie Sessler - 6 months old

Feb 1954 ~ Connie LeAnn Sessler
6 months ~ 19.5 lbs 

Grandmother's Album of Baby Pictures

Mildred and Maxine Forward ~ b. 1920

What adorable babies!! Ann and Glenn must have had so much fun with these two cuties!!  A lot of work, no doubt, but so much FUN!!! I wonder if Ann knew she was having twins or if she found out when they were born.

JoAnn Forward ~ b.1929

This is a favorite photo of mine. Of course I'm a bit biased since this is my mom but you must admit she is a beauty with those gorgeous eyes and kissable little mouth! What innocence! 

My grandparents, Ann and Glenn Forward, had seven children: Maxine, Mildred, Jean, Dula, Wayne, Charles and JoAnn. Grandmother had the most wonderful photo album with baby photos of all her children and grandchildren. Whenever I was at their home I would ask to see the photo album. I would sit on their big bed with that huge album, slowly turning the pages, savoring each photo and storing the images in my memory. When Grandmother passed away that wonderful photo album was dismantled and all the photos were returned to the various families. The only baby photo I have from that album is the one of my mother, JoAnn. This photo of her sisters, Mildred and Maxine, actually came from my great aunt, Barbara Helfrich Webber.

I would like to recreate Grandmother's family photo album. So this is a request to my Aunts, Uncles and Cousins: Please send me your baby photos - the ones that were in Grandmother's album.  I promise to scan your photos and then promptly return your originals to you in perfect condition.

Thank you,
Connie

Barbara Helfrich Webber and Deloris ~ 1915

Before

After

Sisters ~ Barbara and Gertrude Helfrich

Before

After

Awesome hats!! Check out Girtie's hat pin!! These are clothes my granddaughters would love to play dress-up in! Heck! These are clothes that I'd love to play dress-up in!!

I believe this photo was taken when the family lived in Syracuse and before Barbara married in 1914. (In 1914 Barbara was 21 and Gertrude was 17.)

Sisters ~ Anna and Frances Helfrich

This was a tiny photo scanned from Anna's (Grandmother Forward) personal school photo album. If this was in 1914 (estimated) - Anna would be 16 and Frances would be 14-1/2. They went to school in Syracuse, Kansas. I'm not sure when they moved to Hugoton, Kansas but they were there by 1918 when Anna and Glenn were married.

This was a tiny photo scanned from Anna's (Grandmother Forward) personal school photo album. If this was in 1914 (estimated) - Anna would be 16 and Frances would be 14-1/2. They went to school in Syracuse, Kansas. I'm not sure when they moved to Hugoton, Kansas but they were there by 1918 when Anna and Glenn were married.

My Grandmother ~ 87 years

Before

After

Anna Helena Helfrich Forward, December 8, 1985 ~ 87 years old. 

My beautiful silver-haired grandmother with twinkling blue eyes.

Glenn Forward ~ WWI

l-r: Glenn Forward, Ray Kiever, unidentified

Forward Reunion - 1964

Before and After

This photo was taken 31 May 1964 at the Forward Reunion in the VFW Hall, Hugoton, Kansas.
l-r: Jean Coulter(42), JoAnn Sessler(34), Mildred Moser(43), Wayne Forward(36), Dula Hughes(39), Charles Forward(38), Maxine Phillips(43) - (ages as of 31 May 1964)

(As you can see, colored photographs are harder to edit. I'm not sure if I improved it much but I tried.)              

Sisters, Frances and Anna Helfrich ~ abt 1918

Before

After

Much of the detail in this photo (before) was almost faded away. This is what happens to old photos when light and air gets to them - not to mention that this photo is almost 100 years old!! But it is an awesome photo and I'm so thankful that we have the technology to scan and restore the details before they completely disappear!!

This photograph of Frances (Helfrich) Watkins and Anna (Helfrich) Forward (my grandmother) was taken about 1918 in Syracuse, Kansas. I wish I knew the story behind this photo. They look very somber/serious and Frances has a hankie in her hand. It feels like a sad picture.

Helfrich Siblings - abt 1930

Pictured are 6 of the 11 children of Jenny (Morgan) Helfrich Wessels. 

The names of her children are underlined. All others are either spouses or grandchildren.

Front-Back:

1st row: (grandchildren) Mary Frances Chambers, Wayne Forward, JoAnn Forward

2nd row: (grandchildren) June Standridge, Mildred Forward, Coral Chambers, Maxine Forward, Jean Forward, Dula Forward, Charles Forward, Hope Chambers, Wallace Standridge

3rd row: Dorothy Davis Brunson, Ann Helfrich Forward, Deloris Webber, Tony Helfrich, Tena Helfrich Standridge holding MaryJo Standridge (granddaughter), Kay Standridge, Gertie Helfrich Chambers, Glenn Forward, Bob Chambers, Henry Helfrich

Charles Lee Forward - Abt 1945/1946

This photo was taken about 1945 - don't know the exact date when Charles joined the Army but it was after the end of WWII. He tried to enlist during the war but the doctor told him that he had a heart murmur and would not pass him at that time. Also pictured are sisters, JoAnn (about 16) and Dula (about 21) *The girls look much younger than those ages so I will verify these dates with Charles and correct as necessary. This was taken at the "North Farm" where Glenn, Ann and JoAnn lived before moving to town (Hugoton). It is the present home of Wayne and MaryAnn Forward.

**If anyone has any additional information or corrections to the above, please let me know.

Kansas Cousins

Front: JoAnn Forward, Mary Frances Chanbers, Mary Jo Standridge
Back: Wallace Standrige, Charles Forward, Wayne Forward

Can you imagine trying to keep kids clean when all they have is the dirt to play in?! 

And no washers and dryers - just scrub boards, raw knuckles and clotheslines. 

I hope they had a bath more often than just Saturday night.

The Cousin Line-up:

Front to Back: JoAnn Forward, Mary Jo Standrige, Mary Frances Chambers, Wallace Standridge, Wayne Forward, Charles Forward, June Standridge, Dula Forward, Hope Chambers, Jean Forward, Maxine Forward, Mildred Forward, Coral Chambers.

My Sweet Parents

JoAnn Forward and Bobby Sessler have been Sweethearts since 8th grade (1942/1943). Here they are as High School Seniors (1946/1947). They married June 1, 1948 and celebrated their 62nd anniversary this year (2010). They are still just as in love as they were in these photos. No - scratch that - they are MORE in love than they were in these photos.

Sweethearts ~ 1946/1947

JoAnn Forward and Bobby Sessler

Uncle Mike ~ Home from the Navy

I'm not sure which photo came first but they were both taken in the winter time - notice snow in the first and heavy coats in the second. Uncle Mike was either leaving for the Navy or home on leave. Greg doesn't look much older in either photo. I'm guess-timating that he was around 2 years old so these photos would have been taken in/around 1952/53 

Dave, Mike, Greg, Grandma Sessler, Betty, Bobby

Dad (Bob), Greg, Uncle Mike, Uncle Dave Sessler

Sessler Family ~ June 1964

June 1964 ~ Amarillo Texas 

Grandpa and Grandma Sessler, Uncle Harry, Aunt Betty and cousin Carol Faye drove down from Hugoton, Kansas to see Uncle Dave, Aunt Ann, Debbie, Susie and baby David who were visiting us from Phoenix, AZ.

(l-r) Betty Sessler Tackett, Harry Sessler, Beulah Sessler holding Carol Faye Tackett, Dave Sessler, Warren Sessler holding baby David, Debbie Sessler, Susie Sessler (in front), JoAnn Forward Sessler, and me - Connie Sessler Miles

(l-r): Grandma Beulah Sessler, Susie Sessler (2), Grandpa Warren Sessler holding David Sessler (1), Debbie Sessler (4)

Forward Kids - Horseback

Charles, Wayne and JoAnn (holding her little dog) atop their beautiful farm horse. Mildred and Dula are in the shed and little cousin Dale Newman is standing behind. Notice someone in army boots is standing behind the horse, probably making sure the little ones don't fall off.

My Favorite Photos of Grandma & Grandpa Forward

This is my favorite photo of my grandparents, Glenn and Ann Forward. It is fun, natural, spontaneous and THEM! It's as though we've caught a little glimpse of affection between them as they are going about their own separate chores. I just love it!!

And this is another favorite. All dressed up and (probably) headed to church or a VFW banquet or maybe someone's wedding. (Maybe Mildred or Jean can fill in the blanks here.) I believe this was taken in front of their home in town - Hugoton, Kansas.


Note: I found another copy of this photo and on the back was written: "was taken after Nellie (Coulter) French funeral".

Forward Kids - A Photo Restoration

These wonderful old photos are deteriorating at rapid speed. The only way to preserve them is by scanning and digital restoration. I love this photograph of the Forward Kids in front of their (shed/garage -- it may have been called something else??) However, the photo was faded, torn and spotted. Here is the scanned original . . .

. . . and after restoration.

Pictured: Charles, Wayne and Dale Newman (cousin) on the horse (what was the name of the horse?)

JoAnn, Mildred, Maxine, Jean and Dula

Glenn Forward - Army Induction

Glenn Forward served as a truck and jeep driver in the Army during World War I.  This photo was taken on the day he was inducted into service. I don't think Glenn and Ann had been married long when he left for his military training.


Note: I love Grandmother's dress and striped stockings. She was a fashionable lady!

Glenn Forward and his "war buddies" - photo taken at the Hugoton Kansas Train Depot on the day of their induction into the United States Armed Forces. 

Note: I would love to know what is the significance of the sack hanging around their necks and what it is that they are holding in their hands. I am impressed that Grandpa is dressed so well as compared to some of the others. He took pride in his appearance.

The Wedding of Anna Helfrich and Glenn Forward

Glenn Forward (23) and Ann Helfrich(19.5)
on their Wedding Day~16 June 1918

Anna Helena Helfrich on her Wedding Day
(click on photos for larger view)

The Wedding of Anna Helfrich and Glenn Forward,
16 June 1918

back-front (l-r): Mrs. Jim Keefer, Harry Patterson, Dolly Hampton, Mrs Easter
Frances Helfrich, Anna Helfrich, Glenn Forward, Gertrude Helfrich
(middle) Deloris and Barbara (Helfrich) Webber
(sitting) Glenis McCoy, Ines Blow, F. Ray Easter, Hazel Hampton, Georgia Helfrich, Gladys McCoy