Family Discussion Board

Click Here to Leave a Message 1 February 20, 2010 10:28 am Dick Ammon   On February 5, I underwent a quadruple by-pass. (That's not a figure skating term!) The arteries leading into my heart were 95% blocked. The good news is that my heart is strong. My recovery is progressing as expected but it's slow. Also, my daughter Liz and her husband Jon Strite became parents of Edie Rose on November 9. One thing I can tell you is that her autonomy is just fine and she has a great pair of lungs! Daughter, Cari, and her husband Joe Zeleznock became parents to Ella Sophia on February 17. Due to my condition we have not yet seen Ella except for pictures Cari sent via email. Cari also has a son, J.R., 4, and a daughter, Ava,2. Dick Ammon 2 February 19, 2010 9:33 pm Mary Ellen (Leisey( Baker   A note to let you all know that "the family" has once again expanded. On Tuesday, Feb. 16th, 2010, Eli Andrew Baker entered this world. His parents are Jeffrey P. and Laura (Buschman) Baker. Grandparents are Mary Ellen (Leisey)and Jerry W. Baker, and great-grandparents are Alvin L. & Mary Helen Leisey. 3 December 25, 2009 1:34 pm Don and Pat Leisey   Dear Family, As we await the arrival of our family for our Christmas get-together, we want you to know that you are in our thoughts during this holiday season. The big events for us in 2009 were: The birth of Kendra's daughter and our new, lovely granddaughter, Jaelyn Imari Graves on February 6, and visiting them in Las Vegas shortly after Jaelyn was born; we also drove to Palm Desert in February for some sun, fun and golf with friends; in April we took a trip to Pennsylvania with Kristen, Steve and their three boys, Nicklaus (9),Zackary (6), and Macallan (5) to show them where "Papa" grew up and to attend The Leisey Family Reunion at the Masonic Campus in Elizabethtown hosted by Alvin and Mary Helen Leisey; after the Reunion, we spent some time at the Jersey Shore with friends and attended Don's 50th Reunion from West Chester. In October, we drove to Black Butte Ranch in Oregon where we met friends and enjoyed the beautiful area and golf for a week. We also had another great summer with family and friends at our Lake Tahoe condo. Pat continues to serve on boards of directors for her charities - Hospice of the Bay Area, Marin Charitable, and the Marin Designers Showcase. Don continues to serve on the Foundation Board of Trustees at his undergraduate school, West Chester University, and the Board of Councilors for the University of Southern California's Rossier School of Education. Bad knees continue to be a problem for our family - Kristen had two surgeries on her left knee this year to repair the menicus and ACL, and Pat will have knee replacement surgery in January. We wish you and yours a wonderful Christmas and a happy, healthy, and peaceful 2010. We enjoyed seeing many of you at The Leisey Family Reunion in April and hope we have the opportunity to see you again in the coming year. MERRY CHRISTMAS Don and Pat Leisey 415-459-6019 Email: delaplus@aol.com 4 November 25, 2009 6:50 pm Kate (Leisey) Carbaugh   My Uncle Wilbur Sturgis died Tues, Nov. 24, 2009, of a heart attack. He was almost 92 years old. A service will be held at Lancaster Moravian on Eden Road Dec. 5. He was married to Mary Alice Leisey, the youngest daughter of Elias and Clara. He is survived by four daughters and one granddaughter. 5 November 04, 2009 9:52 pm Linda Leisey   FEATURED FAMILY MEMBER FOR NOVEMBER 2009 Kathryn A. (Chook) Leisey by Linda Leisey with information from Kathrn (Chook) Leisey Chook was the oldest child born to Paul & Mabelle Simpson. She lived on a farm until she was 14 or 15 years old and worked on the farm with her dad, like she was a boy. She helped her dad hang tobacco, pick tomatoes, haul hay, and feed the cows. When the farm chores were complete, she would go fox hunting with her dad. Chook's mom, Mabelle, wasn't too happy about her fox hunting because she jumped stone walls and barbed wire fences on her horse Tony. Once when she went to visit Meb, she rode Tony up onto the "Leisey back porch." E. Marie was none too pleased with this! Meb tried to ride with Chook, but as Chook says, "Meb just was not born to be a rider! He just bobbed up and down." Chook's dad dropped her off at the Borough School in Honey Brook, which is where the Presbyterian Church parking lot is now, each morning when he took his milk to the creamery. Chook met Melvin T. (Meb) Leisey in 7th grade when they both went to Honey Brook High School. (Honey Brook High School is where Honey Brook Elemtary School used to be. This is now where Honey Brook Gardens apartments are.) They got married in 1943 and lived in Honey Brook, in John Dahlinger's 3rd floor apartment. Their 2 bedroom apartment cost $15.00 per month. They heated with kerosene and had to carry 5 gallons of kerosene from the gas station, across the street, and up to the 3rd floor each day. In 1943, Meb left for the Navy, to defend our country in WW II. The land lady, Mrs. Dahlinger kept Tommy, Meb and Chook's first son, while Chook went to work at Stauffers Machine Shop, making 7 inch Navy shells. She lost half of 3 fingers on her right hand in one of the machines there, but that didn't stop her! Meb was in the Navy for 2 1/2 years. He was a Gunners Mate on an LST57 which cruised the English Channel. Meb was fine in the calm weather, but got sick in rough waters. Chook says, "He took sea sick pills by the bucketful, but that didn't help. He brought everything up, but his socks!" When Meb returned from the service, he worked at Lukens Steel Company for a short while, and then began to work at the ACME in Coatesville at 7th Avenue. Next, he was a salesman for Campbells and was on the road a lot. In 1948, their 2nd son, Jimmy was born and Chook had another little one to care for. Meb then partnered in business with Walter White in his grocery store in Honey Brook, where he was a butcher, worked the register, stocked shelves, and did any other job that needed to be done. In 1952, their 3rd son, Larry was born and now Chook has 3 busy boys to chase and raise. In 1953, Meb and Chook went into business for themselves and opened "Leisey's Market," a self service grocery store on the Main Street in Glenmoore. Chook was a checker, delivered groceries, did the banking and much more. Meb butchered and made sure everything ran smoothly. Tommy stocked shelves before and after school. One Christmas, a regular customer of Meb & Chook's came into the store. His wife had just died a few days before. Chook had cooked a delicious ham, all warm and pink and ready to eat. Meb had Chook give the ham to the man and she started to cook another ham, all over again! During these 5 years at Leisey's Market, Meb and Chook made many good friends. When they could sneak off for a day or two, they would go deer hunting in the mountains. On a snowy day, Meb told Chook to carry her gun with the barrel down,so no snow would get in it. When she did this, her barrel DRAGGED in the snow instead! During these "Market days," Meb & Chook began building their house on the hill in Honey Brook called "Wat a Vu." They moved into their dream house in 1958. Meb now began to work the 3 to 11 shift at Pepperidge Farm in Downingtown. The boys were 5,10,& 15 years old and Chook had her hands full, keeping tabs on everyone. Meb worked at Pepperidge Farms for 30 years. During these years, good times were had when Meb and Chook hosted the Pepperidge Farm folks for picnics and Chook cooked some of her great baked lima beans. Summers they went to Zacs to swim at the shore in Delaware or camping with their Sochesco Camping Club. Throughout all of these years, Chook was raising the boys, supporting Meb, and cooking for everyone. They often entertained and great food was had by all! You might stop by at noon and Chook would just have finished cooking a kettle of homemade vegetable soup and maybe some rice pudding, or a war cake. Before Meb went to work, he'd eat a full meal at noon; sometimes roast beef, mashed potatoesand gravy, or oyster filling. The aroma was always heavenly. Drop in for a snack and you'll always find some Lebanon bologna, ring bologna, swiss cheese, and hard pretzels. It was always a pleasant time, to visit and chat with Meb and Chook. In 2004, Meb & Chook made plans to move into a Fairmont Homes Apartment outside of Ephrata. Meb helped pick out the apartment and to set things up, but he never got to move in. Chook moved into her apartment on July 1, 2005. She has 9 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren, and Mom Mom is enjoying her new home at Fairmount Homes and loves company! 6 October 12, 2009 9:59 pm Don Leisey   I returned home (San Rafael, CA) on Saturday after five wonderful days in Pennsylvania attending Foundation Board Meetings at West Chester University (my undergraduate school) and visiting family and friends. As usual there was not enough time to see everyone I would have liked to have seen. I leave on Thursday afternoon for Chicago for the University of Southern California (where I attended graduate school) versus the University of Notre Dame football game. After a band concert and pep rally on Friday, we take a train to South Bend, Indiana on Sat. morning and return to Chicago Sat. evening after the game, hopefully, victorious over the Fighting Irish. As always, it should be a great game. 7 October 12, 2009 12:38 pm Beverly N. Perkins   Hello! Wow! You have put a great deal of effort into doing the right thing for the bible. I agree with the archivist who feels that doing nothing but putting the bible in an archival box is the best thing. Removing original fittings and leather will change the book forever. So, rest easy...You have done the best you can do for the bible. Cheers, Bev Beverly N. Perkins Conservator Buffalo Bill Historical Center 720 Sheridan Ave. Cody, WY 82414 PH: 307-578-4029 8 October 12, 2009 6:38 am Randall Leisey, D. Min.   An update from Cody Wyoming... I'll still claim I'm semi-retired but in the year since I last submitted an entry I now serve the Cody area as the Spiritual Counselor(Chaplain) and Volunteer Coordinator of Spirit Mountain Hospice, affiliated with West Park Hospital. On weekends I travel to Columbus, Montana to Pastor the Columbus Community Congregational Church (United Church of Christ), 112 mies from Cody. Beverly Perkins (spouse) continues at The Buffalo Bill Historical Center as the Conservator and since she's one of a handful of art conservators in this part of the U.S. she is always helping to instruct small museums in Wyoming and Montana in the care of their collections. I'm looking forward to a Thanksgiving trip to Gainesville, Florida to see daughter Jennifer Leisey and granddaughter Chelsea's new home. In fact all my offspring and grandchildren are in Gainesville, so I will also see son Christopher, daughter Tamara and granddaughter Katarina. It will be a mini "Leisey Fest" in Florida. 9 October 11, 2009 6:20 pm Kate (Leisey) Carbaugh   I'm looking for suggestions from the family for what to do with the Leisey family Bible (see link to pics on leiseyfamily.com homepage). It belonged to George Leisey (b. 1787), son of Joseph. Inside is a list of births and baptisms for George and Barbara's children. It's a 2nd edition Christopher Saur Bible (1763); if it were a 1st edition it would be worth much more. There are more details on the Bible page of this site. I had it appraised a few years ago by a local auctioneer (south central PA); he said he's sold them for $500. I have no intention of ever selling it though. I've had two archivists look at it and both disagreed as to what to do with it. But both agreed that it shows typical wear and it's not uncommon for the front cover and latches to come appart. One archivist from Penn State said to take it to a bookbinder that specializes in old books and have them make repairs. The goal being to preserve it for another 500 years. There are numerous repairs to choose from and I wouldn't have to do them all. For example, she thinks the front cover could be reconnected and the missing leather could be replaced. A replica latch could be added. This would then affect the value; however, we're keeping it for sentimental value. The other archivist from Juniata College said not to touch it. She believes that overall it is in good shape and not to do anything to hurt the integrity of the book. Both also agreed that I keep it in a archivist quality, acid free box, which has been taken care of. I have the name of the bookbinder from Grantville that Penn State's library uses. But I'm torn because I can see both archivists' points of view. I think if I went to the bookbinder, I wouldn't want them to repair everything possible. But perhaps there are few things that could be done to help preserve it, even if it would mean sacrificing some historical value. Suggestions? Should I just leave it as is or have some minor repairs done? 10 October 11, 2009 4:20 pm Mary Helen Abbott Leisey, R.N.   THE UNITED STATES CADET NURSE CORPS by Mary Helen Abbott Leisey, R.N. When I entered Nursing School in September 1942, WW II was already in progress. Many of our staff physicians had already left our hospital to join Medical Armed Forces in all parts of the world. Our hospital was also lacking many of our recent nurse graduates who were now qualified Registered Nurses, who joined the Navy or Army Nurse Corps in many parts of the world. The move of doctors and nurses from our hospital put more pressure on we, the probationary nurses. Many of the necessary procedures that were normally performed by physicians or graduate Registered Nurses became our responsibility to learn the procedures. Nervous but determined, we learned. The US Government recognized the shortage of staff in all hospitals, so in 1943 the US Cadet Nurse Corps was established, whereby the Government would pay student nurses to be educated if they committed to join one of the US medical services, the Army or Navy Nurse Corps, when they graduated from an accredited Nursing School program and passed their State Board Exams. In the beginning of my senior year as a student nurse, I was assigned to go to the Deshon Army Hospital in Butler, PA, in western PA, where we cared for the wounded service personnel who had fought in the European Theatre of War. Their injuries were many and severe. Many were in complete body casts. The new drug at the time to prevent infection was Penicillin, to be administered every four hours. Consequently, we had to cut some of the cast away to make new areas where we could give prescribed injections of penicilin. The patients were so grateful for all the care that we could administer to them; they were friendly and cooperative. Our nursing supervisors were RN's from Europe, quite patient and helpful. Weekly, we had to march in full street uniform to pass in review before the Officers and Medical Staff at the hospital. In honesty, I enjoyed that part of our responsibilities because in High School, I had been a Drum Majorette for our Drum and Bugle Corps. I just missed the music! We, the student nurses, also had baseball teams which we and some patients could enjoy. Better yet, the service men and women patients were permitted to sit on the top of the roof of the hospital, if they were capable of sitting in a wheel chair or in a bed, along with hospital personnel to care for them while the parade was in progress. We student nurses were encouraged to participate in activities in the areas of the hospital when not on duty, or have responsibilities in the hospital - I personally liked the idea of learning to fly which I did in a small plane, great thrills! No, I am not a pilot, but don't we all have memories of some of the daredevil things we once tried? In September, 1945, I returned home and then back to Penn State with my Marine husband, Al Leisey. We were secretly married February 1945. The following month I took my State Board Exams, passed them, and was set to move on in my career. My concerns now were, "how do we educate families to be able to continue to care for the wounded men and women who were returning home?" After joining the American Red Cross in State College, I spoke to them about wanting to teach Home Nursing to the local residents about the care and nurturing of returning servicemen and women. I also admitted that I felt a need for more education in Home Health Care for the many varieties of problems that returning servicemen and women will have, to not only include the injured, but the need to address mental health problems that would certainly follow the returning veterans home, especially those who were in combat duty. Participating in war, the servicemen and women are more likely to be affected mentally by what they have witnessed or what their responsibilities were to win the war. Consequently, they sent me to a class in Williamsport, PA and I came back armed with more ideas and confidence. So let's get started!! Approaching top personnel at Penn State with my concerns for follow up healthcare for the Veterans at Penn State and in the town of State College, we were granted a room on campus along with equipment needed. My confidence was up and I now felt that we could be instrumental in addressing the problem of follow up care. There was no fee attached for the space, or for the necessary equipment. This program proved to be a success for the returnees and their families, all in gratitude to Penn State personnel and for we, the caregivers who passed our knowledge and input on to family caregivers. At this time, in 1945, Penn State was the Pennsylvania State College, on its way to growth and becoming Pennsylvania State University, which has always cared about our war veterans. An example: Trailer Village along the side of College Avenue in 1945-1950's. WE ARE PENN STATE! PS. FYI - There is a beautiful established Women's War Memorial at the gate of Arlington Cemetary in Washington, DC. Our oldest daughter, also and RN, entered my name and info soon after the building was completed. The pictures and info are updated every six months; a complete story of women in the service including the US Cadet Nurse Corps. [Top] Page # 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  ... of 18 [Bottom]