70 Years Ago Today!

Oliver Richard Tannahill

b. 27 Apr 1912 - Peru, Chautauqua Co., KS

d. 09 Nov 1947 - Near Webb Rd, Nez Perce Co., ID

I have been fairly fortunate in my life that I had my parents and most of my grandparents during my growing up years.  My Mom was not so lucky.  She lost her father when had just barely turned 6 years old.  The memories that she had of him were precious because they were so few.  I know that every years that she was alive, November 9th was a momentous date...because it was the day she lost her father.

My grandfather's name was Oliver Richard Tannahill.  I can make the assumption that he didn't really care for his first name as he never went by it.  Every document I have seen his signature on lists his name as O. Richard Tannahill...even his tombstone has that name.  I have always heard him referred to as Richard...so it was a bit of a surprise that his actual first name was Oliver.  Richard was twin and his sister's name was Olive Rachel Tannahill...she must not have liked the name either, because she went by Rachel.  My guess is that the Oliver/Olive name came from Richard's uncle, Samuel Oliver Tannahill.  Richard was born in Peru, Chautauqua Co., KS and spent some of his younger years in Pawhuska, OK and moved with his father to Idaho sometime around 1929.  I actually thought that date was much earlier, but that is time frame listed on his death certificate.  My grandmother was actually quite precise on the type of thing.  My mother grew up with a lot of questions in her mind.  Some she asked to her mother and step father (Grandpa Gwen was Richard's best friend), but there were always a lot of "what if's" in her mind.  Grandpa Gwen wasn't the easiest person to grow up with as a step father.  My mother loved him, but there was always her natural father out there to wonder about.  I don't think I have ever heard a negative word about Richard.  He was a hard worker, did everything well that he attempted, he was intelligent, and caring.  Richard was a good friend, son, brother, and uncle.  He was also a beloved husband and father.  My Mom used to say that he was the only one of his siblings who didn't swear, drink or smoke...so therefore he died at the youngest age. 

I hadn't seen the actual death certificate until recently.  I can see my grandmother's signature listed there as the informant...and it makes my heart ache for her.   Richard was the love of her life...I don't think she ever entirely recovered from his death.  She moved on because she had family to care for...her diaries really show her heartache.  I wrote a blog about Richard's death 5 years ago.  You can read it here:  Daddy's Gone!  Instead, I thought I would share some photos of Richard and his family!

This photo was actually two pieces that we put together.  It had been broken at some point.  I have no idea which one is Rachel or Richard.  Probably taken in 1913 in Kansas or Oklahoma.

My best guess is that this was taken around 1918 or so. This photo includes all of the children of John L Tannahill and Sarah Rachel Kelley. 
Top Left: John Theodore, William Sylvester, Samuel Ward, Earl Sylvanus Front Left:  Sarah holding Richard, George Carter, Elvina Amira, John Lyons hold Rachel.

Tannahill siblings at their father's funeral in 1945: 
Top Left:  John Theodore "Ted", William, Richard, & Sam Bottom Left:  Rachel, George, & Elvina "Viney"

A couple of views of the twins - I think the top one is around 1925 and the lower one is probably a few years earlier.

The two pictures below are the ones that I have seen my entire life on the wall in mother's bedroom.  These two were framed and in my mother's home while she was growing up and she got them from her mother in 1960.  They are still hanging in our today!

This might be one of my Mom's favorite pictures of her parents.  Probably because that was how she saw them day to day.  Her Daddy in his overalls and fedora and her Momma in her work dress.  This was probably taken not too long before Richard died in 1947.

One of the few complete family pictures.  This was taken in 1945 at John Lyons Tannahill's funeral.  My mother, Betty is the little girl standing while her older sister, Joan is sitting.

Sad to say that everyone has passed away who was in these pictures.  My grandmother died in 1985, my mother in 2005 and her sister, Joan in 2012.  That little family is all gone who were complete until they lost their father 70 years ago today!