Gunelda Kitty (Howe) Eirish (1909 - 2007)

Born 13 May 1909 in Curtis, Frontier, Nebraska, United States

Ancestors

Wife of William Henry Eirish — married 14 Apr 1928 in Yuba, California, United States

Died 16 Jun 2007 at age 98 in Roseville, Sacramento, California, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Vern Howe [send private message]

Biography

Vital Records of (Gunelda) Kitty (Howe) Eirish: Kitty was born in Stockville, Frontier, Nebraska on 13 May 1909. She is the fourth born child and first daughter of Art Howe and Phebe Hunt. She married William Henry "Hank" Eirish in Yuba County, California on 14 Apr 1928.^[1]. They had three children together. Henry b. in College City, Colusa, California on 28 Apr 1928; Edward "Buddy" b. College City on 1 Mar 1930; and Donna Lee b. College City on 13 Dec 1932. Kitty died in Roseville, Sacramento, California on 16 Jun 2007.^[2]

Census Records, and other historical artifacts of (Gunelda) Kitty (Howe) Eirish: In the (12 May) 1910 Federal Census, Kitty was living in Stockville, Sheridan Twp., Frontier, Nebraska with her parents, and three older brothers. Kitty was just one day from being a year old on the date that the Census was taken.^[3] Just after Therman arrived in the family on 27 Apr 1915, her father, Art decided that he just wasn't cut out to be a wheat farmer. He took a federal job as a letter carrier. The problem was that the job was well over 1200 miles away in Orofino, Idaho. The journey there was made in an old Model 'T' Ford pickup truck. Art, Phebe, seven children and all of the belongings that would fit in the remaining space (??) were crammed into the vehicle. Kitty recounted this part of the family history as she re-lived it on recorded tape; describing the trek they made from Nebraska to Idaho. Along the way, the family ate mostly sandwiches and soups made from other meal leftovers, whenever they could be found and bought along the way. They used "gunney sacks" that were tied under their pickup to protect the undercarriage from sand. They were often forced to drive along creek beds because there weren't any roads to drive on in the early 1900's. In the (13 Jan) 1920 Federal Census, Kitty was living in Orofino, Clearwater, Idaho with her parents and all of her siblings. Kitty was at age 10.^[4] In the (24 Apr) 1930 Federal Census, Kitty was living in College City, Williams Twp., Colusa, California with her husband, Hank, who was at age 25, and two of their children. Henry was just fours days away from age two and (Edward) "Buddy" was just short of two months. Kitty was three weeks from her 21st birthday. In addition to her own family, Hank and Kitty opened their home to three of Kitty's siblings. Jessie Elizabeth, who was 18; Goldie Theresa at 17; and Therman Arthur at 15.^[5] In the (3 Apr) 1940 Federal Census, Kitty was still living in College City but was separated from her husband. Henry was a few days away from his twelfth birthday, Buddy was just over the age of 10 and Donna Lee was seven (incorrectly recorded as 8).^[6] Unfortunately, stress eventually overtook Kitty and she suffered a mental breakdown. While she was hospitalized, her sister Jessie, took custody of her children and, with her husband Les Crique, raised them to adulthood in their home in College City. Later (dates uncertain), Kitty took a job in Oakland, Alameda, California as a train operator, working on a local commuter line running between Oakland and San Francisco, across the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. She took her disabled father, Art, into her home in Oakland and cared for him until his death in 1952. Afterwards, she moved to a large, older home in East Oakland. Donna Lee and her child, Donna Kaye came to live with her until Donna Lee's untimely death in 1975. By then, Kitty's mother, father and all four of her brothers had passed on. Retired and alone, Kitty realized that both of her son's and her two remaining sisters were all living in Colusa and Sacramento Counties. Kitty gathered up her disabled granddaughter, Donna Kaye and moved to Roseville, Placer, California (on the outskirts of Sacramento). She was recorded as living there in a 2000 public survey.^[7] Over time, she suffered the loss of both of her sons, her sister, Jessie and her granddaughter, Donna Kaye. Kitty is buried in Roseville Cemetery.^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ California, County Marriages, 1850-1952, database with images, FamilySearch
2. ↑ United States Social Security Death Index, database, FamilySearch
3. ↑ United States Census, 1910, database with images, FamilySearch
4. ↑ United States Census, 1920, database with images, FamilySearch NOTE: The Surname for the entire family was incorrectly recorded as "Hawe".
5. ↑ United States Census, 1930, database with images, FamilySearch
6. ↑ United States Census, 1940, database with images, FamilySearch
7. ↑ United States Public Records, 1970-2009, database, FamilySearch
8. ↑ Find A Grave Memorial# 96646382