Violet Mae (Hopkins) Zier (1893-1988) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree

Violet Mae "Viola" Zier formerly Hopkins aka Bobo, Schmidt

Born 15 Dec 1893 in Ste. Marie, Chippewa, Michigan, United States

Ancestors

Daughter of Thomas J. Hopkins and Catherine Denning

Sister of Fern Lillian (Hopkins) Nye, [private sister (1890s - 1990s)] and Thomas J. Hopkins Jr

Wife of Edward C. Schmidt — married [date unknown] [location unknown]

Wife of James Al Bobo — married 13 Dec 1916 in Sandpoint, Idaho

Wife of Solomon A. Zier — married 1 Dec 1956 in Spokane, Spokane County, Washington, USA

[children unknown]

Died 24 Feb 1988 at age 94 in Spokane, Washington, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Theresa Walker

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Profile last modified 27 Jul 2019 | Created 29 Sep 2018

This page has been accessed 215 times.

Biography

Violet was born in 1893. She was the daughter of Thomas Hopkins and Katherine Denning. She married James A. Bobo, of Pend Oreille County, Newport, Washington, on 13 December 1916 in Bonner County, Sandpoint, Idaho. Her sister Fern Nye and brother-in-law Jess Nye were the witnesses. Viola and James A. Bobo divorced prior to 1920. She married Edward C. Schmidt and remained with him until his passing in 1953. She then married Solomon "Sol" Zier on 01 December 1956. Sol was a wheat farmer from Odessa, Washington and they remained married until Sol's passing in 1973. She contracted the flu and passed away at North Central Nursing Home at the age of 93.

The following obituary is from the Spokesman Review Newspaper in Spokane, Washington. "Former local resident Viola Mae Zier died Feb. 24 in a Spokane nursing home. The Rev. Peter Stretch of St. David's Episcopal Church conducted her funeral Monday. Cremation followed. She was born in The Soo of north Michigan and came to Bonner County in 1902 with her pioneering parents, Thomas and Catherine (Denning) Hopkins. She attended Sandpoint High School and lived in Spokane 50 years. Her second husband, Solomon Zier, preceded her in death, as did her first husband. She was an active member of Masonic organizations. She was a life member and past matron of Newport Order of the Eastern Star. A chapter member of the Ladies of the Oriental Shrine. A member of Grotto Chapter No. 163 OES in Spokane. A member of Daughters of the Nile, and Fort Wright Barracks No. 1820 Auxilliary. She was a staunch supporter of Shriners Hospitals. She is survived by a sister and brother-in-law, June and Fred J. Walker, former Sandpoint residents now of Spokane; Two grandnephews, John T. Walker and Randall Davis of Spokane; two grandnieces, Theresa M. Davis and Jeanne Miltner, both of Spokane. She was preceded in death by a younger brother and recently a sister, Fern Hopkins Nye, who was a lifelong resident of Sandpoint, Idaho. Memorials can be made to Shriners Hospitals for Crippled Children, N. 820 Summit Blvd, Spokane, 99201-1598." Her funeral was held at Hazen and Jauger Funeral Home on Monroe Street and funeral rites were provided by one of her Masonic organizations. The song Alone in the Garden was played at her funeral per her request. She was cremated and her remains were mixed with Edward C. Schmidt and they are located at the Column Barrier at Hazen and Jauger Funeral Home in Spokane, Washington, per her request.

Sources

Self: Theresa Marie Walker. June Gretrude Hopkins Walker.
"Michigan Births, 1867-1902," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NQFY-JBD : 10 March 2018), Violet May Hopkins, 15 Dec 1893; citing item 2 rn 13, Sault Ste Marie, Chippewa, Michigan, Department of Vital Records, Lansing; FHL microfilm 2,322,381.
"Michigan Births and Christenings, 1775-1995," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F4YZ-Q38 : 11 February 2018), Violet May Hopkins, 15 Dec 1893; citing Sault Ste Marie, Chippewa, Michigan, reference ; FHL microfilm 1,007,572.
"United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M91B-DLX : accessed 3 November 2018), Viola M Hopkin in household of Thomas Hopkin, Sault Ste. Marie city Ward 1, Chippewa, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 19, sheet 2B, family 27, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,707.
"United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MLHJ-R5P : accessed 3 November 2018), M Viola Hopkins in household of J Thomas Hopkins, Sandpoint Ward 2, Bonner, Idaho, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 85, sheet 6A, family 125, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 223; FHL microfilm 1,374,236.
"Idaho, County Marriages, 1864-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F3Y7-PLV : 10 December 2017), James A Bobo and Viola M Hopkins, 13 Dec 1916; citing Bonner, Idaho, county courthouses, Idaho; FHL microfilm 1,535,616.
"United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDCJ-6GR : accessed 3 November 2018), Viola M Hopkins in household of Thomas Hopkins, Sandpoint, Bonner, Idaho, United States; citing ED 29, sheet 14A, line 34, family 298, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 289; FHL microfilm 1,820,289.
"United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCQW-1KT : accessed 3 November 2018), Viola H Schmidt in household of Edward C Schmidt, Spokane, Spokane, Washington, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 59, sheet 13B, line 72, family 305, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2517; FHL microfilm 2,342,251.
"United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9S4-V7X : 15 March 2018), Viola Schmidt in household of Edward C Schmidt, Newport, South Newport Election Precinct, Pend Oreille, Washington, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 26-27, sheet 1B, line 62, family 19, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 4354.
Preferred Citation:

[Identification of item], Spokane County Auditor, Marriage Records, 1880-Present, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives, http://digitalarchives.wa.gov, [date accessed].

"Washington Death Index, 1965-2014," database, FamilySearch ("Washington Death Certificates, 1907-1960," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N3B6-Q6P : 10 March 2018), Edward C. Schmidt, 13 Nov 1953; citing Spokane, Spokane, Washington, reference 20873, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Olympia; FHL microfilm 2,033,321.https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLWS-VDHZ : 13 July 2017), Viola M Zier, 24 Feb 1988, Spokane, Spokane, Washington, United States; from the Department of Health, Death Index, 1907-1960; 1965-2014, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives (https://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/Collections/TitleInfo/472 : n.d.); Citing Washington State Department of Health.

Memories: 1

Enter a personal reminiscence or story.

Theresa Walker

While I was living in Spokane in the early 1984, I began to provide more and more care for Viola in her home and she was a riot of fun. I would go to her house up on north Post Street and mow her lawn. She would always call and ask me to stop at the liquor store and get her a pint of Jack Daniels whiskey. As soon as I arrived, she would say “Pour us a shot” and I would have a shot with her. Then it would be “Just one more” and after a few shots I would say “Vi, I have got to mow the lawn and then drive home.” She would laugh and say “I’ll hire someone to mow and we can have some more shots and visit.” I would mow her lawn and attend to whatever chores she needed done at the time. Mind you that Viola is about 88 years old at the time.

My Grandmother, June Gertrude Hopkins Walker, told me the following stories. She said that when Viola was in her 70’s and 80’s she would apply for jobs she could do from home mainly telephone solicitation. Viola would track her outgoing calls and submit them for payment to the company for payment. My grandmother asked Viola how she obtained these jobs as Viola was elderly and receiving Social Security Income. Viola informed June that the interviews for the positions were done on the phone so, that the prospective employer never saw her face to face. Therefore, the employer couldn’t tell her age. Viola would say she was in her fifties. June also told of a visit to the doctor that she made with Viola where Viola told the doctor she was age 72 when in fact she was much older. Viola’s sisters, June and Fern, were very different from her. June and Fern were not party girls and didn’t get along with Viola very well. June told me a story about Viola’s need for constant attention and the need Viola had to take credit for things she didn’t do. Catherine (mother of Fern, Viola, June) was complaining about Viola to June. June said “Viola is good to you. She bought you your rug, a new coat, etc.… and Catherine replied “She did no such thing. She was with me when I bought my own rug, coat, etc.… Sibling rivalry! When Catherine died there was conflict between Fern, June, and Viola. At the funeral, in the church, my grandfather Fred J. Walker told me that he stood up and told Viola “Sit down and shut up or I will kick your ass out of this church.” Can you imagine? My favorite story about Aunt Viola occurred Christmas 1987 at my house at 1321 W. Frederick in Spokane, Washington. Viola had requested that I go to the Liquor Store prior to her arrival at my house for Christmas dinner. So, I went and got her the Jack Daniels she requested. She called and wanted to arrive prior to June and Fred. So, I left at about noon to go and get her and bring her to my home for Christmas dinner. She was dressed beautifully a two-piece pink suit. The jacket had white buttons down the front and both the jacket and skirt was trimmed with white cloth. She had her beautiful jewelry on and her hair had been done. She looked picture perfect and lovely. When we arrived at the house, Viola went straight for the kitchen and got a coffee cup. She turned on the kitchen water and with the bottle of Jack Daniels in one hand and the coffee cup in the other she began rotating between filling the coffee mug with water and drinking straight from the bottle of Jack Daniels. Not paying much attention to Aunt Vi as I was busy cooking Christmas dinner and watching the boys play. My grandparents arrived at a beautifully set table and dinner was ready. We all took our places at the table and were enjoying the blessings of each other’s company. It was perfect with Nana and Grandad, Aunt Viola, Ian, Issac, Randy, and I. We were eating the bounty and visiting. Then all the sudden Aunt Viola threw up in her plate, on the table, and on herself! All you could smell was Jack Daniels. I was so busy laughing that I couldn’t even help Aunt Viola. I remember my grandmother saying “THERESA” and she was disgusted with the whole situation. I cleaned Aunt Viola up and did the best I could to clear the table and reset it. Nana and Grandad immediately left. That is the difference between people. We have different relationships. A relationship with a sibling is different than a relationship between a Great Aunt and niece. Financial and social norms come into play. I knew Aunt Vi and knew that she liked to drink and party even in her ripe old age. I enjoyed my time with her. She was sweet, kind, and fun to be with. I enjoyed her company and her stories. My Grandparents (June and Fred Walker) had a long history and different relationship with Aunt Viola and it must have been a rocky road. Viola partied and after the death of Edward she lived in poverty but, managed to work to increase income out of necessity. Fred and June had each other to lean on and they were far from living in poverty. I never saw or heard of my grandmother drinking alcohol. Viola didn’t have children or grandchildren to fill her time as my grandparents did. She volunteered time and resources to children at the Shriner’s Hospital. Socializing at organizations which I am sure encouraged drinking. The Shriner’s Hospital received 50% of Viola’s estate. So, Aunt Viola if you were here, I would say to you “Thanks for the memories, the good times, the laughter, and have a shot of Jack Daniels. I love you and I miss you!”

posted 16 Dec 2018 by Theresa Walker [thank Theresa]

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