Versa M (Miller) York (1885 - 1969)

Born 30 Aug 1885 in Sharp County, Arkansas

Descendants

Died 20 Mar 1969 at age 83 in Jefferson Memorial Hhospital, Mr. Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois

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Biography

She passed away in 1969.

Sources

• Self, Versa's only granddaughter, she was my dad's mother. She was married first to Milton Eli York, divorced him at some point and married a Troebridge, I never knew him. Milton was my grandfather, I barely knew him as I lived with my grandmother Dougherty the majority of my life, My mother's mother.

On census reports, Milton's occupation is listed as farmer. I do recall seeing a picture of him standing in front of rows of corn. He was white haired and had on bib overalls. I imagine he had blue eyes, as all the York's had blue eyes. Milton was an alcoholic and was a mean alcoholic, he beat my father, not spanked but beat. What I do know is back in those days they treated alcoholic's by putting them in mental hospitals, he was in Anna Mental hospital, in Anna Illinois, not sure how often, but have a letter he wrote to Versa one time from Anna Mental Hospital. At one point in early 1950's he went to stay at my parents home in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, on South 17th Street. He was given my brothers room, and he had a huge loom in there , he sat at the loom all day and weaved, I am guessing rugs. He passed in 1953. I do remember attending his funeral as my dad had come home on leave from USAF, I was 7 YOA at that time. No happy, or warm fuzzy memories from him. My dad never spoke badly of him, just matterfactly advised he was an alcoholic and beat my father, even when his twin brother did things wrong he beat my dad. My uncle was weak in character and was coddled by my grandmother Versa and likewise by my dad's father. My dad never spoke unkindly about any of his family members, just related facts no embellishments. Versa worked for Brown Shoe Company for 30 years. She was a very hard worker and her home was always immaculate, word floors always shined like a mirror and never a spec of dust. She always attended church, she was of the Baptist faith. She was not an affectionate woman, but was always nice. I never spent time with her when I was young, other than one time I was permitted to stay overnight. She was divorced from my dads father and the Mr. Troebridge she had married after divorcing my father's dad, Milton Eli York. She had a daughter Dana Geraldine York-Atkinson, two sons that passed at a young age Herman M. York and Charles York. She then had the twins, my dad, Elmer Huey York and my Uncle, Delmer Dewy York. My dad was the oldest by one hour. I certainly wish I had happy memories of paternal grandmother and grandfather, but then I guess I don't have any bad memories either. I was with Versa when she passed, at the hospital, from a heart attack. However while she lay on her death bed, I attempted to call her favorite son, Delmer, but he was out drunk somewhere and I could not locate him. ( I say favorite son because Versa made no bones about Delmer being her favorite, but perhaps that was because he was weak minded and needed her to look after him. Perhaps she needed someone to need her, to need them.) I called my dad, living in Council Bluffs, Iowa and advised him of his mother's condition, he advised me to tell her, he loved her. When I returned from making phone calls, Versa was very weak and just before she passed she advised me to tell my dad, she was sorry for the way she treated him. Sad ending to a what appeared to be an otherwise seemingly happy life. One thing I always found amusing, when my dad and I would go visit her, she would immediately begin to fill him in on all the gossip of people he had known or was related to, although it was a funny it was sad as she had nothing of any consicuence to speak with my father about, but he always kissed her on the cheek, told her he loved her and would see her next time he/we came back to Illinois.