Dona Lee Campbell was born July 23, 1926 in Detroit, Michigan . She was the second child of Frederick Dow Campbell and Gladys Hope Ryckman. Her older brother was named Jack LeRoy and he died of pneumonia when he was just a few weeks old. I've always been quite amazed at all the things my mom has accomplished in her life. A lot of it was out of necessity, but most was just because of who she is. Following are some of what I consider "highlights" of her life.
***When she was just 5 years old, she was appearing on a radio program (there was no television then). I'm not sure if her mother was hoping for the next Shirley Temple or not, but Mom sang and danced on this program well into her teens. She received many post cards and notes from "shut-ins" (people who were confined to their homes) who loved to listen to her.
I remember hearing my mother sing while doing the housework. Unfortunately my children can't say the same!!
***Because of poor eyesight, she went to special classes to learn braille and typing.
***When she was about 14, she earned the American Legion medal at school.
***She remembers standing in line with her mother during the Great Depression for cheese and margarine. They used to squeeze a yellow coloring into the magarine to make it look like butter. Her step-father worked at a meat packing plant and would bring home the scraps for them.
***When she was 16 she left school to care for her younger brother and sister, who were 12 and 15 years younger than her, so her mother could go to school. She was very close to them..and still is.
***At 21 she left for southern California to live with her aunt and uncle. It was there she met Dad. They went to Detroit to get married but while there, Dad dove into a shallow porton of Lake Erie and broke his neck (more about that when we get to him!!).
***Mom's brother, Larry, came to live with us for a year when he was 12 years old. Grandma decided he was too much to handle and was going to ship him off to military school and Mom and Dad didn't want that. My earliest memory is of my brother being born and Larry tending me while Mom was in the hospital.
***Mom's sister, Gaye, came to live with us when she was 16. Grandma was going to do private duty nursing and couldn't take Gaye with her (where she was supposed to go, I don't know!!). Anyway, she lived with us until she graduated from High School.
***Mom and Dad took in over 200 short-term foster children after Richard and I left home. During this time, she was helping Dad build up his business and doing the bookkeeping for it, raising Jeri and attending all of her soccer and softball games, and working in church callings.
***After "retiring", she helped Dad build two cabins and develop a subdivision up at Panguitch Lake, tended grandkids (and great-grandkids), and volunteered at the hospital for 22 years. Her greatest joy is her family.
One of the things I admire my mother for, is her acceptance. No matter what the circumstance, she tries to make the best of it. She has taught me to look for the good in others and in my own situations. She is always optimistic about the future and I have rarely heard her say anything bad about anyone...something we could all learn from!!!
P.S.
For those of you who wonder where all the redheads come from...
