Aunt Melody June Parks is married to my Uncle Steve, the youngest of the nine Parks children. Not only did she fill out my interview questionnaire , she also allowed me to hound her on the phone for more information! So, without further ado, here is Aunt Melody:
Melody married Steve Parks on June 17, 1972
Parents: Glenn and Elizabeth Frantson
Siblings: Glenda and Ronny
Earliest Memory: At age 4 or 5, playing outside her house on Harvey Road, Galt, California.
Memories of Grandparents: Melody's paternal grandmother died of breast cancer before she was born, but she remembered her Grandpa Jimmy. He had a great smile and she remembers him speaking Norwegian. He loved to watch boxing. He would go to the Lutheran church first, then go to the Bible church- an inspiration that he loved hearing God's word.
Melody's maternal grandparents, Arthur and Virgie Chaney, always lived nearby. They spent a lot of weekends with them and holidays too. They always had a garden and fruit trees, After Melody had a family she made a garden with her Grandpa and he taught her a lot about gardening. Grandpa loved to play games and Melody thinks she was the only grandchild ever to spend a night with them. Her grandma sewed, crocheted and played the piano. She also canned fruit and vegetables.
Melody's Childhood Memories: Some of her favorite memories were when she sent to her Dad's worksite and helped him while he built a house. When she was in her preteen years, her dad got the children a Shetland pony and they enjoyed riding it.
Another great memory was when she was about 8 or 9 years old. Their family took a vacation to Disneyland for the first time, then went down to Mexico. They stayed at a motel on the beach; they even rode horses on the beach.
Favorite Christmas Gift: A black puppy.
Favorite Food: Hamburgers.
Did you like school?: Yes, mostly because my friends were there. Her favorite subject was history. Math was always a challenge. She was a fair student and got better as she got older.
After high school, she went to Grand Rapids School of the Bible and Music for two years and had a waitress job.
Siblings: Glenda and Ronny
Earliest Memory: At age 4 or 5, playing outside her house on Harvey Road, Galt, California.
Memories of Grandparents: Melody's paternal grandmother died of breast cancer before she was born, but she remembered her Grandpa Jimmy. He had a great smile and she remembers him speaking Norwegian. He loved to watch boxing. He would go to the Lutheran church first, then go to the Bible church- an inspiration that he loved hearing God's word.
Melody's maternal grandparents, Arthur and Virgie Chaney, always lived nearby. They spent a lot of weekends with them and holidays too. They always had a garden and fruit trees, After Melody had a family she made a garden with her Grandpa and he taught her a lot about gardening. Grandpa loved to play games and Melody thinks she was the only grandchild ever to spend a night with them. Her grandma sewed, crocheted and played the piano. She also canned fruit and vegetables.
Melody's Childhood Memories: Some of her favorite memories were when she sent to her Dad's worksite and helped him while he built a house. When she was in her preteen years, her dad got the children a Shetland pony and they enjoyed riding it.
Another great memory was when she was about 8 or 9 years old. Their family took a vacation to Disneyland for the first time, then went down to Mexico. They stayed at a motel on the beach; they even rode horses on the beach.
Favorite Christmas Gift: A black puppy.
Favorite Food: Hamburgers.
Did you like school?: Yes, mostly because my friends were there. Her favorite subject was history. Math was always a challenge. She was a fair student and got better as she got older.
After high school, she went to Grand Rapids School of the Bible and Music for two years and had a waitress job.
First date with Steve: Homecoming basketball game. They double dated with another couple so when they came to pick her up in a small mustang there was no room for her to sit. The back seat was full of stuff for a float so she had to sit on Steve's lap. She wondered if that was his plan.
Steve and Melody met at GRSBM. They were in the same music group together, the Choralaires.
Aunt Melody says that she liked Uncle Steve's sense of humor and that they were good together- and that is how she knew that she wanted to marry him. Uncle Steve proposed at a church camp called Heartstone one day when they took a drive up there.
Hobbies: Melody loves to play the piano and sing, grow flowers and vegetables. She crochets a little and loves to take family photos (Editorial comment: that is an understatement!). She enjoys collecting all things Disney.
Children: Two adopted boys, Jared Lamont Parks and Joel Stephen Parks.
Favorite Book: Gone With The Wind.
Where do you currently live?: Galt, California. They love it because of its closeness to both the mountains and the ocean.
What do people think is your best characteristic?: Her even, upbeat personality.
What might people not know about you?: That she is a huge western fan. She loves John Wayne movies and country music.
Is there anything funny that your children have done?: Jared did a "phatty" dance in high school. Joel made a video for his senior project, "How To Make Spaghetti".
Have your children done anything scary?: Jared left school and went to a friend's house in sixth grade. He had to cross railroad tracks and did not have permission. They didn't even know the friend he left with.
Joel got lost (went missing) at age two in Mervyns when she was shopping. They finally found him across the store in the shoe department in the arms of a woman and he wasn't even crying.
What do you like to do after a long day?: She likes to get a massage but if she can't do that she will watch a good John Wayne movie. A glass of lemonade and a hamburger will also work.
Favorite Hymn: At Calvary, Victory in Jesus.
Favorite Bible Verse: Psalms 16:11. Romans 10:9-13.
When did you become a Christian?: "I can't remember the exact time I asked the Lord into my heart, but I remember one Sunday at the age of twelve that I wore one of my best Sunday dresses because I knew that at the altar call I wanted to go down front to show everyone that I had accepted the Lord as my Savior. I was very happy that day".
Desires, plans for retirement?: To travel, especially to Norway where her father's family comes from.
What words of advice would you give to someone younger than you?: Follow the Lord, be true to yourself, don't be afraid to say "I'm sorry" or "I love you".
Remember- Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a mystery, Today is a gift. That's why we call it the present.
Steve and Melody in Hawaii
Thanks, Aunt Melody, for sharing a bit of your life with me. I love you very much!
Steve and Melody met at GRSBM. They were in the same music group together, the Choralaires.
Aunt Melody says that she liked Uncle Steve's sense of humor and that they were good together- and that is how she knew that she wanted to marry him. Uncle Steve proposed at a church camp called Heartstone one day when they took a drive up there.
Hobbies: Melody loves to play the piano and sing, grow flowers and vegetables. She crochets a little and loves to take family photos (Editorial comment: that is an understatement!). She enjoys collecting all things Disney.
Children: Two adopted boys, Jared Lamont Parks and Joel Stephen Parks.
Favorite Book: Gone With The Wind.
Where do you currently live?: Galt, California. They love it because of its closeness to both the mountains and the ocean.
What do people think is your best characteristic?: Her even, upbeat personality.
What might people not know about you?: That she is a huge western fan. She loves John Wayne movies and country music.
Is there anything funny that your children have done?: Jared did a "phatty" dance in high school. Joel made a video for his senior project, "How To Make Spaghetti".
Have your children done anything scary?: Jared left school and went to a friend's house in sixth grade. He had to cross railroad tracks and did not have permission. They didn't even know the friend he left with.
Joel got lost (went missing) at age two in Mervyns when she was shopping. They finally found him across the store in the shoe department in the arms of a woman and he wasn't even crying.
What do you like to do after a long day?: She likes to get a massage but if she can't do that she will watch a good John Wayne movie. A glass of lemonade and a hamburger will also work.
Favorite Hymn: At Calvary, Victory in Jesus.
Favorite Bible Verse: Psalms 16:11. Romans 10:9-13.
When did you become a Christian?: "I can't remember the exact time I asked the Lord into my heart, but I remember one Sunday at the age of twelve that I wore one of my best Sunday dresses because I knew that at the altar call I wanted to go down front to show everyone that I had accepted the Lord as my Savior. I was very happy that day".
Desires, plans for retirement?: To travel, especially to Norway where her father's family comes from.
What words of advice would you give to someone younger than you?: Follow the Lord, be true to yourself, don't be afraid to say "I'm sorry" or "I love you".
Remember- Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a mystery, Today is a gift. That's why we call it the present.
Steve and Melody in Hawaii
Thanks, Aunt Melody, for sharing a bit of your life with me. I love you very much!
1 comment:
That was good, Jen. Melody is a "keeper!"
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