"My Heart's On Fire, Elvira"

"Eyes that look like heaven, lips like sherry wine..." The Oak Ridge Boys hit song Elvira (written by Dallas Frazier) always made me think of Dad's cousin even though her name was Elvera, not Elvira.
Yesterday afternoon I learned that Elvera had died at the age of 85, so, naturally, she has been on my mind. I believe this is her high school graduation picture. She was the daughter of Dad's Uncle Leslie Duncan and his wife, Ethel Harris Duncan. Born March 28, 1926, she was almost nine years younger than my Dad, but the two families were always close.

There were many family get-togethers celebrating birthdays and anniversaries as well as for no special reason at all. Pictured here in October, 1955, back and middle rows left to right, Leslie Duncan, Albert Childers, Bessie Duncan Lynam, Louis Lynam and Leona Lynam Childers. Front row is Josephine Irish Harris (Ethel's Mother), Ethel Harris Duncan, holding Bobby Drake, Ruth Ridnour Lynam, and Elvera Duncan Drake. (That's my little brother, Leslie Lynam, with his back to the camera at the bottom right. Too late, he decided he wanted to be in the photo after all.)

Elvera was a freshman in high school when her baby sister, Marjorie was born October 2, 1939. This picture was taken when Marjorie Elaine was two months old and Elvera Rosamond was 13 years old.

 My Aunt Leona and Elvera were classmates as well as cousins. In this photo, taken in April, 1941, the girls were fifteen years old. There was almost as much 'sibling rivalry' between these two as if they were sisters - close most of the time, but jealous of one another at other times. In the 1960's after Aunt Leona's family had moved to Phoenix, Elvera was very close to my Grandma Bessie (her aunt) which may be part of the reason my folks and Elvera and her family remained close. Dad and Elvera's husband, Frederick, both loved to fish. The two families trekked to Glenwood, MN a couple of times on summer vacation fishing trips.                  

Another photo taken in April, 1941. Back three men, Mahlon Harris, (Elvera's grandfather), Louis Lynam and Ralph Duncan. (Grandma Bessie's youngest brother.) Middle row, Pearl Duncan, (Ralph's wife), Grandpa George Lynam, Josephine Harris and Bessie Lynam. Front row, Ruth Lynam, holding Ronald Lynam, Elvera Duncan holding her little sister, Marjorie, Aunt Leona Lynam with her hands on her little cousin Shirley's shoulders. (Ralph and Pearl's daughter.)

Tomorrow evening I will attend visitation for Elvera. I will take these pictures along to give to her children. We will talk and remember when we were young. I'll tell them how much I always liked their mother. And perhaps we'll mention how few there are left of the Duncan cousins - just as we always do when there is a death in the family.