Monday, March 25, 2013

Happy Birthday, Joyce Schooler Reedy!


Joyce Schooler Reedy
Middlesboro, Kentucky, c. 1985


 Happy, Happy Birthday to my sweet, beautiful cousin, Joyce Schooler Reedy.  Joyce is the daughter of Gladys Lane and Jim Schooler, the granddaughter of Martha Pierce and William Lane, the mother of Terry Keith Reedy, Pam Reedy, and Rolf Reedy, as well as a devoted wife and grandmother.  Joyce, I love you and hope you have a wonderful day!

Joyce Schooler Reedy

Joyce Schooler Reedy

Gladys Lane Schooler (left), Anne Schooler Derksen, Joyce Schooler Reedy
Joyce Schooler Reedy and Kermit Bronell Reedy

(left to right) Terry Keith Reedy, Joyce Schooler Reedy, Rolf Reedy, Pam Reedy, Kermit Bronell Reedy

Pamela Bronella Reedy and Joyce Schooler Reedy
Hannah Lane Keathley, Joyce Schooler Reedy, Austin Reedy Keathley


Monday, March 18, 2013

Mystery Monday: Some Answers About the Japanese Passport

Nolan A. Lane

Maka Kanehawa




















I was delighted this morning to open my email and find another message from The Okinawa Peace Memorial Museum in Japan.  My delight turned quickly to a mix of sadness and happiness--and gratitude.  Here is what the museum staff discovered about Maka Kanehawa, owner of the Japanese passport I found in my Uncle Nolan's WWII photo album.


  • Maka Kanehawa and her husband, Kogi Kanehawa, died in the Battle of Okinawa, in Nanjyo, Okinawa
  • Nanjyo city officials, at the request of The Okinawa Peace Memorial Museum, searched for and found the grandson of Maka and Kogi Kanehawa
  • The grandson's name is Jun Miyagi, and he lives in Nanjyo, Okinawa
  • Jun Miyagi wants to establish contact with me through email


After sending thank-you messages to those who helped me find this information, I settled down to write my first email to Maka's grandson.  I must admit that I struggled to find the right words for this email.  I first told Mr. Miyagi who I was, and I expressed my sympathy for the death of his grandparents and my sadness about the loss his family has suffered.  I then told him a bit about my Uncle Nolan and when and why he was in Okinawa.  I told him I didn't know how my uncle got his grandmother's passport, but I could only guess that he found it when cleaning up debris and remnants of the Battle of Okinawa.  I also told Mr. Miyagi that I want to return the passport to his family.  Finally, I asked Mr. Miyagi if he would care to share with me what he knew about his grandparents.  What was their life like before the war?  What happened to them during the Battle of Okinawa?

Now I'll wait and hope for a reply.  Mr. Miyagi told the staff at the museum that he is "not good at English."  After he receives my message, the museum tells me, "his friend will translate your email."

As I close this post, I continue to think about the events that forced the paths of Nolan Lane and Maka Kanehawa to cross.  I hope they would both be happy that almost 68 years later I'm crossing paths with Jun Miyagi.  This world is not as big nor its people as different as we sometimes think.

Photo from Nolan Lane's WWII Photo Album

To read more about this mystery, click here.




Friday, March 15, 2013

Family Recipe Friday: Joyce Schooler Reedy's Sock-It-To-Me Cake

Cooking Cousins
Joyce S. Reedy & Betty Jo Williamson
Middlesboro, KY, c. 1963

Today's recipe is another by my cousin, Joyce Schooler Reedy, daughter of Gladys Lane Schooler.  Enjoy and have a great weekend!

Sock-It-To-Me Cake

1 pkg. butter yellow cake mix
2/3 C. oil
1/4 C. water
4 eggs
1 (8 oz.) carton sour cream
1 C. sugar
1 1/2 C. pecans

Mix together all the above ingredients.

3 Tbsp. brown sugar
4 tsp. cinnamon

Mix together brown sugar and cinnamon.  Pour a small amount of the cake batter into a Bundt pan and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon mixture.  Repeat until all batter is used.  Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.


Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Mystery Monday: Response from Japan about Passport!

For those who have been following this blog, you know that I'm trying to solve the mystery of the Japanese passport that was in my Uncle Nolan's WWII photo album.  If you're visiting the blog for the first time, you can catch up on the details of the passport story here.

Inside the Passport of Maka Kanehawa
Passport was found inside the WWII photo album of Nolan Lane

Imagine my delight, though, when I checked my email last Friday and found the following response to the request for information I sent earlier to the Okinawa Peace Memorial Museum.  Awesome!  I so appreciate these kind folks taking time to help finish telling the story of Maka Kanehawa and hopefully getting her passport back in the hands of her family.  Maybe I'll have  more to report next week.


Friday, March 8, 2013 3:39 AM
平和祈念資料館 <heiwa@peace-museum.pref.okinawa.jp> Add to Addresses Block Sender
bsouthworth@windstream.net Add to Addresses
Re: Need Help Identifying & Returning 1931 Japanese Passport
2 KB
 
 
I am investigating the request from you now. 
 
Although I report a result to you, I need more time. 
 
Please wait. 
 
(I'm sorry. I am not good at English.) 
 
             OPPMM SHIMABUKURO 
 
 

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Treasure Chest Thursday: My Sunbonnet Sue Quilt


Sunbonnet Sue Quilt
Made by Gladys Lane Schooler for niece Elizabeth Lane Lee
c. 1965

When I was very young, my Aunt Gladys made me a beautiful quilt.  Made of alternating pink and white squares and Sunbonnet Sues each in her own unique dress, the quilt was this little girl's dream.  It stayed on my bed, unless I took it with me when I curled up on the couch to read or watch TV.  I always liked to pick out my favorite Sunbonnet Sue.  Here are my favorites today :)







Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Tombstone Tuesday: Gladys M. Lane Schooler

Gladys Mayona Lane Schooler
Gladys Mayona Lane was the second child of William and Martha Pierce Lane.  Born on April 2, 1906, Aunt Gladie lived a wonderful 92 years before she passed away on January 15, 1999.  She is buried beside her husband, James A. Schooler, and their son, William J. Schooler, in Hurst Cemetery in Middlesboro, Kentucky.  Join me for my next few posts to find out more about this dear lady.

Headstone of Gladys Lane Schooler
Hurst Cemetery, Middlesboro, Kentucky



Monday, March 4, 2013

Mystery Monday: New Leads But No Answers About the Japanese Passport



Be patient and don't give up.  I say this to myself on a regular basis these days as I continue to search for answers about Maka Kanehawa and her passport that was found in my uncle's WWII photo album.  While I still don't have answers about what happened to Maka or how to find her family, I have initiated a few new contacts, and I'm hopeful that I'll get some helpful responses.

So far, I've contacted the following organizations, telling my story and asking for assistance:

  1. History Detectives (PBS) on or around 2/18/13
  2. Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum on 2/25/13
  3. Thomas Corrao, Public Relations Officer for The Chicago Okinawa Kenjinkai on 3/3/13
  4. Department Of Defense Public Communications Office on 3/4/13
I've gotten no response from my first three contacts.  I received a notice from the Department of Defense saying that they had gotten my email and would respond as soon as they could.

Next on my list to contact are these two organizations:

  1. Vincent High School's Army JROTC in Shelby County, Alabama--While studying WWII, these students were given a personally inscribed Japanese flag from the Battle of Okinawa.  They decided that the right thing to do was to return the flag to its original owner in Japan.  The last I read of their quest was that they had contacted the Japanese Consul and were hopeful of getting assistance there.  I want to contact the high school and see what the outcome of their project was and to see if they can give me some tips about how to proceed with my passport mystery.
  2. U. C. Santa Cruz's Center for the Study of Pacific War Memories--People here are working to link displays at the Okinawa Peace Memorial Park and corresponding displays at memorials in Santa Cruz.  I would think these folks have access to at least some of the information I'm seeking, and they may be willing to share it with me.  And, who knows--maybe my story will peak someone's interest who will want to help solve my mystery.
So there's my progress report for last week as well as my to-do list for this week.  Keep your fingers crossed for me, please!  Let's hope one of these contacts will help me send Maka's passport home.

To learn more about this story, check out these blog posts.

Friday, March 1, 2013

Family Recipe Friday: "Dang" Good Pie by Mildred Lane Partin

My Papaw, William B. Lane, & his daughter-in-law,
Mildred Wagner Lane Partin
1954
Can't wait to try my Aunt Mildred's "Dang" Good Pie.  Thanks for sharing your mom's recipe with me, Phil!

Recipe from Mildred W. Lane Partin

(click on recipe to enlarge)