Advent Calendar : Christmas Shopping

How did your family handle Christmas Shopping? Did anyone finish early
or did anyone start on Christmas Eve?

I've never started Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve, but I've been close.  I seem to struggle sometimes on what to buy.  Every year I tell myself I will do better and buy early, but it never seems to work that way.  I don't do subtle very well, so if someone wants something, I need to know exactly what it is.

I've tried to put some 'sweat equity' into my shopping, and not just shop entirely online.  This year we've noticed that many stores do not have the inventory on hand, and are also out of stock online.  Not good if there is something you really want.

Mom contributed the following :

I do the majority of Christmas shopping and wrapping.   I start early sometimes as early as September or October.   I go with the girls on Black Friday mainly to get ideas.   I'm usually done a couple of weeks before Christmas but there's always a last minute gift or two to pick up.  I give a lot of baked goods, candies, and homemade jams and sewn items. When the kids were little we would buy all year long and hid the items in attic or garage.   We have a tradition of going out for breakfast on Christmas Eve and browse afterwards through the stores.   Sometimes we pick up silly little items for the granddaugters before heading back home to get ready for Christmas Eve get together.

Sunday's Obituary: Ord LeMaster (1906-1971)

Source: Ord W. LeMaster obituary, The Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, November 1, 1971

Ord W. LeMaster

Funeral services for Ord W. LeMaster, 65, 1107 W. Water St., Portland, will be conducted Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Baird-Freeman Funeral Home with Rev. Robert Boggs officiating.  Burial will follow in Mt. Zion Cemetery.

LeMaster died Saturday afternoon at the Clinic Hospital in Bluffton after a brief illness.  He had been employed for the past 25 years at Delco Battery in Muncie.

Born Sept. 30, 1906 in Jay County, his parents were Cooper and Barbara (Wehrly) LeMaster.  He was married to Ruth Haley, who survives.

Surviving besides his wife are three sons, Paul of Portland; Ord Weldon, Alexandria and Victor at home; three daughters, Mrs. Donald (Idola) Coats, Selma; Mrs. Harold (Juanita) Steigerwalt, Portland and Miss Ruth LeMaster at home; five brothers, Stanley LeMaster, Akron, Ohio; Elvin LeMaster, Columbus, Ohio; Floyd LeMaster, Union City, Ohio; John and Gerald LeMaster, Salamonia; three sisters, Mrs. Orville (Freda) LaFollette, Akron, Ohio; Mrs. Thornton (Mary Olive) Taylor, Akron, Ohio and Mrs. Glen (Dorothy) Lock, Richmond and 13 grandchildren.

Friends may call at the funeral home.

Sunday’s Obituary – if you have obituaries of family members and ancestors, consider posting them along with other information about that person as part of Sunday’s Obituary. This is an ongoing series developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.

The Christmas Star

Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Stuber
Spencerville, Ohio


Aniwa, Wis. 12/17


Dear Friends, May you each have a very good Christmas season; trust your parents will also.  We are both feeling fine.  I especially better than for many winters; finding lots to do; assisting some in music, playing piano for special Christmas programs, etc.  Enjoy it.  Joe's mother underwent a goiter operation 11/12.  Better, gaining weight.  We all expect to be together for Christmas.  


Sincere Christmas Wishes to you.  Please remember me to Mrs. Johnson.


Mr. and Mrs. J. Penniston.


---
This postcard, postmarked December 17, 1936 from Aniwa, Wisconsin, was sent to my paternal great-aunt and uncle, Clarence and Vera (HALEY) STUBER. I do not know the relationship of the sender at this time.