Let’s Get Acquainted with Ruth and O.R. Manning

Mary Lou Manning Belcher wrote about her parents: It is impossible for me to put into words what it meant to have Mom and Dad, Ruth and Olon Manning, as parents. I thank the Lord for blessing me so. Mom and Dad were married in Spadra, Johnson County AR, on 12 Sep 1918. Levi Walker, a Baptist minister, performed the ceremony with Mrs. Walker and Marshal Brooks as witnesses. Mom was fifteen years of age, born 8 Mar 1903, and Dad was almost twenty, born on 11 Oct 1898. They had three children, Jackie (Viola May), Polly (Mary Pauline) and me, Mary Lou Belle. There are eight grandchildren, ten great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren.

Dad began working in the LA oilfields in 1918 and was hired by Ohio Oil Co. (now Marathon) in 1923. They lived on the Tyra Knox lease five miles west of Haynesville when I arrived on the scene in 1933. We lived there until Dad was transferred to Berwick, which is located in south LA in Dec 1950. I didn’t move with them but was allowed to stay in Haynesville to go to school. They lived twelve miles up the Atchafalaya River on a houseboat until their company house (on land) was completed. Dad really liked it there, a sportsman’s paradise, but Mom kept the road hot coming to North LA. I have to tell you Dad was a very skilled skipper. His boat, the Marathon, was their mode of transportation into town and he maneuvered those waters through darkness, fog and hurricanes. When that field was unitized he was transferred to Abbeville, LA, in Jan 1958, again living on the lease. It became a company rule that each employee had to have an annual physical. Dad’s revealed he had colon cancer. Dr. Hebert sent him to M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston where he had surgery in Dec 1961. There were many prayers from many churches that had gone up on his behalf. After the surgery when the doctor came to talk to us he gave us good news – no cancer – one of this family’s miracles.

Dad retired in 1962 and he and Mom moved to Black Lake to make their home. When it was necessary to move closer to town they came back to Haynesville in 1985 where they lived until their deaths. Mom passed away on 27 Sep 1991 and Dad on 6 Nov 1992.

Mom told me some of her experiences as a child. All the children had to help with chores. She preferred working in the field and operated a cultivator pulled by horses. When her Dad bought a car she was the one who learned to drive. Her sewing career started by making clothes for her dolls. Whenever she got into trouble that required punishment, the cellar was her Dad’s choice. Mom was terrified down in the darkness but Aunt May would come to her rescue and help her get out. Aunt May and Aunt Ada would stay their time.

We always lived at Dad’s work. He would make his rounds in the morning in his work car, an A model we called Leapin’ Lena. She had a hillside starter. After making rounds, he came home to read the paper, take a nap, eat lunch, listen to a ball game, and work in the garden or whatever he needed to do. His favorite spot was on the floor leaning against a chair or sofa reading his newspaper. It wouldn't be long before the paper would be over his face, him taking a nap. He would say, “I never sleep in the daytime” or “I’m just resting my eyes”. An avid Yankee’s fan he listened to the games on the radio in the same location in which he read. He also loved fishing and hunting and was good at both. Mom loved fishing and was equally as good at it. She didn’t enjoy hunting, however. The game he liked to hunt were ducks and squirrels. If my memory serves me correctly Jess liked hunting and would go with him at times.

When the weekend rolled around there was never a doubt as to what we would be doing – heading for Black Lake. Those experiences were such a part of my growing up. I’m not quite sure how they first learned of this lake, but as far back as I can remember and beyond, we have been going there. Everyone camped out at first, and then rented cabins at fish camps. When Mom and Dad bought their first cabin, Mom used her sewing skills in fixing it up. She made bedspreads and curtains out of bleached feed sacks and gave them color and design with red and blue rick-rack. Everything matched and looked very nice.

Vacations and holidays were also spent there, shared with Mom’s sisters – Aunt May, Ada, Jess and Bessie and their families. James, Joyce and I were close in age and in my opinion were more like siblings than cousins. Donna, Janice, Donny, Dick, Jon, Linda and Wanda were the younger group. We had such good times, so carefree. On holidays the grown-ups had as much fun as the kids shooting fireworks. The food was always delicious. Each sister brought her specialty. Mom’s was pies, potato salad and baked beans, Jess, the chicken and dressing and Aunt May, the cakes. My memory doesn’t serve me well enough to go further. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Rook games. In the afternoon and at night after meals and chores were finished it was fun time and the games began. I found Mom’s old Rook cards in a dresser drawer at the lake not long ago.

Dad taught me to drive. Anytime we were on our way home from town I begged Dad to let me steer and he would. This went on for some time, and one day when I asked he stopped the car and made me get under the wheel. I was nine years old and have been driving ever since. Wasn’t he brave and patient? When Mom would tell me to ask Dad’s permission to go somewhere I complained he always says “No.” She gave me some advice, “Don’t say Can I?” just say, “Dad I’m going to town for a while and he won’t say no.” It worked! Mom knew how to handle him.

I never heard Mom and Dad fuss. I’m not saying they always agreed. The silent treatment was used to fight their battles and they never lasted long.

Mom worked at the shell plant in Minden during WW II. Her first day on the job was quite an ordeal. The weather was cold and icy. The building in which she worked was cold and she wasn’t dressed warmly enough. She nearly froze that day, but she didn’t quit. Mom would braid my hair at night for school the next day. Dad would get me off to school and he also did the cooking. I must say he did a very good job.

I think back about our Christmas trees. Mom had to have a cedar tree. It was such fun to go into the woods to find the perfect tree. Mom would make the snow using washing powder and just enough water to make a paste. The way she placed it on the branches it looked like the real thing. The lights had to be blue, all blue. That was our Christmas tradition.

Mom did a lot of sewing, not for the public but for family. I can remember coming home from school during the winter and Mom would be closed up in the dining room sitting at her sewing machine. It would be so warm and cozy and it made me feel so safe and so loved. Besides sewing for herself and her children she practically clothed my daughters when they were younger. When I was a kid I thought it was a treat to get to buy ready-made clothes- how foolish can one be?

Mom had a thing for hats. To be complete, an outfit had to have a hat. In looking at pictures taken over the years, from youth to adult, she usually has a hat on.

In looking for certain pictures I came across one that triggered a memory. I don’t know the year but Donny and Jon were babes. The sisters, Mom, Aunt May and Ada made a trip to San Antonio to visit Jess and Bessie. If you notice in the picture, James and I are missing but Joyce got to make the trip. I still wonder why?

Mom loved her church - on Sundays and Wednesdays you didn’t make other plans. Music was such an important part of her life – music at the church, all day singins’, church song leader. She and Polly sang specials. Polly played piano and sang alto. Mom also sang in quartets. I believe music was Mom’s ministry. So many people have told me how her singing was an inspiration to them and played a part in their being saved. Her voice was so strong and clear. This past week I was talking to a person who grew up in the oilfield too, and she said she could remember Mom singing in quartets, always with a smile on her face, and you could look at her and tell she was spirit-filled. Sunday school teacher, ladies auxiliary, children’s church are just a few more of her works. Making peanut brittle was also a talent she used for the church. Mom and Dad always supported their church with their labors and finances. I don’t think we ever went to church or Sunday School without picking up someone who didn’t have a way to go. Mom and Dad were never too busy to help their loved ones or anyone else who needed help. Mom

Mom was a great problem solver. Her theory was, “Give me a little time and I’ll think of something.” They were supportive in every way, generous to a fault. After I married and had five children, Mom helped me in so many ways. She was there when each of them was born. She was a great nurse, another one of her talents. Mom and Dad would keep the kids, one at a time, except the twins and they could stay at the same time. They all looked forward to their time with Mom and Dad and it gave me a break, too. When it was time to leave the scene was very sad, with lots of tears shed. No one ever wanted to leave. Being with them was such a comfort zone. When the doctor told me I was having twins, Mom was thrilled. She felt the Lord had answered her prayers. She confessed she had always wanted twins and even thought of adopting at one time.

If you noticed when I listed their children’s names, two were named, Mary. Mom said Grandma wanted Polly to be named after her. But Pauline was a popular name at that time and Mom liked it, so she gave her part of Grandma’s name. When I was born nine years later, Grandma had passed away and Mom regretted not granting her wish, so I was given that honor, Mary Lou Belle.

There were some things you just knew to expect. - In May, around Mother’s Day, Mom and Polly would make the trip to Ark for Decoration Day at the cemetery where her family members are buried. Ada would make the trip with them at times. Jess and some of her family would meet them there. The week of July 4^th was reserved for LA Camp Meeting in Tioga. As long as she was able, she went. When it became impossible for Aunt May to attend, Mom didn’t go much after that. I’m going to estimate that sometime in the 1970s the seniors were recognized and honored. Mom and Sis. Marcelli sang a duet song titled “I’ve Found The City.” I have a tape of it and have enjoyed listening to it because it is so pretty. When I listen to it now, which I do often, Mom is talking to me. She tells me –

I’ve found the city

Way up in the sky

Where our souls shall live and never die

I have found the city

Where my loved ones dwell

All its wondrous beauty none can ever tell

All the walls are jasper

All the streets are gold

Happy sainted millions never will grow old

With the blessed Savior, Christ, who reigns above

I have found the place of perfect love.

I have such a good feeling when I listen to her sing. I cry, but I cry tears of joy.

Dad had broken his hip and spent several weeks in the hospital but was at home, bedridden, at the time of Mom’s death. He also suffered from dementia. I’m not sure he ever really understood about our loss. He talked to me as if I were Mom so much of the time. One day when I was visiting him he said, “Mother you are so wise.” That truly describes her. Dad passed away one year and one month after Mom.

I would say that Mom was the leader of the family but that’s how Dad wanted it. He supported her in every way. They were two wonderful people just suited for each other. They loved the Lord, their family and church and have been a good influence on so many. I am thankful I had them for so many years. I miss them dearly.

Teri Belcher Shoemake wrote about her grandparents: The place I always wanted to be -- Black Lake with Mom and Daddy Pop. Actually I could have been anywhere as long as I was with them. They warmed your heart and your soul. There was such a feeling of love, the unconditional kind that you just didn't want to ever leave. Much time has passed since I was their "Teri O" -- Daddy Pop’s pet name for me, but I still feel that love. I really don't know where to begin with my memories, there are so many that I seem to jump from one to another. As far back as I can remember we all spent time at the lake in the summer. We had to alternate; that was good for two reasons -- it wasn't so hard on Mom and each of us was able to have their undivided attention. I loved it! Fishing, swimming, gathering eggs, watching Mom milk the cows, eating "cow butter," trying to catch baby calves, riding the horse, picking the garden, there was always something!

When Mama & Daddy moved to Texas I was 5 years old and was to start school that year. Texas rules were different from Louisiana's. In Texas, I had to be 6. Mom and Daddy Pop offered to keep me in Abbeville so I could go ahead and start school. Mama and Daddy must have agreed, because I did start first grade in Abbeville. Daddy Pop retired from Marathon during that school year and we moved to Black Lake. I finished first grade in Campti. The next year I had to go home to Texas I can't remember that far back, but I'm sure leaving was terribly sad.

I went back to live with Mom and Daddy Pop during the ninth and tenth grades. I'm sure I was a handful, but they managed very well. Mom must have had the patience of JOB. No matter the problem she always knew how to handle it. For instance, when I found out that she was 15 years old when she married Daddy Pop, I decided that I too would marry at 15. She didn't get upset or even give me the "Oh no you won't because" lecture. All she wanted to know is what kind of boy I wanted to marry. I don't remember my answer, but the thought of marriage interested me for about a day and a half.

Daddy Pop -- what a sweetie. He taught me how to drive and most of my shopping habits. The driving: I could drive from the lake to the Methodist Church with the circle drive just before Natchitoches. Daddy Pop would read the newspaper until we stopped and he took over the driving. I couldn't understand how he knew how fast I was going or how close we were to our destination with the newspaper covering his face. With the risk of sounding like a brat, I'll tell you a funny story. Daddy Pop got a kick out of it. When we changed places and he drove, we went from the posted speed limit to 20 miles per hour. I would tell him that he embarrassed me by driving too slow. It didn't matter -- he still drove 20. To a 13 year old that was torture. Well, he got me back. One day we were going into the Montgomery Ward Catalog Store. I pushed on the door it didn't open. I pushed harder and harder with both hands. I turned to Daddy Pop and said "They’re Closed." He reached for the door and pulled the door open and he walked past me chuckling. He turned around, smiled, and said, "You embarrassed me." He laughed and laughed. He brought it up almost every time we were together after that. Shopping: as far as the shopping habits go, #1 Buy everything on the list, #2 Buy 10 of everything on sale, and #3 when you order something big and expensive (such as a shotgun) don't say anything until they call that your order is in. Those were the good ole days!

I hope that when my grandchildren are older that they look back on our time together as the good ole days. I thank the Lord for giving me such wonderful grandparents. I could never begin to thank these two wonderful people for everything they taught me, for everything they did for me, and for loving me. I owe them so much. I once heard my Daddy say that not only was he blessed to be Mom & Daddy Pops son-in-law, but also that he felt fortunate just to have known them, as I too, feel the same.

In closing, I would also like to say, that it gives me great comfort knowing that my beloved son, Benji, is safe with them and God. I look forward to being together with them again in eternal life. There will be so much I have to share with them and them with me. Thank you for honoring Mom & Daddy Pop and letting me be a part of it.

Melba Ruth Ward Dupree wrote: My sweet Aunt Ruth and Uncle Olon – always a part of my life from my earliest memories. Aunt Ruth – so talented in cooking, sewing, playing the piano, singing, crafts and much, much more. Uncle Olon – with that mischievous giggle and a great love for Aunt Ruth – the breadwinner of the family.

Their daughters, Jackie and Polly, were about the age of my sister, Margaret (Babe), and me. I am thirteen years older than Mary Lou, their third and youngest daughter; we did not share the same things but I love her very much also. Jackie and Polly and Margaret and I played together and visited back and forth from our house to theirs continually until Jackie – who was about eighteen months older than I – was married. But our families continued to be close spending all holidays together until I came to Beaumont, Texas and started work for Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. Even then we visited when we could.

When Dutch and I married, we visited in Aunt Ruth and Uncle Olon’s home. We went to church with them and when the offering plate was passed, Dutch dropped it. There was no carpet on the floor and money and plate rolled everywhere. Uncle Olon giggled and giggled while everyone tried to help pick up the money. I hope it was all recovered! The next week there was a little short article in the “Haynesville News” that we had visited the Manning’s on our wedding trip. Aunt Ruth sent me a copy of it. I felt very important.

The Church was Aunt Ruth’s heartbeat. She supported the work of God in every way she knew. Fund-raising for the Ladies’ Auxiliary was one of her interests. She made quilts and many other things in order to raise funds. One of her greatest endeavors was making peanut brittle. She did this on a regular schedule and delivered it all over the Natchitoches – Campti, Louisiana area. She had regular customers who looked forward to these deliveries. When our son, Nathan, became pastor of the church in Campti at an early age, she had funds in the Auxiliary treasury to help send him to our Church’s General Conference, which was held in Florida that particular year. For a small church in a small town, this was a real feat. This was probably at least thirty years ago. Even though Uncle Olon never said much, you could tell by his pleased expression that he supported her and was happy about her accomplishments.

Aunt Ruth made the best pies. My Mom was a wonderful cake maker but she never made pies. As I grew a little older – before I was out of high school – I began to make pies. Jess, Aunt Ruth’s sister, gave me recipes. But I always felt the strong desire I had to make pies came from my early memories of Aunt Ruth’s pies.

Another example Aunt Ruth set before me was her sewing. Jackie and Polly were always so cute and well dressed. Aunt Ruth sewed for them all the time. So when I was thirteen I had my first sewing class in Home Economics. I thought, “Now I can sew anything,” but the first dresses I made were awful. I had to wear them as we were in depression years and money was short. In time, I finally learned to make a few things. I still give Aunt Ruth credit for this.

Aunt Ruth and I had another connection that was a bond between us – my middle name is Ruth. Aunt Ruth called me Melba Ruth as long as she lived. She never shortened it to Melba as most everyone else did. She told me that she loved the name “Ruth.” It caused closeness between us.

She sang like a songbird. She opened her mouth and the song just rolled out. When Polly was a little older they sang specials together at church. I could listen to them all day. My Dad wanted them to sing at his funeral, but just before his death, Polly became very ill and we were anxious for her life. Aunt Ruth was with her in the hospital so the song was not possible.

Aunt Ruth was so kind when we had illness in our family. Mom was in the hospital several days. Aunt Ruth left her home in Morgan City, Louisiana and came to Beaumont, Texas to sit with her. We appreciated this greatly. When my Dad was very ill with cancer, before his death, she came to sit with him. We had him at home here in Beaumont. She was not interested in our entertaining her in any way. She just got a straight chair and sat in the room with him. He was so ill that he wasn’t even talking. He had been her pastor in Campti, Louisiana. She had great respect and love for him. She wanted to show her appreciation.

My mother and Aunt Ruth were sisters – Mom being two years older. Mom passed away on 30 Apr 1991. We were greatly saddened when Aunt Ruth passed away in September 1991. Her health had seemed so much better than my mothers’. It was quite a shock when Polly called and said she was gone. I loved her very much. Then Uncle Olon died the next year if I remember correctly. They were such a devoted couple.

I left out many things but I must mention the family vacations on Black Lake banks near Campti. This was the highlight of our year – all the Cain sisters and their families camping together. The adults fished all day and brought in lots of fish – white perch. Aunt Ruth and Mom knew just how to fry them- and potatoes, too. How good they were with a cold glass of iced tea!!

Linda Hilburn wrote: Aunt Ruth and Uncle Olon were an integral part of my life, growing up. I saw them from time to time after I grew up but it was not as often. My best memories of them are at Black Lake. Aunt Ruth and Uncle Olon deserve several stars for putting up with all of the nieces and nephews and cooking for the whole bunch! She loved her family and enjoyed them. She just added to whatever she was cooking when more came in. Of course, it was right down Uncle Olon’s alley to think up tricks to play on the kids, which he did – often! What fun times we had at their old tin-roofed, screened-in porch cabin. It was a refuge after we got tired from fishing, swimming and playing. Summers were hot there but the huge ole fan (that Jessie thinks Uncle Carl built) really helped. I oftentimes went fishing with Mom in the mornings after she greased me up like a slick pig with Vaseline. You see, I have very fair skin and do not ever tan, just burn!

After a dinner of delicious fried white perch and taters, we would play Rook. There would be 2 to 3 tables of Rook going at one time in the big room of the cabin. The ceiling was not sealed and there were what seemed like hundreds of stinging scorpions maneuvering on the rafters overhead. The Rook games were so much fun and so intense that we didn’t care about the scorpions except when someone would spot one on the floor and holler! Everybody would raise their feet and somebody would kill him and then back to Rook it was.

We would go swimming in the afternoons after our lunch had settled enough so that we wouldn’t get cramps. We would stay a long time and then head for the cabin to eat, as we would be starving. Mom bought the cereal that came in individual packages for us to have at Black Lake. We never got to buy the cereal like that at home so that was a real treat! Sometimes at night we would shoot fireworks and I remember one time watching an eclipse with the rest of the kids.

At night, it was wall-to-wall beds in the big room. Donny was sleeping on a pallet one night and had an uninvited guest die on his pillow (a mouse had gotten into the rat poison)!

I got to visit Aunt Ruth and Uncle Olon when they lived on Bayou Boudie out from Morgan City one time. They had a houseboat that was tied up to the land next to the house. I remember us fishing off of the houseboat for crabs. It was special to get to see their houseboat because not everyone has one! Another vivid memory of Aunt Ruth was when she cooked the crabs. She put those poor live crabs into boiling water to cook them but oh, how good they were!

Uncle Olon would take us fishing in the Marathon, his workboat. I remember fishing off of the back of it. Donny says that when Uncle Olon would take him with him to check on his wells, he would yodel! I never got the privilege to hear him but have wished a many a time I had.

It was exciting when we learned that Aunt Ruth and Uncle Olon were going to live in Cotton Valley! They built a lovely brick home in the edge of Cotton Valley on the way to our house. We enjoyed visiting with them there. When Dick (Polly Manning Jones’ son) would come down from Texarkana we would play board games there.

Later, Aunt Ruth and Uncle Olon bought another cabin on Black Lake. We enjoyed visiting them there also. They celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary during the time they lived there. I remember Aunt Ruth decorating one wall in the dining area with some of the gifts they had received from the anniversary. Aunt Ruth always had nice things in her home, furniture, whatnots, etc. I learned to appreciate nice things like this from her. Even though we could not visit every place that Aunt Ruth and Uncle Olon lived, they would visit in our home also. I loved them very much and have many, many, wonderful memories of them. They helped me to have a wonderful childhood! I thank the Lord for such wonderful family members!

As a side note, just in case no one else mentions it, it just has to be said that Uncle Olon had special names for several members of the family. Ruth was Babe or Mother; May Ward was Doc; Elmer Ward was Cuz; Carl Barker was Unc, Ada Barker was Ade, Jessie was Jake and Bessie was Sister-in-law. In later years when Aunt Ruth did not go fishing with Uncle Olon very much, he would say, “When Sister-in-law gets here, she’ll go fishing with me” and sure-nuff she would!

Margaret Ward wrote: Aunt Ruth and Uncle Olon were two of the many special people in my life. Some of my earliest memories were going to Haynesville to spend the day with them and we always had such a good time together. If we weren’t going to see them, they were coming to our house. I don’t think there was too much time between our visits – we kept the road hot between our houses. Of course, we always had the rest of our family with us, Grandma (Mary Lou Belle Cain), Jess (Jessie) and Beek (Bessie). We were one big happy family.

We always took our vacations together down on Black Lake too. The grown-ups would go out in boats and stay all day while we children stayed at the camp and played in the water. They never did make a fisherman out of me, but if any of us wanted to go, they would take us with them.

We started camping out in the open with mosquito nets to sleep under. Next, we had some kind of tent and if it rained the water came right through the middle of our tent – but that didn’t seem to bother us. When we were able to rent a small cabin we almost felt like we were up town. We had wall-to-wall pallets, but the big day came when Aunt Ruth and Uncle Olon bought a cabin and welcomed us all to stay with them. We really were a happy group and enjoyed all of those times.

Uncle Olon always was such a big tease. He especially liked to get Phil going on some tall tale and then he would laugh and laugh. He probably teased the rest of us like that, too. Aunt Ruth loved to sing and always enjoyed going to singings if they were close enough for her to go. I remember going to Shreveport with her and she usually had a carload to go. I always enjoyed hearing her and Polly singing together. Aunt Ruth always made pies for special holidays and I always enjoyed them so much because Mom usually baked cakes. The cakes were good but we never got pies at home until Sister (Melba) learned to bake them.

Uncle Olon got transferred to Morgan City and then to Abbeville. I always enjoyed going to see them and made several trips to both places to visit them. Wherever they moved to, Aunt Ruth always found a church to go to. She was always faithful to go to church and was helpful in lots of ways to sing and do whatever her hands could find to do.

I still miss Aunt Ruth and Uncle Olon so much. She was right by his side to take care of him after he got sick and the last time we saw them, her chair was right by his bed so she could see to his needs. That’s what a great love for another person will do.

Janice Hilburn Patterson wrote: I remember visiting Aunt Ruth and Uncle Olon when they lived on Bayou Boudie. Uncle Olon would sink a wire net filled with willow leaves off of the point of the peninsula. When he pulled it up it would be full of grass shrimp. Then he would take us fishing in his workboat for white perch and we used the grass shrimp for bait. One time he ran aground on a sand bar and bent the propeller which made for rough running until he could get a new one put on.

Uncle Olon would also take us on his rounds as roustabout to read the wells. He would take his rifle and take advantage of a good chance to kill a cat squirrel, which meant more meat for the table.

Aunt Ruth learned how to make the best Cajun dishes after they moved down there. One was what is called Court Bouillion but we called it “couvillion”. I remember her boiling the catfish heads to make stock for the couvillion. She also could make the best shrimp couvillion!

One memory that has stuck in my mind when visiting at Black Lake was the way Aunt Ruth fixed the tomatoes to go with the fish dinners. She would cut them in wedges instead of slicing them and would put onions with them, add salt and a little pepper.

Another memory when visiting at Black Lake at the old cabin was when the fire got out of the fireplace during the night and started a small fire! Thank the Lord that Ada Barker discovered it before it did much damage. Mother got up and helped her put it out.

Donald Hilburn wrote: Ruth and Olon graciously shared their homes and cabin at Black Lake with my family. I have already talked about Black Lake extensively but in this issue I’d like to relate some boyhood memories of vacations to Morgan City LA while they lived there. Note that Mary Lou described their being transferred to Berwick, which is situated immediately across the river from MC. While she is technically correct, for some reason we always referred to their home in MC. Regardless, while I was a young boy, they transferred to MC which is located in Cajun country, about as far south in LA as one can go without putting to sea. Actually they lived upstream on a large tributary of the Atchafalaya River - Bayou Boudie. Their neighbors were few in number, and were Cajuns living the traditional lifestyle, existing on the bounty of the waterways and surrounding swamps. Just getting to MC from Cotton Valley was an adventure in itself - the drive through Cajun country with its Evangeline oaks adorned with Spanish moss, the sugar cane fields surrounding plantation homes was so different from northwest LA, that it was a treat to just go there.

My whole family vacationed at MC, but I was fortunate that my cousin Richard Jones also invited me to spend part of his summer vacation at MC, which provided me additional time on the bayou. You see, Olon and Ruth were Richard’s grandparents and he always spent his summer vacation with them whenever he was a young boy. The first time I remember visiting, they were living on a houseboat, which was eventually moved onto land and expanded, providing much more spacious and comfortable accommodations. The highlight of my visits there was Olon letting me drive his workboat. It was approximately 36’ long and built specifically for the job of navigating the bayous, canals and backwaters, to check and record production and overall condition of numerous oil wells drilled in the endless miles of swampland. I loved boating so that meant the world to me. Richard had no apparent interest in driving the boat, so I got all the seat-time! Olon had that mischievous streak I alluded to in my Black Lake memories, and it was still very much a part of him at MC! I remember the first time I drove the boat to a landing on Bayou Boudie. Bayou Boudie was a relatively large stream with a deceptively strong current. Olon told me to park the boat so he could check the well, without telling me I had to account for the current’s effects. You guessed it – I made a real mess of the landing, totally overshooting the dock with Olon laughing away and eyes sparkling, enjoying the moment! Also on Bayou Boudie was another hazard – a Cajun that would shoot at you if you caused too big a wake for his tastes, but Olon didn’t keep this a secret! And we got to catch lots of fish and even crabs and shrimp because Bayou Boudie was brackish water due to its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and its tidal effects. And better yet Ruth learned how to cook the most wonderful Cajun dishes from our fresh catches – Yum!

Then there was Hurricane Audrey! In June 1957, Richard and I were visiting MC when we got word that a potentially devastating hurricane was approaching from the Gulf of Mexico. At first it seemed that we would merely ride out the storm out on Bayou Boudie, but as the Audrey neared landfall, the storm surge and winds made that option risky. So Marathon made the decision to evacuate us into MC, and sent out the Jimmy Boy to bring us into town. The Jimmy Boy was a good sized cabin cruiser the company used to haul roustabouts, and was usually the conveyance for visitors to the Manning’s because it was a much faster boat than Olon’s workboat, and it would also carry more people comfortably. By the time the Jimmy Boy was dispatched, the water was rising rapidly and winds were increasing, but we were obliviously enjoying the adventure out on the bayou. As I recall, the boat arrived much later than the time we were told to expect it, because large waves on the waterways necessitated they avoid open water to the extent possible by taking smaller bayous. Nevertheless, it finally arrived and we headed downstream to MC. The excitement reached a crescendo when we arrived at Six Mile Lake – which as I remember was not really a lake but a large open section of water, possible the confluence of bayous. It had to be navigated in order to go to MC, and it posed the greatest danger because the waves were much larger due to the expanse. When we approached, I was standing up front between the two front seats – wide eyed with adventure! The captain told me to take a seat though as it was going to get rough, but before I could get back to a seat, waves and wind started tossing us around like a toy boat. I would try to sit down, but the seat would fall out from under me before I could sit, then as the boat rebounded it would toss me back up into the air. Those gyrations went on for what seemed like forever before I was finally able to get seated! It was totally amazing – waves were actually breaking over the bow and rolled over the boat. I can still see the dirty water in those waves as they broke over the bow of the Jimmy Boy. It truly was a wonder we didn’t sink and all perish!

After finally making it into MC, we stayed with Sissy and Red Williamson until conditions were safe to return to Bayou Boudie. Upon return we discovered that water had not flooded the residence and we probably would have been safer staying there, rather than making the trip across Six Mile Lake! Richard and I just had the best time – meanwhile I guess Jessie was worried sick about us and couldn’t get information because the telephones were inoperative. As you can imagine that was my last adventure to MC – it would have taken at least an act of congress for Jessie to let me back onto Bayou Boudie.