Bob Fleetwood Birthday News

As told by Jimmy L. Fleetwood, long-time resident of Fernnook.

FERNNOOK NEWS July 23, 2018 Volume 1, Issue 1

News not found elsewhere

This was told to me by my mother and is her best recollection of the events of July 22nd and 23rd of 1930.

Following is some information that helps put into perspective the situation at that time.

Art and Iva Crow were neighbors who lived about a mile from the old Simon home place. Art was 37 and Iva was 21 that year. Iva had her own baby Mildred who was less than three years old. John and Hattie Simon had been married 28 years and were 76 and 56 years old respectively. Opal’s brother Paul was 27 and John was 21 and Opal’s sister Hazel children were living with John and Hattie. Gilbert was 6 and Helen was 4 John J. Simon would have less than two years left to live in July 1930 and Hattie would live for 18 and 1/2 more years.

A story as told to Jimmy L. Fleetwood by Opal Fleetwood in 2002 How Bob lost his Petey but found a name.

It was a very hot and dry summer that year, the corn had twisted and withered in the field. Art Crow, a neighbor, had been sent for to help cut and shock the corn so there would be some fodder for the animals. The day before, July 22nd had been a hot and hazy day. Paul and John Simon had been in the hay fields along with Marion Fleetwood their brother-in-law. They were preparing to put hay into the barn.

Inside the house, Opal was getting ready to give birth to her first child. Opal’s Mother, Hattie was there to comfort her daughter as she experienced the pangs of childbirth. As the day wore on and evening came, Opal’s brother Paul was sent to Doniphan to fetch Dr. Carter Proctor. Paul and the doctor got back just as it was getting dark. The old Model T truck rattled and sputtered its way down the dirt road that stopped in front of the house. The doctor went into the bedroom where Opal was waiting. He examined her quickly and then gave her two capsules from his bag.

He then made his way out onto the porch where a bed had been prepared for him and tried to get some rest. The drugs soon took effect on Opal and she went to sleep. As the night wore on, the doctor sleeping on the porch and Opal dozing fitfully in her bed, the time was quickly approaching for the baby to come. Opal awakened with a start at 2 A.M. She knew the time was close. The pain was intense, sweeping in waves over her body. Hattie roused the doctor from his sleep. Opal fought with the doctor as he applied chloroform. She fought to stay awake. She hated the smell and the way it made her feel but the drug won the battle and when she awakened there was a new baby boy in the world. He was born about 8 A.M. that 23rd day of July 1930. He had big blue eyes and lots of dark brown hair. When Opal awoke her new son’s hair had already been combed maybe by Iva Crow or his Grandma Hattie.

He was a healthy baby boy about 8 lbs 4 ounces and 19 inches long. Paul Marion Fleetwood that’s what he was named. He was named for his Uncle Paul Simon and for his father Marion. It was his Aunt Jewel who gave him the name that we know him by today. She called him “Petey Bob”. Somewhere along the way, the “Petey” was dropped and he became known simply as Bob. His father Marion once explained to a merchant in Naylor when she inquired about his name, “We just cut off the Petey and called him Bob”. As he grew older and someone would call him Paul, he would say “No! Bobby!! Grandma Hattie went into the garden and gathered vegetables to make a pot of homemade soup to help Opal feel better. The aroma of the soup simmering on the wood stove was soothing to everyone. Opal ate the soup with great satisfaction. In fact, vegetable soup had never tasted so good. The new mother and baby rested from the ordeal of birth. It was Wednesday, July 23rd, 1930. There was a new life in Jordan Township, Ripley County Missouri.

I want to wish that baby a Very Happy 88th Birthday. Happy Birthday, Bobby!!!