Bessie Payton Miller was born in French Lick, Indiana, to Ulysses Grant Payton and Lillie Irene (Carmichael) Payton on May 31, 1892. She had a large family and once I get all of their names correct I will submit them. Her mother, Lillie, died when she jumped into the Wabash River to save another child who had fallen into the river during a storm. Lillie's pregnancy contributed to her weakened condition and she passed away in 1908. Bessie was 16 at that time and pretty much took over the role of "mother/domestic engineer". She gave up her education to cook, clean, sew, provide encouragement and love to her younger siblings, and helped her father on the farm in her "spare" time. I know this provided her with the resources she needed to live as a "dustbowl wife" in Oklahoma during those difficult difficult days from the dust bowl into the depression and beyond.
She became an LPN and in 1915 met the love of her life, George Edward Miller. He was 13 years her senior, but they both fell in love and married on January 12, 1916, in Indianapolis, Indiana. George never talked much about his family due to the hurt he felt from his parents not wanting him around. Later, they found out George was not "guilty" of whatever perceived slight had occurred, but by then it was too later. He was gone and out of their lives forever.
George and Bessie soon moved to Raytown, Missouri, where in March 1917 there first child, a son, Leonard Edward, was born. Three other children followed after that, with my dad, Ray G. Miller, being the youngest. He was born in 1927 in Drumright, Oklahoma. Two sisters, Eileen Laurel and Mary Margaret, were born between the two boys. Everyone grew up to have families and careers and adventures.
All of the children except Leonard were born in Oklahoma where the family lived working in the oil fields. Those were long, hard days, but George usually had a job.
Bessie was widowed on March 17, 1950, when her dear husband died of prostate cancer. Approximately 1 year later, their first grandchild was born.
Bessie was a wonderful grandmother. She had to deal with a lot of issues in her siblings' lives which caused a great deal of stress. But her marriage was stable and loving and secure, and her children made her very proud. She came to live with us for 3 months when my father was in Europe for a 3-month work assignment, and one of the joys was to watch "Perry Mason" daily at 5 pm in California. This was in the late 60s-early 70s, and it made each school day something to look forward to after doing homework and chores. Granny Bess as she was called always looked forward to us snuggling up and watching those shows.
I remember when she bought me my first watch. It was a Cinderella watch - blue and beautiful - sitting on the Cinderella ceramic doll. She would buy each grandchild a watch when they finally learned to tell time. I loved that watch for years and years.
She succumbed to kidney failure on February 8, 1976. I never really appreciated her the way I should, and I totally regret that now. Being a teenager during that time in her life, I was impatient to a point and didn't have "the time" to visit or do things. I always have regretted not spending more time when I had the chance.
Looking forward to reuniting with you Grandma. Thanks for instilling a huge LOVE OF HISTORY in me. I enjoyed listening when I was little to your family stories and the history of Indiana. It was always so interesting. It persists to this day - and has expanded to a love for the U.S. and genealogy.
Love and miss you very much!!!
She became an LPN and in 1915 met the love of her life, George Edward Miller. He was 13 years her senior, but they both fell in love and married on January 12, 1916, in Indianapolis, Indiana. George never talked much about his family due to the hurt he felt from his parents not wanting him around. Later, they found out George was not "guilty" of whatever perceived slight had occurred, but by then it was too later. He was gone and out of their lives forever.
George and Bessie soon moved to Raytown, Missouri, where in March 1917 there first child, a son, Leonard Edward, was born. Three other children followed after that, with my dad, Ray G. Miller, being the youngest. He was born in 1927 in Drumright, Oklahoma. Two sisters, Eileen Laurel and Mary Margaret, were born between the two boys. Everyone grew up to have families and careers and adventures.
All of the children except Leonard were born in Oklahoma where the family lived working in the oil fields. Those were long, hard days, but George usually had a job.
Bessie was widowed on March 17, 1950, when her dear husband died of prostate cancer. Approximately 1 year later, their first grandchild was born.
Bessie was a wonderful grandmother. She had to deal with a lot of issues in her siblings' lives which caused a great deal of stress. But her marriage was stable and loving and secure, and her children made her very proud. She came to live with us for 3 months when my father was in Europe for a 3-month work assignment, and one of the joys was to watch "Perry Mason" daily at 5 pm in California. This was in the late 60s-early 70s, and it made each school day something to look forward to after doing homework and chores. Granny Bess as she was called always looked forward to us snuggling up and watching those shows.
I remember when she bought me my first watch. It was a Cinderella watch - blue and beautiful - sitting on the Cinderella ceramic doll. She would buy each grandchild a watch when they finally learned to tell time. I loved that watch for years and years.
She succumbed to kidney failure on February 8, 1976. I never really appreciated her the way I should, and I totally regret that now. Being a teenager during that time in her life, I was impatient to a point and didn't have "the time" to visit or do things. I always have regretted not spending more time when I had the chance.
Looking forward to reuniting with you Grandma. Thanks for instilling a huge LOVE OF HISTORY in me. I enjoyed listening when I was little to your family stories and the history of Indiana. It was always so interesting. It persists to this day - and has expanded to a love for the U.S. and genealogy.
Love and miss you very much!!!
Bessie Payton Miller was born in French Lick, Indiana, to Ulysses Grant Payton and Lillie Irene (Carmichael) Payton on May 31, 1892. She had a large family and once I get all of their names correct I will submit them. Her mother, Lillie, died when she jumped into the Wabash River to save another child who had fallen into the river during a storm. Lillie's pregnancy contributed to her weakened condition and she passed away in 1908. Bessie was 16 at that time and pretty much took over the role of "mother/domestic engineer". She gave up her education to cook, clean, sew, provide encouragement and love to her younger siblings, and helped her father on the farm in her "spare" time. I know this provided her with the resources she needed to live as a "dustbowl wife" in Oklahoma during those difficult difficult days from the dust bowl into the depression and beyond.
She became an LPN and in 1915 met the love of her life, George Edward Miller. He was 13 years her senior, but they both fell in love and married on January 12, 1916, in Indianapolis, Indiana. George never talked much about his family due to the hurt he felt from his parents not wanting him around. Later, they found out George was not "guilty" of whatever perceived slight had occurred, but by then it was too later. He was gone and out of their lives forever.
George and Bessie soon moved to Raytown, Missouri, where in March 1917 there first child, a son, Leonard Edward, was born. Three other children followed after that, with my dad, Ray G. Miller, being the youngest. He was born in 1927 in Drumright, Oklahoma. Two sisters, Eileen Laurel and Mary Margaret, were born between the two boys. Everyone grew up to have families and careers and adventures.
All of the children except Leonard were born in Oklahoma where the family lived working in the oil fields. Those were long, hard days, but George usually had a job.
Bessie was widowed on March 17, 1950, when her dear husband died of prostate cancer. Approximately 1 year later, their first grandchild was born.
Bessie was a wonderful grandmother. She had to deal with a lot of issues in her siblings' lives which caused a great deal of stress. But her marriage was stable and loving and secure, and her children made her very proud. She came to live with us for 3 months when my father was in Europe for a 3-month work assignment, and one of the joys was to watch "Perry Mason" daily at 5 pm in California. This was in the late 60s-early 70s, and it made each school day something to look forward to after doing homework and chores. Granny Bess as she was called always looked forward to us snuggling up and watching those shows.
I remember when she bought me my first watch. It was a Cinderella watch - blue and beautiful - sitting on the Cinderella ceramic doll. She would buy each grandchild a watch when they finally learned to tell time. I loved that watch for years and years.
She succumbed to kidney failure on February 8, 1976. I never really appreciated her the way I should, and I totally regret that now. Being a teenager during that time in her life, I was impatient to a point and didn't have "the time" to visit or do things. I always have regretted not spending more time when I had the chance.
Looking forward to reuniting with you Grandma. Thanks for instilling a huge LOVE OF HISTORY in me. I enjoyed listening when I was little to your family stories and the history of Indiana. It was always so interesting. It persists to this day - and has expanded to a love for the U.S. and genealogy.
Love and miss you very much!!!
She became an LPN and in 1915 met the love of her life, George Edward Miller. He was 13 years her senior, but they both fell in love and married on January 12, 1916, in Indianapolis, Indiana. George never talked much about his family due to the hurt he felt from his parents not wanting him around. Later, they found out George was not "guilty" of whatever perceived slight had occurred, but by then it was too later. He was gone and out of their lives forever.
George and Bessie soon moved to Raytown, Missouri, where in March 1917 there first child, a son, Leonard Edward, was born. Three other children followed after that, with my dad, Ray G. Miller, being the youngest. He was born in 1927 in Drumright, Oklahoma. Two sisters, Eileen Laurel and Mary Margaret, were born between the two boys. Everyone grew up to have families and careers and adventures.
All of the children except Leonard were born in Oklahoma where the family lived working in the oil fields. Those were long, hard days, but George usually had a job.
Bessie was widowed on March 17, 1950, when her dear husband died of prostate cancer. Approximately 1 year later, their first grandchild was born.
Bessie was a wonderful grandmother. She had to deal with a lot of issues in her siblings' lives which caused a great deal of stress. But her marriage was stable and loving and secure, and her children made her very proud. She came to live with us for 3 months when my father was in Europe for a 3-month work assignment, and one of the joys was to watch "Perry Mason" daily at 5 pm in California. This was in the late 60s-early 70s, and it made each school day something to look forward to after doing homework and chores. Granny Bess as she was called always looked forward to us snuggling up and watching those shows.
I remember when she bought me my first watch. It was a Cinderella watch - blue and beautiful - sitting on the Cinderella ceramic doll. She would buy each grandchild a watch when they finally learned to tell time. I loved that watch for years and years.
She succumbed to kidney failure on February 8, 1976. I never really appreciated her the way I should, and I totally regret that now. Being a teenager during that time in her life, I was impatient to a point and didn't have "the time" to visit or do things. I always have regretted not spending more time when I had the chance.
Looking forward to reuniting with you Grandma. Thanks for instilling a huge LOVE OF HISTORY in me. I enjoyed listening when I was little to your family stories and the history of Indiana. It was always so interesting. It persists to this day - and has expanded to a love for the U.S. and genealogy.
Love and miss you very much!!!
Bio by: Debbie Holth
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