Growing up in the 1940s

Lily Bernice Revis Koprek

1935-2016

Kathleen Ann Revis Thompson

1939-2022

Lucille B. Oswald Revis (mom)

1914-2010

Ezra Sylvester Revis (dad)

1916-1976

MILK ROUTE

Somewhere around 1940, Lucille kept a cow on the other side of the village but sold milk and butter and clabbered milk to people around. Lily remembered pulling the little red wagon, hanging on to Kathleen's hand and taking the clabbered milk a couple of blocks to some lady. The lady always wanted butter but never paid for it so Lucille said she couldn't afford that and no more butter for her!

BARBARA JEAN IS NAKED AGAIN

The family lived in Blue Mound around 1940. They had a corner lot, across from the Church of God, where the children were on the cradle roll.

Next door were Nettie and Fred McKinney. Nettie was Lily's piano teacher and Fred was the town barber.

Winnie Revis Kunzman (Ezra's sister) and her family lived catty-cornered from Ez.

Winnie's daughter Barbara Jean had a habit of taking off her clothes and running down the street naked. Of course she was just a toddler at the time.

A happy photo of Lily and Kate from around 1941.

LILY AND SUZY

Lily considered Suzy the Cow a good friend. Lily would seek her out for comfort. A good listener, Suzy would moo at just the right time during Lily's tales of woe, always in agreement.

My middle name is Sue. I have always contended that I was named after that friendly bovine. Mom denied it.

WRECK

On a cold January night in 1946, Lily was in the car with her dad, Ezra, on a late (!) night ride. He wrecked the car on the icy roads. Lily went to the hospital but only had minor injuries.

Photo of Lily is from around 1939

SHOOTING

Lily never spoke much about this dramatic event..

In 1952 the Revis family lived in a rural area with few houses nearby. Early one morning they heard shouts of "HELP!" from outside.

A stranger named Grace was running away from a car. She was screaming that her husband had beat her and she wanted to get inside for safety.

Lily and her mom, Lucille, grabbed the shotguns. The woman's husband was angry and wanted his wife. Lily said, "Don't come any closer, or I will shoot!" but the man mocked her. As he advanced, she shot low to stop him.

Of course, now Grace is screaming at Lily because her dear husband is shot.

LOL.

Lily had to talk to the State's Attorney but was not charged with a crime.

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