Carolyn Heck Otis Obituary/Life

4/26/13

How do you start putting in words someone's life especially when that someone is the woman you gave birth to you and did every thing she could to raise you and provide for you? Who was human and made mistakes? Who worked long hours all her life just to supply her family with the necessities of life and have some luxuries later when her children were on their own. Don't get me wrong my Mother wasn't perfect but her heart was and so was her faith. Her favorite color was Blue and her favorite flower was an Iris. Today is April 26th the day my Mother is being lady to rest.


The Iris photo taken by Sue 4/21/2013

 She was Born in Tiffin Ohio where my Great Grandmother and Great Grandfather moved to from Michigan. They arrived in Tiffin on a stage coach with my great Grandmother carrying My Grandmother Gladys in her Womb. Tiffin already made history with John Dillinger and his gang who robbed a bank in Fostoria in 1933 and headed for Tiffin on Route 18. Chief Fraley and Patrolman Kenneth Griffis set up a road block on Route #18 and awaited the gang's arrival but they never showed up. Tiffin also hosted the great Tiffin Glass Factory where both my Grandfather Fred and his Father worked.

Tiffin Glass Factory

Lets go back in time to the day my Mother was born. Back to 4/20/1933 in Rural Tiffin Ohio to Gladys Michaels Heck and Fred Heck. Fred was a glass blower at Tiffin Glass Factory and Gladys stayed at home to take care of her family, as most woman did in that time. Gladys crocheted baby outfits to sell for her spending money at Christmas time and for the families extras. She could only imagine her great Grand Daughters (my Girls) wearing this precious outfits on the day they were Baptize.


Carolyn Otis

Carolyn was born at Home on 1st Ave in Tiffin. She came into this world with a twin brother named Caroll at a time in Life when her Mother was older and thought to have been past the time of conceiving a child. My Mothers sister Lois was already grown and married and soon would be having her children.

Lois Heck Dell and Her Husband Gus Dell

Lois said Grandma had a very hard time giving birth and she could hear her screaming all through the house. My Mothers twin died shortly after birth and Carolyn's nephews would then say the twin died and the turd lived just to tease her. Every time she told that story she would laugh.

There is no doubt the closeness my Mother had with her Father. He spoiled her unlike her brothers and sisters relationship with their Father. I guess that is the advantage of coming into a family in their later years. Lois (Carolyn's sister) always told stories of how Fred was stern and the times he came home drunk and then could be abusive. But that was the times and many Families where the same. They had come through the depression with the help of Gladys's family and Fred's hunting skills to provide for the family. The had survived only by minutes of the great Flood in Tiffin 1913 as Fred had just left with his cousin who was visiting his girlfriend and her home was swept away by the flood with no survivors.

World War 1 was over when Carolyn came into this world but soon World War 2 would be staring. Her Brother Bill would be A MIA from that war but was one of the lucky ones to be released as a prisoner of war. Most of the Men in Carolyn's family did their part in serving our Country.  And she would later marry a man who was active duty Navy when she meet him.

Carolyn's life in Tiffin was happy.  She had so many Nieces and Nephews that were close to her age to play with. Sundays were always special time because after church there would always be a big family dinner. I had the pleasure of attending some of those dinners and they were great. 

Gladys at Sunday dinner on Rt. 58

 

Rt. 53 In Tiffin Ohio Gladys and Fred's house after moving from First Ave. Carolyn grew up here!

Gladys's (My Grandmother) food was always my favorite. Everything she made was home made. Pies, pasta, baked beans, molasses cookies, fried chicken, German Spaetzle Dumplings, roast beef and more. The food filled the tables with plates from all the family members participating. My Grandmother and Grandpa always had a garden and fruit trees. It was always fun to go pick the fruit or strawberries and eat them right off the plant.   The Sunday dinners would be rotated as each family member took their turn hosting the great events.  I have wonderful memories myself of those times. I have to say my Mothers was the happiest when she was with her family as she was so well loved.

(Lois, Gus, Bill and Louie with Carolyn in the Picture)
 

 

Her sister Lois took part in raising my Mother and did her part in spoiling her as well. I remember being pushed in my Grandfathers wheel barrel by my cousins, riding on his riding lawn motor or playing at the park when we went to my Uncle Bill and Aunt Florence's home. Everything was a toy and we kids had a blast playing together. I did not grown up in my Moms home town but we visited when we could.

Carolyn Otis with Parents and Brothers and Sister

Clem Heck-Lois Dell-Carolyn Heck-Bill Heck

My Mother was the only one to graduate High School between her brothers and sisters.

 

She worked as a telephone operator before she was married in Tiffin

Sometime shorty before Dec 27th 1952 my Mother traveled to Washington D C for pleasure getaway and it was there she meet my father at a Bar / restaurant. She told me she thought he looked like a movie star and he told her he was a Doctor in the Navy. His correct title was a Corpsman in The Navy. It was love at first site and they married on December 27th 1952 not long after meeting.

The Navy took them to a few locations starting with Quantico Virginia and Washington D C and they traveling to Great Lakes Il. where their first child, a son was born. Raymond Joseph Otis the 3rd. They then went to Coronado California navy base where my Sister Paula was born. I was born in Portsmouth Navel Hospital on December 18, 1957.

Carolyn Otis pregnant with author Sue Otis Neser

(More to follow)