Remembering Grace Coke

In her own words…

This story involves my older sister, Margaret. One day she and a friend were going out to pick cherries from some lady's yard from the wealthy part of town. I wondered why they let a little sister tag along - we must have been around 13 and 16 years of age - but soon learned why. I was the one to knock on the back door and ask if I could have some of her cherries (the other two were hidden back in the fruit-laden trees, with two empty pails). The serious and stern Lady told me that I could pick a "hand full". I thanked her and went out back, and the three of us gleefully filled two pails with cherries. Somehow Rich Lady came out and spotted me of course and demanded to know, "What ARE you doing? I told you that you could pick a hand full". I stood there, caught red handed - literally - and with wide and innocent eyes and blurted out "HAND full? I thought you said PAN full"

It is not so surprising that Rod did not have a suit for his date, you see there is a little more to the story, some of which involved me. At the tender age of 10 or so, it was my job to do the family ironing each week. This involved something like 13 starched shirts, etc. Mother had to lower the ironing board considerably so I could reach it, and I was small for my age, at that! Anyway, I would iron all the white shirts that the "boys" wore and helped with the washing, also. Each week I would set aside and save for Ralph the "best" white shirt and the "best" underwear and socks . This was because Ralph would "tip" me..... usually a nickel, but sometimes as much as a DIME!! I always felt guilty, and sorry for the other boys , but not enough to keep me from "selling out"! Shirley and I laughed about this many times through the years. 1926?

Grace Tayar Coke

July 4, 1918 - December 15. 2000.

Grace Coke, born Grace Tayar to Elias and Lily Tayar in Springfield Illinois. Grace was the 7th of 9 children. She married Otha Coke in 1944 and raised two Children Dean and Donna. Grace will always be known for her gentle demeanor, her kindness, her great sense of humor, and her sense of family and community.

I remember your wonderful sense of humor and recall you poking fun at your name "grace" when you stumbled on something. But as I think on the deeper meaning, you were so appropriately named! Your love and warmth have radiated an "amazing grace" on so many of us in the family. One story I remember of your beautiful spirit was when I was home from college my freshman year for the big Tayar Thanksgiving meal. I was so full of myself as an adult and expected to be seated at the adult table for the first time in my life, but found that I had still been relegated to the children's table. In my ungracious manner, I objected and was told that there just wasn't room at the big table, but you immediately popped up and said that I could have your place at the big table, you would be glad to trade with me. You certainly taught me a great deal about humility and self giving that day! Thank you.

Love,

Rodene

Dear Grace,

Your contributions to this site have been wonderful and you have been its greatest fan. It has been a real treat to get to know you better and I have been honored to know you through the years, and especially lately.

Love, Mark

So time has come to set things straight regarding the incident of the chocolate pie. I had been invited to dinner at Bette and Ed's home, and she had baked a chocolate meringue pie. She had put the pie on top of the fridge to cool while she finished preparing the dinner. She later asked me to hand her something from the cabinet above the fridge so, of course when I opened the door, I knocked the pie off of the fridge. Now, when SOME people drop something like spaghetti, they do it with style, grace and panache. Like just letting it slip quietly off of the plate. I COULD have just let the pie drop on the floor at my feet, but that seemed so mundane. Instead, I knocked that sucker so hard it sailed halfway across the kitchen, and made a perfect three-point, upside-down landing right in the middle of the floor. I don't recall either of us saying anything at all. We both just grabbed a spoon, sat on the floor and ate it like that was the usual routine after sighting an air-borne chocolate pie. I think this must have been the reason I was name "Grace"! Let me say that if anyone else should relate this incident that it might be told a little differently; but, I'm here to tell you that's MY story, and I'm sticking to it!! 1965?

She did let me come in to her Rich Kitchen, and divided the cherries with me so "your mother can bake a pie". I was just so grateful that I didn't end up in the Cherry Police Paddy Wagon. While all this was going on, Margaret and her friend had left, giggling all the way home that Gracie was the one to get caught. Mother didn't bake a cherry pie...I ate all the cherries before I got home, which was a real treat. I used to wonder if Rich Lady ever looked at all those rotting cherries on her trees and wished the little rag-a-muffin would come back. Nah, probably not. By the way - for those of you who did not know Margaret - she was not a vindictive person. In fact, she was very kind-hearted. This particular day she was just being a typical teenager. ---c.1929?