WEEK #2--FAVORITE PHOTO
Well I've decided to jump on the bandwagon and join Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge again this year! Last year was not a good year for writing about my family history as life got in the way and I was only able to get two blog posts completed. This year the goal is to do as many as I can and not beat myself up if I miss one or two weeks or like last year 50!!
Hester Lee (Junken) Schneider, Charles Howard Schneider,
Marcia Coffman Page Hicks, Harry Raymond "Shorty" Schneider, Gregory Coffman
This family photo was taken at my grandparents home in Phoenix, Maricopa Co, AZ in the summer of 1958-1959 as the photo is unmarked. The reason it is my favorite photo is that it is the only known photo of me and my Grandpa "Shorty". He is holding me in his arms and I am approximately 2-3 years old. My grandpa would be gone before my 4th birthday.
Harry Raymond Schneider was born 27 August 1897 in Milwaukie, Milwaukie, WI to Philip Schneider and Daisy Irene (Manhardt) Schneider. Tragedy struck the Schneider household when his mother died when he was 13 and he went to live with an uncle soon after. Harry enlisted into the US Army on 3 Feb 1915, six months prior to his 18th birthday! He served with General Pershing both in the US and abroad during WWI and earned a Purple Heart for being injured in action.
He married Hester Lee Junken on 23 July 1930 in Phoenix, Maricopa, AZ. At the time he was working as a Cab/Limousine driver in the city of Phoenix. They had two children, Charles Howard Schneider, b .July 1931 and Helen Lorraine Schneider b. Sept 1932.
Growing up I always heard stories about my grandfather that he was a cab driver and that all his friends called him "Shorty" as he only stood 5'6" tall. He enjoyed the outdoors and went hunting and fishing with my uncle Charlie frequently.
Fate would have it that my grandfather did not have a long life. He died on 21 Oct 1959
chronic kidney disease. I am sorry that I never got the opportunity of knowing him. I have the feeling we would have been great friends!!
