Robert and Virginia Fortney of Curryville

The whole Curryville Village raised me, but my parents, Robert and Virginia, were the most influential. I never heard anything negative directed to me. There were no put downs or belittling. Before I left the house they would tell me how nice I looked. They praised things I did in church or wherever. If I didn’t hear it, I knew I should do better. I truly was raised on praise.

We matured fast because dad would let us know we were responsible—we were in charge. He told us we could play ball in the front yard after the fence was taken down, but “What do you think will happen if the ball goes on the road and you go after it?” We decided to play ball on the parking lot behind the Post Office. Dad would have me figure things out for myself. He asked me, “What do you think will happen if you date Ed?” That was all he needed to say. The ball was in my court with my two wonderful cheerleader parents cheering me on.

Mother led by example. She was so gentle. She had a smile that said she enjoyed and approved of us in every way. I think I walked through my childhood and my whole life with strength because of that smile as my anchor.

Dad played many games with us. He had such a good time and guided us to do our best and to enjoy working and playing. He could outrun anyone in Curryville and he often had sprint races on the road in front of our house to the railroad tracks just to remind everyone. He played on the area ball leagues. He taught us how to play cards, caroms and monopoly.

Dad was a truck driver. He hauled explosives coast to coast for one company. He received many safe driving awards. Each year he gave mother the award book for her to select any award she wanted from the book. She always chose a bike for one of us kids.

Dad owned his own cab and would sometimes park at our house. We kids would rummage through the sleeper bunk and find coins that we thought fell out of his pockets when he slept. Years later he told us that he would be sure to put lots of coins there for us to find. Another lesson for us about the sheer fun and joy of giving.