This is Grama Jo

Josephine Renick Engelbrecht

This is my dad's mom.

Grama Jo was born 19 August, 1893 in Seattle, King County, Washington. She had one younger sister, my Aunt Grace. Grama and Aunt Grace grew up in Seattle. Their father, Franklin Hamilton Renick, was a businessman and a Senator. Many of the streets in Seattle were named after Grama's friends. The Denny's, the Madison's, etc. I remember spending time with the Carkeeks who have a large park named for them. They were big society people.

I remember Grama telling me that her parents never showed affection. Occasionally she and her sister would receive small gifts at their places at the table when they came in for meals. That was it.

I have memories galore of Grama Jo. Good ones and not so good ones. One thing for sure...she was some lady!

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Okay, so this is harder than I thought it would be. I am not sure what to put here so I am going to start listing things I remember about Grama Jo. If anyone reading this thinks of something to add, please let me know.

1. I shared a bedroom for about 6 months with Grama when I was a little girl. I don't think I liked it very much as her bed was touching distance from mine.

2. Grama had the greatest laugh of all time. When she laughed her whole body shook. YOu had to laugh when she did.

3. Grama always sat in a straight back chair. Now that I am getting older, I kind of understand that. I sure didn't then!

4. Grama had long gray hair that she wound up around her head. Even in this picture her hair is done this way. I never saw her wear it any other way.

5. When I was really little Grama lived in Juanita in a tiny house. She had twin beds and I spent the night.

6. Grama always bought my brother Brad BLack Jack gum. I hated Black Jack Gum. She bought me Juicy Fruit!

7. Grama kept candy in her underwear drawer.

8. Grama made really great desserts.

9. Grama liked girls best. I think she kinda didn't like guys so much. It came from her childhood.

10. Grama always wore blue. My mom said she thinks that is because she has blue eyes and someone told her she looked good in blue. We have a picture of her in green and it seems so strange whenever I see it. Like the camera was messed up or something.

11. Grama often took the bus from Kirkland to Bellevue and even Seattle to shop. She never drove but relied on the bus (or my parents) to get her around.

12. Grama always wore a hat when she was out. I still have a few of them and really charish them.

13. Grama liked to shop at The Bon and Nordstrom. Well, Nordstrom was called Best and the Nordstrom-Best when Grama was in her shopping years.

14. Grama had tiny hands. When she died I was the only one her gloves would fit. Me and my friend Judie got them all!

15. Sometimes I still miss my Grama Jo.