Marjorie Dean Hamman

Marjorie Dean Petty-Hamman was born November 11, 1932, at home with a Midwife. Child of Jack Wessley Petty and Donna Pauline-Petty. Birth place was 156 S. Garfield, Alhambra, CA. Her mother was at ag 21, was a house keeper. Her father was at age 26, and was a laborer in street construction. Mom and her family (there were only two children at the time) lived in a home 323 W. Garvey, Wilmar, CA. My mother was named after her father's youngest sister, named Dean Petty, who passed away in her thirties. Dean had long red hair, like my mother. My grandmother Petty would style mom's hair like Shirley Temple. Later on in life, my mother told me that she was the original Shirley Temple, but I think Shirley Temple was born in 1926. That's okay, all I can say is mother could be her twin! Mother had a nick name, Deanie Doll, by her Uncle Jack Grover, husband of Aunt Laura Petty, mom's dad's sister. Uncle Jack played the piano for the silent movies before movies had sound. Later on he was a music teacher. Aunt Laura was a nurse and a home maker.

One of the most important lessons mom learned from her mother, was to be a Christian. The best piece of advice that her father gave her was "DON'T TRUST MEN"! The most cherished memory of mom's parents was to raise her right and to be a lady. Mom was an angel on earth!

As you know, mom's favorite family activity was horse back riding with her sister Lorraine. One day her dad took her to Santa Anita race track, and came home with a thorough bread race horse. The reason why she was aloud a race as a pet, it was World War II. The government did not permit horse racing. Mother broke her horse in, little by little, until her horse Connie felt trust. Lorraine had a black horse name Blacky. Mom and her sister, would ride side the river near their home.

The first day of high school felt good from the start, she met a lot of friends that owned horses. One day mom decided to race a street car, and the conductor clocked the horse a forty mile per hour! A typical day in high school was drawing pictures, played volley ball and tennis. The news events filled the headlines when I was a teenager about World War II. All kinds of people joined the armed forces. News events worried my mother and made her sad. She had a Japanese friend who had to go to a concentration camp with her family.

The latest technological advances of the day, was re-tooling of America's Manufacturing. Women worked, like Rosie the riveter.

Per Marjorie's on words......."When I was sixteen, I met your father, Robert William Hamman and after 9 months, you father asked me to marry him. When I was sixteen years old, I made a galloping horse and little houses in my ceramic class. I was in the newspaper, along with my teacher and the other students. Our crafts were on display at Bullocks Department Store on Wilshire Blvd, in Los Angeles, CA. From there, the winners of the different schools went to PA for the national competition".

"My family and I moved to Venice CA, where I met a friend named Maralie. She introduced me to your father, Robert W. Hamman. Your dad and I went to the Venice Senior Prom at the Venice Gym. My hopes and wishes were to marry your father. Your father was my fantasy prom date and we did get married on August 13, 1950 on a Friday".

Last Friday, August 13, 2010 would have been my parents 61st wedding anniversary and mother went to be with the Lord on August 11, 2010, just 2 days before their 61st anniversary.

Later on my grandparents had two more children, Marryann and Bill Petty. I, Teresa Lee, was born May 16th, 1951, my sister Colleen Sue was born October, 29, 1955 and our brother Scott William was born May 23, 1957. Scott passed away July 2, 1970. I asked mother how did she feel when she was first married? Her answer was happy and in love with my father. My father use to take mom horse back riding. They joined the Gun Club and brought home many awards for their talents. They joined the Trailer Club with all of their friends. my parents took us on camping trips, so we could go fishing. We always had a great time with our parents. I could tell you more, but I'm running out of time. All i know is that we were blessed with two wonderful parents.

My mother was a wonderful Christian mother, and she was an Angel on Earth. She will be missed and we will always have her in our hearts! Love to you mom now and forever!