Happy Memorial Day to all my Seagraves Family

Let us not for get what Memorial day was originally meant for,

a day to remember those we lost.

What follow are a few of my family that has passed away,

but not from the hearts of those that love them.

~

I always feel so sad when I think of my family members that have passed away.

Not just because that I love them and miss them, well that too.

But because we are diminished as a family group as family we are becoming smaller, and then more of the memories are lost! That's why I started this sight, I just want to share, and save what I can of our family memories and histories. I intend in the future to get a better sight that's more interactive and accessible.

~

Do not stand at my grave and weep,

I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow,

I am the diamond glimpse on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

When you waken in the morning hush,

I am the swift uplift rush

of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry,

I am not there, I did not die.

Memorial Day Seagraves Family Reminiscence: My Aunt Regina, and Uncle Vern

My Aunt Regina And Uncle Vern

I took this picture myself in 1980 I think.

It was taken in their home in Fresno.

In Loving Memory

Regina Fritzen

Born: April 22, 1924 at Mount Pleasant, Tenn.

Died: March 31, 2002 Sacromento, California

Cause of death: Pantcreatic Cancer

She is interned at Arbor Vita cementaery, Madera Ca.

Her Husband Vern preceeded her in death some few years earlier in 1987 I believe.

He is interned in Fresno.

Memorial Day Seagraves Family Reminiscence: My Aunt Bessie "Dean" Seagraves

Im sorry to say this is but, this only photo

I could find in my albums of my Aunt Dean

In Loving Memory

Bessie "Dean" Seagraves

Born: October 23, 1914 in Tenn.

Died: August 23, 2001 in Madera

Interned in the Arbor Vitea Cemetery in Madera Ca

She was retired from Oberti Olives plant of Madera

Her husband: Baisel Seagraves proceeded her in death some 20 odd years earlier

(I don't have at present his infromation)

and she is laid to rest beside him.

Memorial Day Seagraves Family Reminiscence: My Grandmother Hattie E. Seagraves

My Grandmother Hattie Seagraves

This photo was taken when I got married in December 21, 1979.

I want to relate some thing that Grandma told me on my special day:

She told me in some excitement as I think it had just dawned on her that day that she like me was eighteen(18) years old when she had gotten married. And that my grandfather Jerome Milton Seagraves, was also the same age as my husband-to-be--21.

~

I hope that clears up the confusion in the family as to how old my grandmother was, when she had got married to my grandfather. I'm also gonna try and get a copy of their marriage certifacate and then I'll post that as well.

~

I think what may have started how-ever unintentionally to the confusion, was the oval colorized pictures on the wall of Regina's(Fritzen) house. One was of Grandma Hattie S. at age sixteen, and the second was of Grandpa Jerome Milton S. at age eighteen. Even though the pictures look like they belong together, they are not wedding pictures! I got this infromation from Regina's very own lips(before her passing). Those pictures where taken before they even met! Regina had the original black and white photos colorized, and re-formatted, then framed to look like they belonged together, as a wonderful reminder of her parents.

In Loving Memory

Hattie Estelle Seagraves

Born: January 22, 1891

Died: January 26, 1985

Cause of death: advance old age, and heart failure.

She was 94

Occupation: farmers wife and home maker, she raised eight children--7 boys and one girl, And she was a Sorter at Oberti Olive of Madera. She really liked that job, infect they had to force her to retire.

Hobbies: she was quite the handy woman; she made quilts (I have one she made for me for when I got married) she crocheted, knitted (my mother remembers my grandmother getting excited when she learned to turn a heal when she was nearly eighty). When she was ill with her heart at 85 years old, she turned to latch hooking rugs, then finally just to looking after her table filled with African Violets, on a table that Regina ( Regina and Arnold were her caregivers) had out-fitted with a grow lamp.

~

She is interned at Arbor Vitae Cemetery, beside my Grandfather:

Jerome Milton Seagraves

Born: Febuary 24, 1885

Died: August 7, 1961

He was 76

Occupation: Share cropper, then in California Farm laborer

and the farmers that he worked for loved how very hard he worked.

My Dad-Johnnie B Seagraves when he was older

This picture of my Dad Johnnie B Seagraves

was taken at my wedding December 21, 1979

taken by my brother-in-law John, not to be

confused with my brother who is also named John. Though the

family still calls him my brother 'Jacky" much to his chagrin!

When my husband(my then fiancee') asked my father for my hand in marriage, my dad decided to give us (or me) some advice. Maybe it's part of the tradition when you give your blessing? And he said, "Trust nothing--that you hear, and trust only half--the things that you see. And the only thing you can trust--in this life--is death and taxes."

"Um, okay dad? Th-anks for the advice? " I think?

~

But in the years since, I have found that his advice to be solid, I could find no fault in anything that he told me on that day that my dad gave us his blessing.

~

I loved my dad very much, and miss him (and his advice) still.

Memorial Day Seagraves Family Reminiscence: My Dad Johnnie B Seagraves

My Dad Johnnie B Seagraves

this picture was taken when my dad was a young man.

Here you can see clearly the Seagraves hair-line,

and the Seagraves turned-up nose.

And of course the Seagraves chiseled good looks!

In Loving Memory of

My Father

Johnnie B Seagraves

Born: March 5, 1922

Died: September 8, 1982

Cause of Death: Colon Cancer

Occupation: Body and Fender man

Hobbies: Scubba diving, Hunting, Bowling(he was on a bowling league when I was little and won trophies), Boating, Camping, Fishing, the making of lures to go fishing with, and did I mention fishing? The man loved to fish and was very, very, very good at it.

He was survived by his wife Jeannetta Seagraves, and his three children:

John, Janice, and Deanna.

At this date he has two Grandchildren Brian and Sarah, unfortunately

he never got to know them as they were both born after his death.