Cousin's Yvonne's Memories

Hi to Beverly Bree's Family from Yvonne D. Simms, with memories of her family and herself and me. When we were very young, I would visit Aunt Vi (note: Violet, Bev's mother), Uncle Harold, Beverly, Hal Jr., Donald and later Tommy as he was younger. I was always treated so well and had fun. We would wake up early and Aunt Vi would tell us it was too cold to get up. So we would then ask each other riddles like, "There's something in this room that's green." I was always so impressed that Aunt Vi would iron their sheets and pillow cases with a mangle iron and board. She would also peel the tomatoes that they ate.

We had many fun times together. When we were little, we would go to Grandma Elson's (note: Tuttle & Bertha Elson) house, and get on the roof and pick figs, which we were strictly forbidden to do. We'd pay with the chips and make parades on the carpet with Grandma's ceramic animals. That was FUN!

When we were 18 and 19, Bev and I lived in Hollywood and a women's apartment house. We would go to "Coffee Dan's" and just watch the people walk by. There were always strange sights to see. We also saw actors and actresses.

At one point, we went to Catalina and met a young man named Capy who was very taken with Bev. He was very handsome and had a boat. Catalina was fun and we biked and went to the ballroom to dance. After that trip I had the only really good tan I ever had.

Bev, Mike (your dad), a friend of Mike's and I went to Ciro's where we saw Jose Greco and his dance troupe. Ciro's was a very popular place and Jose Greco was Famous. He had been in movies, and they dance the flamenco.

I worked for the telephone company and Bev worked for the insurance company. I was very shy, while Bev was outgoing and had many friends. She always was a good hostess when I came and visited her. She really enjoyed her place in Huntington Beach, and her job with the California Lottery.

Bev loved the September song. I believe she was born in September. (note: BD is 9/27/33).

She and her family were and are very good people.

(Above sent to David via her sister Vicky Johnson. Edited and notes added by David.)