Mary Louise Stone said she was born in Peach Orchard, Colorado in the year of 1917. Although there are many peach orchards in Colorado, I could find no evidence of a town or village that had that name. I found a Peach Orchard Peak, but it appears to be in an uninhabitable area. This would be one of many mysteries surrounding the Stone family prior to their arrival in San Antonio.
Edward S. Stone was her father. Again, I was unable to unearth any history on him prior to his arrival in San Antonio.
Louise (nee) Mazza Stone was born in Naples, Italy. She met Mr. Stone in Colorado. They married and began their family.
Sara Stone was Mary's little sister, three years her junior.
Mr. Stone moved to San Antonio in the early 1920's. He bought a house on Clifford Court; he would buy two more houses on that street, thus making some of neighbors his tenants.
Even photos taken when he was much younger, Mr. Stone appeared to be much older. The photos would show a bespeckled face, looking disapprovingly into the camera lens from under the brim of a fedora. He was tall and spoke in a rumbling, gruff voice.
Mr. Stone was an accountant who would ride the bus to his office in downtown San Antonio. He could drive, but for many years refused to buy a car. After several years he moved the accounting practice into his home, converting a front quarter of the house into his office,
The office was furnished with a huge roll-top desk, a wood and cane office chair, a small couch, a coat rack and numerous file cabinets. There was a private entrance to the office from the front porch of the house.
Louise Stone was a small woman with olive skin and black hair streaked with gray. She would walk to the market (only about a half-block away) for necessary groceries and meat. The milkman delivered eggs, juice, cream and, of course, milk each morning. A flat-bed truck, selling fresh produce, would drive through the neighborhood each day. Louise served breakfast at seven and dinner at six. Lunch she left to those who wanted to fend for themselves. She was an excellent seamstress and ordered the latest dress patterns. She kept her daughters well dressed and in vogue. She was a very devoted mom.
Sara Stone was a beautiful baby with golden, naturally curly hair and enormous blue eyes. She was even more attractive as a young woman. As her body matured, more and more boys came to call at Clifford Court. Eager to please and to be pleased, she would listen with apparent attention to their stories and giggle at their jokes. "Coquette" is an old-fashioned word that best described Sadie, as she came to be called. She would go on to become a fraternity sweetheart and an Aggie sweetheart. Even decades later in her retirement home, she was voted "most beautiful" by her fellow residents. The war put an end to the gentlemen callers,,,for a while.
Mary had dark, curly hair and dark eyes which would look out at the world with frank appraisal. She was a no-nonsense girl and an even more direct young woman. She would not suffer a fool nor would she indulge in girlish flirtation. She liked horse riding and tennis, but she mostly enjoyed her art. By high school, she was fairly accomplished in oil, pastel, tempera, water-color and copper-plate. She would be the artist for all of school's publications. Even her handwriting was artistic. It was a form of script called in old Europe "written fair", replete with flourishes, loops and curls. (Look to John Hancock's signature as an example.) She planned to attend college and major in art. Then she met Sonny Lair and her plans changed...
Upon meeting Sonny, she soon determined that he would be the man in her life. She then went on a campaign to make that determination a reality. She amended her no-flirt policy. She wheedled him away from the golf course (he was an avid golfer) and onto the tennis court. She was friendly (albeit reluctantly) to his friends. She befriended his mother and sisters and sent them short notes in her exotic hand-writing. She was ever-vigilant of any female who might approach Sonny...including her sister, Sadie. By graduation, her mission was accomplished.
Married in 1940, Sonny and Mary moved into a private suite in the back of the house on Clifford Court. They had their own bathroom, sitting area, hearth and mini-library. They went out often, mainly with Sonny's sisters and their husbands. They went to the movies and Ronald Reagan became their favorite star. Holidays were observed by visiting and feasting at family members' homes. Sonny continued to play golf with his buddies and tennis with Mary. His reputation was growing in his company. She continued with her painting and was trying to learn to cook. Life was good.
But then the bombs fell...
(continued...)
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