a set of memories

My grandmother died last week. Here is a cropped out picture of her, from the photo sessions we did last October.

She was in her early 90s. She outlived two husbands and both of her sons. She is survived by 9 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren (14 g-granddaughters and 7 g-grandsons) and one great-great granddaughter, (Emma).
I lived with her for a year when I was seven and again for 6 months when I was twelve. Her house in San Diego was our legal residence for many years of my childhood while my dad was in the Air Force.
Gram was quite a lady. She loved to read and she instilled that love in all of us. She taught first grade from the time her children left home until she turned 65 and retired - then she turned around and stayed on at the school as a reading specialist until her health was so that she could no longer drive herself there - sometime in her 80s I think. She introduced me to science fiction and she herself was a big fan of the horses - she loved to read Dick Francis novels.
The following is from the first draft of her obituary (a work still in progress)
Anne Yates LINDLEY EHRHART

Anne EHRHART, 93, a pioneer resident of San Diego died peacefully in her sleep 15 February 2008 at the home of her grand-daughter Catherine EHRHART STARR in Lexington, Kentucky. Anne was born 16 June 1914 in Onoway, Alberta, Canada. She was the daughter of William Yates and the grand daughter of James Yates, who settled in Alpine around 1885. James brought his family by ship across the Pacific from Lancashire, England, landing in New Orleans in 1885, then traveling with his wife and 7 children overland to San Diego County where they settled.

Her father William married in Canada and Anne was brought from Canada to San Diego by way of Detroit, Michigan by family members after the death of her father William in WWI. William was with the Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment) and died at the battle of Regina Trench in France. He has a memorial at Greenwood Cemetery with other family members.

By 1920, she was living with her grandmother and aunts in Mission Hills and remained there until her marriage to Ed Lindley, except for a short sojourn in England where she was schooled at Battle Abbey in East Sussex.

Anne was predeceased by her two husbands, her two sons and one great grand daughter (Sophie Isadora Kessler). Her first husband Edward Ise Lindley was the son of Fred E. Lindley, Esq and Alma Ise Lindley. Together they had two sons, William Yates LINDLEY EHRHART, and Robert Yates LINDLEY. William took the last name of his stepfather in school and as an adult. Her second husband was John Victor EHRHART.

Mrs. Ehrhart received her Masters Degree in Education from San Diego State University. She taught school at All Saints’ Episcopal School in Hillcrest As a gift to her long time dedication to learning, the school library was dedicated to her.

As the ravages of old age overcame her, she sold her home in San Diego to be near her son in El Segundo, when William died she went to stay with her grand daughter in Kentucky.

She was a loving, caring mother, grandmother and great grandmother to her family and a loving teacher to her students, she will be greatly missed.

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From the internet page for the school library

Anne Ehrhart Library
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