This week I struggled with who or what to write about for my weekly 52 Ancestors Entry. I decided to devote this post to my Father In Law. Over the course of these past few years there has been much mystery surrounding this man. I remember full well when we told my father in law that we were setting out to research his family history, back in the early nineties he made the following statement: You better be careful what you wish for, you might find something you didn't want to know.
We thought he was probably just being silly as he had a tendency to joke around with us so we really did not think anything of it at the time. Oh how we both wish we would have implored it further with him that day, while there was time to ask questions. We will always think that he knew something about the mystery surrounding his paternal ancestor. If only I could roll back time. Instead we are left with the answers hidden inside my husbands DNA matches. Day by day we get closer to unraveling the whole story.
Leo was born 25 June, 1930 in Parma, New Madrid, Missouri. His parents were Walter TINKER and Stella D BOUSE. Of that we are most certain, traditional genealogical research along with DNA evidence have substantiated that part of my husbands history. Leo worked for a time at Alexian Brothers Hospital in Saint Louis, Missouri. It was there that he met his first wife, Dianne, she also worked there. They were married in the late 1960`s. It was a second marriage for Dianne, she had two daughters from her previous marriage. The couple went on to have five children, my husband being the oldest. They lost one son at the age of 17 months due to complications from Chicken Pox and the Measles.
Leo worked for a time at Flaton Brothers Machine Shop in Saint Louis, Missouri. He was an Independent Minister. He loved to visit African American Churches and worship with the folks there. My husband remembers traveling to various churches with his father and having a time of fellowship with the congregation.
Leo had a sense of humor about him. He never seemed to meet a stranger. His only daughter shares a birthday with him. I remember my mother in law telling me the story of the night my husband was born. She said that Leo was so nervous he caught a napkin on fire in the waiting room and the ashtray was just blazing and they had to come put the fire out. He was always getting into first one mishap and then another. Each of his kids could tell you stories about the silly antics their father was always getting himself into. My husband has most definitely followed in his fathers footsteps.
Leo and Dianne divorced in 1985. They both remarried after their Divorce. Leo married Carla "Jo Ann" LASATER and they resided in Charleston, Mississippi, Missouri. They attended the Assembly of God Church in Charleston.
In his latter years Leo liked to weave, an odd hobby for a man. But he built his own loom and would weave placements and blankets. He was always making something for someone. He loved to go Fishing and could often be found on the banks of Upper Big Lake in Charleston, Missouri with a fishing pole in his hand. When we were expecting our first child, we went fishing with him one day. I remember being the victim of a fish hook which got caught in my hair when Leo decided to cast his line. Needless to say after a few fishing trips with him, I decided it best to stay home and leave the fishing to the men folk.
Leo developed Bacterial Meningitis and passed away on 30 October, 1999 in Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Scott, Missouri. He is buried at I.O.O.F Cemetery in Charleston, Mississippi, Missouri.
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