Fearless Fiery Heart

Great, Great Grandmother Goodworth

My Great, Great Grandmother Joanne (Johanne) Evans Goodworth enjoyed good health and was unafraid of the illnesses of others. Often during this period in history even the family members of the disease ridden didn't dare to come within a block of the patient's home. But, the community could count on Joanne to be there and nurse the ill back to health, or sit by them during their final days and then lay them to rest.

Histories contain references to her loving service:

"When Arthur Page died of diptheria, she went over and 'laid him away'."

"When Osborne's had had small pox 'she came waltzing right over and helped'."

When she returned home after her service was no longer needed, she would change all of her clothes in the old shanty before going into her own home, protecting her family from contagion.

Perhaps this service was due to a

charitable heart, or maybe an indication of her "fiery disposition". Her son said "She'd fight a circle saw and give it a couple of turns head start. She would fight if anyone gave her an excuse, but she wouldn't go out looking for trouble."

In contrast, Joanne had a feminine side that appreciated beauty, especially flowers, and she raised a lot of them. If anyone stopped to admire them, she would cut a beautiful bouquet for them to take home. It was not common in the small frontier town of Kamas to grow flowers, in fact, hers was about the only home with such adornment. About half of her front yard was planted in flowers and the other half was planted in strawberries. Her fierce protective spirit returned to chase many a young strawberry thief away with a whack from a long stick.

Her fearless, fiery heart had a very special tender spot reserved for her grandson, Richard V. Goodworth. The picture above shows Joanne holding Richard. She showered all of her love on him and in her eyes he could "do no evil". She was "little Richard's" port in every storm. Whenever he anticipated punishment, he would run around to Grandma's and she would hide him.  

I have learned from this history that grandmothers have apparently not changed much in the intervening 150 years. Our hearts expand with each new grandchild and it's amazing how completely perfect each and every one of our grandchildren are.