Page 8 - Voices-2022-02

COVER STORY

language. Many became lifetime friends and funds to attend Haskell’s Business College. We

many found their mates. dated on campus for three years and planned
I worked hard to make good grades and to marry upon graduation.
enjoyed roommates in nice dorms, had plenty After graduation, I took a 5-day train trip
of good food, church services, and free movies to join Gerald in Portland, Oregon. We made

on the weekends. I remember Saturday nights a fast trip to Vancouver, Washington and were
dancing to the jukebox. We worked for our married by the Justice of the Peace on June 11,
room and board. I worked in the dorm’s sewing 1951. After the first night as a married couple, I
room working on many kinds of projects. woke up with a case of the mumps. At 19 years

Sewing opened doors for employment and old, getting the mumps was a complete and
the home. painful surprise. What a way to start married
In 1948 as a Freshman at Haskell, I was life!
hired by Robert and Mary Margaret Cater During our first 10 years, we were blessed

to care for their 2-year-old son Rob during with two daughters, Sharol Annette and Karen
weekends and summers. I worked for them Sue. Both have grown into remarkable women.
all through my four years of high school. In I am very proud to be their mother.
1950 Robert moved his family to Kansas

City, Missouri to attend dental school.
I moved with them and graduated
from Paseo High School in 1951
with an excellent education in

all high school business courses.
I had the fortitude to follow my
passion of achieving my career
goal of becoming a “business

woman.” Working for the Caters
had a profound ending! Dr. Robert E.
Cater II (Rob) now provides me with medical
advice as needed via email or a phone call. We

never know how our life choices will end. In
this case, helping the Caters as a teenager and
getting medical help in the Golden years of In 1964, after working 13 years for theBureau
life is a blessing. of Indian Affairs (BIA), we moved to Cherokee,

In 1949, I met my first love, Gerald Graves, North Carolina. While Gerald worked as a
from Redlake, Minnesota who was a member of loan officer for the Cherokee Tribe, I attended
the Chippawa/Sioux Tribes, and a WWII Navy Western Carolina University and graduated
and Air Force Veteran. Gerald used his GI Bill with a Business Administration degree with

8 ONE COMMUNITY