The Story of the Bears

          When Ralph died of a stroke on August 1, 1997, his four daughters started talking about taking his old clothes and making a memory quilt for their mom.  However, on that Christmas there was an article in the Wichita Eagle about a woman who had taken her father-in-law's clothes and made teddy bears out of the material and gave them as gifts to the family. This woman made 15 teddy bears.

          Jerry and the girls thought this would be a great idea.  With a bear for each one of Ralph and Jerry's nine kids, their spouses, a couple for Jerry of course and one for each of the 28 grandchildren, mom and the girls had their work cut out for them.  After lots of cutting, sewing and stuffing, 50 teddy bears were ready to be presented this Christmas (1998).

         The bears were a surprise to everyone except for the ones who were involved in making them. Numbers were drawn to decide who got first pick, second pick, and so on.  The bears were all different looking, some made from overalls and some from Sunday suits, but anyone who knew Ralph, knew he wore lots of plaid flannel shirts so there were lots of plaid flannel bears to go around. Every bear was made out of something that reminded someone of his or her dad or grandpa.  Many were wearing fishing lures, Boeing pins, eyeglasses and other accessories that belonged to Ralph. A picture of him and a little story about the making of the bears went along with each one.