Quality Market

Mama and Daddy met when Daddy was working at a service station in Oklahoma City. As Mama was only sixteen years old, Grandma was not happy that she was going to marry a man she had known only a few months. Grandma told Mama, "You've made your bed, now lie in it." She made her bed in Clarksville for forty seven years.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Daddy. He worked at the Lion station on East Main Street. I think it was owned by Seth Bennett.

It looks like the sign behind him is advertising blackwall tires for $11. I remember playing with the tire gauges he had in his pocket. If you look closely, you can tell Daddy has light blue eyes. Freda is the only one of us kids with blue eyes.

Daddy used to deliver groceries for Quality Market on the corner of Main and Rogers. I once asked him if he knocked on the door before taking the groceries in the house. He said if he did, he would be knocking all day. Since everyone left their doors unlocked, he could go on in, put the perishables in the refrigerator, and leave the ticket on the table. One lady left him a note asking him to put the roast in the oven. He did. 

He usually stuck his pricing gun in his back pocket while he was stocking. As he stood up from the bottom shelf once, his gun caught on the hem of a lady's dress who was standing behind him. He said she did a little jitter-bug dance and shrieked as her dress rose higher and higher.

Sometimes Daddy would bring us kids a treat. I especially liked it when he brought home Hostess Snowballs. He brought me a Three Musketeers candy bar one time. Since I did not like them, I groaned when I saw it. Years later, in an attempt at apologizing for being such a bratty kid, I called Daddy to tell him if he gave me a Three Musketeers now, I would be more appreciative. Within an hour he brought a Three Musketeers candy bar to my office. 

Hubby and I bought our first groceries at Quality Market. We bought staples and all for just $19.00. How much can you get for $19.00 today?