Mary Smith

Mary Lou Smith was our neighbor and lived on Casco Drive. It was here that she helped neighbors and friends. When my sister was a toddler she swallowed aspirins and Mary Lou ran to our home to watch us while our mother took Sandy to the hospital to get her stomach pumped. Mary Lou was always a good neighbor and there to help us out. On Casco Drive.

Mary Lou loved her children and although she was 10 years younger than our mother, Ruth Haynes they became good friends when they lived on Casco Drive. One day Mary Lou called in panic because Mikey fell out of his high chair. Mom quickly called the fire department and they were there with the medical help in just a few minutes. Mike was alright, with a little bump on his head. The bond between our mother Ruth, and Mary Lou continued throughout the years. Mary Lou looked up to our mother as an older sister. As children we were in and out of the Smith household and enjoyed Mary Lou's cookies and Koolaid. It was a simple time when mothers helped each other with their off spring. The pictures are of that time period. Ruth is visiting with neighbors and tending to her yard.

Mike was the oldest of Mary Lou and LeRoy Smith's children and was the same age of Ruth and Otis Haynes' youngest kids. Sandy and Tim were often seen riding their bikes, and playing games on Casco Drive with Mike and his younger sisters. Mary Lou was always there to make sure the kids had fun playing in the sprinklers, snacking on cookies and drinking Koolaid on the hot summer days. As the children grew up and attended Avon schools, Mary Lou was always there to make sure the kids were welcome after school for snacks and fun watching their favorite TV shows.

A thousand candles should be lighted for Mary Lou Smith. She was loving, kind and the type of neighbor who was always ready to help in time of need. When the railroad behind our homes on Casco Drive started grass fires, she picked up a broom and ran to the field to help beat out the fires to save the houses from being burned. It was a time before fire departments were established, and neighbors helped each other during crisis. I still remember her face full of soot and dust as she helped keep the fires from our homes.