14th Station

This autobiography was written for a number of pertinent reasons. The original prompting was due to an incident that occurred at my sister Rosemary’s home on Burgundy Roan in Jacksonville, Florida, during the late 1990s. Gathered in the living room were my four sisters, Elise, Jeanette, Nita, Rosemary and me (Keller Paul Madere), along with my wife, Carolyn, and Charles Stalfort, Nita’s husband. After a lot of chit chat back and forth reminiscing about old family stories and happenings was taking place. Charles, or Chuck as we know him, brought out his tape recorder. Quizzically, he posed this simple question, “What can you all tell about Papa?” He was referring to our father, Ernest Hubert Madere.

With feelings of unified dismay, none of us five were able to provide Chuck with any new information about Papa other than what he already knew! Astounding. Consequently, for our children, Joni, Colin, and Lana, to have some inkling regarding the places where I lived, the different jobs I had, and a glimpse into my psyche before they were born and grew up knowing me. This volume of information should give them an insight as to who I am.

The other primary reason for writing this book was to give our three children historical and genealogical information about our family other than what they already knew. This data is provided in words, pictures, and other relative and associated ends such as school reports cards, German prisoner of war camps in Louisiana, B-36 Bombers, and rockets to the moon.

In this first decade of the twenty-first century, family members tend to get scattered hither and yon.

Children often get permanently disconnected from their backgrounds and family records. Items such as birth certificates, report cards, names, and addresses of first and second cousins, where aunts and uncles live, and similar pertinent items get lost in the shuffle as time steadily marches on. Hopefully, this ponderous book will soothe many misgivings our children may have about who they are, the backgrounds of their ancestors, and precisely where they themselves came from.

At this time, Joni is in Boulder, Colorado, Colin is in Washington, District of Columbia, and Lana is in Maurice, Louisiana. For the most part, they do not have ready access to our relatives and friends to make possible necessary fact finding inquiries about us. On July 17, 2007, I thoroughly enjoyed my seventy-fifth birthday, having fortunately lived well through three quarters of a century.

Whenever I, Keller Paul Madere, die, please have those making funeral arrangements promote an atmosphere of joviality and partying. Let smiles and laughter prevail with everyone having a pleasant time. Provide an ample amount of food and drinks to produce a delightful “going away” celebration for all the people thoughtful enough to attend! Thanks and good-bye.