According to the handwriting on the back of this photograph it was taken in July of 1944 somewhere in Toledo, Ohio. The beautiful young woman in the photograph is Mrs. Robert L. Gorrell and she is 23 years old. The apple cheeked baby is Robert L. Gorrell, Jr. or Bobby. He is 14 months old. When this photograph was taken Robert L. Gorrell, Sr. was serving overseas during World War II. I have been told he had a copy of this picture with him.

Mrs. Robert L. Gorrell was the former Ellen Matthews. She was barely five-feet tall but was strong, athletic, the youngest of ten, and Irish like crazy.

Legend has it during pep rallies at her high school they’d pick a male student to kick a football the length of the field house. As a joke, the young high school-aged Ellen was selected to kick the ball. Everyone in the crowd expected the tiny brunette to daintily fumble the task. Wrong. Did I mention Ellen was Irish? She kicked that ball to the opposite wall. The shocked and delighted crowd in attendance at that long ago 1939 era Scott High School pep rally in Toledo, Ohio cheered little Ellen. Later, Ellen would be one of the first women to be offered an athletic scholarship to Toledo University. The war interfered with the college plans.

Ellen was our grandmother and she would let us do anything we wanted when we came to visit. She taught me how to do a back-bend and come back up. She did not “throw like a girl” and tried to teach me the same.  Alas, I do “throw like a girl.”

She passed away in 1992. We’re still expecting her decorated cookies every Christmas and for her to answer M’ello when we call on the phone. Did I mention Ellen was Irish? From County Cork, Top O’ The Morning to you.