Recipes for Living Don Carson

Mickey Thomas, well known and widely read columnist for the Osceola Sentinel-Tribune, wrote of meeting Don Carson and writing his story for "Tales from the Aisles." With his permission, it follows:

Recently, Don Carson and his good friend, Barb Williams, brought me a lovely painting that Don had created from a hiking picture I had published. I was surprised to learn that he resides at the Extended Care facility at the Clarke County Hospital where he is receiving treatment for a kidney ailment.

Don Carson's living quarters at Extended Care looks like an art studio. Displayed on the sofa are paintings that he recently finished, including one with a blue ribbon from the recent Clarke County 4H Fair. The shelves, end tables, and all flat surfaces are filled with wood carvings and floral arrangements he has created.

The first time I met Don Carson and his wife, Francis Carson, was back in the late 50's when Francis and I and several others started the Dosceola Square Dance Club. Don still has the design sketch that he created for club name badge.

Don Carson was raised on a 160 acre farm north of Ottawa, near Woodburn. His parents were Frank and Lizzie Carson. Don, his brother Harold, and sisters Edith, Corda, and Bernice, attended Fox rural school. None of the Carson children went beyond eighth grade. Don said his father thought they should work on the farm. However, Don earned a correspondence diploma in commercial art from a Minneapolis school. This training helped qualify him for work in the Army's sign painting shop in Korea during the war.

After military service, Don bought an 80 acre farm near his parent's home. Not satisfied with farming, Don took a job working for Laverne and Mildred Wettering at the Osceola Greenhouse on South Park Street. Don learned floral arranging from Mildred Wettering and took care of the greenhouse. Laverne Wettering once said, "We learned more from Don than Don learned from us." Don had only worked a short time when the Wetterings went on vacation and left him in charge. He remembers he worked "day and night" making floral arrangements, including seven casket displays.

Don Carson's uncle and aunt, Merritt and Ruby Porterfield, who lived near Garden Groove, introduced Don to his future wife, Francis Smith, a neighbor of the Porterfields. Her parents were Jim and Leone Smith. Don remembers, he was a 30 year old bachelor and Francis was a 33 year old school teacher. Their first date was to a Garden Groove football game on a dark and stormy night. They married, and Francis transferred to the Osceola elementary school system. She furthered her education by earning a Masters Degree from Drake University.

Francis became supervisor of three schools, East Elementary, West Elementary, and Weldon Elementary.

After eight years working for the Wetterlings, Don decided to go into the floral business for himself. In 1962, Don purchased a home in Leon and started Don' s Floral Studio at his residence. A greenhouse was built in the back yard. He remembers that a local competitor told him that he would never 'make it.'

People liked Don and recognized his unique talents. The business grew and soon customer's cars were parked around the neighborhood. One day 23 trips were made to the Leon hospital with floral arrangements. His long time employees included Janice Craig and Sheryl Van Larr.

Francis Carson continued serving as Principal for the three Clarke Community Elementary Schools. After 20 years in business, Don's Floral Studio was sold to Glen and Sally Funk. The Carsons moved to Weldon in 1982. Thirty years later, and two more changes in ownership, Don's Floral Studio is still in business in Leon.

Francis Carson died in 1986. With the ending of her 23 year Osceola career, it took three people to replace her. Francis Carson had liked music and taught herself to play the guitar and fiddle. In 1982, she and Janet Chambers started a popular dance band. Three years after the death of his wife, Don Carson learned to play the drums and restarted the band. Named Don Carson's Rhythm Dusters, the popular band played from Des Moines to Lineville, Missouri. Don said he enjoyed meeting dancers, but doesn't miss hauling around all the sound equipment.

Mickey being co-publisher of Recipes for Living, recommended Fern Underwood see Don for more of his story to be included in the book of the current year. True to form, Don's memories had been sparked and he added to the information he had given Mickey.

As Mickey wrote, I was born and raised on a farm, with my brother and three sisters —Edith Thornton (Merrill's mother), Corda Canney, Bernice Page (Karen's mother). John is my nephew, who looks after me. He is a mechanic at Tom and John's Auto Service and Repair in the north part of Osceola. John's wife, Karen, has a beauty shop, Family Hair Design, on East Washington, across from the Osceola Sentinel-Tribune office. We children went to Fox country school from 1st through 8th grades. It is an interesting coincidence that one of my teachers is living here in Extended Care of Clarke County hospital. This is Georgia Westbrook (Van Winkle). I go see her every chance I get.

Our father believing it was more important for us kids to help on the farm rather than getting further education, I stayed at home and worked until I was in military service in 1946 and 1947. That was the only time I was away from home. I was sent with the 34th Engineers to Korea, stationed at Seoul, our quarters in a Japanese College. There were trucks, caterpillars and other equipment, but I was lucky I didn't have to work on maintenance. They had a paint shop and I was put to work there painting signs. By my choice, I had a little shack to work in. At one time there were two other fellows with me until they were shipped out and all of a sudden I was in charge.

I wasn't alone. I had company most of the time. Every morning a bunch of fellows would congregate in there, sit around and visit before they had to go out on detail. I had a trash box that I threw my trash in, and one day when there was a whole group, a couple of them were smoking and they dropped a match in there. I raised my voice and they all disappeared right quick. I could have been blown up.

I was there during the Occupation. I arrived on the 4th of July 1946; it was over 100° that day. I left in the winter of 1947, and it was 10° below 0. Our showers were quite a way from our paint shop. I was up there one night later than usual and decided I had better get my shower. It was cold! The ice had frozen over the windows and down the side of the walls. It was a quick shower! It was just as I came home that the conflict started. Things were under control when I was there, but when I left, they lost control. It was a terrible war!

When I came home, I bought an 80 acre farm near my parents' home. I had known all along I wasn't a farmer. Not that farmers don't appreciate flowers and birds, but normally not to the extent I do. Years later, I was feeling bad because I didn't get to go to high school and Frances said, "You didn't need to! Look at the talent you have!" I was delighted to get a job working for Mildred and Laverne Wetterling in their greenhouse. They had been in business since 1951, and Mildred taught me a lot having graduated from the American Floral Art School as well as F.T.D. Floral Management Institute of the University of Minnesota. Here she is showing me what is involved in making attractive floral arrangements.

It wasn't long until I was getting knee deep into the entire process, in designs for funeral work and all. I guess I had been there long enough that they trusted me and they took a vacation, leaving me there by myself. They hadn't any more than backed out the drive before the phone rang and there was a funeral pending. I nearly died! While they were gone, I made 8 casket pieces and I don't know how many sprays and baskets. I hauled some to New Virginia, and Francis came in after school to write the cards. A night or two I went to sleep on the floor and started up again the next day. When they came home and we got everything straightened up, I told them how busy I'd been and Laverne said, "That's what we left you home for." Mr. Kale, Dennis' father, I think was the most wonderful guy I ever met. I was pleased to know he had said, "You don't need to worry about that young guy. He'll make it."

Local citizen, Lloyd Thurston was a highly regarded congressman, and while Wetterlings were gone on vacation, they were having a large social event for Mrs. Thurston. She ordered a corsage and I thought that was my chance to honor her so I fixed it up real fancy, with several ornaments in it. Instead of being impressed or appreciative of what I'd done, she didn't like all that stuff in there. I thought I was really doing something special. You never know.

Within these years, I met Francis Smith through an uncle and aunt. By then, I was a 30-year old bachelor and she was an old maid school teacher of 33. Uncle Merritt Porterfield and Aunt Ruby introduced us, and I still remember how excited Aunt Ruby was! She found out I was going to meet this school teacher whose parents lived across the street from Uncle Merritt. She about ran her legs off trying find her at home. Francis had gone somewhere and Aunt Ruby tried to keep track of her. She kept coming back saying, "She's not home yet." After that I had a date with Francis. It was kind of a foggy night and she was helping out with a football game. You can imagine how the story spread among her pupils. "Mrs. Smith's got a boyfriend!" They couldn't wait to spread the word.

We were married, and Mickey told about one of our main sources of entertainment — our country western band and square dancing. Francis and Jan Chambers started the dance band, and they had many gigs. I'd be out in the shop working, and they would be playing for a dance somewhere. I became their drummer, by accident, after I retired. While I was in the flower shop, I was too busy.

After I had worked for the Wetterlings for 7 1/2, years, business was kind of slowing down and I decided I'd better find another job or do something. I went down to Leon because I'd hauled a lot of flowers there, and talked to the Slade's Funeral Home Directors. They weren't sure if they wanted to make a deal. There was already a florist in Leon. I got back home and went to work, and would you believe, the Wetterlings already knew I'd been down there. Somebody had called them. But in the process, I decided that was what I wanted to do.

I went down to Leon and started a business in a home on the highway in 1962. At the time one there were two other florists and one of them said, "That young boy won't make it." I made up my mind I would make it. I had been there for 20 years (1962 to 1982) when I opened my big mouth and said if anybody came along and wanted a shop they could have it. One evening a lady walked through the front door and said, "This is it," and it was. She was

inquiring for her nephew, and they took it and ran it, for 10 years. They sold it to another couple who ran it for ten years. Karla Harrah has it now, so once there were three, now there's only one and it's the one I started. It still goes by Don's Floral Studio. She is still in the home I was in down town just across from the lumber yard. A beautiful shop!

When she started, she wondered if she could use my logo. I designed it while I was still on the farm, waiting to get my shop built and now it is regularly in the Leon paper.

After Francis retired in 1982, I sold the shop, retired also, and we moved to Weldon. One night, the band members were at our place jamming and I thought of a set of drums I knew Francis had seen. I slipped out and came home with them. They sat in the corner for I don't know how long and no one did anything with them. One night Bob Noonan, a cousin of mine, a beautiful guitar player, was at our house again, and Bob said, "We need somebody on those drums." I went over and took to them. I learned to play and joined their band. I played drums for years. I always set them up with me back of the rest of the band, but one night at Woodburn, Jack Kline was helping us set up and put me up front. He still laughs about that. Mamie (Mrs. Harold) McNeal and Bud Hook from Weldon were our singers. They were the best!

After Francis passed away there were about three years when I couldn't play. Karen George, Francis' sister, played keyboards with us and suggested we start again. We did and we played everywhere from Des Moines to Lineville. One anniversary, when we played in Indianola, we had 200 guests. We played for all kinds of events — anniversaries, birthdays, and others. One night we went to Lineville and played when Bill Knapp, whose mother lived there, was in the audience. We thought we'd made the big time.

After our band started up again, a lady from Humeston, Barb Williams, used to go with us when we played for dances. We came to know one another through my brother and sister-in-law. Francis and-they were good friends in Humeston. She continued to go with us to help unload all our stuff and hook it up. At that time we had our own PA system. Now most places have their own, but at that time I had all this equipment we had to unload — amplifiers and instruments and all the stuff. She's a pretty good sport. She'd get a little upset with us but she had a good time, and met a lot of people.

In these later years, my living situation has changed. I am living in an extended care situation in the Clarke County Hospital. It is a wonderful place! There are rules and regulations as there has to be, but I can sign out and do whatever I please. Barb remains my very good friend. She usually comes twice a week and we eat here or go out to eat. Maybe we go shopping. We were in Walmart yesterday and saw they had these orchids for sale. I had to have one. I used to raise orchids. She said, "Where will you put them? Your window is full now." I found a place!

Barb is a little younger than I and has two daughters. One is in Corydon, the assessor in Wayne County, and the other works for the postal department in Earlham. When there is a holiday they include me with the family. Barb and I have probably been together for 15 years or so. People used to ask if we were ever going to be married, and I say, "No. There are two reasons that wouldn't work. She had a cat and I had a parrot, and that wouldn't work."

Mickey mentioned my room looking like an art studio. This is my passion now. The one I am working on is a chalk drawing done with pastels. I see a picture in my head and reproduce it on the mat. I can get so carried away that I lose all track of time. One of the nurses may come to my room at 11:30 or midnight and say, "Are you still working?" I don't know when to stop.

I have a display of them in my room and in the hospital gift shop. They have two of my paintings down there now, but I sell most of my paintings when people see them in my room. I only charge $25 for them. My nephew, John, buys the frames for me. I don't know how many I have done, and more to go — one lady wants five. Now they have me doing horses and also flower arrangements. Flowers are still one of my basic interest.