I had no idea when I boarded a train for Cedar Falls, Ia on that June morning of 1927 of the change this trip would make in my life.  A high school education was not enough; I would go to college and upgrade my certificate!

One year of teaching had opened up a new world for me and I intended to venture into that world and explore it!  Maurine had shown no interest in going with me so I made arrangements with Florence Stevens, another friend, to room with me.  At the last minute, Maurine decided to go so she and I took off together.  At the end of the train ride a room in Bartlett hall awaited us.

Out of my $80.00 a month salary I had saved enough to pay my way through the 12 weeks of summer school.  In those days it took a full three months to earn enough hours to count toward graduation.  Now a few classes, day or night, and the same amount of hours can be earned.  I haven't decided if the thinking was that we learned slower in the 1920's or if we were taught more thoroughly.

Saving the money had not been difficult.  I lived with my parents and I was still their 'little girl' to take care of.  Occasionally I gave my mother a little board money.  I bought her a new davenport and chair so she could discard the old horse hair love seat.  How I would like to have that now! I still have a twinge of conscious when I remember all they did for me and also when I remember Lelia wanted to borrow money to buy some chickens and I didn't give it to her because I was saving to go to summer school.

Anyway, here I was in Cedar Falls, the teacher's college, now called the University of Northern Iowa.  I don't remember being too impressed, I was used to big classes in high school and moving about a lot in locating the right room.

One class I signed up for was Political Geography.  The girl I chanced to sit beside was Muriel Walcott.  We became instant friends and remained that way the rest of our lives.  In this class of about 40 women was one lone man.  Muriel and I referred to him as Mr. Man because he seemed older than we.  From the first day I noticed he kept looking at me.  (On second thought, how did I know that unless I was looking at him?) In a few days I found him waiting for me outside the classroom door.  We didn't know each others names but after several days of walking down the hall we became Miss Stewart and Mr. McMurry.  The next meetings were in the library where I spent a lot of time studying.  After being there a short time this man would casually stroll in and sit beside me.

Our chance meetings soon became planned ones.  We went to shows and one beautiful production of "Smiling Through" a stage show by local talent.  We took Sunday rides in his Hupmobile.  He had been teaching at New Hartford, a town near by, and we went there several times.  One time on the way there we ran out of gas (maybe that's the reason I watch my gas gauge so closely).  He walked to a farm near by to get gas.  While he was gone a farmer in a field by the road continued with his work spreading manure the air wasn't exactly filled with a flowery fragrance!  Earl was embarrassed beyond words I thought it was hilarious.

He worked in the Bartlett Hall dining room for his board, coming to work at 5: A.M.  I used to go to my window on the 3rd floor and wave to him when he came in sight.

By the time August rolled around we were engaged.  He went back to his teaching job at New Hartford, I returned to my rural school.

In a short time Earl came to meet my family.  The meeting was very cordial and a warm relationship developed almost immediately, especially between my father and Earl. This relationship fostered and grew over the years.  Mom liked him too and did everything she could to make him comfortable.

Over the months we saw each other occasionally.  I visited him at New Hartford several times.  Mom was more in favor of this than Pop.  It was all very proper. I stayed at the home of Mrs. Wolfensperger where Earl roomed and boarded.  She was a very proper older lady who, if it had been necessary, would have kept an eagle eye on us!

There was one little detail that had to be worked out!  Earl was engaged to a girl from Odebolt and he had to break that engagement.  She took it very hard, continuing to insist on seeing him and keeping in touch.  She eventually married but in 1978 the summer before Earl died, she and her husband came to see us.  Earl was so ill at that time I'm sure she was shocked at what she saw.  After she was gone Earl asked if I had noticed the Cameo pin she wore, he had given it to her years ago.  I never had any ill feelings toward her only pity. I also had a break to make.  I wasn't formally engaged but I would have married Ray had I not gone to Cedar Falls that summer.