Arnold and Newlin: 1958 Eddie falls ill

In 1958 Arnie and Newlin learn that Eddie has acute leukemia. They had just signed to buy a house in the San Fernando Valley, but managed to get out of it so they could rent an apartment adjacent to the UCLA campus — for a shorter commute by bicycle for Arnie and for the convenience of being closer to the hospital for Eddie.

Eddie's ID from UCLA Medical Center, 1958

Nursie is writing on the Wakulla County tax assessor's stationery so she crosses the title out.
(She had been tax assessor after her husband died; he had also been tax assessor for Wakulla County.)

Here are a few of the last photos of Eddie's life:

Allan with a very thin Eddie, summer 1958, Los Angeles, California

Eddie playing in the back yard of their Westwood apartment, summer 1958 (developed in November 1959)

Eddie and Newlin in the yard of their Westwood (Los Angeles), California, apartment

Here is a get well card from Newlin's nieces and nephews Julia, Robert, Susan, David, and Jane:

This letter is from Newlin's cousin Helen Durrance. (We always called her Aunt Helen). 

The Durrance clan, with Sallie Durrance and three of her four daughters, their spouses and grandchildren, Florida;
Helen on the ladder in the back

Sallie Durrance and her four daughters, with Helen in the very back, Florida, 1952;
the other three daughters are Bertie, Copie and Devota 

The Durrance family at Alligator Point, Florida, 1956. Due to beach erosion, the house had to be moved back at least two times

Helen's nephew Wilburn Lamar "Sporty" Hartsfield, 1957

Two of the Durrance sisters (one is Helen) with Floreine (Newlin's sister), November 20, 1955

Newlin mentioned that Eddie was in an experimental program at UCLA for testing leukemia treatments, and he was lucky to be in it; families were desperate to seek out such experiments for their dying children. She once said that Eddie got two of the four drugs that would within two years have prolonged his life into young adulthood.

Also in that UCLA leukemia treatment program was Richard Skelton, the son of comedian Red Skelton. He was four years older than Eddie, and Arnie and Newlin observed Richard's progress closely, as Eddie's ups and downs with treatment would shadow those of Richard. Richard died in May 1958.

hematology report for Eddie, UCLA

Eddie died on September 7, 1958 at the UCLA Medical Center. Newlin reminisced that in those days one could open the windows in the hospital, and at the very moment Eddie passed away a gentle breeze blew through the room. They allowed themselves some time alone with their deceased son before calling in the hospital staff. 

He was subsequently buried in a vault in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale next to his Aunt Dolly. Several decades later, after Arnie died and Newlin had purchased plots in Tallahassee, Eddie was disinterred from Glendale and reinterred in Florida, making room in Forest Lawn for his Aunt Laura to be buried there in 1992 next to Dolly.

September 16, 1958, certificate of death copy at the Division of Vital Statistics, Department of Health, Los Angeles

Eddie's 1958 certificate of death lists September 7 for his death, acute leukemia for the cause, and September 9 for his burial

Over a year later, Arnie and Newlin make a $500 donation to Cal Tech in Eddie's name, presumably with money from an insurance policy.

For the rest of their lives Newlin and Arnie donated to leukemia charity work and to charities such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation: Newlin always remembered that Eddie had wanted his parents to buy a new car, which they would do only a bit later in 1960.

next post  Arnold and Newlin: 1959

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Arnold and Newlin: 1952 wedding

Arnold and Newlin had a relatively short courtship in San Francisco. They rode the cable cars between their living quarters and the hospital, explored the city, and saw the area sights. Arnold proposed to Newlin on a street corner going home from a laundromat, with Newlin having her hair still in curlers. She was obviously smitten with Arnold and decided that, while not a particularly romantic scenario, she admired him for wanting to marry her in her sloppiest attire.

Newlin returned to Florida to prepare for her wedding, where she lived with her mother in Crawfordville and commuted 30–40 minutes by car to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital for work. She had had a few accidents in the past driving home after her night shift, so a family member was always assign to drive her to Tallahassee and pick her up. 

Tallahassee Memorial Hospital W-2, Newlin Ashmore, 1952

In reality, she spent her time working, as her cousin Helen Durrance (Earlie Helen Durrance 1915–2007) arranged everything for the wedding. Happy to have someone else (and someone with experience) take that over, Newlin only overrode the choice of going away outfit — she insisted it be made of cotton instead of wool or heavy silk to accommodate the hot and humid Florida climate. 

Certificate of Marriage for Newlin Ashmore and Arnold Hastings Nevis, September 6, 1952, First Baptist Church, Tallahassee, 
signed by Rev. Jack Eppes and witnessed by matron of honor Sheryl A. Ferrell and best man John L. Mason 

Newlin Ashmore with her nephew Emmett "Bucky" Ferrell, III

groom Arnold Nevis with John Mason (right) and Allan Tisdale (center), before the wedding

Newlin with her sister and matron of honor Sheryl Ashmore Ferrell

Newlin arriving at the church and assisted by her brother Wayne Ashmore

Newlin was escorted down the aisle by her oldest living brother Wayne Ashmore

newly married Newlin and Arnold Nevis walking down the aisle

newly married Newlin and Arnold Nevis exiting the church

bride and groom Newlin and Arnold Nevis, First Baptist Church of Tallahassee

bride Newlin Nevis

newly married Newlin Nevis

the wedding party, left to right: Elise Ferrell, Laura Nevis, Floreine Ashmore Marshall, Ludlow Ashmore,
matron of honor Sheryl Ashmore Ferrell, Byrne Ashmore, bride Newlin Ashmore Nevis, Allan Tisdale,
groom Arnold Nevis, Enwood Ashmore, best man John Mason, unknown, Helen Durrance,
Jean Solomon Turner, and Linda Langston at the First Baptist Church of Tallahassee

Newlin and Arnold Nevis cut the cake at their wedding reception

Wayne Ashmore, Newlin Ashmore Nevis, Arnold Nevis, and Emmett "Bucky" Ferrell III

reception line: Nursie Ashmore (mother of the bride), Wayne Ashmore, Newlin Ashmore Nevis, Arnold Nevis, Hazel Nevis (mother of the groom), Sheryl Ashmore Ferrell, Helen Durrance, Jean Solomon Turner, Floreine Ashmore Marshall, Laura Nevis, Linda Langston, Elise Ferrell

Wayne Ashmore Nursie Ashmore, Newlin Ashmore Nevis, Arnold Nevis, Hazel Nevis, John Mason

Wedding reception line, marriage of Newlin Ashmore and Arnold Nevis,
June 6, 1952, First Baptist Church of Tallahassee, Florida
Bill Nevis (leftmost), Hazel Nevis (her back), Nursie Ashmore, unknown female profile, Wayne Ashmore, Emmett Ferrell, Newlin Ashmore Nevis, Sheryl Ferrell (her back) Arnold Nevis, others 

Newlin's eldest sister Eloise Ashmore Langston is in charge of the wedding guest book

first page of the wedding guest book with bride, groom, officiant, and wedding attendants

Newlin and Arnold cutting the wedding cake

reception napkin from wedding of Newlin and Arnold Nevis

Newlin tosses the bouquet to her bridesmaids

Newlin and Arnold depart on their honeymoon; Newlin's going-away outfit was red (and white);
guests throw the traditional rice at the couple for prosperity, fertility and good fortune

Newlin and Arnold depart on their honeymoon in Newlin's sister and brother-in-law's car

Arnold and Newlin borrowed a car from Newlin sister Sheryl and brother-in-law Emmett. Apparently people wrote on the car with lipstick ("just married" and the like). Arnold and Newlin did not clean it off until the next day, but by then the writing had baked into the finish of car and for the many years Sheryl and Emmett had that car, one could still see faintly the just marrieds on all sides of it.

next post  Arnold and Newlin: 1952 honeymoon

previous post  Arnold and Newlin 1952

first post in Flashbacks  How the Nevis family came to California

first post in Arnold's Story  July 1943

first post in blog  Leonard's Story: May 29, 1943