Tyler, Texas Connections

I just read a book Kim gave me years ago, signed by the author, Julian MarDock.  The book "The First of Many" - the story of his Dad, Sam MarDock, and their family.  And a connection to the Mar/Wees of Wichita.  On the cover is a family tree created by King Mar (in Chinese, but notice the English names).  Three generations before King and Sam have a common ancestor.  It's a good read to learn more about our extended family and Chinese-American life in Texas.

Grandpa King took Ken and me out of school, probably the spring 1956 to Tyler to visit his cousin Lucille MarDock and her mother Wong Shee.  I missed four days of school, but was a fun and educational trip.  We were in 2nd grade and Kindergarten then.

I remember stopping at the Turner Falls in Oklahoma where Grandpa used an outhouse that was on the edge of a steep long drop off.  Found the overlook years later when I drove down to Dallas with Damon.  Dallas was the first big city outside Wichita I'd seen and remember all the overhead cables for the trolley cars.
Lucille and Wong Shee's house was nice and I remember a huge backyard - it went back forever to a 2nd grader's eyes and a fun playground.  From Julian's book, I'm pretty sure it was the 428 South Fleishel house.  Sam MarDock had died in 1942 so Ken and I didn't know him.

For me, it was a surprise that Aunt Lucille spoke good English, almost none of the Wichita Chinese mothers did except for Maureen Leung, Keng Lem's wife.  
I was surprised to find on checking Keng's obituary (he died in 2016), that he's the son of Sam MarDock and Wong Shee. [See correction May 13, 2020]  (Ken, this is the uncle you lived across the street from Bak-Bak - Junior Mar when they were on south Market Street).  I think Keng is referred to as Poy in the book (page 41).

I remember eating persimmons for the first time and Wong She was a good cook as her reputation.  There was a party one evening and most of the guests were friends and business associates of the Mardocks and non-Chinese.  Quite different when my parents took me to socials nearly always among relatives and Chinese friends.  As a youngster, my head spun with who was an "older" uncle (bak) or an younger uncle (soak); aunts (moo or hoo).  But it seemed like we were related to everyone.

I wanted to lay the background of the Texas side of the family, as the King Mar files contain several letters from Sam and Lucille.   Those coming at another time.

If you want the book, used copies are available at https://tinyurl.com/MarDockBook.