My Mom - The "Snake Handler"

Mom and Dad at the Homeplace - circa 1980

My Mom was a beautiful, old-fashioned, Ozark born and bred lady. She became a follower of Jesus as a young woman, was introduced to the Old Time Pentecostal way, accepted it, and never looked back. But something about my mom, that a lot of people did not know is this - My mom was a "Snake Handler"!

Now, before you let your imagination run away with you; she wasn't one of those weirdos that use snakes in church as part of their worship ritual. But there was that one time...

Before I was born, when my brother Ralph was just a toddler; Mom and Dad lived in the Estil and Ruby Vonallmen house at the Howell/Oregon County line. It was an old house with no insulation and (evidently) some holes where critters could get inside.

One summer day, before mom put Ralph down for a nap, she wanted to wash his face. When she pulled out a kitchen drawer, curled up in between the dish rags was a huge Black Snake!

To be perfectly honest, if that would have been me, there would have been a kitchen to repair or replace!!

Not my mom...

She very carefully pushed the drawer back in without disturbing the slumbering snake. She then proceeded to rock Ralph to sleep and put him down for his nap.

Then mom did what any sensible person would do. She called her Pastor!

Their pastors at that time were Brother Harold and Sister Maurine Essary, and they lived down the road a piece at the Victoria Mission parsonage. When mom called, Brother Harold was not there. So Sister Maurine and an older daughter, Dianne, were drafted into service! When my mom told us this story, she said they showed up with shovels, rakes, pitchforks and sundry other "Snake Killing" implements!

When Sister Maurine and Dianne were ready with weapons in hand; mom carefully pulled the drawer out, carried it out of the house and unceremoniously dumped the dish rags and the old serpent out into the yard.

Then the proverbial "Fur" began to fly! There was thumping, whacking, hacking, stabbing and stomping, dirt and dish rags flying until finally old Mr. Snake gave up the ghost!

Yep! The pastor's wife, the pastor's daughter and my Mom - Snake Handlers Extraordinaire!

(Mom was also an "Armadillo Assassin" - but that's a story for another time!)

The Value of Second Impressions

John and I in October, 2023

The cowboy philosopher, Will Rogers, famously quipped, "You never get a second chance to make a first impression". While Mr. Will is technically correct, I'm glad for the opportunities I've had to get those second impressions.

And such was the case with my late good friend, John Stevens.

I met John early in my surveying career while I was working for a local surveying company. John worked as a Land Surveyor for the U.S. Forest Service and our company had several contracts for work in the Mark Twain National Forest. I really don't remember our first meeting but I do know that my first impression of John was not that rosy. He was gruff, abrupt and very, very sure of his opinions. In his defense, my boss at the time had the bed-side manner of a water buffalo so it was inevitable that they would clash.

In the late 1980's, I went to work for Riggs-Norsworthy Surveyors, a company owned by my brother Ralph and Rolan Norsworthy. We also had contracts for surveying in Mark Twain and I was destined to have John as the COR (Contracting Officer's Representative) for several of my projects.

For those that may not know, surveying is not an exact science. It is an opinion and believe me, most surveyors (myself included) can have a very high opinion of their opinion! 

When John, myself and my brother would discuss corner evidence found, statutory procedures, proper line clearing, tree blazing and a myriad of other situations; things could get a little testy. But I soon realized that I had not seen the real "John" in my first encounters. And so, my "second opinion" was formed.

I found out that John would listen to, and consider your thoughts on a survey question. And he could be persuaded (although begrudgingly so!) to change his mind.

I realized that John was genuinely interested in mentoring young surveyors such as myself. He would brook no foolishness but if you were willing, he would share his knowledge and wisdom. There have been many a time I have sat down with John and his side-kick, Johnnie Young and discussed a difficult section breakdown or conflicting corner evidence. I always came away bettered from the experience.

John was a meticulous proof-reader. On one project I had in the Hercules Glade Wilderness, I tried to sneak some humorous plat notes by him. It didn't pass muster. He found them and politely asked for them to be re-written!

John was a man of integrity and principles. When we were contractually obligated to the Forest Service, John represented them to a T. We would go out to lunch after one of our meetings and would offer to buy his lunch. He would have none of it. He didn't want even a hint of cronyism or favoritism to smudge his career.

On a personal level, John was a friend. After his retirement, most of our contact was through Facebook and at MSPS meetings but I was always glad to "swap howdys" with him.

Last October, when John's cancer returned after years in remission; I went to visit him and Jan at their home in Rolla, Missouri. We talked and laughed about the good old days and some of the crazy situations we ran into. We had prayer together and I left, promising to visit when I passed through Rolla again.

I received word this morning that my old friend, John Stevens, has made his crossing to his heavenly reward. It was my privilege to cross paths with him and someday, maybe we can survey off a little corner of heaven together!

Please keep Jan and the family in your prayers.

John with Bob Shotts at the 2001 Rendezvous at Loggers Lake

John with Johnnie Young at the 2002 Rendezvous at Loggers Lake