The reason Kay was illusive was that she talked to Rena Mae’s husband, Joe Edmonds, about us. She wasn’t sure if he knew about my Dad and since she knew, she didn’t want to tell us anything without his permission. I was so grateful for that. She told us she had always been curious about where my dad ended up. So when we connected, she took a big risk and unselfishly reached out to Rena Mae’s closest people for permission to tell me who they were. That is a form of kindness that is really unique. She wanted the information for herself but felt her relationship with her sister’s family was more important. I am proud to have that kind of DNA.
Kay sent us an email about who Rena Mae was and where she came from. Rena Mae was one of 17 children, 14 that lived to adulthood. Kay is the youngest of the siblings and there are another sister and a brother still alive. Rena Mae died in August of 2016.
Here is the story, as told by Kay (she said I could call her Titi Kay or Aunt Kay if I want – so delightful), about my biology.
Rena was dating Rickey Heart (her first real boy friend). He was older, I don’t know how much, had a car and a job working in construction at the new Loring Air Force Base near Caribou. She became pregnant and my mother shipped her off to Hartford to stay with her brother, Wilford, because my mother didn’t want my father to know that she was pregnant. I was told that Rena didn’t want to give up the baby, but brother Wilford decided it would be best and made the arrangements.
Let’s digest that for a minute. She got pregnant by her first boyfriend. She lived in Fort Kent, Maine. He was a construction worker in the area. Her mother sent her away. If my dad was born in July 1949, Rena Mae was pregnant in October of ’48, she was 16 years old and he must have been at least 18.
Were they in love? Did he know she went to Hartford? Why is it that the more information I get, the more questions I have?
I hit the Google and back to my DNA matches. No one named Heart. All of the Ricky or Richard Hearts I searched for seemed way too young. I’ll just have to wait to hear more from Kay.
I had this information for a few days and was feeling defeated. There wasn’t anyone that seemed to fit the bill.
One night I woke up in the middle of the night, sat up straight and yelled wait, Mickey Hart. As soon as I caught my breath I remembered that Mickey Hart was popular when Kay was a young person, so maybe she got mixed up because I have matched with a lot of Gearhart’s. OMG, I’m a Gearhart!
So I googled Richard or Ricky Gearhart and hit a dead end, there weren’t any that could be my grandfather. Well, let me reach out to some of the Gearhart’s through Ancestry. The first person I wrote to answered my request with:
My 7th great grandfather came from Leitweiler Germany – we traced the Gearhart’s back that far. My cousin actually gas thd family history and knows more than me. She just sent off for her zzz DNA today
Well, this isn’t so helpful. So I reached out to the next person that fit the bill and after some back and forth, this message:
Do you have an approximate birth date and area. I have quite a few Bernard Gearharts. As a matter of fact, one of my Uncles is Bernard Eugene. According to some family he had several children outside of his wife. Ironically, his oldest son with my Aunt is Ricky. Eugene passed several years ago but his wife is still with us. Not saying he is the one you are looking for but what a coincidence. So exciting.
Well, let me google that! I got an obit or two, but need to confirm. I think I have a biological Grandfather.
Where Does That Red Hair Come From? 