December 21, 2022 Issue, Page 13 of 30

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HOMETOWN TIDINGS PG3 “Sometimes we were skiing, so we took the family famous in the Iowa and Elk poured back the memories of Christmas- it with us and did it up in the mountains. City area. It was brought to Cornell's es gone by, and they both agreed that Everybody did it, not just the grandkids. attention several times while she lived it is something that will be shared this ‘They could write whatever they wanted. in the Iowa area. People would pick up Christmas for all to see. ‘They could hardly finish their Christmas “Midwest Living” in a doctor's office and dinner, so they could get in and start report the sighting to her. She was even ‘The Smith family includes Dub writing,” Smith explained. interviewed on the Iowa PBS television and Margie Smith and their children As the tradition goes, they had to write station about the tradition. Sue Cornell and her husband Pat, along before they could open packages. ‘This “One Christmas I had the article and with their son Mike and his wife Kathy. seemed to create more excitement about cover of the magazine framed for each of ‘The grandchildren are Lindsey Severson the annual signing. Once Christmas was the families. Tyler (Smith) went to work Mills of Iowa, Dustin Smith, Lauren over, Smith began embroidering the pen- for Meredith Publishing, the company Smith Williamson, and Tyler Smith of cil sayings or drawings. that owned the magazine. He hung the Colorado. Smith admitted that it took her picture in his office or area, so he got to months to finish the embroidery because say he was in one of their publications. Margie and Dub have been married for the stitching was not a favorite pastime. We got a lot of credit and publicity over ‘72 years. The traditions that they have Jj She did not know the craft when she a little bitty article winning, but the taught their children and passed on to started but saw her mother embroider- kids believed we were famous,” Cornell the grandchildren, then to their children |= ing so picked it up quickly. Each year she laughed. will live on. The inscription tablecloth continued to add to the memories. As Smith and Cornell looked over may have ended in 1998, but the memo- “Tt began to get more difficult to get the years of memories, the tablecloth everybody together. No one picked it up. seemed to grow in importance. Smith's ries are everlasting. No one wanted to do the embroidery,” ten great-grandchildren have not seen “We have been very blessed. He has Cornell said. the tablecloth, and her grandchildren blessed us. He has showed us grace.,” ‘The magazine article seemed to make have not seen it in years. Bringing it out Margie concluded. < ¥ We wish you avery Merry C hristmas! ial