My Grandma James was born on July 4, 1912. We always enjoyed celebrating her birthday, and as many of us as possible came to Watertown, South Dakota, every year.

Irene Belle Hodge was born to Clyde and Bessie May Trevettt Hodge in Emerson. Nebraska. She married Claude James and they had 7 children. She was a nurse in Watertown for many years.

A picture of Michelle's aunts, uncles and grandmother
Grandma and her kids on her birthday in 1992.
Chuck, Paul, Lynda, Mardell, Claudette, Sherrey, Grandma and Delores

Grandma was a prolific letter writer and wrote to me regularly when I was in college and after I moved to Indiana. She kept us aware of what was happening with the family long before social media.

A picture of Michelle's grandmother and 12 of her grandchildren.
Some of the many grandkids she had. Now there are many great-grandkids and several great, great-grandchildren. I know she would be delighted by her expanded family.

Grandma James died October 16, 1993.