Zola Bebee, Grandma's Best Friend

ALEXANDER BARR > HENRY BARR > MARYETTE "MARY" BARR m Frank Jenks > ZOLA JENKS m John Beebe

Zola Jenks Beebe

One of the memories I have from childhood is my Grandmother Verlie's best friend, Zola Bebee. Zola was frequently found at her best friend's house as I was growing up. They remained friends throughout their lives. What I didn't know, is that Zola was also related to my Uncle Leland Barr, husband of my Great Aunt Viv, Verlie's youngest sister.

Alexander Barr and his wife Mary Soash, both hailed from Pennsylvania. Alexander was a cabinet maker and followed that trade when he moved to Wisconsin. He settled on the Whitewater River. Later, he moved down to Iowa and settled in Jackson County. Alexander died in 1862 and his wife soon after. Their son William was the father of Uncle Leland. Their son Henry had married Ella Louise Jones, born in Ohio in 19 Nov 1856. The couple had eight children including Maryette "Mary", who was born 18 Mar 1882.

Mary married Frank Jenks, son of James and Dora Jenks. Frank was born on a farm in Benton County on 29 Jun 1879. They were married 05 May 1900. Frank and Mary had four children, among them, Zola, born 02 Dec 1908. The couple lived in Mt Auburn before moving to La Porte City in about 1917. Frank operated a barbershop and billiard parlor on Main Street in La Porte City, Black Hawk County. One day, he had a heart attack in his shop while talking to customers and died. The town's businesses closed during the funeral hour in respect.

Zola and Verlie on the steps
of Verlie's rental home on Black Hawk St 1950s

John Franklin Bebee was born 26 Jul 1900 in Prairieburg, Linn County, Iowa. He married Myrtle Ethel Reece on 12 Jun 1926 in Waterloo. They had a daughter, Donna Mae Bebee in 1928. The couple divorced and John married Zola. They lived in Waterloo and later in Evansdale. John died in July 1964. In 1963, she became godmother to my sister at our baptism in Waterloo.

Zola used to drive a big blue car - I'd like to say it was about a 1964 Chevy, but I can't nail that down. Because Verlie didn't drive, you could see Zola driving them around in her car. Her carefully coiffed hair bobbing up and down barely above the steering wheel as they tooled down the road. They'd get out of the car, giant purses hooked over their wrists, talking and laughing, in conversations that often ran to, "Well, did you hear about Lula and her man?" They loved to get their hair done and loved to sit and gossip together.

The last time I saw Zola was when my grandma lived in her senior apartment in the late 1970s; I was in high school. She had driven over for a good gossip. Soon after, I left for service. Zola, who had suffered with diabetes for many years, eventually lost a leg to the disease and was no longer able to drive. She was eventually cared for in a nursing home until she died in October 1985 in Waterloo.