Julia Raymond Schomaker

DECEMBER 20, 1900 - JANUARY 10, 1993

I wish to honor my mother, Julia Raymond Schomaker, because of her unswerving devotion to her family, the inspiration she was in our lives, and for the morals and values she taught us. To honor her is a way to say "thank you" for all she has done. My mother was educated in a country school and told many stories of childhood days there. She was forced to discontinue her studies when she suffered severe headaches. Despite not having a high school degree, she was a remarkable person. She knew her math well and was a good manager of income. She had beautiful penmanship and accurate spelling and reading abilities. She was a wonderful homemaker and loved to prepare nutritious meals and also do baking. Pies were her specialty. She also had a great talent to do beautiful embroidery and would give pieces away as gifts for special occasions. She was a farm girl who became a farmer's wife and when there was work to do outside or if my dad needed a helping hand, she was always there. She had a special knack for finding four leaf clovers almost any time she chose to look for them. She would pick bouquets of them and dry them and give them to our family as a special "good luck" if something important was happening or if we were going on a trip. She nurtured our faith by taking us to Sunday School and church. One of the greatest things she taught us was not to be late, and all appointments were kept and we were on time! My mother is and will continue to be the greatest inspiration in my life even though she has passed away. She is still my guidance in situations beyond my control, because I look for her example to me and what she would have done to deal with the problem. Mother considered herself a follower and not a leader. She stood behind my dad and then her children, because she believed this was her obligation to all of us. She never wished for any praise or gain for herself and this is all the more reason that I wish to honor her. She would not have wanted to be honored, but it is only a token for the love she gave to others all the ninety-two years of her life.

Lovingly submitted,

Her daughter, Dorothy Dyer, and husband Larry

MOTHER, JULIA IDA RAYMOND SCHOMAKER

Julia Ida Raymond Schomaker was born near Roland, Iowa, rural central Iowa in 1900 and spent most of her life there. Living on a farm she saw many changes, from horse & buggy to jet planes. She will be remembered for how she cared about people and life around her. Flowers and plants thrived under her care. The animals on the farm; ducks, chickens, lambs, and cats were worried about and cared for in all kinds of weather. We could help her, but she was the one who felt responsible for their care. Her husband and children were her top priority. Their wellbeing was hers. She was always interested in what her children and later her grandchildren were doing, even if they were far from her. To be remembered in a special way would not be something my mother would have expected. Being the center of attention was not comfortable for Mom. Family, neighbors, and friends remember her special baked treats, needlework, calls for birthdays, or just to talk. She was special for what she did for others with no thought of herself. We all remember and miss her.

Lovingly submitted,

Ellen Schomaker Sorenson

FAMILY HISTORY

Julia Raymond Schomaker was born and raised on a family farm southwest of Roland in Story County, which her grandfather bought and moved his family in 1860. Julia's father, Andrew Raymond, was the second child in the family of eight children of John and Betsey Raymond. They came from Lisbon, Illinois, in covered wagons. They traveled to Nevada later for lumber to build the house. There were no roads and they traveled around swamps and tall prairie grass to get there. They built a two-room house and it still stands as a portion of the house on the Century Farm which has been in the same family for over 100 years. Andrew married Ellen Johnson Raymond and they had four children. The first, Julia, died in infancy. Next were Julia, my mother, a sister, Bertha and brother, Josiah. Julia married Henry Schomaker in Sioux Rapids, Iowa, where their three children, Ellen, Dorothy, and John were born. Later, they moved back to the family farm near Roland, and raised their children there. Ellen married Joel Sorenson and they have three children; Dorothy married Larry Dyer and they have two children. John married and has three children.

Submitted on 9/20/94