Mabel Eisenbeis was born on December 2, 1926 in her grandparents’ house in Moxee, Washington. Her maternal grandfather, Wilfred Riel, delivered her; like many in those days, he was a type of midwife.

Mabel Aileen Gaither was born December 15, 1925 to Parthena and William Gaither in Miller, Arkansas. Mabel grew up with her many siblings on the family farm and lived an agricultural life during the ...