This was the very loved doll of little Frances Ruth Suderman who lived just less than 15 months.  Frances was born to Ernest & Louise (Seibel) Suderman on January 16, 1932 and died tragically on April 27, 1933.  She accidentally drank lye soap and was rushed to medical attention in the nearest city.  In transit, their car broke down and a kind stranger provided transportation the remainder of the distance to the hospital.  Frances left to mourn her parents and her brothers, Robert and Paul.  Following her death, two sisters were born  - Doris and Darlene.

The doll has been a part of at least two other households within the Suderman extended family before she came to live with us in 1997.  Eunice (Brandt) Friesen, who was Frances' first cousin, gave the doll a badly-needed new body and clothes sometime in the 1980s.

When the doll first came to our house, we tried placing her and her chair in several different locations around the house.  It seemed that no matter where we put her, she had a searching look on her face.  I could have sworn she was asking, "Where's Frances?" as if she'd been searching for over 64 years for the little gal who lovingly dragged her around the house above the store in Reedley, California and then suddenly never came back to play. 

Reedley, California

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