This weeks prompt in the 52 Ancestors in 52 Week challenge is ‘Valentine.’  

 Mabel Lee Munroe was my great aunt. She was born in Lufkin, Angelina County Texas on January 20, 1923 and died on April 1, 1978, in Los Angeles County. She married the love of her life on December 24, 1943, Donald McDonald. He was a private in the United States Army during WWII. Unfortunately, he died on the battlefield on July 14, 1944. All of the stories I heard about her, she was extremely distraught over his death and became a recluse. Then today the whole situation was turned upside down. It appears that Mabel had an unknown relationship with a man by the name of Gordon Eugene Flanagan, they had a son in 1957 and then had a daughter in 1960. Since Mabel was unable emotionally to care for a child at this time, Gordon put his newly born daughter up for adoption. Gordon died in 1964 and as a result, the son he had raised was also put up for adoption.

Not all love stories on Valentine’s Day ends with balloons, red roses and a box of chocolate.