Rogues Gallery Series -- Portrait #4

Jane Peters Evans -- This bright-eyed little three-year-old imp is my mother in 1931.  She was the second child of my grandparents, and their first daughter.  Her older brother was four years old when she was born, and a huge fan of Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit.  For some ridiculous reason, the woman caring for him while my grandmother was recovering from childbirth in the hospital told him that when his mother came home, she'd be bringing him a big surprise -- His very own Peter Rabbit!  Needless to say, he was less than enthused when instead of a small blue-jacketed bunny, he was presented with a baby sister.  He looked dispassionately at her, and solemnly pronounced, "That's no Petey Rabbit."  The name stuck, and for the rest of her life, close family and friends knew her as Petey.

Sadly, her life was not a long one.  She died of cancer after a long and brave battle when I was 12.  I do so wish she had had the chance to know and love her grand and great grand children.