Lucille Whittaker shows her sister Edna’s Friendship Quilt.

Although Port O’Connor’s Miss Edna Whittaker left us for a better life on December 20 of last year, she left behind a legacy of love of family and friends which will not be forgotten. One testament is her “friendship quilt”, which is a treasure to her sister Lucille.
Begun in 1932, the “butterfly” panels were done separately by fifteen different friends and relatives. The last block was completed in 1938, but Edna was busy with many things, and put the blocks in a drawer where they stayed until sometime in the 1950’s. Sister Lucille thought it a shame that such a beautiful idea had not found its completion, and without Edna’s knowledge, took the quilt with her to San Antonio, where she lived and worked at that time.
Lucille put the blocks together, made the backing and then took it to a group of ladies at the Catholic church in Schulenburg, who did an excellent job of quilting it. Lucille then put the finishing touches on the quilt and presented it to a much surprised Edna at Christmas.
“Edna prized that quilt and took special care of it. And each winter she could keep warm with the memories of special friends covering her,” recalled Lucille.
The quilt blocks are embroidered with the names, place of residence, and year made:
Eva Pickett         1932    Port O’Connor, TX
Evelyn C. Hawes    1932    U.S. Coast Guard,
Galveston, TX
Irene Canion        1932    Port O’Connor, TX
Lillian Laney        1932    Port O’Connor, TX
Mrs. A.H. Mundt    1938    Port O’Connor, TX
Gertie Koeber        1938    Palacios, TX
Mrs. E.A. Laney        1932    Port O’Connor, TX
Mother
(Mrs. E.T. Whittaker)    1932    Port O’Connor, TX
Mrs. J.B. Fairchild    1935    Freeport, TX
Lucille Whittaker    1936    Port O’Connor, TX
Thelma Madden        no date    Port O’Connor, TX
Aunt Mary        1935    Freeport, TX
Aunt Aurelia        1935    Freeport, TX
Aunt Rosie        1935    Freeport, TX
Janie Lou Sanders    1932    Seadrift, TX