Tales from the Aisles
By Mickey Thomas
Don Carson, Part I
Recently, Don Carson and his good friend, Barb Williams, brought me a lovely painting that Don had created from a hiking picture that I had published. I was surprised to learn that he resides at the Extended Care facility at the Clarke County Hospital where he is receiving treatment for a kidney ailment.
Don Carson’s living quarters at Extended Care looks like an art studio. Displayed on the sofa are paintings that he recently finished, including one with a blue ribbon from the recent Clarke County 4H Fair. The shelves, end tables, and all flat surfaces are filled with wood carvings and floral arrangements that he has created.
The first time I met Don Carson and his wife, Francis Carson, was back in the late 50’s when Francis and I and several others started the Dosceola Square Dance Club. Don still has the design sketch that he created for club name badge.
Don Carson was raised on a 160 acre farm north of Ottawa, near Woodburn. His parents were Frank and Lizzie Carson. Don, his brother Harold, and sisters Edith, Corda, and Bernice, attended Fox rural school. None of the Carson children went beyond eighth grade. Don said his father thought that they should work on the farm. However, Don earned a correspondence diploma in commercial art from a Minneapolis school. This training helped qualify him for work in the Army’s sign painting shop in Korea during the war.
After military service, Don bought an 80 acre farm near his parent’s home. Not satisfied with farming, Don took a job working for Laverne and Mildred Wettering at the Osceola Greenhouse on South Park Street. Don learned floral arranging from Mildred Wettering and took care of the greenhouse. Laverne Wettering once said, “We learned more from Don than Don learned from us.” Don had only worked a short time when the Wetterings went on vacation and left him in charge. He remembers that he worked “day and night” making floral arrangements, including seven casket displays.
Don Carson’s uncle and aunt, Merritt and Ruby Porterfield, who lived near Garden Groove, introduced Don to his future wife, Francis Smith, a neighbor of the Porterfields. Her parents were Jim and Leone Smith. Don remembers, he was a 30 year old bachelor and Francis was a 33 year old school teacher. Their first date was to a Garden Groove football game on a dark and stormy night. They married, and Francis transferred to the Osceola elementary school system. She furthered her education by earning a Masters Degree from Drake University. Francis became supervisor of three schools, East Elementary, West Elementary, and Weldon Elementary.
After eight years working for the Wetterings, Don decided to go into the floral business for himself. In 1962, Don purchased a home in Leon and started Don’s Floral Studio at his residence. A greenhouse was built in the back yard. He remembers that a local competitor told him that he would never ‘make it.” People liked Don and recognized his unique talents. The business grew and soon customer’s cars were parked around the neighborhood. One day 23 trips were made to the Leon hospital with floral arrangements. His long time employees included Janice Craig and Sheryl Van Larr. Francis Carson continued serving as Principal for the three Clarke Community Elementary Schools. After 20 years in business, Don’s Floral Studio was sold to Glen and Sally Funk. The Carsons moved to Weldon in 1982. Thirty years later, and two more changes in ownership, Don’s Floral Studio is still in business in Leon.
Francis Carson died in 1986. With the ending of her 23 year Osceola career, it took three people to replace her. Francis Carson had liked music and taught her self to play the guitar and fiddle. In 1982, she and Janet Chambers started a popular dance band. Three years after the death of his wife, Don Carson learned to play the drums and restarted the band. Named, Don Carson’s Rhythm Dusters, the popular band played from Des Moines to Lineville, Missouri. Don said he enjoyed meeting dancers, but doesn’t miss hauling around all the sound equipment.
