While it can be thrilling to uncover renowned ancestors or those who accomplished remarkable feats in our research, the reality is most of our ancestors were “foot soldiers and not generals.” Still, there is something to be learned from every life lived if we simply take the time to reflect on their stories. One such life is that of Rita Marie Shamhart. An “ordinary” woman who, despite the odds, chose to pursue her dreams at a time when it wasn’t made convenient for a woman to do so.
Rita Shamhart was born in 1907 in the quaint rural town of Eightmile, Oregon. Her parents, George and Marie Shamhart, owned and operated an expansive farm where Rita and her older sister Letitia spent their childhood.
At the age of 12, Rita experienced a significant change in her life when her family sold their farm and relocated to Klamath Falls, Oregon, in 1917. Leading into the 1920s, Klamath Falls was a bustling city on the rise, with its population skyrocketing from a mere few hundred residents in 1909 to almost 5,000 in 1920. Construction of the Link River Dam was in full swing, which would soon provide the local residents with hydroelectric power, a major advancement that would open the door for countless new technologies and gadgets. Despite facing opposition from traditionalists, more and more families were purchasing cars, including Mr. Shamhart, who owned a Studebaker that he was extremely proud of. I like to imagine that he may have driven his family to one of the six movie theaters in town to catch the latest Charlie Chaplin film or to the Falls Grocery to buy pippin apples at 70 cents per box. The 1920s were marked by significant societal changes, including Prohibition, the rise of feminism, and the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. These milestones would have had a lasting impact on Rita and her generation.
Despite the upheaval of leaving her home in Eightmile, Rita acclimated quickly to her new surroundings and demonstrated her inherent leadership qualities by becoming the vice president of the Orphaned Lamb Club at the Merrill School.
During her high school years, Rita was a well-liked and popular student. Although it's not clear where Rita lived during the school year, we know she attended a private high school in Roseburg for her junior and senior years, which was over 160 miles away from her family's Klamath Falls ranch. She enjoyed spending time with friends, going to social events, and occasionally “motoring” to Medford to watch the newly established Roseburg High track team compete. Each summer, Rita traveled home by train. However, on one such trip, she was accompanied by the man who would eventually become her husband and the father of her only child, Lola Marie - Tom Smith.
The marriage to Tom was short, only lasting three years before the two parted ways. But Rita showed remarkable strength and resilience during this challenging period in her life. At just 23 years old, despite the loss of her father in 1930 and the end of her marriage that same year, she remained focused on providing the best possible care for her daughter. Rita made sure that Lola Marie was able to pursue her passions and participate in activities that brought her joy, such as singing, dancing, music, modeling, and performing. Lola Marie's happiness and success were always a top priority for Rita, who worked tirelessly to ensure that her daughter had every opportunity to shine, which by the way, was Lola’s favorite thing to do.
In 1935, Rita met Mr. Charles Whisenant, and that was the start of a new life for both Rita and little Lola Marie. Charles was a skilled pharmacist, and the two of them worked together to run Klamath Falls' popular Everybody's Drug Store. Rita served as the store’s clerk, but soon her passion for beauty led her to become the store's go-to beauty expert.
In 1938, Rita became a charter member of the Klamath chapter of the Soroptimists, a women's club whose purpose at the time was to empower women and serve communities during the Great Depression. In the early 1940s, the club shifted its focus to the war effort after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the onset of WWII. Rita served as a director and delegate for the Soroptimist Club for many years and was deeply committed to the work they carried out.
In addition to her commitment to community involvement, Rita also never lost sight of her personal goals. She completed a special beauty and wellness course at the Richard Hudnut Success School in March of 1943 and went on to obtain her cosmetology license. Soon after, she came up with the idea to write a regular beauty column in the
Klamath Herald and News as an advertisement for Everybody’s Drug Store titled "Beauty is Your Duty." The column was a hit, and Rita quickly became a trusted source of information for women in her community, sharing her expertise on the latest beauty, skin, and hair care techniques.
Two years later, Rita realized her dream of owning a salon when she purchased Hazel’s Beauty Shop from the previous owner. Of course, in 1945, a woman couldn’t secure a loan without a male co-signer, so it’s safe to say that Charles supported her new venture, and with his help, she was able to secure the necessary financing. Although Rita was grateful to be running her own salon, she wished she could have greater control over her finances, but despite her frustrations, she continued to work hard to build her business, adding services and keeping up with the latest trends.
Unfortunately, in 1946, despite seeming to have a happy life, Rita and Charles' marriage ended in divorce after eleven years. Following the divorce, Rita decided to sell her salon after just one year in business. In 1983, after a third marriage and divorce, and after some years spent living in San Francisco to be closer to daughter Lola and her two granddaughters Michelle and Cheri, Rita passed away in her beloved Klamath Falls at the age of seventy-five.
At first glance, Rita's life may seem like a series of letdowns. However, upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that she faced numerous challenges and emerged victorious. In an era when women were fighting for greater independence, Rita was among those striving to make a mark. Her story inspires me to go after my own dreams and not let anyone discourage me. While it’s possible she may have felt like a failure at times, her legacy will inspire future generations to continue the fight that she and countless others started long ago.
"There is not human being from whom we cannot learn something if we are interested enough to dig deep." -- Eleanor Roosevelt
As a final thought, I urge you to delve deeper into the lives of your "ordinary" ancestors. Their experiences can teach us valuable lessons about ourselves, which we will inevitably pass down to future generations, whether we realize it or not.
Hi! I'm Trista. My mission is to spark the curiosity, interest, and desire of all people, to learn about those who came before them, and to preserve family histories for generations to come. Contact me for more information at tristathegenealogist.com.
Comments