Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 45

WEONESuAY NOV 71934 Herald Review Bulk Rata U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 57 Decatur, II. 62521 Wednesday Nov. 7, 1984 Vol 1, No.

2 Three Little Maids made music history TTTn IMaBBBiaaaaaaBBni JhaaMBHBM I They grew up petite and pretty, Evelyn with brown eyes and her sisters with blue, all about 5 feet 4 inches tall. THE GIRLS PERFORMED together over the years at political and social gatherings around Decatur. Lucille, having taught herself to play the guitar, teamed up with Evelyn when they were 15 and 16 to sing duets on Decatur radio station WJBL. The duo once again became a trio as they had a radio show one summer at WDZ in Tuscola and later a regular show on WJBL. "My voice was the lowest, Lu-cille's was the highest and Eva did the yodeling." Miss Evelyn recalls.

"Our voices blended together beautifully." Songs such as "Down By the Old Rustic Well" and "Now I Ain't Gonna Study War No More" were among their most popular numbers. Their father, who at one time ran a gasoline station and ice cream fountain adjacent to their home on West Grand Avenue, managed musical groups and thought WLS in Chicago would sign up the girls after one audition. He was right, and the family moved to Chicago in 1932. AT WLS, THE Three Li ttle Maids had a daily show at 6 p.m. and were featured on the National Barn Dance, broadcast live on Saturday nights from the Eighth Street Theater on Wabash Avenue.

They were also among hundreds of groups that performed at Chicago's 1933 Century of Progress world's fair. Marriage finally split them up. Eva married Red Foley, who also worked at WLS, and they moved to Nashville. Foley performed in the Grand Ole Opry and sometimes they sang together. Eva also sang solo under the stage name Judy Martin.

They had three daughters despite concern about Eva's weak heart (she had rheumatic fever as a child). She died of heart problems on Nov. 17, 1951. The Overstake sisters' aunt-Mable Overstake of Decatur, said Shirley Boone didn't have a close re By THERESA CHURCHILL Hvrald RrvMW UHltyrt Writer "The three little girls with the three big smiles" won the heart of their native Decatur before singing their way into history. That was the way the Three Little Maids were billed by WLS after tbey joined the Chicago radio station in 1932.

Evelyn, Lucille and Eva Over-stake later went on to make their individual contributions to the music world. Miss Evelyn, as she was known, worked for WLS until 1954. doing various musical shows. Lucille, who changed her name to Jenny Lou Carson, became a successful songwriter who penned such country-western favorites as "Jealous Heart," sung by Tex Ritter. Eva married entertainer Red Foley and performed with him.

Their oldest daughter, Shirley, is the wife of singer Pat Boone. Today, Evelyn Overstake Chivu-cos, 70, sings to her trees and plants in Long Beach, Calif. She is the only sister of the long-ago trio who survives. "CALL ME MISS Evelyn," she said in a recent telephone interview. "That's what everyone calls me." She well remembers how the girls got started.

It was around 1920 on Lincoln Square in downtown Decatur, where the Transfer House stood at the intersection of Main and Main. The Salvation Army band would play, and the preachers would preach. After that, a bass drum would be laid down, and the girls got up to sing. Eva, the youngest, was so small she couldn't even speak plainly yet. "Our mother told us to smile, open our mouths wide and let it all hang out," Miss Evelyn said.

They did. and they were rewarded with money placed on the drum. Hershel and Helen Overstake were proud of their three oldest daughters, all born in Decatur. Evelyn was born in late 1913. Lucille in early 1915 and Eva in 1916.

Mrs. Overstake sang to them from the time they were babies and often played the piano for them. lationship with her mother because Eva was mostly bedridden in the years before her death. Evelyn and Lucille performed together on WLS for a time as the Two Little Maids until "Lou went her own way," Miss Evelyn recalls. LUCILLE BEGAN writing country songs under the name Jenny Lou Carson, and later changed her name legally.

She was successful and lived in many cities, spending the last 20-some of her life in California. She' smoked heavily as she wrote songs late into the night, Miss Evelyn said. Jenny Lou contracted emphysema, which gradually turned her into a recluse the last dozen years of her life. She was unable to attend the ceremonies in 1971 when she was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Association Hall of Fame. Today, hers is among 74 portraits hanging on the association's walls.

The songs for which she was inducted are "Don't Rob Another Man's Castle," sung by Eddy Arnold; "Let Me Go, Lover," sung by Hank Snow, and "Jealous Heart," by Tex Ritter. "She was so vivacious and talented," Miss Evelyn said. "It was torture to see her suffer so." Jenny Lou died Dec. 16, 1978. EVELYN HERSELF left WLS after 22 years to move out to California to be near Jenny Lou.

Her WLS radio shows, which she wrote and sang, included "Dreamers Bay with Captain Evelyn" and "Musical Journey with Miss Evelyn." Her theme song for the latter show was "Just a Little Street Where Old Friends Meet." "With love in my heart, I thought about Decatur when I sang that song," Miss Evelyn said. She married August Chivucos a year after moving to California. (She has a son by a first marriage that ended in divorce). Also living in California are Miss Evelyn's mother, brother Richard and.ycunger sister Constance. Another aunt, Ethel Talbott (Mable Overstake's sister), also lives in De- 1 in" i mi iit i-r ii catur.

doesn't sing in public at all. trees and plants, so I sing to them. Since the move out west, Miss "I miss it. I wish I had kept it They answer beautifully by Evelyn has sung for friends but now up," she said. "My hobby now is blooming away." Husband, wife share their lives and careers t' lL 'Jr.

Sli ft y-ZTl I A IV tfss v- i r- 'i A e- -A-A AAi rft '3; I Text and photo By STUART WYNEKEN For the Htrald and Review LINCOLN It's not unusual to find members of the same family involved in the same line of work. An example of this would be law firms and law partnerships of brothers, fathers and sons. What is unusual is finding a husband and wife both practicing law with the same firm. Douglas and Laurie Muck have been working together for a few years with the Lincoln law firm of Woods, Bates and Muck. The Mucks are just one example of a growing trend of spouses working together as lawyers.

The young couple met in 1977 while law students at Washington University in St. Louis. They were married a year later: "Common interests had a lot to do with getting married, and those interests have continued since our marriage," Doug said. He explained that going through law school takes a lot of hard work and one must be willing to sacrifice personal life for a professional career. -But the two have been lucky enqugh to have both professional and personal lives together.

Both Laurie and Doug found that "getting married did make tfie pressures of law school a lot easier to bear." As Laurie said, "Since we met, we have been thoroughly involved in each other's lives." Doug said his firm conducts a general law practice, with emphasis on family and marital law, probate, estate planning, real estate transactions, corporate, commercial and banking law, and criminal defense work. His particular areas of concentration are criminal defense, commercial and banking law, marital matters and landlord-tenant law. Laurie's primary expertise lies in family and marital law, real estate and probate law. Doug said his wife is especially valuable in the area of marital law. Some women clients seem to prefer to discuss their business with another woman, he said.

"She's an extremely capable attorney and very good at what she does," he added. He described himself as "sort of a civil libertarian," which helps him especially devote himself to defending criminal cases involving Constitutional rights of the accused. Laurie calls herself more conservative but stated she also finds working with her spouse helpful because they are able to actively discuss cases and "bounce ideas off each other." In some cases, having both spouses working can cause strains on the family and marriage. The Mucks, however, find that working in the same profession and office has made their lives together stronger. Doug feels working in the same profession provides insights into the stresses and pressures affecting the other.

"We tend to respect each other's feelings, careers and apprehensions. One good thing is that it provides the other with a sounding board." life for the Mucks wasn't always as workable as it is now. The couple started working together in 1979 when Doug was a prosecuting attorney with the Madison County State's Attorney' Office and Laurie was an intern at the same office. "It was tougher when I graduated and started working for the Madison County state's attorney and then in 1980 I went to work for my present firm. Later, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work in my home town," Muck said.

The tough part was having to leave Laurie in St. Louis, since she still had one year of law school to finish. This, however, didn't stop them from being together on weekends. "Doug did most of the driving because I had to study," Laurie said. Doug emphasized that he would leave for St.

Louis at 4:45 p.m. Friday and drive the 135-mile trip, a journey he made every weekend for about seven months. Their second anniversary found them separated. Laurie was in Chicago taking her bar exam and Doug was in St. Louis packing up her belongings for the move to Lincoln.

The couple came to work together by accident, Laurie said. "I was looking for employment in Springfield and Bloomington when Doug hurt his knee and couldn't work. The firm asked me to come in part time, which turned out to be 40 hours a week. We had hoped to work together some day but nc 3r expected it to happen like this." The Mucks are not only dedicated to their profession but also to their 14-month-old daughter, Brittany. They feel their work has helped make them better parents.

"Laurie and I have both been involved with divorce and custody suits and have seen what harm such suits can cause children. Brittany comes first over anything else that either of us wants," Douglas said. The couple explained thai they are trying to be full-time parents to Brittany, even though their jobs are demanding. Laurie says, "My career has taken a back seat by choice. I'm only working a 25-hour week.

If Brittany was having any problems, I would stop working, but so far that has not been necessary." Although this husband-and-wife team may be unique in Lincoln, it is not unusual to the profession. "There is an increase in the number of women attending law school. In Laurie's class at Washington University, the ratio was about 45 percent women," Doug said. He also said that of their law school friends, four or five couples later married. Doug and Laurie have some hobbies and activities they like to participate in when they have time.

Both belong to local civic organizations. Doug likes to play golf and Softball and is an avid fisherman. Laurie tends to lean toward horseback riding but admits that because they like to spend time with Brittany, they don't often have much chance for other pas- times. The relationship has been a productive one. "Doug has taught me and I have taught him.

It's been very beneficial for both of us," Laurie said. Doug and Laurie Muck.