30 years later: Secret Santa still a mystery for local family

SIKESTON -- Nearly 30 years after a mysterious package showed up on her family's front porch Christmas morning, Marie Harwood still doesn't know the identity of the gift giver.

But Harwood does know it was her best Christmas ever.

It was Christmas Eve 1977 when Harwood's family from Blodgett decided to do a little window shopping at Kingsway Plaza Mall in Sikeston.

Harwood, who was 6 at the time, remembers vividly the family outing with her parents and younger brother and sister.

"I loved the beautiful snowman displays in the mall courtroom," Harwood said. "We had went to TG&Y on Christmas Eve because a lot of times they would mark down presents, like toys for children. But my parents had already bought all they could afford."

Harwood's father was a farmhand and didn't work in the winter so the family didn't have a lot of money that time of year, Harwood explained.

While browsing the store, Harwood's 3-year-old sister, Loretta, spotted a baby dolly carriage and instantly wanted it, Harwood recalled.

"She was playing with it and when we had to leave, she started to cry and said she wanted that carriage," Harwood said.

Ann Tidwell tried to calm her youngest daughter down.

"I told her to wait on Santa because tomorrow is Christmas," Tidwell said. "And later I told my husband, 'I don't know what to do when she wakes up in the morning and doesn't find the buggy."

The next morning, which was Christmas, Tidwell was awakened after hearing a noise outside.

"It sounded like bells being knocked over," Tidwell said.

Tidwell's husband went to the door to check things out and found a package on the front porch. It wasn't addressed to anyone so he put it under the Christmas tree.

"The package was suspicious," Tidwell said. "We didn't know whether to give it to the kids. We were kind of weary of that."

Ultimately the parents decided to let their children open the mystery gift under their supervision.

"And I'll never forget it because the package was so big and it was wrapped," Harwood said. "When we all opened it, we were astounded because there it was -- that little pink carriage my sister had always wanted. And she was so happy."

To this day the family has no idea where the package came from.

"We have no idea who it was. No one ever came forward and no one's ever claimed to bring it there," Harwood said.

Of course, everyone's immediate thought was Santa Claus brought the present, Harwood said.

Loretta Buttry admits there's not much she can recall about that Christmas because she was just 3 years old.

"Honestly, the only thing I remember (about that Christmas) is the little pink buggy," Loretta said. "As far as I know, Santa Claus brought it."

Regardless of who brought the gift, her family really appreciated the kind gesture, Tidwell said.

"There was snow on the ground and it was cold so whoever it was cared enough and came all the way to Blodgett to deliver the present," Tidwell said.

And the gift giver has remained mystery all these years.

"I just think it's fascinating someone did that for her -- whether they knew her or didn't," Harwood said.

Without the mystery gift, it would've been a hard Christmas for her family, Harwood said.

"I feel we were extremely blessed. This was a special gift that someone gave my sister -- and they didn't have to and may not have even known who she was. That's the most caring gift of love -- is to give something to a child your not even related to," said a teary-eyed Harwood.

And Harwood's mother thinks she knows the moral of the story.

"Christmas miracles do happen," Tidwell said. "Just believe."

Do you have a favorite Christmas memory? It's not too late to share it with others. The Standard Democrat is putting together a special section to include holiday memories and recipes from our readers and drawings from area children about Christmas. But hurry! The deadline for submission is Friday, Nov. 24. Items can be submitted by sending them to: Christmas Memories, in care of the Standard Democrat, 205 S. New Madrid, Sikeston, MO 63801. Also items may be e-mailed to: news@standard-democrat.com. The supplement will be included in the Dec. 10 edition of the newspaper.