Ma Kettle

Phoebe Kettle (born 1899 or 1900), commonly known as "Ma", is the matriarch of the Kettle family and the wife of Pa Kettle.

Early life
Ma was born in 1899 or 1900, probably in Cape Flattery, Washington. As a girl she learned cures from a "medicine show man" who once visited Cape Flattery.

Ma was courted by both Pa and his cousin Rodney. She chose to marry Pa, however, and Rodney left for Hawaii, where he started a pineapple business (Kettle Enterprises).

Pa once said that Ma was a "fancy stepper" in her youth.

Marriage
Pa borrowed a suit from Ma's father for the wedding. They also had a party after the wedding, for which Pa borrowed two dollars from Ma to pay for the expenses.

Life in the Kettle Farm
Ma argued with Pa during their first years of marriage over the fact of him being messy, but gave up later on, knowing that she would never change Pa's mind.

Being in tight situations, the Kettles dined on bread slices and meat; they all ate on the farmhouse dining table.

Appearances

 * The Egg and I (1947)
 * Ma and Pa Kettle (1949)
 * Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Town (1950)
 * Ma and Pa Kettle Back on the Farm (1951)
 * Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair (1952)
 * Ma and Pa Kettle on Vacation (1953)
 * Ma and Pa Kettle at Home (1954)
 * Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki (1955)
 * The Kettles in the Ozarks (1956)
 * The Kettles on Old MacDonald's Farm (1957)