Another Old One

Larry's Uncle Alonzo's daughter shared this picture with me when she shared the one with Grandpa Renfroe and the others.  I think this was made in the 60's.  Aunt Ethel would have been 55 to 60.  Uncle Wash was born in 1899 so he was older.  He took his dog to the woods one day and shot him.  The next day he killed himself.    He was 72.  Aunt Ethel lived over 30 more years.  She lived in a tiny travel trailer by her son's house.  Then he and his wife built a bigger nicer brick house.  She said Aunt Ethel could not have that ugly little trailer in her yard.  It was probably only about 20 feet long.  Herbert called Granny Renfroe crying and said he guessed he would put her in the nursing home.  Granny said "oh, no, Sister can come and live with me".  Grandpa was already gone.  The lived together way over 10 years.  Aunt Ethel cooked and swept and all that and Granny did the hard work outside.  They heated with wood and Granny made a huge garden until she was 89.  In late 1998 Granny got sick.  She went to her Dr. who she called Woody--his first name--and he called her Granny.  She had pancreatic cancer.  She asked Woody what she should do.  He said for Granny to go home and enjoy her time left.  She lived only about 4 months.  She called Herbert and told him that she guessed sister would have to go to the nursing home.   Aunt Ethel went and she lived a few more years more.  She said--they wait on you hand and foot over here.  I went to see her a few times.  Aunt Ethel was older than Granny.  Granny died at 90 years and Aunt Ethel 95 when she passed away.  Larry's Mom said when she was young girl she went to Aunt Ethel's and Uncle Wash's to stay the night.  They had a daughter younger than Ethel and two boys.  Ethel said they had no plates and used syrup lids for plates.  Ethel said that she thought she was poor, but discovered there were others poorer.  If we look around we can see others worse off than we are and it helps us count our blessings.

Three sisters--Aunt Ethel, Aunt Ivie, and Granny.  Granny was born in 1908.  Aunt Ethel 1906 and Aunt Ivie in 1919.  Granny went to church faithfully.  Her pastor would pick her up--Rev. Ray Boyd.  He was really, really good to her.  Well, Aunt Ethel went too after they started living together.  Granny gave 10 percent and Aunt Ethel gave a dollar each time.  Granny would bless her out, but Aunt Ethel would only give a dollar!  Granny said--"Sister that is not a tithe.