April 30, 1979 Aunt Estelle wrote

Coolish.  I washed, picked some greens and stoped at Jennings a minute.  We had to pick up Wendi, so we visited Mr. and Mrs. Scalf as we went up the road.  Then had car trouble in town so  I got a taxi on to get Wendi.   A. T. come by and picked her up so we went by Edith's a minute and home.


Footnote by Pat:    Jennings is her brother who lives nearby.  Wendi is her granddaughter and was in school in Big Stone Gap about 9 miles away.   Mr. and Mrs. Scalf are her the mother and father-in-law of her son, Redge.  They lived near Big Stone Gap.    A. T. was Wendis' father.   Edith is her sister who also lives in Big Stone Gap.    Don't know what happened to car and who fixed it.  She left that info out. 

April 29, 1979 Aunt Estelle wrote

a nice cool day.  Janice & Wendi were here.  Snapper Robinson and Louise were in awhile.  We all rode down to the grave yard where F.M. Sturgill was buried.  rode on to funeral home where Truman Stuart lay corpse.  Had fellowship supper tonite and a visiting preacher.  About half come.  I never would have believed there could be so much hatred in our church.


Footnote by Pat:     Janice and Wendi are her daughter and granddaughter.  I don't know who Snapper and Louise were.   F. M. Sturgill was the owner of Sturgill's funeral home and has just died.  I don't know who Truman Stuart was either.  She loved her church and wasn't happy when people were angry about something.         Wendi did you have a good time that day?????

April 28, 1979 Aunt Estelle wrote

Rain early to clear.   Edith & Roy were in awhile.  I went to the lower church for a little girls funeral, (a burn victim)  drove on to Penn. to see F. M. Sturgill.  Back by Betty Ramey's for milk.  I am down in my back from so much lawn work yesterday.  Reba come in a minute.  I walked up to Jennings late. 


Footnote by Pat:   Sorry I missed a couple days,  I was in an outdoor art show in Louisville Sat. and Sun.    So I will now catch up.      Edith and Roy are her sister and brother-in-law.  The "lower church" is a small church  just a couple miles west of her house.  F.M.Sturgill is the man who has died and I guess she went to the funeral home.  Betty Ramey is a neighbor with cows.   Reba is her sister-in-law.  Jennings is her brother. 

April 27, 1979 Aunt Estelle wrote

Clear   Cloudy    Truman Steward died at hospital this morning.   Millard & I went up to Jennings a while this morn.  I mowed and clipped some.  Reba was in allso Roy & Edith.  F. M. Sturgill dead after being on the machine of life for 2 days. 


Footnote by Pat:    I don't know who Truman Steward was - must have been a friend as I am pretty sure he was not a relative.   Millard is her husband and Jennings  is her brother.  Reba was her sister-in-law and Edith was her sister and Roy was Edith's husband.   F.M.Sturgill owned the funeral home in Pennington Gap  where a lot of her friends and relatives were taken before burial.    I never heard the life support system being called "machine of life" 

April 26, 1979 Aunt Estelle wrote

Cloudy and rain        I really did not do a thing this morn.  Stell Kelly &  Mr. Orick were in.  Pearl and Mr. & Mrs. Lipps come late.  Janice called for us to pick up Wendi.  It made us feel better when we went out.  Got us some fish at chicken house for our supper. 


Footnote by Pat:     Stell Kelly and Mr. Orick are friends from church and they lived nearby.  Pearl and Mr & Mrs. Lipps are friends but I really don't know where they lived.   Janice is her daughter and Wendi is her granddaughter who was in school in Big Stone Gap, Va. about 9 miles away.    I  don't recall a "chicken house"  but that is where they ate fish.  

April 25, 1979 Aunt Estelle wrote

Clear  rain      We went to the Dr. this eve.  I visited down at the hospital a minute.  Edith & Roy were in a minute.  Mr. & Mrs. Jake Parsons come in a while before we went to prayer meeting.  Millard didn't go.  We heard F.M.  Sturgill was dead or near death today. 

Footnote by Pat:    Edith is her sister and Roy is Edith's husband (my Mother and Daddy).   Jake Parsons is a neighbor.  Millard is her husband.  F.M. Sturgill was a friend who lived in Pennington Gap, about 7-8 miles west .  He owned the Sturgill Funeral Home (I think).  She went to a lot of funerals - sometimes she didn't know the person who was deceased  but knew  someone who knew the person.  That is where she did a lot of her visiting with people she didn't see often.  She did love to visit and she loved visitors.    As they say nowadays, she did like to "just hang out". 

April 24, 1979 Aunt Estelle wrote

Clear, cloudy    I washed some.  Went to post office and mailed Rosemary some sweet potatoes.  Nell Reasor, Anna May Bowling and Curtis come awhile.  



Footnote by Pat:     Rosemary is her daughter who is married and lives in Hobbs, New Mexico.  I guess Rosemary couldn't get Virginia grown sweet potatoes in New Mexico.   Nell Reasor has the same last name as Estelle's  maiden name,  but were not related, they said.  Anna May is a friend.   Curtis is her brother-in-law who lived in Big Stone Gap, Va.   

April 23, 1979 Aunt Estelle wrote

Cloudy    I went for milk & eggs and stopped at Va. Shuler's, allso stopped at Jennings.  Elizabeth didn't feel good.  Hilda Orick & Patty Hobbs visited late. 



Footnote by Pat:    Virginia Shuler is a neighbor and relative.  She was the daughter of Hop and Rose Baker Slemp.  Rose was a half-sister to Lula Baker ( Aunt Estelle's mother).   So they were first cousins.  I think that is right.   Jennings is her brother and Elizabeth is his wife.    Hilda Orick and Patty Hobbs are neighbors and they all go to the Deep Springs Baptist Church.   P.S.      I want you all to know that I am entering the words just as they are in her journal.  Seems she always puts two ll's in ALSO. 

April 22, 1979 Aunt Estelle wrote

Cloudy, rain.   I went and got Millard after a week at the hospital.  He is pretty weak.  Janice come for lunch.  Ruth & Smith stopped allso Jennings & Elizabeth. 


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Footnote by Pat:   Millard is her husband.  Janice is their daughter.  Ruth is her sister-in-law.  She was the wife of Estelle's youngest brother, Everette.  They lived across the highway from her.  Smith is Everette and Ruth's youngest son.   Jennings is her brother and Elizabeth is his wife and they live nearby also  .

April 21, 1979 Aunt Estelle wrote

Clear and warm    I went for Millard but the Doc wouldn't let him come until tomorrow.  I came home and put out a wash and Janice & Wendi come later and we went back to see Millard.  Maudi Hyatt Ely was in a while late, allso Edith. 


Footnote by Pat:    Millard is her husband who has been in the hospital for a few days.  Janice and Wendi are her daughter and granddaughter.  Maudi Hyatt Ely is a relative of Millard's(not sure how she is related) .   Edith is her sister who lives in Big Stone Gap, Va.  about 9 miles East. 

April 20, 1979 Aunt Estelle wrote

74 degrees.   real clear.  I was up to Jennings both early & late.  Went to see Millard and stoped at a yard sale.  Back to see Millard tonite with Janice & Wendi.  Took Aunt Rosalee to grocery store this eve. 


Footnote by Pat:    Jennings is her brother and lives nearby.  Millard is her husband and is in the hospital.  Janice and Wendi are her daughter and granddaughter.  Aunt Rosalee is married to her mother's half-brother, Millard Baker.    She sure stayed busy, doing for others. 

April 19, 1979 Aunt Estelle wrote

a very nice day.  Radious stopped a minute.  Elizabeth was sick all day.  I went up at lunch time and helped fix lunch.  Went to see Millard and bought some fertilizer.  Come back by Pearl Barkley awhile.  Edith and Roy come and we all eat supper up at Jennings.  I'm so scared about Elizabeth. 


Footnote by Pat:   Radious was a neighbor.  Elizabeth was her sister-in-law (Jennings is her brother and Elizabeth is his wife and they live nearby).  Millard is her husband who has been in the hospital now for several days.   Pearl Barkley is a cousin who lived on a big beautiful farm about 6 miles West of Deep Springs, Va.     Edith was her sister and Roy was Edith's husband.  They are my Mother and Daddy and they lived in Big Stone Gap, Va. - about 9 miles East of Deep Springs.  My Mother is living in Kingsport, Tenn. now and is soon going to be 93 years old - lives alone, reads novels all day and is doing just fine.   My Daddy(Roy) died in 2004.  

April 18, 1979 Aunt Estelle wrote

Clear     I got up early and planted some garden, then washed and went to see Millard right after dinner.  He is much better.  I came back by Aunt Rosalee's and over to Betty Ramey's for milk.  Stell Kelly came awhile.  To prayer meeting tonite. 


Footnote by Pat:    Millard is her husband who is in the hospital at this time.   She called lunch "dinner" and what we call dinner she called "supper".   (my Mother still does that)    Aunt Rosalee is married to Millard Baker who was her mother's half-brother.   Betty Ramey was a neighbor (with a lot of cows).  Stell Kelly is a neighbor and her good friend.  

April 17, 1979 Aunt Estelle wrote

Coolish.  I went real early to see Millard, back at 2 and back tonite with Janice.  Curt, Larry & Kenneth and Chris visited tonite.  Had lots of calls. 


Footnote by Pat:    Millard is her husband and is in the hospital at Pennington Gap, Va. (about 9 miles west of her home).  Janice is their daughter.  Curt is Millard's brother and I think the others are Curt's children. 

April 16, 1979 Aunt Estelle wrote

Coolish.  I went early to see Millard.  Redge took off toward home early.  I come back before lunch, washed some and mowed some.  Janice come and we went back tonite.  He is in intensive care but not considered bad, I reckon.  Everybody called tonite. 


Footnote by Pat:    Millard is her husband.  Redge is her son (I think he was living in Charlotte, NC at this time).   Janice is her daughter who lives in Big Stone Gap, VA  (about 9 miles away). 

April 15, 1979 Aunt Estelle wrote

Cool.  I went to Sunrise service.  When Millard got up he was sick so took him to the hospital.  Redge & Janice come to the hospital and Redge, Wendi & I come back for lunch and Janice come a little later.  We went back and I stayed all evening. 

Footnote by Pat:     Millard is her husband.  Redge is her son .  Janice is her daughter and Wendi is Janice's daughter.  

April 14, 1979 Aunt Estelle wrote

Clear.    I washed 3 loads of clothes and dried outside.  Millard had a sick spell.  We were up to Jennings a minute.  Redge come for supper.


Footnote by Pat:   Millard is her husband, Jennings is her brother and Redge is her son.  

April 13, 1979 Aunt Estelle wrote

Warm today.  We had Wendi and she is so sweet.  Jennings come this morn.  I baked him a cake.  Wendi & I walked over to Mrs. Orr's house and fed her dog.    Mr. and Mrs. Orr are in Hospital. 


Footnote by Pat:   Wendi is her granddaughter.  Jennings is her brother.  Mrs. Orr is a neighbor. 

April 12, 1979 Aunt Estelle wrote

"Warm today to rain this eve.  I went out to Lizzie's for eggs.  Cooked dinner for Jennings again.  Took Aunt Rosalee to Drug store this evening.  Reba was in a while. 


Footnote by Pat:   Lizzie is a neighbor  with a lot of chickens.   Jennings is her brother.  Aunt Rosalee is her Mother's half-brother's wife.  Reba is her husband's sister.   

April 11, 1979 Aunt Estelle wrote

75 degrees.  I washed some.  Cooked dinner for Jennings again.  Millard & I worked on the lawn mower and mowed some this evening.  To prayer meeting tonite.


Footnote by Pat:     Jennings is her brother.  Millard is her husband.  You would think Jennings could have helped work on the lawn mower since she had to feed him "again". 

April 10, 1979 Aunt Estelle wrote

Cloudy all morning and real cold.  Reba and I went up to Tate Reasor's a minute this morn.  His daughter Peggy died Sunday nite in Indiana, of cancer.  I took Aunt Rosalee to grocery store this evening.  Jennings ate lunch with us.  Elizabeth still in Hospital. 


Footnote by Pat:   Reba is her sister-in-law.  Tate Reasor was a neighbor and relative, probably.   Aunt Rosalee is her Mother's half-brothers' wife and they lived nearby.  Jennings is her brother and Elizabeth is his wife. 

April 9, 1979 Aunt Estelle wrote

cold as ice.  Elizabeth was sick this morn and we got her to the hospital.  Sure upsets me.  I went to the Myrtle Davis funeral.  Edith came after work and went to the hospital a while with Jennings.  Mrs. Scalf had surgery for cancer at Kingsport today. 


Footnote by Pat:   Elizabeth is her sister-in-law, Jennings' (her brother) wife.  Myrtle Davis was a neighbor.  Edith is her sister who lived in Big Stone Gap, Va.  (Edith is my mother and is 92 years old and still living in her house in Kingsport, Tenn.).   Mrs. Scalf is her son's (Redge) mother-in-law.   

April 8, 1979 Aunt Estelle wrote

Clear & cool.  Janice & Wendi were home.  We went out to Lizzie for eggs then down to Magic Mart a while.  Curt was here for supper.  Peggy Reasor (Tate's daughter) died tonite of cancer in Indiana.


Footnote by Pat:   Janice and Wendi are her daughter and granddaughter.  Lizzie is a neighbor with a lot of chickens.  Magic Mart is a grocery store.   Curt is her brother -in-law.   Peggy and Tate Reasor are cousins (I think).  Not sure how they are related.     Estelle's maiden name was Reasor and she married an Ely.  There were many Reasors in the area and were probably related somehow.

April 7, 1979 Aunt Estelle wrote

Beautiful cool day.  I baked cakes and cooked beans & potatoes and took some to Lizzie and some to the Davis family.  Millard and I visited Radious and Reba awhile. 


Footnote by Pat:     Lizzie and the Davis family are neighbors.  Millard is her husband.  Radious is a neighbor and good friend.  Reba is Millard's sister and neighbor.    She baked delicious cakes - my favorite was the "apple stack cake" - about 7 layers.  

April 6, 1979 Aunt Estelle wrote

Clear cold.  Curt come early.  I baked a cake so he could have some to take home with him.  I cooked greens and Stell Kelly come for some.  I took Aunt Rosalee to grocery store, and over by Betty Ramey's for milk.  Then walked up to Jennings.



Footnote by Pat:     Curt is Curtis Ely and that is her brother-in-law who lives in Big Stone Gap, Va (about 9 miles away).  Stell Kelly was a neighbor and good friend (Estelle Kelly).   Aunt Rosalee is married to her mother's half-brother (Millard Baker).   Betty Ramey is a neighbor who must have had a lot of cows.   Jenning was her brother who lived close by. 

April 5, 1979 Aunt Estelle wrote

Cool all day but beautiful sunshine.   I hung out clothes.  Then Millard and I worked on lawn mower and mowed some and snipped some grass & weeds.  Late I picked a bag of greens.  

Footnote by Pat:   Millard is her husband.  

April 4, 1979 Aunt Estelle wrote:

Alternative rain and sunshine.  I worked on a dress all day.  I went out to Lizzie's for eggs.  To prayer meeting tonite. 


Footnote by Pat:    Lizzie was a neighbor and where she got her eggs.  I think she was Lizzie Sturgill (not sure though). 

April 3, 1979 Aunt Estelle wrote:

Rained early.  We didn't wake up until 8 oclock this morn.  I went to Uncle Millard's a minute.  Millard and I walked up to Jennings.  Woodrow Sturgill, Lizzie and Day come in a minute  I went to Missionary Society tonite. 


Footnote by Pat:   Uncle Millard is Millard Baker and he was the half-brother of her mother.  Jennings was her brother.  Woodrow Sturgill, Lizzie and Day are neighbors.  Missionary Society  was a women's  organization of her church . 

April 2, 1979 Aunt Estelle wrote

I got up early and took the car to Pennington before 8 oclock.  Jennings come for me and Janice come this evening and took me back for the car.  We walked up to Jennings a while. 


Footnote by Pat:    Pennington is a small town about 8 miles West of Deep Springs (where she lived).   Jennings is her brother who lives nearby and Janice is her daughter who lives in Big Stone Gap, Va. 

April 1, 1979 Aunt Estelle wrote:

Warm and rain quit early.  We had a visiting preacher of course.  Stephen Reasor and Justin come out a while.  Janice, Wendi and I went to the Magic Mart awhile.  Back to church tonite. 


Footnote by Pat:    Stephen Reasor is her nephew (Everette Reasor's oldest son)  Everette was her youngest brother and lived on the hill across the road.   Justin is Stephen's son.    Janice and Wendi are her daughter and granddaughter.  Magic Mart was a store she loved to go to.