December 31, 1980 Aunt Estelle wrote

Wed.  Cloudy to fair & cold.  We had Wendi.  A.T. come at noon for her and we went to Uncle Ray's.  ran into Jennings at the post office coming from Ark.  where he had spent Christmas with his kids.  To prayer meeting tonite. 

Footnote:  Wendi is her granddaughter.  A. T. Collier  is Wendi's Dad.  Uncle Ray Baker is her uncle - the half-brother of her mother, Lula Baker Reasor.  Jennings is her brother who lives near her.  He has a daughter, Betty Jean who lives in Arkansas and that is where he went for Christmas.  His son, Kenneth lives in Iowa and I would guess that Kenneth and his family came to Arkansas for Christmas.    

Memo for Next Year:   This information is at the end of the book for 1980.  
Tues. Jan. 20, 1981   Ronald Reagan inaugurated as president.  Bush as vice president. 
54 Hostages released by Iran after 440 days.
 
Dec. 20, 1980  Maebird Blair had surgery and is full of cancer. 
Jan. 4, 1981  Jack took her to Dayton to his home. 
Feb. 23, 1982  Maebird died in the hospital in Dayton.  Bro Zion held her funeral at the church. 
Margarette Blair has cancer.
 
Friday Jan. 16, 1981  Little Tag Farmer passed out after coming off the school bus.
 
Feb. 28, 1982.  Brenda Wade (Kyle Wade's X-wife had a car wreck in Knoxville, Tenn. on her way to see her mother in the hospital in Nashville.  Lila Murphy 37 was killed in the accident and Brenda hurt real bad. 

December 30, 1980 Aunt Estelle wrote

Tues. 1980  Snow flurries.   Wendi & I went to Penn. and over for milk.  When I come Edith was here.  She ate lunch with us.  I walked over to Mrs. Davis late, just for exercise. 


Footnote:  Wendi is her granddaughter who is probably still out of school for the holiday.  Pennington Gap is a town about 7 miles West.  Edith is her sister.  Mrs. Davis is her neighbor. 

December 29, 1980 Aunt Estelle wrote

Monday  1980  50 degrees.  Fair warm to cloudy.  Went out to Lizzie's, down by Va. Shuler's a minute.  Radious and Walter were in. 


Footnote:  Lizzie Sturgill is her neighbor and Virginia Shuler, who lives near Lizzie, is her cousin.  Radious and Walter are her neighbors too. 

December 28, 1980 Aunt Estelle wrote

Sunday 1980   Fair cold.    We rushed home after church and went to Malissa's funeral.  To church. 


Footnote:  Malissa Reasor is her relative. 



My Note:  I cannot believe it but it has now been - today - 50 years since I got married at the First Baptist Church in Big Stone Gap.  Boy a lot has happened since then.  I would write a book but it would not be very interesting.   

December 27, 1980 Aunt Estelle wrote

Sat.  Fair cold  1980    I went to Big Stone this eve, to the funeral home where Malissa Reasor lay corpse.  Curt & Martha were in late.  


Footnote:  Big Stone Gap is a small town about 9 miles away.  Malissa Reasor is her cousin - not sure just how.  Curt is a relative of her husband, Millard.  I think he is Millard's brother but he could be a nephew - just don't remember.   Martha is Curt's wife.  They visit pretty often. 

December 26, 1980 Aunt Estelle wrote

Friday  Fair cold.  1980    We had Wendi today.  We went for milk.  Stopped at Va. Shuler's.  Went for a walk later.  Richard Danner was in a while. 


Footnote:   Wendi is her granddaughter and she is out of school for the holiday.  Virginia Shuler is her cousin and neighbor.  Richard Danner is a friend who lives in the area.  

December 25, 1980 Aunt Estelle wrote

1980  Thurs.  Fair, some snow and ice.  We went to Janice's for lunch.  Stopped at Edith's awhile.  Patricia brought me a lovely white sweater.  We called Redge. 


Footnote:   Janice is her daughter.  Edith is her sister and she and Janice both live in Big Stone Gap.  Patricia (that's me)  is her niece, Edith's daughter and she lives in Cincinnati.  Redge is her son who lives in Charlotte, N.C. 


Hope you all had a lovely Christmas, we are all blessed to share the love with our families.  I am at Leah's and it was busy yesterday so I just never had time to write.  Things are really quiet today.  Max and I are going to the Half-Price book store and Goodwill after while.  His two favorite places to shop for movies, games, books and at Goodwill he likes to get Plush animals.  Leslie and Kenny are gone to work and Leah is going to show houses. 

December 24, 1980 Aunt Estelle wrote

Wed.  Rainy - turned windy and snowed some.   Malissa Reasor died this morning.  Lots of other deaths around us.  Every year I pray we won't die at these holidays.  Makes some one sad for sure. 


Footnote:  Malissa Reasor was a relative I think, but I'm just not sure how she is related.   I remember her and where she lived  but not much else.   It is sad to have a death during the holidays. 


I hope each and every one of you have a wonderful Christmas.  It is very cold here - in the low 20's and not supposed to get much warmer.   I have all my gifts wrapped and getting all the food ready to go to Leah's in a few minutes.   I will do some of the cooking today.   I have a really bad cold and don't feel so good but will make it thru the day.  I will stay all night at Leah's and go with them to the movie tomorrow and then to Kenny's brother's house for the Kordenbrock huge family gathering. 
Have a safe and warm holiday.    Love to you all.   Pat 

December 23, 1980 Aunt Estelle wrote

Tues.  cloudy cold.   Wendi & I went to the grocery store.  Radious & Walter were here a minute.  To prayer meeting tonite. 


Footnote:    Wendi is her granddaughter and out of school for the holidays.  Radious & Walter are neighbors of hers.    

December 22, 1980 Aunt Estelle wrote

Monday.   1980  Fair warmer.  We have Wendi.  We all took a walk.  I sewed some.  Val and Gene Lipps come awhile.  Maebird Blair had surgery today.  She has cancer. 


Footnote:  Wendi is her granddaughter and I bet she was out of school for the holidays.  Val and Gene are friends of hers who live somewhere in the neighborhood.   I do not remember them.  Maebird Blair is a neighbor of hers. 

December 21, 1980 Aunt Estelle wrote

Sunday 1980  Fair not quite so cold.    Janice was home.  We went up to Litton's fabric shop this evening.  Christmas program tonite. 


Footnote:   Janice is her daughter who lives about 9 miles away.  Litton's fabric store was in the Cadet section of Wise County, located between Big Stone  Gap and her house in Deep Springs.  The woman who owned the store was from Appalachia.  Her son Scotty Litton was a boyfriend of mine for a while when I was in high school.  Litton's daughter, Carolyn still lives in Big Stone and I think she owns a store - maybe the bridal shop - in Big Stone.  Carolyn married one of the Bloomer boys who was from Powell Valley and his family owned the roller skating rink that we all loved.  There was also a lake there where we went swimming sometimes.   I remember going to her fabric store. 


sorry I didn't get this posted yesterday.  I have a bad cold, slept late and had to meet a friend at noon to deliver a journal cover I made for her trip to Florida.  So when I got up I had to leave. 

December 20, 1980 Aunt Estelle wrote

Sat.  Fair very cold.    I done house work.  We went up to Reba's this eve.  Hear Maebird Blair is full of cancer. 


Footnote:  Reba is her sister-in-law and lives nearby.  Maebird Blair is also a neighbor.  I think they are the Blairs that owned the general store.  I remember getting fudgecicles there.  Daddy would stop to get gas there sometimes and we would get to have an icecream.   Can't remember her husbands name but I remember what he looked like - a small frame man with dark hair.   

Cold and rainy here today.  I have a cold, sore throat and all that crap.  Got it at the grocery AGAIN.  I swear I wear gloves, never touch all those signing pens that everyone else touches, clean the cart and still I get a bug.  I have some things I have to pick up for Christmas and I have a journal and doll to deliver to two different people.   So I have to get out in this mess.  I would just rather stay here and sew.   I was supposed to meet some of my old friends for lunch downtown and then I had plans to have dinner with some other friends tonight at a barbecue place - I had to cancel both of them.  I don't feel so bad, I just don't want to spread the germ.    Hope you are all well.   

December 19, 1980 Aunt Estelle wrote

Friday  very cold.    I went to the post office early to pick up our packages from Rosemary.  Then we went to town and took some things to Janice's house.  To the bank.  Curt & Martha here a while.  Jennings got to Ark. in about 11 hours. 


Footnote:  Rosemary is her daughter who lives in New Mexico with her husband, Carey Drew and their two children, Gregory and Shauna.  Janice is her other daughter and she lives about 9 miles away in Big Stone Gap, Va.  Curt is her relative and Martha is Curt's wife.  Jennings is her brother who lives near her and he has driven to Arkansas to spend Christmas with his daughter, Betty Jean and her family.  

December 18, 1980 Aunt Estelle wrote

Thurs.  Fair Cold   I washed.  Jennings was here awhile.    He leaves for Betty Jean's tomorrow for Christmas.  I will miss him. Allso miss Everette so much today.  I was up to Jennings late. 


Footnote:  Jennings is her brother who lives nearby.  Betty Jean is Jennings' daughter and she and her family live in Arkansas.  Betty Jean is the oldest grandchild in this Reasor family,  the third generation.    She has passed away now.  Everette is her youngest brother and he has also passed away.  He was the youngest child in the Reasor family, the second generation.   They were both very nice, gentle, God loving people.  They are both missed by all the family.  

December 17, 1980 Aunt Estelle wrote

Wed.  Fair Warmer.   I went to Pennington and finished my shopping.  Visited at the nursing home on my way up.  To prayer meeting.  Radious & Walter were in. 


Footnote:  Pennington is a town about 7 miles West.  Radious & Walter are good neighbors who stop in often. 


My Note:   I just noticed that I missed another day.  My days are too busy and start early it seems.  I have two more dolls to deliver today and done with that for a while.  Gotta get shopping and wrapping.   Hope you all are all finished and just coasting. 

December 16, 1980 Aunt Estelle wrote

Tuesday.  Rainy Wet.  warm.    I am worn out, so haven't done much.  Millard had upset stomach.  Jennings was in.  Redge called tonite.  Harold & Va. were in. 


Footnote:  Millard is her husband.  Jennings is her brother.  Redge is her son and he lives in Charlotte, North Carolina.  Harold Shuler and Virginia are neighbors and Virginia is her cousin.  Just wondering if Millard's upset stomach is the reason she is "worn out"?    Maybe she is just tired on this day.  I have those days too.   

December 15, 1980 Aunt Estelle wrote

Monday  cloudy cold.  1980   Rain by nite.  I went to tobacco market.   When I got back & had to go stay with Wendi until her mom come in.  Millard 77 years old. 


Footnote:  The tobacco market was held in Pennington Gap, Va. at the tobacco warehouse, about 8 miles away.  Wendi is her granddaughter and they live in Big Stone Gap.  Millard is her husband. 

December 14, 1980 Aunt Estelle wrote

Sunday.  Fair cold.  Janice & Wendi & Jennings ate lunch with us.  We went to Magic Mart. 


Footnote:  Janice is her daughter and Wendi is her granddaughter.  Magic Mart is a general store with a variety of things,   They did this a lot on Sundays . 

My note:   in the 30's here today and rainy.  snowing just a little North of us.  Going to Leah's for the Cookie Bake Day.  Rachel and Hope will be there too.  Leslie is working at the Urgent Care until 3 and then she will bring the excitement up a level or two.   Max will be hidden away in his room doing what he loves - watching YouTube and movies.  He will help us make his favorite cookie - sugar with decorations.   Hope you all have a good day. 

December 13, 1980 Aunt Estelle wrote

Sat. Fair cold.   I washed & baked a cake.  We went up to Jennings and up to Radious awhile.  We had youth meeting at the church tonite.  nearly 200. 


Footnote:   Jennings is her brother and Radious is a neighbor.  That is a lot of people in that little church on a Sat. night.   

December 12, 1980 Aunt Estelle wrote

Friday 1980  Fair cold to a warm 50 degrees.   Jennings, Millard & I ate lunch at Burger Queen in Big Stone and went to  Johnny Gilliams funeral at Appa.  I helped Randy grade tobacco after we come in. 


Footnote:  Jennings is her brother and Millard is her husband.  Burger Queen (I think there are no more Burger QUEENS) was a local hamburger joint in Big Stone Gap.  They did have good burgers.   I don't remember Johnny Gilliam.  Appalachia is a small town just 2 miles away from Big Stone Gap.   Randy is the guy who has shared in the raising of the tobacco crop.  He will share in the money when the tobacco is sold. 

My note:   boy I just don't know what has happened to my timing.  I seem to be a day behind.  I will go ahead and try to catch up now.  Think I just forgot to write one day and can't seem to get the days straight.  I should be thinking better than that, I got a lot of blood flowing to all parts now.    Still cold here.  Going to deliver 3 dolls to this lady now and stop at Whole Foods (my favorite store) to get some supplies for the week and for the cookie bake we are having at Leah's tomorrow.  I have to get something for the kids to make too.  Hope and Max love to bake cookies - Leslie not so much the baking but she does love the eating.    It is always a fun day - I will be making fudge of all kinds - dark choc, semi-sweet choc and a batch with walnuts.   Wish I could share some with all of you. 

December 11, 1980 Aunt Estelle wrote

Thursday 1980   Fair cold.  I baked a cake & cooked beans for Mrs. Bonnie Green.  baked a pie & took Jennings some.  just layed around all evening.  Harold Davis died today, a brother of Henderson & Sam Davis. 


Footnote:  I don't know who Mrs. Bonnie Green was.  Jennings is her brother who lives near her. I don't know Harold Davis or Henderson.  I do remember her talking about Sam Davis but don't remember anything about him. 

Sorry I am so late posting today/tonight.   Rachel called early this morning to say that Hope was still sick and could I come and stay with her,.   She was sick Monday and Rachel took her to Dr. and they found blisters on her throat but no strep.  So it will just have to run its' course.   She was feeling better later in the day.      So now it is Thur. morning and I am trying to get this finished.  Last night, the computer just stopped so I went to bed.  It is 8 degrees here this morning and I am so glad I don't have to go out.   Stay warm.  

December 10, 1980 Aunt Estelle wrote

Wed.  Fair, cloudy, cold   1980  I didn't do much.  Went to see Pearl this evening.  was up to Jennings this morn.  To pray meeting tonite.   


Footnote:  Pearl Barkley is her first cousin who has had a stroke and I think she was homebound at this time.  Pearl lives about 5 miles away.  Jennings is her brother who lives closeby.  

December 9, 1980 Aunt Estelle wrote

Tues.  Rainy warm  wet.  1980    I had sore throat and didn't feel too good.  Randy put down all the rest of the tobacco.  I walked up to Jennings late.   Reba was in. 


Footnote:  Randy is the guy who helps her with the tobacco crop, getting it ready to go to market to be sold.   Jennings is her brother who lives nearby.  Reba is her sister-in-law and she also lives nearby. 


My note:  had a good sale yesterday in spite of the awful weather.  It was 20 degrees when I got downtown at 6:30 yesterday morning to set up the show.  There were lots of nice young men there to help me carry my boxes in the building.  Lots of people showed  up and bought some things.  This group hires a caterer to fix dinner for everyone after the show.  The food was so delicious and it just went on and on - right to the homemade carmels and peppermint patties at the end.   We ate in an old Victorian home downtown that belongs to an old friend of mine and he was the mayor of  Cincinnati about 10 years ago.  His wife is a potter and she is in the show.    It was a very long day and a cold day.  So I am pretty tired today and have just kinda set around all day - couple of naps too I think.  It is snowing here again.  Already have 5" on the ground and it is frozen. 

December 8, 1980 Aunt Estelle wrote

Monday   Fair warmer.  I went to the post office and mailed Rosemary sweet potatoes.  Washed a load of clothes.  We went to Big Stone and Appa to get car insurance this evening.  Stopped at Edith's a minute. 

Footnote:  Rosemary is her daughter who lives in Hobbs, New Mexico and loves Virginia sweet potatoes.  Big Stone is a small town about 9 miles away and Appalachia is another small town about 2 miles from Big Stone.   Edith is her sister who lives in Big Stone.


My Note:   I am writing this a day early as I have a show tomorrow - Sunday the 8th. and I have to be there at 6:30 AM to set up.  Can you believe it?   It is going to be 14 degrees and supposed to sleet/snow and who knows what else.  Won't get up to 30.   This is a well established show (45 years)
with a big following and I am invited as a guest this year.    One of the men passed away and they needed to fill his space so they invited me.  I am really excited about being in the show - just wish the weather was going to be better.     I'll let you know if it was worth all the work and cold. 

December 7, 1980 Aunt Estelle wrote

Sunday  Fair warmer, 1980    Janice & Wendi were home.  Roy Shuler was in a minute.  Rosemary called.  


Footnote:  Janice is her daughter and Wendi is her granddaughter and they live in Big Stone Gap.  Roy Shuler is her brother-in-law, married to her younger sister, Edith and they live in Big Stone.  Rosemary is her daughter and she lives in Hobbs, New Mexico. 

December 6, 1980 Aunt Estelle wrote

Sat. 1980   Beautiful warm weather.  I went to Joe Tankersley's to get me some deer meat early.  Was up to Jennings, and down by Sandra a minute.  Millard & I took down the road to Woodway, visited the Tom Ely's, come back by Uncle Ray Bakers and up by Mrs. White's. 


Footnote:  I don't know Joe Tankersley.  I do remember the name but not the guy - he must have lived in the area and was a hunter.  Jennings is her brother who lives nearby.  Sandra is her niece who lives nearby.  She is the daughter of Everette (Estelle's brother) and Ruth Reasor.   Millard is her husband who makes the rounds with her sometimes and looks like today is the day.  Woodway is a small community about 10 miles away.   I think we all knew somebody who lived in Woodway.  Tom Ely was Millard's brother - I think.  I remember him being called "Uncle Tom".  Uncle Ray Baker was Estelle's mother's (Lula Baker REasor) half-brother.   Don't know Mrs. White - must have been a friend in the community.   

My note:   Well we got the ice sometime during the night and it is 30 degrees now.  Supposed to start snowing anytime now and won't stop until we get 5" according to the weatherman.    I am packing my dolls and things in the car this morning so I can get the car to the edge of the driveway.   Show is Sunday and we have to set up at 7AM.  What havoc the weather can create on our lives.   We will get thru it and hopefully have a few less dolls and a little more money.   Hope all is well with you.  

December 5, 1980 Aunt Estelle wrote

Friday 1980    Fair, cold to warmer.  Jennings picked us up and we went to Penn. for Paul Kelly's funeral.  Then Millard & I went to Big Stone and got his driving license, I visited Malissa at the hospital.  We went to Janice's and then to appa for groceries. 


Footnote:  Jennings is her brother who lives nearby.  Pennington Gap, Va. is a town about 7 miles West of her home.  Paul Kelly was a neighbor.  Millard is her husband.  Malissa Reasor is an older relative who lives in the Big Stone Gap area.  Janice is her daughter who lives in Big Stone.  Appalachia is a town about 10 miles from her home.  Guess they were out of groceries in Big Stone that day. 


My note:  speaking of groceries - that is where I am headed.  The weatherman says it is going from 60 degrees to 17 degrees by Sat. and a large number of inches of snow.   I have a show on Sunday so I am a little worried about loading the car if there is so much snow.  I guess I could just go ahead and get some of the boxes in the car today.   So as I always say, the weather is brought to you by your local grocer.  People here rush to the store like they won't get to eat for weeks.   I just need a flashlight that works and some candles in case the electric goes out.    Hope all is well where you are. 

December 4, 1980 Aunt Estelle wrote

Thursday. 1980    Fair cold.  I sewed some, wrote Lucy a letter.  Cooked some soup.  Tonite Jennings & I went to funeral home  where Paul Kelly lay corpse.  Stopped at Dry Branch Methodist Church to the revival.  

Footnote:  Lucy is her sister, Lucille Zubke, who lives in Goodrich, Michigan.  Jennings is her brother who used to live in Flint, Michigan but when he retired he moved back to his homeplace in Deep Springs, Va.  He lives very near her.  Not sure who Paul Kelly is but he was probably a neighbor.  Dry Branch is a small community a few miles away.  Looks like she was checking out the Methodist .  

December 3, 1980 Aunt Estelle wrote

Wednesday 1980    Cold. Fair.  Radious, Walter, Val and Gene Lipps & Jennings were in a minute.   To Prayer meeting tonite.  


Footnote:   Radious and Walter are her neighbors.  Val and Gene Lipps were friends of hers and I don't know where they lived.  Jennings is her brother who lives nearby.  Prayer meeting was at her church.


My note:  Boy I don't know what I was doing this morning that made me forget to write on the blog.  I am getting ready for a show on Sunday and I had a couple of silk purses in mind to make and I guess I just jumped right into that as I did get them made.  I am working on a new doll - a fat older lady made of the fabric from a wool skirt that I got at the junk store - recycle.   I made 6 new dolls for the last show that have dark brown skin - one is actually black fabric -  and I crocheted jackets and hats for them out of silk ribbon that came from old Indian sari's.  So the jackets are wildly colored and kinda stringy as the silk does ravel some.  They were perfect for the long skinny black dolls that I dressed in African tie-dye fabric.  I sold 3 of them to one gal who is giving them to the grand children of the Rev. Shuttlesworth ( a marcher and friend of Dr. Martin Luther King).  He lived here in Cinti before he died recently.    So I love to try putting together new dolls.   I just cut fabric and sew - no pattern.  I gotta get back now, gotta figure out what kind of legs and shoes this gal will have.  

December 2, 1980 Aunt Estelle wrote

Tues. Dec. 2, 1980    Cloudy some rain & turned cold.  I washed, hung some clean curtains, cooked some.  Paul Kelly died today of cancer.  I went up to Jennings awhile.  To missionary society tonite. 


Footnote:  Paul Kelly was a neighbor.  Jennings is her brother who is also a neighbor.  Missionary society is an organization that is part of the Baptist church.  I was never at a meeting but I am guessing they had food and talked about the mission program and raised money for the missionaries.  Sounds like a good meeting.  

December 1, 1980 Aunt Estelle wrote

Monday 1980  Nice sunshiny warmer day.     I washed & dried 3 loads of clothes.  Walked up to trash can.  Washed the car.  Jennings was in also Edith & Roy.


Footnote:  Jennings is her brother.  Edith is her sister and Roy is her husband.  


Notes at the end of November:
Friday Nov. 30, 1979  Doug Shuler had hemmoroid surgery.
Dec. 1, 1979  Glenda Carol Johnston 37 years old - committed suicide with the exhaust of her car. 
Friday Dec. 14, 1979  H. L. Noe of Harlan and husband of Patty Noe who works with Janice.  He wrecked his private plane in Knoxville and it exploded and he burned. 
Dec. 16, 1979  Judy Orr 56 died.  daughter of Mr. Robert Orr down near Pearl Barkleys.
Dec. 9, 1981  Millard stayed in Pennington Hospital with congestive heart failure until Dec. 14. 

Events in December:
Jonathan Wesley Reasor born Dec. 7, 1974 to Stephen and Cherlene Reasor.
Millard Ely born Dec. 15, 1903  and he died Dec. 21, 1983    80 years old.