One time in her early life, she had a suitor but things didn't work out and she remained unmarried all her life. She had a delightful sense of humor, but you would have to be quick to catch it.  I remember hugs from Aunt Nettie but they came when we were young. Contrary to our present day times, people did not hug as much as they do now because the culture was different in those days.

"Aunt Nettie" was very kind.  School teachers made very little money in those early days of the "Great Depression", but that didn't hinder her generosity and desire to help the needy families who came to know her as a caring friend.  Those early thirties were very bad times for our country and many people went to bed hungry, but Aunt Nettie did whatever she could to help out.  One Christmas she bought a little present for each of nine children in a family and all of their names started with "M".  Most of her help was done privately and unannounced because safeguarding the dignity of the recipients was very important to her.

She was a devout Christian but did not push her religious philosophy on others. Most of the years I knew her, she had grey hairs. She suffered from lung problems which caused her to cough a great deal. She also suffered from a pain which came from a bout with shingles. She never complained but kept things to herself.  When things brought her to tears, she sought a solitary place to shed them, away from public view.

To the people who think my praises of Aunt Nettie are excessive, I must say my tribute still falls short of fully expressing her. I have never known a kinder person with such a warm personality and glowing intelligence. I still think of her frequently.  As a high school student, I lived with her and my sweet mother.  I am inevitably puzzled how she could have put up with me and grateful to have shared a part of my life with such a unique person.

One night in 1958 without saying a word to anyone she went to bed and went along to her savior.  Former students from across the nation attended her funeral at the local Methodist Church, most with tear filled eyes.  The preacher fittingly stated, "If this woman would have been of a different church, she'd have been a saint!"

Submitted 2008