Return to the Land

Michigan and the couple went north where there were good jobs and many opportunities. Once in Detroit Stella no longer continued to teach. Uncle Emory became a skilled electrician working in the automotive industry. He and Stella would return to Bland usually on a yearly basis and in the fall he would hunt the fields and mountains on Kimberling and occasionally on our farm in Nobusiness. He would dress in the proper hunting attire and I remember he looked very distinguished. The couple never had children of their own, however, they were blessed with having the opportunity of raising their niece Carol Jean Ramsey. Stella ’s younger sister’s husband died of typhoid fever in 1944. When Claude died my Aunt Lenore was left to raise five young girls. Aunt Stella graciously took Carol to Detroit to help out the family in this sad situation. This was such a welcomed experience for the childless couple that they raised Carol as their own. Carol remained devoted to her mother and her sisters and would frequently return for visits. Stella and Emory wanted to adopt her but she initially remained faithful to Aunt Lenore. However, Carol did refer to Stella and Emory as mom and dad. Late in their life she consented to be adopted legally by them, which was truly an honor to their memory. After Carol Jean was married and had her own family Stella and Emory were reaching their senior years and longed to be nearer their home and family in Virginia. They sold their holdings in Detroit and moved to Dublin, Virginia where Stella could be near her sister Lenore and brother Edgar. The rest of the family was close by in Bland and the surrounding area. In the mid- 1970’s Stella developed congestive heart failure and on one occasion was hospitalized at Lewis-Gale Hospital in Salem, Virginia where I was practicing medicine as a young internist and cardiologist. She was a delightful and gracious person and we had many memorable conversations while she was hospitalized. I made sure she had proper attention but unfortunately her cardiac condition was not amenable to corrective surgery. On September 11, 1975 at the age of 77 Stella died of cardiac complications at Radford Hospital in Radford, Virginia. Following her death Emory lived with Carol Jean and her family in Portsmouth,

Virginia. He died on October 16, 1985 and was buried beside Stella in Highland Memory Garden in Dublin.

Stella Miller Pruett and husband Emory H Pruett At their Detroit, Michigan home, 1947

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