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five beautiful daughters: Claudine Florence, Bethel Irene, Peggy Ann, Carol Jean and Joyce Gayle.

In the fall of 1944 illness befell Claude and Lenore. Fever, chills and malaise set in, first with her and then with him. Dr. James Davidson from Rocky Gap made a house call and expected at first this was the common influenza. However, after a week both remained so ill that they were confined to bed. Claudine, the oldest at 11 years old, was frantically trying to keep the household going with two sick parents and 4 younger sisters. Dr. Davidson had delivered all the girls and felt devoted to this family. He was summoned a second time and seeing the desperate situation realized something more than the flu was at work. On examining Lenore’s abdomen he found red spots, which was the telltale sign of their malady. These areas were called rose-spots and were indicative of typhoid fever. The seriousness of this disease demanded urgent action and the doctor made immediate arrangements for the ill couple to be hospitalized at Pearisburg Memorial Hospital. Arrangements had to be made for the care of the children especially Joyce who was a 1 year old. Emory Morehead wanted to take all the children but Lenore was afraid for them to stay there, which was only a few yards down the hill, for fear of the children contracting typhoid. Claude’s father and brother Vance took all the children to their home. Because of this particular infection it was anticipated that hospitalization would be a prolonged affair. Therefore, the children were separated and cared for by several close relatives. Claudine and Peggy went to their grandparent’s home on Kimberling . Minnie Catherine once again gave her maternal care to her family as she had done so many times in the past. Bethel was taken to stay with her uncle Robert Ramsey of Bluefield and his family. Claude’s sister N anny French cared for the two younger daughters Carol and Joyce. These children, like any young children separated from their parents, longed to have their family together at their home. Lenore seemed to stabilize after about one week but she was still ill and required a blood transfusion. Her husband, on the other hand, worsened becoming more ill with each passing day. Major complications of typhoid were that the bacterial organism invades the intestinal lining or mucosa as well as other organs such as the spleen, liver, gall bladder, and lymphatic system. The intestinal lining deteriorates often resulting in bleeding and perforation or rupture. Claude received multiple transfusions for the anemia that resulted but to no avail and on November 26, 1944 he died. As a youngster of 7 I remember sitting in the cold car on the street in front of the hospital while my parents visited. I knew something was dreadfully wrong but did not comprehend the situation. Lenore, only 30 years of age with five small children, was faced with a catastrophe. Still very ill she left her hospital bed and made arrangements to go home to her parents on Kimberling to make final arrangements for Claude’s funeral. Her brother, Carl, who was forever faithful to his youngest sister drove her home to her parents, who by now were elderly. Claude was buried at Shiloh Cemetery at Hollybrook at the age of 34. It is difficult to understand why Divine Providence would work in this manner with this young and wonderful family. However, Aunt Lenore ’s faith was not shaken as she became stronger with each passing year.

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