Aunt Ella Mae:

Me and Aunt Ella Mae at a family reunion.

As long as I can remember, Aunt Ella Mae has been in my life.  Growing up we were at each other's house at least once a week.  She was my Mom's youngest sibling.  Their Mom died two days before Christmas when Mom was ten years old and Aunt Ella Mae was a baby.  Uncle Junior was I think about three.  Mom had several older siblings already living away from home.  Aunt Ella Mae and Uncle Junior looked to Mom as their mother figure.
We always had fun visiting together.  Never a dull moment.  I had a play house on the rocks below the house.  I couldn't wait for Martha and Jeannie to get there to play.  We had rock ash trays and twig cigarettes.  We thought we were really big.
I remember one time I was staying at Aunt Ella Mae's house in Newburg for a few days.  They had a little house or shed we played house in.  Every so often we'd go over to Grandma Lola's trailer and secretly grab one of her True Story magazines.  We thought they were so neat to read and a little naughty.  Nothing on today's society, as what we read is not near as bad as what's on regular TV.  We were to go to the Carnival in Rolla one night.  I got so homesick, I wanted to go home.  Aunt Ella Mae tried to get me to go to the Carnival first.  (The Carnival was a big deal and I loved to go)  But I was just too homesick to go.   Now, I wish I would have just made it another night and went.
Unfortunately, Aunt Ella Mae developed lung cancer and died way too young.  Just two or three years older than what I am now.  Coincidentally, my Aunt Pat Williams passed away the same day.  There was a huge sadness and void come over my Mom when she lost Aunt Ella Mae.  Everyone loved her.

Today, I honor Aunt Ella Mae and am so grateful to have had her in my life.