Eddie seemed to rally for several years after his accident, but well into his forties, his excruciating headaches returned and he had some behavior changes, becoming increasingly violent. Neeley and the children avoided him as much as possible in an effort not to agitate him. He began sleeping a great deal of the time. Neeley knew something was terribly wrong, but Eddie would not seek medical care. She and the boys were able to get the crop in when he could no longer got out of bed. Not long after his forty-seventh birthday, he suffered a major seizure from which he never recovered. Since he was unable to object, Neeley sent word for the doctor to visit. He examined Eddie in great depth and diagnosed a brain tumor, based on his history and physical exam. There was nothing to be done except keep him comfortable. He lingered a couple of weeks in a semi-comatose condition till a final seizure finished him off.
Though Neeley grieved for the man she had married and loved for many years, her gravest concerns were how she would manage to raise the children on her own. All she had in the world was one-hundred twenty-eight dollars from the sale of their crop, the canned and dried produce from their garden, the hams and bacons in the smokehouse, and two milk cows. She sold one cow for one-hundred dollars, figuring she could milk one of Albert’s goats when the cow went dry. The two oldest girls had married and had homes of their own. Her sixteen and fifteen year-old sons both went in the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933 as a part of Roosevelt’s New Deal. They were each paid thirty-dollars a month, twenty-five of which had to be paid directly to their mother.
Naturally, Neeley was unable to rent the farm after Eddie’s death. She moved thirteen year-old Will and the two little girls back to the house on her brother Albert’s place. With what the CCC sent her, she managed pretty well till they left that program. Fortunately, In 1935, she was able to get thirty-seven dollars a month from Aid to Families with Dependent Children. On the farm, she was able to feed the kids from her own garden. Mama’s husband died not too long after Eddie, so Neeley made a place for her. It seems ironic that Neeley took care of Mama much longer than Mama cared for her, but it filled a place in her sore heart. Young Will soon dropped out of school and worked as a day laborer or seasonal worker, bringing home whatever he could. He was a big fellow and got a job as a night watchman on a drilling rig at fifteen by lying about his age. In 1941, he joined the Navy at the age of seventeen after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
He had an allotment sent home for his mother, making her easier than it had been been with a rent-free place to live and a bit of steady cash. As the kids married and settled, she lived first with one, then the other, sometimes opting to rent from a widowed friend in town who made half her house available when Neeley tired of drama and grandkids. They shared the bath, porches, and sometimes meals. They watched their soaps with great intensity, especially railing against conniving men exploiting innocent young women. Perry Mason and Gunsmoke were in a league of their own. For some reason, she enjoyed moving and was able to save a little money by staying with her kids a while. She’d always yearned for the ease of town life, so these were golden times. She started drawing her old-age pension as soon as she was eligible.
Neeley lived a good forty years after Eddie’s death. To her great surprise, when she was in her fifties, her long-lost father showed up at her house wanting to see her just once before he died. She never saw hm again, but did kindle a relationship with the unknown brother who brought him. That relationship grew close and lasted the rest of her life. A few men came courting, but she quickly put them on the road, having no wish to be dominated by a man again. Her children were supportive and protective of her, cognizant of the sacrifices she’d made for them. Having her mother spend her last days with her did a lot to ease her soul. Toward the end of her life, Neeley remarked, “I went through some rough times, but I got my younguns, an’ it all worked to a happy life. God’s been good to me.”
Wow, at least she did not live a life of a pauper. Glad she lived well
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She needed help.
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Such a great, authentic story of a family that struggled, but stayed unified. Lovely ending, so well told. Enjoyed this series, Linda. ❤️ 💛 💚 💙 💜
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Thanks so much.
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It may have been rough going at time, but so worth it to us. You gave us a gift in your story telling. Yes, life was rough but noteworthy is that Neeley didn’t wallow in the negative but took charge of her life and looked at the blessings and rewards she had. I noted how she took assistance through AFDC (now referred to as TANF) only when she needed it and not permanently, as it was intended to be used. It is an attitude our current generation could learn from. I am so proud of her tenacity and independence. We could all learn a lesson from her.
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Wasn’t she something?
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She was amazing. Women today could learn a thing or two from her, for sure.
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We all could.
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A very nice story with so many different things going on, always a surprise coming! I like the ending allot!
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So did I. She was in the midst of her children for years.
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Very nice x
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Linda, this was a great series and a wonderful tribute.
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I appreciate that.
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A fitting ending to a great story, Linda. Everything fell into place. Well done. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thanks.
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I love a happy ending and this one seems to have so many- Eddie died. The children got jobs, some got married, they provided for their mother, she could see a little bit of the world on her own, enjoy the companionship of a friend, have her mother over and see her father once again and have a new relationship with a brother. She probably never had to work as hard as she did before Eddie died.
All in all a happy ending.
Susie
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It sorted itself out. Poor Eddie was in peace. It was a life well-lived.
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And Happy New Year! 🙂
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You, too!
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Reblogged this on Art by Rob Goldstein and commented:
Gorgeous writing from Linda Bethea
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Thanks for the link. Posting link to part 1 if you want it.
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Great!
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This is such a gorgeous piece of writing, Linda. The language and the pacing are like music. I stepped in at the end of the story but had a complete picture in my mind of all of the characters. Congratulations!
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Why thank you, Robert. I thought you might enjoy this one. It was about family.
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I like reading “real” stories, even though they are sad at times. That’s life, unfortunately! Great job telling it! Lessons to be learned. Hard work and dedication just to survive. Makes me thankful and appreciative of those gone before us. Look forward to your next series!
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So glad you enjoyed and let me know. This one was true, so I couldn’t change it. Some good folks had some hard, hard times. I’ll bet your family has similar stories.
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What a remarkable life she had. Glad that she had a better quality of life in the end and obviously her kids cared for her a great deal
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They really loved her.
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I’m so glad. She must have been an amazing mum
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She held it all together.
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Bravo Linda, Bravo! You created life in this story. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
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I am so glad you enjoyed it. Now trying to decide where to go next.
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I’m ready for whatever you create.
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Thanks. Hope I don’t disappoint.
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You never have.
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A great life and a very positive outlook on it, despite its harshness at times. Thanks for sharing, Linda.
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Thanks for reading and commenting.
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Amazing woman. A great story told by an even greater story-teller. Thanks a lot Linda, I really enjoyed hearing this one.
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I am glad to know that. Thanks didn’t know if it would be too hard to read.
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It was just perfect.
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Thank you.
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A beautiful ending, Linda. Thanks for sharing this story with us. It is even more poignant knowing it was based on one of your relative’s lives.
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She was quite a woman.
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I bet! Are you going to write uss another instalment story Linda, I am loving them?
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I am pondering one now.
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Great, I shall look forward to reading it 🙂
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Thanks.
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What a woman. What a story. She was one gutsy lady. My hat’s off to her. 😀 ❤
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She was one of the good ones. I never really got to know her well as a child, just later through stories. She had so much family she was always surrounded.
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What a family you have. ❤ ❤ ❤
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Yes, I do.
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Neeley did have a hard life but she was determined and strong and had love in her heart to give. She took good care of all of the children and Eddie turned out to be a good man. God works in mysterious ways. Well done lbet, beautifully told true story.
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lbeth, sorry :o)
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It was a poignant ending about a life well-lived.
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So glad you enjoyed njoy. I think Eddie’s problemms were likely related to his health since he was kind to start with, don’t you?
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Yes and I am sure Neeley did to. What a great woman. :o)
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Thanks.
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Great story! I have enjoyed reading it.
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Thanks for letting me know. Based on life of a relative.
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LOVE that Neely got to reconnect with her dad. Good story, real good story Thanks, Linda! ❤
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It had to help her heal. No one ever gets too old to want their parent’s love.
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