January 21, 2010

Emily had a previous procedure to remove a squamous cell carcinoma from her face. Yesterday she asked Dr. Ligon's nurse when the previous place had been treated. She said January 20, 2009; exactly a year ago!
She is doing very well with the after effects - no bruises or black eyes, and is fairly comfortable so far.



Mama (our Grandmother VanSant)


Benjamin Franklin VanSant and Frances Lee Hudgins were the parents of six children Ruth, Vernon, Ruby, Lewis, Franklin, and Henderson.  Mama had 4 or 5 brothers, and no sisters.  She was known as 'Frank'.  They lived at Morehead, KY next to the campus of what was then he Morehead Normal School, which was a center for teacher education. Mother went there to work as a teacher in 1913.

Mother and Daddy were married January 10, 1918.  Uncle Henderson was about 5 years old and mother had a young brother , Uncle Jack who was the same age. Their first home was a large pre-Civil War two story log house at  Neil Howard's Creek (formerly a plantation) near Sandy Hook, KY which is the  Elliott County Seat.

Vernon and Jessie Milton are buried on a hillside overlooking the old home place. I and most of my siblings were born in that house.

Mama, Franklin, and Henderson had moved to Oklahoma City sometime around 1929.  Aunt Ruth was living there employed as a Home Economist for Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co. Aunt Ruby also went to Oklahoma to teach high school math.

Most of my memories of Mama were of the few times my uncles brought her to visit us at Mt. Victory, KY. Aunt Ruby usually came at that time as well. Mama was living with Aunt Ruth and Uncle Vest Meyers at Cape Girardeau, MO by this time.

More about Mama's visits later.