Yesterday afternoon I received a call that my Aunt Mae had passed away. She was one of 2 living children, of the 13 children born to James and Emma Hosey, in Sutton WV. She was born on April 4, 1923 and would have turned 92 this year. She came from a hard life, being the oldest girl in the family. And while some, (myself included), could tell stories about how she had a way of putting you in your place and cutting you quick with her fast tongue, she was also the most loving and caring woman I would ever come to know in my lifetime. From the time I was a small toddler until I was a teenager, I spent every summer, (starting the day after school let out until labor day weekend), in WV with my Aunt Mae and Uncle Minter. She was more my mother than my own mother. Even though she never physically bore children of her own, she had many, many children in all her nieces and nephews, and in their children. And she loved everyone of us as if we were her own children. When I got my first car at 18, it was no surprise that my first road trip was to Aunt Mae and Uncle Minter's. And every month, I made at least one trip, (no matter what the weather conditions), to see my family. And when money was tight, they always told me "if you can get down here, we'll make sure you have the gas to get home". And no matter when you arrived, you could be sure that you would have good food, a nice clean bed, and your car was loaded up with good homemade food to take back home to "tide you over and help you out". Aunt Mae never forgot your birthday. Every year, (until I got married), I always got a card with a new $5.00 bill inside. She would write for me to "buy myself lunch, on her". Little did she know, (or maybe she did!), that during the very lean times that $5 was what bought the groceries to feed my son and I, and the car full of her canned goods was what we needed to survive until my next trip, when I returned with her empty jars. And when she met Dave - oh she fell in love with him immediately! He was suddenly one of her "youngons'", (as she called all of us). When her nieces and nephews all grew up and got busy with their lives, she opened her home to foster boys. The state worker would show up with one or two, and they would stay for 6 months to a year. Then one day the state worker showed up with two ragged, dog-eared boys named Russell and Danny. These two stayed from the time they were 8 years old until they were grown men. Russell never left! He live with his "maw" right up until today. After Uncle Minter died, Russell saw that Maw got to town to do her shopping, got to her doctor appointments, and as her health declined got her medications when she needed them. Russell was her son! Today many of us of all ages across the country are mourning for our Aunt Mae, and grieving along with Russell for the woman who helped feed, clothed and loved us when we all needed it the most. Rest in peace Aunt Mae, you were very much loved by all of us also.
