Notes for Edna Lucretia POWELL

VanGundy Family Tree


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Notes for Edna Lucretia POWELL

Among the traits distinguishing Edna was the red hair she inheritedfrom the Purvis side of her family via the Powells, which she in turnpassed on to several of her own children and grandchildren. In lateryears her hair turned snow white, making a stunning contrast to thered dress she wore for special occasions.

Another memorable feature was her exceptional mind which she retaineduntil the end. In spite of having such a large family, she couldrecite full names and birth dates of each child and grandchild.

In 1943 she was working at the Brown Shoe factory with a yearly incomeby 1949 of $2392.99. Later until about 1972, she worked as a patientaide (private duty sitter), many of her patients being younger thanshe was.

Following Robert's death she lived in a tiny 2 bedroom house, probablynot more than 800 sq ft total, on Champaign Ave in Mattoon but couldsqueeze in 40-50 people every week-end when the children came back tovisit. It seemed like there was a revolving door with the guest listchanging hourly.

She loved to travel and did so every chance she got, either to visitrelatives or with them on their trips. On one occasion she spent 6weeks in CA with her brother, Joe.

From "Gifts of Our Heritage" by granddaughter, Pat Van Gundy Courtney,is the following tribute to Edna and the family:

"Our parents gave us the gift of knowing 'Daddy's people' and many athread in my life's tapestry is an Illinois one. There was hardly asummer we missed going to Illinois to see Grandma VanGundy andeveryone. Our aunts, uncles, and cousins are much loved and thoughtabout because of the Illinois visits. Grandma Van Gundy was theprettiest grandma; she always smelled wonderful; and called everyone'honey.' It did not matter how many grandchildren she had, the newestone was always special. Even after we were grown, she sent usbirthday cards and letters. Sadly, there are only whispers of
memories of Grandpa VanGundy. He died on my sixth birthday.

At Grandma's house, whoever was up first or through the back doorfirst made the coffee. No one complained how it tasted, but Uncle JDwas fond of saying that he could drink one cup of Daddy's coffee andjust add water to it the rest of the day. Also, one did not throwaway the coffee grounds--they were put (along with egg shells) in a
metal pitcher kept by the kitchen sink.

I especially remember Grandma's long table and all the activitycentered there--a lot of it having to do with playing pinochle andtelling tales on one another. As a child and even later, I wouldstand quietly and listen to the grownups talk. I most enjoyed hearingabout 'olden days'--of times before radio and television when the onlyentertainment was self-made. They talked of singing at night. Daddy'sfavorite song was 'In the Garden' which I have since learned was thelast song they would sing in the evening before going to bed. Ofcourse, when telling about school days and walking to school, the walkbecame longer and the snow deeper. They talked of having boardersliving with them and how the long table was set twice for every meal.Grandma told of the devastating flu epidemic when their hired handdied. She talked about when Aunt Dorie Jean was born and how she hada dream in which she was at total peace and walked through fields andfields of the most gorgeous flowers she had ever seen. Only later whenshe came around, as she put it, did the doctor say that they almostlost her.

And Grandma told of seeing Mother for the first time. Mother, fromthe hills of North Carolina, had never been away from home before whenshe went to Illinois on the bus. She was dressed in a brown suit andGrandma said she looked like a pretty, little brown bird. Motheralways said that Grandma taught her how to be a mother-in-law; and Ionly hope that I have learned from our Mother how to be one.

We also loved Grandma VanGundy to visit us in North Carolina. Backbefore the interstates, she would ride the bus from Illinois toCharlotte. How she endured those bus trips is beyond me. Just thethought of being on the bus for the two-days journey makes meexperience car-sickness all over again."
Up until the last months of her life, she had lived independently, butfinally moved in with daughter, June Fitt, where she died. The causeof death was recorded as arteriosclerotic heart disease with chronicheart failure. Her obituary said that besides her children she
left 57 grandchildren, 80 great grandchildren and 11 great-greatgrandchildren.

Her will read:

"I, Edna Powell Van Gundy of Mattoon in the County of Coles, State ofIllinois, being of sound mind and memory, and considering theuncertainty of this fail and transitory life, do therefore make,ordain, publish and declare this to be my Last Will and Testament. Ido hereby revoke all and every former Will or Wills made by me or forme.
First: I order and direct my Executors hereinafter named to pay allmy just debts and funeral expenses as soon after my decease asconveniently may be.
Second: I do hereby make, constitute and appoint J.D. Van Gundy andLaura Van Gundy Young, Executors of this my Last Will and Testamentand it is my wish that they may not be compelled to give bond orsecurity as such Executors, and that they may settle the estate byselling of the real and personal estate, at private or public sale asthey may think best and pay the debts without being compelled toaccount to the probate or any other court; estate to be closed withinone year after decease.
Third: After payment of such funeral expenses and debts it is mydesire that my children who contributed to the "Kitty" be re-imbursedin proportion as the amount contributed bares to the total amountcontributed.
Fourth: After the payment of such funeral expenses, debts, and the"Kitty" it is my desire that the remaining monies be divided equallybetween my lawful children and in the event that one or more of mylawful children predecease me in death then their share is to be
divided equally between my lawful childrens lawful children. It isalso my desire that Robert Elmer Neaves share in my estate, both realand personal, on the same basis as a lawful child. IN TESTIMONTYWHEREOF, I have hereunto subsecribed my name and affixed my seal this30 day of June, 1954."
Edna Van
Gundy (signature)

The will was witnessed by J.G. Powell and Nelson Earl Powell, herbrothers. (The "Kitty" was a fund established by the children to helpsupport their mother.)

The funeral was held on a Thursday at 2 PM in the First ChristianChurch of Mattoon with Rev Robert Clark officiating. Pallbearers weregrandsons, Mark Fitt, Joe, Dale, and John Van Gundy, Van Webb, and JimNeaves; honorary pallbearers were her sons. Meals were served to thelarge crowd of family and friends by both the First Christian andFirst Baptist Churches.

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