Dudes - I have a grand-great aunt who disappeared (likely murdered or ran away and joined a convent)
Ok, so this is the crazy thing that happened on facebook today. My Aunt Jacque posted up photos of a tablecloth she just finished embroidering, which was started 70 years ago by my great-grandma's youngest sister, Aunt Viola. Aunt Vi never finished it because she disappeared. I asked Jacque what happened to her, and she posted the following excerpt from my great aunt Florence (my grandpa's youngest sister). This is on Dad's side, so for those keeping score, Vi would have been Dad's Great-Aunt.
Aunt Viola was the youngest. She was pretty - high cheek bones, a nice shape and yellow - yes, yellow eyes. I loved her - she lead an interesting life. She married Ebon Peer and they used to go over to the Jordan Valley where his sister and husband had a large cattle ranch. In those days, they had to ride horses to get there - it seemed so romantic to me. They’d work there all summer, riding back out before winter set in. Later, she had a restaurant up at McCall. Actually, my knowledge of her is pretty sketchy. I know she divorced Ebon Peer. Later, she went up to Wapato to spend some time with Dad and Mom. Her boyfriend joined her. He was a crook. One evening, the two of them went for a walk. Auntie Vi had only her purse. She disappeared off the face of the earth! There were rumors she became a nun but no proof. The FBI would check her out for several years but drew a blank. (Her boyfriend probably murdered her) Lee, Don, Lola and Mary all know more about this part of her life than I do.
Mom's Aunt Vi started embroidering this sometime before 1930. It's good linen and needs a crocheted edge. I haven't learned to crochet. Mom offered it to me on the promise that I'd finish it. I did yesterday.
Mom says Viola's boyfriend took a paper with Grandpa's signature on it to the bank and somehow got several hundred dollars on their way out of town. The banker brought the paper out to Grandpa the next day because he was suspicious when he saw it. Too bad someone wasn't suspicious the day before, eh?
The tale is that a family friend ended up in Providence Hospital in Spokane and one day a familiar looking nun/nurse was in his room and, as she left the room, he called out "Viola Clark, is that you?" The nun paused at the door for a few seconds and then walked on through the door. She never looked back and never came back.
Aunt Viola was the youngest. She was pretty - high cheek bones, a nice shape and yellow - yes, yellow eyes. I loved her - she lead an interesting life. She married Ebon Peer and they used to go over to the Jordan Valley where his sister and husband had a large cattle ranch. In those days, they had to ride horses to get there - it seemed so romantic to me. They’d work there all summer, riding back out before winter set in. Later, she had a restaurant up at McCall. Actually, my knowledge of her is pretty sketchy. I know she divorced Ebon Peer. Later, she went up to Wapato to spend some time with Dad and Mom. Her boyfriend joined her. He was a crook. One evening, the two of them went for a walk. Auntie Vi had only her purse. She disappeared off the face of the earth! There were rumors she became a nun but no proof. The FBI would check her out for several years but drew a blank. (Her boyfriend probably murdered her) Lee, Don, Lola and Mary all know more about this part of her life than I do.
Mom's Aunt Vi started embroidering this sometime before 1930. It's good linen and needs a crocheted edge. I haven't learned to crochet. Mom offered it to me on the promise that I'd finish it. I did yesterday.
Mom says Viola's boyfriend took a paper with Grandpa's signature on it to the bank and somehow got several hundred dollars on their way out of town. The banker brought the paper out to Grandpa the next day because he was suspicious when he saw it. Too bad someone wasn't suspicious the day before, eh?
The tale is that a family friend ended up in Providence Hospital in Spokane and one day a familiar looking nun/nurse was in his room and, as she left the room, he called out "Viola Clark, is that you?" The nun paused at the door for a few seconds and then walked on through the door. She never looked back and never came back.