-----Original Message-----
From: Jean LaGue [mailto:jalcat@columbus.rr.com] 
Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 12:30 AM
To: poohbos@poohbos.com
Subject: Flora Morris Holmes




In loving memory of Flora Holmes
October 6, 1907-January 5, 2005

The Events of Her Life

Flora Morris was born in Cragford, Alabama on October 6, 1907. She was 
one of 10 children (4 girls and 6 boys)

Morris Children
Nora-1895, Jeff 1898, Truman-1900, Bill-1902, Robert-1905, Flora-1907, 
Walter (Shine)-1912, Myrtle (Pat)-1915, Otis 1918

She married on September 12th, 1927 to James Holmes in Georgia. Soon 
after the wedding, they started west to find a new home. They spent a 
full year in New Mexico in a tent city called a motor camp doing odd jobs.

They then moved to San Diego for a while but had a hard time finding 
work so they continued on to Los Angeles where they found and bought a 
mechanic garage.

Betty was born in (date removed for privacy). James was born in  (date removed for privacy).

James moved on to other work, including work in a meat packing plant, 
building houses, and doing other handyman work. It seemed that James 
could fix just about anything and work just about anywhere. Flora got a 
job at a company called Continental Can in Los Angeles working on the 
production line making tin cans for the war effort.

Barbara was born in  (date removed for privacy)

They moved to Record Street in Los Angeles during this time where there 
was a huge back yard to fill with a wonderful garden and a place to 
raise rabbits, chickens, geese, and pigeons. All the produce from the 
garden and the meat from the animals were eaten or sold for income or 
for barter.

After the war, the children and James would go to the city of Walnut to 
the walnut groves where they would pick the nuts and fill as many bags 
as the could. The idea was that the owner of the grove would get most of 
the bags, and the pickers would get the rest. They would then take the 
walnuts home and everyone would shell the walnuts and bag them to be sold.

 From 1944 to 1946 their son James became ill with a bone ailment. Flora 
was told by the doctors that young James would have to stay completely 
off his legs for 2 years while they repaired themselves. With diligent 
care and patience the bones healed and he was able to walk again.

DeeAnne was born in  (date removed for privacy)

In 1956 Flora attended cooking school where she learned some wonderful 
recipes. One of her favorites was the coffee cake recipe. She was able 
to show off her cooking talents each year during the elections when they 
turned their home into a polling place. She would host and serve 
refreshments for the masses coming to vote.

During DeeAnne’s elementary years, Flora volunteered at the school’s 
cafeteria.

The family bought a farm in Santa Ana where they grew green beans, 
zucchini squash, and cantaloupes. During the harvest times, she canned 
continually until every vegetable was sold, canned, traded, or otherwise 
dealt with.

Finally, in 1970, she moved into the West Covina house where she 
immediately found a home to love, decorate, and enjoy. She made this 
home a place to entertain in and welcome friends and family into. She 
hosted Thanksgivings, Christmas Eves, birthdays, and countless 
sleepovers. She welcomed several people to share her home when they 
needed a place to stay. She lived in that wonderful home until 2003 when 
she fell and broke her arm and needed long term medical care.

Flora died peacefully in her sleep at the age of 97.

......................Jean LaGue




Social Security Death Index
Personal Information
Name:    Flora M. Holmes 
SSN:    546-32-6482  
Last Residence:    91790  West Covina, Los Angeles, California, United States of America 
Born:    6 Oct 1907 
Died:    5 Jan 2005 
State (Year) SSN issued:    California (Before 1951 )