Inez Hollis

Inez Hollis, age 87, of rural Meta, died Saturday, June 25, 2011, in Maries Manor, Vienna. Grandma's Quilt: today we look at the completed work of the seamstress - a beautiful quilt that was the life of Inez Almetta Hollis of Meta, Missouri. The quilt was lovingly pieced together by Inez over the years of her life. The first stitch of the quilt was sewn on March 10, 1924, when Inez was born to Charley A. and Mary Vaughn Blankenship in Maries County. After her mother's death when she was six years old, her father married Helena Krone. Inez was one of 12 children of Charley and Mary. Her siblings include: Boyd Blankenship, Kenneth Blankenship, Donley Blankenship, Elsie Hickey, Maggie Scheulen, Reba Vineyard, Margie Blankenship, Goldie Blankenship, and three infant siblings who died in infancy. She was preceded in death by her parents, step-mother, and all siblings, but together they form the shape of who Inez was and thus they have permanently outlined the beautiful quilt which was Inez's life. Added to the quilt on September 2, 1939, when they were married in Vienna, and were married for over 71 years, there is a big heart shaped piece found in the center of the quilt which is her husband Everett Hollis, who survives her in their current home of over 60 years near Vienna. They first met when Inez was staying with Margaret Brumble (Everett's sister) and Everett stopped to visit Marg. Other pieces near the center of the quilt include her three children, and their spouses, Katherine and Harold Patterson, Vienna; Kenneth and Sandra Hollis, Meta; and Donna and Ronnie Thompson, Vienna. The next layer of quilt pieces are those of her grandchildren: Lindell and Lori Patterson, Vienna; Beverly and Paul Honse, Vienna; Cindy and Randy Wansing, Dixon; Kevin and Lisa Patterson, Ankeny, Iowa; Andrea Sharp, Meta; Becky and Tom Kleffner, Vienna; and Keith and Angie Thompson, Argyle; with other areas of the quilt filled in by the 14 pieces which are her great-grandchildren, Cody, Justin, Jessica, Katie, William, Joshua, Cailey, Taylor, Tanner, Haley, Madison, Megan, Emily and Brooke. In Inez's quilt, there are pieces which have been there for many years. One of the pieces is made of leather to remind us of the years she spent working at the Brown Shoe Company in Dixon, in addition to her time working at the Highway CafÈ in Vienna. Her educational patch was sewn in when she completed the 8th grade in rural one-room schoolhouses in Maries County. Like any quilt that has been used over time, some of the pieces have begun to fade. Some years ago, Inez was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. This disease caused her to forget many of the memories and some of the people we have recalled here. Even though they are faded, they still perfectly fill and remain in the quilt which is Inez's life. Even the faded pieces still add beauty to the quilt. Following her lengthy battle with Alzheimer's, on June 25, 2011, the seamstress sewed her final piece onto the quilt which was her life. The quilt is now complete. Like every good quilt, Inez's life will bring her family and all of us warmth and comfort for years to come. Funeral services will be conducted for Inez at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 28, 2011, in the Mason Ridge Community Church, 10784 Highway 133, Meta with Rev. Larry Neal officiating. A luncheon will follow the funeral service also in the Mason Ridge Community Church, Meta. Interment will be in the Vienna Public Cemetery. Visitation will be conducted from 9 - 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 28, 2011, in the Mason Ridge Community Church, Meta. All arrangements are under the direction of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home, Vienna. Online condolences may be emailed to [email protected]