Violet was born to Bryant Rose and Eliza Farmer, the only child of their marriage, and Eliza's only daughter. Her father died when she was nine years old. Following her graduation from Matoaka High School, she took a teaching position at one of the three elementary schools at Crystal, WV. She took room and board with the family of James & Mary Taylor, who lived at what was then generally known as Taylor Mt. This allowed her to be closer to the school and not have to ride the passenger train to & from her mothers' home twice daily. Her marriage with their son Leonard on 2 April 1919 was performed by James H. Johnston at Princeton, and is recorded in WV records.
They built their own home on the mountain, raising the children near the home of her mother and father in law; and lived there until the 1950's, during this time she attended services at the Church of Christ at Crystal. This first home was sold when their youngest child graduated from high school. Leonard built another in Montcalm, much closer to the post office, doctor, and grocery - on the site of the old Knights of Pythias building, where she lived until her death.*
She was a member of the First Christian Church of Montcalm - members of the Ladies' Bible Class were present at the hospital when she passed away. She worked her entire life taking care of her family, and was loved by everyone who met her. Violet was one of those rare persons who never had an unkind word said of her. She knew and was the friend of nearly all her neighbors, most of whom respectfully called her "Mrs. Taylor."
Working at the polls for elections was one of her contributions; Violet held that voting was a serious privilege. The Nineteenth Amendment passed in June of 1919 just after her marriage, and was ratified the following summer. Proud to have that right, she was among the first generation of female American voters.
The graves of her in-laws, Leonard's first wife & child, her own children, and her nieces & nephews received flowers grown and carried by her (on foot) for many years. Flowers were given for friends and neighbors. Her yard was full of various blooms all summer, pots of dormant geraniums and wintering bulbs sat inside during winter, sweet peas grew in great swaths between her yard and the river along the edges of the railroad tracks. The fragrances would wave up to the porches on summer nights, blown by the seemingly endless coal cars tugged around the curve of river.
She often worked in the fields from sunup until sundown, still having a garden when she passed at 82, along with a slight sunburn. Though she cut her waist-length hair to a shorter and more manageable bob during the 50's, she still wore it simply and refused the modern styles of her daughters. It remained dark, having little gray even into her 8th decade.
She did not wear cosmetics and was wonderfully attractive and unpretentious. The bit of makeup applied by the funeral home was likely the only time that ever touched her face.
Behind the door in the photograph, was her kitchen, and biscuits her grandchildren anticipated. Home canned preserves, apples, vegetables, and rhubarb served at her table seemed magical to a generation growing up on supermarket fare.
At one time, all four of her sons were serving in WWII, with one wounded and one missing in action.
All her life, Violet loved walking to the post office and could be seen beaming on the way back if she received a letter. No one could ever count the sacrifices she made for her country, family, or faith. The decline of the communities and the exodus of friends, neighbors, and family made her circles smaller. She outlived both her mother's other children, Edgar and Harloe. Nearly all the places that were part of her life are now gone, but she left herself and her home in the hearts and minds of her descendants. Her valiant heart betrayed her before breakfast as she carried an armload of wood for the cook stove. A granddaughter living on the other side of the river saw her fall and called the ambulance. Violet lived for a short time, but died in the same day at the Bluefield Sanitarium. The Ladies' Bible Class of her church were flower bearers at service for Violet at Cravens-Shires Chapel in Bluewell. Donald Helmandollar, Richard Kinzer, Frank Watkins, Thomas Watkins, Randall Mabe, Ray Helmandollar, Garland Burchett, and Roger Lilly were pallbearers. Rev. Paul Watkins and Rev. Eldon Fowler** officiated.
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Name: Violet Josephine Rose
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 19 May 1897
Birthplace: Oakvale, Mercer, West Virginia
Father's Name: Bryant Rose
Mother's Name: Eliza Cathrine Basham
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C01297-1
System Origin: West Virginia-EASy
Source Film Number: 1992596
Reference Number: 57757

Source Citation

"West Virginia, Births and Christenings, 1853-1928," index, FamilySearch;
Bryant Rose in entry for Violet Josephine Rose, 1897.
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An obituary, written in haste for the Bluefield Daily Telegraph never seemed enough.
Her family provided the information it contained.
Violet was also mentioned in the obituary of brother Edgar.
Much gratitude to Mr. Bowen for the transfer of his original memorial.
Thanks to V. Taylor-True for transfer of the merged memorial.
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Edgar's memorial

Edgar Isaiah Farmer
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*Neither of these churches exist now. The post office building is gone, the grocery store & Dr. Prudich's office hold other businesses, the funeral home once in Montcalm is gone, the railroad tracks are removed - the area not at all the way it was when she was living.
**The young Eldon was killed when he returned to his bible college.

PHOTOGRAPHS, PROPERTY OF THE FAMILY. Removed.
Note that the request to not add the images of obituaries as photographs, or multiple images of grave markers, or death certificates and etc. to our family memorials HAVE BEEN AND ARE STILL RUDELY IGNORED. TO MY FAMILY, I HAVE TRIED TO APPEAL TO THESE PEOPLE WITH LITTLE RESULT.
- •∙♥∙• - Written by aye ain't. Please do not remove without sourcing.