Grandma Ruby Neal moved to town after she was widowed. In fact, her sons and other relatives built a new little house for her along White Pole Road in Dexter. When Grandma was 91, it was time to move to the Stuart Care Center (the next town west), where her youngest daughter, Marian, was the activities director. 1989
Grandma had three daughters. One of them asked my mother if she’d like to have this quilt, entirely hand stitched and hand quilted by Grandma. It’s faded and a little fragile, but so dear. Mom gave it to me.
1991: It was shown at the Stuart Care Center Quilt Show, Stuart, Iowa, where Grandma Ruby Neal’s quilts were being featured. 1993: Quilt Extravaganza IV, Hoyt Sherman Place, Des Moines
Grandma Ruby made a quilt for each grandchild as they were married. Here’s mine.
Ruby Neal’s daughters also learned to quilt. Her youngest, Marian, would hand quilt for others, $100 a quilt. Marian’s youngest daughter, Jacque, was the owner of Adel Quilting and Dry Goods for several years. The photo below is when she invited us cousins and aunts–three generations of us–for a get-together at the quilt shop.
All five aunts were still living, in the front: Helen (Cook) Neal, Betty (Neal) Wells, Doris (Wilson) Neal, Nadine (Neal) Shepherd, Marian (Neal) Beaman.
The porch railing was the perfect place to display quilts during the quilt shop’s special events.
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Cousin Jacque is retired from her quilt shop but was recently asked to give a program, so she talked about Grandma’s quilt legacy. She borrowed this Grandmother’s Flower Garden and two other Grandma Ruby quilts. I realized this one had never been featured in a blog post, so here is the lovely and softly patriotic handmade treasure.