Edith Webb Vannoy writes book

By Harriet L. Reece

Edith Webb Vannoy has written a 90-page true story about the family of her husband, Allie Vannoy, his boyhood years in North Carolina and his family as they traveled to, and lived in, North Central Idaho in the early days.

The couple lived many years at Cavendish and now lives in Lewiston. For a number of years they were snow birds to Apache Junction, AZ and traveled around the country in their motor home. Allie, who likes to be called Al, recently celebrated his 100th birthday to an overflow crowd at the Community Center in Lewiston and now approaching 101 in September, is still going strong. Edith will be 97 a few days later.

For years Al has regaled us with stories of his youth in North Carolina and his early years in Idaho. He always knew how to have fun and this was enhanced when he added the keen sense of humor of Edith Webb when they married in 1938. She has recorded many of these stories in their book, "A Nice Car, A good Woman, A Little Fun Every Day." That has been Al's motto through his hundred plus years and his garage today sports an antique pickup next to a shinny red late model Chevrolet. He still has Edith and they are still having fun.

A description of the book according to Amazon follows: "Life was good but never easy growing up on pre-depression North Carolina farm, and it was soon to become not so good and a lot less easy. Follow this teenager, rapidly pushing into manhood, as his father, forced by hard times to abandon nearly everything he owns, takes two young sons on a 3500 mile search for a greener pasture that never materialized. Though young and not yet full grown, Allie Vannoy is strong, willing and hungry. He has soon to show he had plenty of grit, and even better, an unwavering belief that he was equal to any challenge life or a sadistic boss could lay on him.

"Allie's is no gloom and doom tale of struggle and deprivation. He was and still is stubbornly optimistic... a man of persistent good humor who makes his early trials and successes good stories with which to regale anyone willing to give him a good listen."

The book is available at Amazon.com and will be available at Rosauer's and other locations in Lewiston soon.

Al was born in 1911 in rural North Carolina where he lived from infancy through his teen years. He, his father, and his brother, Ocie, moved to Idaho where they share cropped with horse and mule power. He remembers well what happened over 90 years ago and in between. He rebuilt many old cars, but left his shop in Cavendish when he moved to Lewiston. In his Lewiston kitchen he turns out some really good food, and is known for his delicious bread.

Edith grew up in Reubens and in 1933 graduated from Craigmont High School. She was working for the Forest Service in Orofino when she met Al. and they were soon married. Her hobby is making dolls and she has many including some with faces of porcelain. Her genealogy study has connected them with many relatives and interesting people "not so related." An accomplished pianist, she often played at the Methodist churches in Cavendish and Lewiston Orchards. Her original skits kept many rolling in the isles with laughter at community events. You can find her on Facebook as she keeps in touch with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of whom she is very close.

They are staunch Democrats and Al was honored to drive Governor Cecil Andrus in Al's antique car at a Lumberjack Days parade in Orofino.

I feel privileged to have this amazing couple as friends and neighbors, as they have lived within a mile of me and my husband for most of 59 years.