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Note: Born on a rainy Saturday night in a small city (Monein) at the base of the Pyrenees Mountains in the County of Pie in France. Was so small at birth that they awakened a priest to baptise her as they didn't think that she would make it through the night. Celebrated birthday on Oct, 10 for years, until receiving birth certificate in the late 1970's.
Formal education until the 5th grade (11 years old) then her mother educated her.
Vividly remembers: 1st Communion at 10 years old.
Sailed from Bordeaux, France in 1908 with brother, Adrien. Arrived in the US on November 22, 1908. Came to Lovelock on December 17, 1908; she didn't like Lovelock at first, but it is truly home for her!
Worked for her sister Emily at a French Laundry in Lovelock. Adrien went to work at a French Laundry in Reno.
After some time at the laundry, she went to work for a rancher (Hy Stocker) as a cook. She cooked for 40 men and packed water.
Started work at another ranch (Kennedy Ranch in Winnemucca) as a cook. She got pregnant with Albert and drove 75 miles to Lovelock to deliver him. John Smith was a Buckeroo there!
Went back to work at Emily's laundry and eventually bought it...she worked there for 14 years.
She finally left the laundry and had Elda...she then went to work at Jim Johnson's Ranch where she and John Smith rented and raised chickens and rabbits for a lady named Mrs. Lee.
Sold everything she had at that point in her life and went to California (French Gulch) and visited John's parents. She made $2,000 on her sale of possessions, chickens and rabbits - said that she got ahead in life when she started raising chickens and rabbits for Mrs. Lee - she bought a few and built a few pens and things went from there.
Came back to Lovelock and took over County Hospital on December 31, 1921. She worked there for 23 years until June 30, 1944. Susie and Sonny were born at the hospital and she helped bring them into the world as she was the nurse assisting the doctor with both.
Married Sam Metche on June 25, 1947 and bought the ranch and built a house on it..
When Sam became very ill, Virgil took him to California for medical help...he passed away on December 9, 1951.
She left us with these memories and words, "I loved my family, I've helped others and I have worked very hard all my life. I've cooked, raised cattle, raised gardens and fields of hay and wheat. I've raised horses, pigs, chickens, and rabbits too".
She donated the ground for the Pershing County General Hospital and Nursing Home to built on.
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