Georgia Lee Gruber

is honored with a Brick from David and Vallie Gruber

Georgia Gruber was born August 18, 1918 in Parker County Texas. She was one of ten children born to George and Minnie Bruton. Georgia grew up during the Great Depression. Her father and brothers farmed and worked as laborers doing odd jobs in Haskell and later Jack County Texas. She was the only one of her brothers and sisters to graduate from high school.

In the early 1940's Georgia married and moved to Jacksboro Texas. Her husband was drafted during World War II. At the same time, four of her brothers were also drafted. Three of her brothers served in Germany and one in the Pacific. Two of the brothers in Germany were also wounded. After her husband came home she lost twin sons at birth. Shortly after, she followed her husband to Montana and was soon divorced.

Georgia remarried and had two children. She and her family lived in Montana, Colorado, and later, New Mexico. While living in Colorado she suffered a serious back injury and had a spinal fusion that resulted in nerve damage and constant pain. At the age of forty-five Georgia began to suffer from severe memory loss. She was hospitalized, and later sent to a catholic sanatorium in Albuquerque. During her stay in the sanatorium she was treated with several drugs as well as shock treatments. The following year while in the sanatorium she contracted meningitis and almost died. Following her recovery, she was able to return home but still suffered from memory loss.

In the mid 1960's Georgia's husband divorced her and moved out of state with the two teen-aged children. Georgia moved back to Jack County Texas to live with her aging parents. She was unaware that her husband had moved to another state and that he had told the children that they could never have any contact with their mother or any of her relatives.

After her parents died Georgia supported herself by taking care of elderly people in their homes. In 1982 Georgia suffered a stroke and had to be placed in a nursing home. Georgia made the best of a difficult situation by helping other residents in the home. She would rise early and serve coffee to the residents. She would also help new residents with the transition to a new and sometimes difficult way of life. She was an honorary "grandmother" to countless numbers of children who would visit the home.

In the spring of 2004 Georgia was reunited with her son. In September, after seeing her son for what was to be the last time she was diagnosed with cancer. She died October 18th 2004 and is buried in Perrin Memorial Gardens, Perrin Texas.
Through the help of her sister, a very special niece, and the caring staff at Peach Tree Place Weatherford Texas, Georgia was able to live out her life with dignity and respect.

Submitted by David Gruber.