''You know, when a person gets to be 50 or 60 years old, you think, 'I don't want to get old,' but then you get old, and you really don't give a rip," laughs 92-year-young Connie Hux. "You can say and do whatever you want!"
Born Jan. 26, 1926, Hux's life began in Oakland, California. Her mother was born in Syracuse, New York, after her parents immigrated there from Parma, Italy. Hux's father was born in Oakland; however, his family had emigrated from the Azore Islands in Portugal.
"When they married, Mother's family was very upset because he was not Italian. It wasn't so much that he was Portuguese," she chuckles, "but the fact that he was NOT Italian. It wouldn't have mattered what nationality he was, if he wasn't Italian he was not marriage material!
"They had a happy marriage, though," she says, reflecting on her parents' life together, "and I had a wonderful childhood. There were five of us children, and four of us are still living. I lost my older sister just a few months ago -- she was 94.
"I have two brothers and a younger sister left. We lost our parents at fairly young ages. My mom died at 58 and Dad was 61. Mom developed a brain tumor and we always thought it was the result of her being kicked in the head by a horse pulling an ice cart. She was just a little girl when that happened. She was sitting on the curb waiting for the ice man."
Hux says that even though her parents worked hard to provide for their family, there was always happiness and time devoted to their children.
"My mother was very active. She swam, played baseball, danced and loved to roller skate. She taught me to roller skate. One time she built us a play house out of a wood frame and gunny sacks," Hux fondly recalls. "She taught herself to speak seven languages.
"My name is Carmen Mary," Hux says, "but my brother's version sounded like Connie. So, as often happens in families, everyone began calling me Connie.
"I loved sports, but never played, and both my older sister and I took dance. We danced at the movie theaters in Oakland as the entertainment between shows. Back then it cost 10 cents to go to the movie. You went at noon and got out at four. In between you saw two full movies, a cartoon, a serial and live entertainment. It was a pretty good deal," she laughs.
Hux says she worked from a fairly young age. At around 14, she baby sat two little girls during the summer for $3 a week.
"After I entered high school I obtained a work card. I would go to school half a day and work half a day. I had a variety of jobs," she says. "I worked in a cannery, and then in a department store selling make up.
"I was working in Sunshine Bakery when I met my husband. By then, I was 19 and out of school. He was 23 and a chief aviation machinist's mate stationed at Naval Air Station Alameda. This was during World War II when community dances were popular, and the military men attended to have something to do in the evenings," she reminisced.
"He came to the dance and asked me to dance. I said no. He asked if he could see me again, and I said no. Obviously," she chuckles, "at some point I changed my mind, and nine months later we were married. This month will be 73 years since our marriage. He has been gone 26 years."
"My husband's people came to Essex from Halifax, North Carolina, but before that they had emigrated from Ireland," she explained. "Two brothers left Halifax for Missouri, one of them was my husband's grandfather Lewis. We were always told they chose to stop in Essex because the climate was similar to what they had known in Ireland.
"My husband's given name was Lewis Frederick, but the story goes that when he was little he would stand in his high chair and say, 'Top, top, top,' so he became Toppy. That is what everyone called him, and many people didn't even know his real name. Now I have a grandson named Toppy, as a tribute to his grandfather."
Hux says that upon coming to Southeast Missouri with her husband in 1945, the couple first settled in Sikeston where he worked in a garage and rebuilt car engines.
"After about two years we moved to Essex and he opened his own garage. We ran that until he became a mail carrier on Route Two. We sold the garage to Lee DeJournett. My husband was proud of his Naval service, and stayed in the Naval Reserve after he was discharged," Hux explains. "When he retired, he had served 33 years.
"When we began our life in Missouri I was a housewife, and I loved it. We had seven children together -- five boys and two girls -- and keeping house and running after them was a full-time job," she laughingly recalls.
Hux says that through the years, in addition to children, she has raised a variety of animals.
"I always liked animals, but even though we raised some animals that could be eaten, I never killed one. I just didn't have the heart for it," she said and laughingly tells of a time when she was raising white turkeys because her husband liked them.
"I looked out one afternoon and this turkey was acting like it was dying. I knew my husband would be upset because he was really fond of those birds. I ran outside and picked the turkey up, and it acted as if it couldn't catch its breath. Do you know what I did? I didn't even think about it really. I put my mouth over his beak and gave him mouth-to-beak resuscitation," she laughs. "That bird perked right up, and my husband was never any-the-wiser!"
Hux says that when she was younger she enjoyed traveling.
"It was something I really liked to do. I've been to most of the states and Mexico, but now that I'm older, I'm content to stay home and only drive short distances. One time, though," she smiles, "one of my sons was stationed in Alaska and had a new baby.
"My husband and I loaded up our two youngest children and the dog, and took off in a camper bound for Alaska. We went through Canada and traveled on 1,200 miles of gravel road. There was nothing much in-between and it took us about 12 days. When we came home, you can believe we did not drive 1,200 miles over a gravel road! We ferried back to Canada," she said.
Hux continues to live in Essex in the home she and her husband built together. Her neighborhood is fondly referred to by locals as "The Hux Compound" since so many family members live in the immediate area.
"I was blessed with seven children, and now I have 15 grands, 14 great-grands and one great-great-grand. Most of them live nearby. I am so fortunate to have my family close," she said.
Her children include Rick (Lewis Frederick), who is an educator; Gary, who works at a cotton gin; Mark farms and raises horses; Ginger owns a pay day loan business; Terry also works at a cotton gin; Sherry works for a doctor in Dexter; and Jerry is a respiratory therapist.
"I have to tell you why I called Lewis, Ricky," she laughs. "When I was about 15, I took the A-train somewhere. On the train I chatted with a soldier named Ricky. I thought that was the most wonderful name I had ever heard. When Lewis was born, he became a junior, but I always called him Ricky, and so does everyone else!"
Hux says that several years ago, when she was 60 or 70, with children grown and out of the house, she took a job outside the home.
"I became a waitress at the Corner Restaurant in Essex. I worked there about five years, and really enjoyed that because I got to visit with people every day. I am a talker, and never meet a stranger," she laughs. "It was the perfect job for me."
At 92, Hux still remains active. She chauffeurs friends who no longer drive and is active in the Essex Development Club.
"We have maybe six or eight people, now," she explains, "but I enjoy what we do for our community.
"We sponsor Mae Hall Park Days; the Halloween Parade, with refreshments afterward; and the Christmas tree lighting, where we serve hot chocolate and cookies. We used to do a food bank, but had to discontinue that."
In her spare time, Hux operates Connie's Yard Sale Barn.
"My kids and friends give me their stuff. I sell merchandise cheap; after all, they are at a yard sale," she jokes. "Some things I sell by the bag. Fill the bag for 5 dollars. I open the barn up a couple of times a year and advertise in the newspaper when I am going to have my barn yard sale. I generally sell in the spring, then again at the end of summer or early fall."
After the second event, Hux clears everything out, then spends the next nine months or so accumulating new things. Sometimes she donates to people who have had a fire, if she has things they can use.
"People ask me why I do my barn sale," she said. "I do it because I love people. I love to make new friends, and I love getting to visit with old friends. You never know who might show up at my barn. One time someone from Australia was visiting in the area and saw my ad. He stopped by just to see what I had."
"I am happy with my life," Hux says. "I can't complain. The one thing I wish, though, is that Essex could rebuild to the prosperous community it was when I first moved here. It's hard to imagine now, but there were seven grocery stores, a telephone company, gas stations and all sorts of thriving businesses.
"I have even been told," she adds, "that way back in the old days, people from Dexter would ride the train to Essex to do their shopping."
Hux's zest for life and positive outlook are rooted in her faith.
"I was raised Catholic and attend Sacred Heart Church in Dexter. I truly believe that my faith is what keeps me going. It helps me stay optimistic and gives me the strength to face the obstacles that sometimes come my way. My first words in the morning are Thank you, God, for this day," Hux said.
Despite her cheery outlook, Hux has faced some trying situations. In 1964, at 38 years of age, with a two-month-old baby, she suffered her first heart attack. Thirty years later, she had another.
"Those were certainly scary situations, and instances where I could very easily have died; however, I didn't, and I am grateful for the gifts of a loving, close family; good health; and devoted friends.
"My life has been wonderful," Hux says assuredly. "From my earliest years to now -- I have been blessed. Of course, there were rough patches, and mistakes, and all those things that go into living life. But I kept smiling. I kept looking on the bright side. I kept loving. And I have had a wonderful life."