Zetta Vonciel De Voe

Aunt Zetta was born November 6, 1920 in Purdue Hill, Alabama. The family lived in a large home with many extended family members. Zetta's immediate family consisted of her parents J.D. And Maebelle Davis Jay, siblings Elba, a brother who died in infancy, and Davis. She was reared to be a Southern Lady. She was taught from an early age the dress and manners expected of a lady from her family.

When the depression occurred the family situation changed as it did for many families throughout the country. Zetta attended school at Monroe County High School. All grades were housed on the high school campus.

Zetta loved school. Many of her writings include memories of her school years. She talked often of the time her essay won a prize in school. That may not be considered a major accomplishment unless you know that her classmates included Truman Capote and Harper Lee. The family moved to Louisiana to be near others in the family who had moved there. Zetta received her diploma from Mangham High School as the valedictorian of the class.

At the age of 17 Zetta traveled by train to Poughkeepsie, New York where her sister was living. There she married Jess DeVoe. Also at that time Zetta applied for a job with Western Printing and Lithographing Company.

Zetta told the person conducting the interview she would do any job as long as it was not illegal. Zetta continued with Western Publishing company for 50 years. During World War II she was assigned a job normally held by a man, she took on the Shipping and Receiving Department. Western was producing classified materials for the war department so she was watched closely by the FBI.

During that time Zetta and Jess built a home. Literally they constructed a house. That was the only time Zetta wore clothing other than a dress or skirt. Jess insisted she wear carpenter overalls while working.

Zetta became involved with Mickey Mouse in 1952. She was processing subscriptions of Walt Disney's Comics and Stories. Zetta and Jess moved to California in 1956. Upon arrival here they built their home and a second house to rent. Zetta had the ability to grow beautiful plants. Many people remember the pink roses across the front. The fig tree was grown from a clipping from a tree in Louisiana that came from a clipping brought from the home place in Alabama.

Zetta worked in the comic book division editing and writing. That was her favorite job at the company. She was the editor of the Tarzan comic books.

She completed 50 years with one company. During that time she never had “casual Fridays” People dressed for work. No pants for women who worked in Zetta's department .

My personal memories of Zetta include receiving boxes of Goden Books and Encyclopedias. It was another Christmas when a box of books arrived from Aunt Zetta. She was not really my aunt but a second cousin. However children could not call an adult by their given name. That would be disrespectful so we were allowed to call her Aunt Zetta rather than Mrs.

DeVoe.

I have always respected Aunt Zetta for being a Lady. Those of you who have known Zetta have known a true Southern Lady. Manners, dress, manicures, and hair style are outward appearances of a Lady. Zetta was a Lady on the inside. She was kind, loving, generous while maintaining a steadfast sense of right and wrong. She was forceful and did not sway from telling others her opinion in a tactful way.

While we, her family members can not be there today to celebrate the life of a fine California Lady, we are grateful that Aunt Zetta had such a loving group of friends.

I end with this writing I found among her belongings.

Always

faithful in attending

faithful in giving

faithful in sharing

faithful in praying

faithful in serving the Lord

faithful in serving others.

Zetta DeVoe was a faithful lady.