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Family in Rolla MO mourns loss of tornado victim

January 01, 2011|by Cara Restelli, KY3 News | crestelli@ky3.com

ROLLA, Mo. -- It's not the New Year's Eve that Ethyl Price's family expected. 

"Anything we find has sentimental value," said Ethyl's daughter-in-law.

Instead of celebrating with her, they're mourning the loss of her. 

"I've always been petrified of storms.  I've seen damage.  I just never thought it would hit our family," said granddaughter Lisa Price.

After a day of battling critical injuries, the 76-year-old woman became the 4th Missourian to lose her life at the hands of an EF-3 tornado that ripped through Rolla at midday Friday. 

"(She) loved her family.  (She) did anything we needed and wanted," said Lisa.

Ethyl was home with her lifelong best friend Alice Cox when the storm hit.  Lisa imagines how they spent their last few minutes together. 

"They hung out at the house and on the porch and watched TV.  They chit-chatted," said Lisa.

Both women lost their lives. 

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"(She was) just fun to be around.  She was a firecracker.  That's what we loved.  Her personality just brought everyone alive."

The storm tossed Ethyl's mobile home across the road and tore it into pieces.  Family members and volunteers are now cleaning up and looking for any momentos. 

"We're salvaging all we can.  Pictures, antiques.  Anything we can."

Despite it all, Ethyl's family has found a way to be thankful, not only for the time they did have together but also that more people weren't hurt. 

"We had family here that survived and we're glad they survived," said Lisa.

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