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Canton family works to reclaim tornado-torn Hollyberry Herb Farm, homestead

Photo Courtesy Sarah Miller, Tyler Morning Telegraph

CANTON — On a quiet country road on the outskirts of Canton, the stirrings of spring are evident — blooming wildflowers, wobbly calves and mating calls of cardinals.

The annual burst of new life is always a breath of fresh air to organic herb farmers Holly and Tony Ross, but it’s especially welcome this year following months of personal reinvention.

The couple and their children narrowly escaped serious injury a year ago when a deadly, rain-wrapped tornado ripped up their home and business, Hollyberry Herb Farm, 372 Van Zandt CR 4101.

The furious storm spawned multiple tornadoes, killing four people and critically injuring dozens more as it carved a roughly 50-mile swatch across Van Zandt, Henderson and Rains counties, as well as adjoining areas.

The Ross family, along with their beloved dogs and host of farm animals, escaped physical injury, but the roaring winds transformed their property and quiet, tree-filled neighborhood into a debris field of splintered wood and random objects from lives interrupted.

On the one-year anniversary of the tornadoes, the family seems focused on looking forward rather than backward.

And in many ways, they are still in the process of coming home.

“There are a lot of adjustments, and I’ve replanted a lot of things,” Mrs. Ross said, surveying her gardens. “This year, instead of looking at 5-year-old roses, I’m looking at 1-year-olds. It’s not a big deal, it’s just one of those things that’s going to take time … we’ve really had to decide, do we like it here enough to rebuild?”

Photo Courtesy Sarah Miller, Tyler Morning Telegraph

A WALL OF RAIN

It’s been a long year for the Rosses, but with the arrival of spring the comforting feeling of home is slowly returning, one magical bloom at a time.

The couple spent most of last year responding to the storm’s aftermath and a series of happy life events surrounding their four children: a marriage, college and the births of two grandchildren.

Significant progress is being made on their personal healing and rebuilding, but signs of the storm remain close at hand, amid the swaying wildflowers.

“That pasture over there, that used to be woods,” Ross said, pointing to a nearby parcel of land. “There were trees all through here.”

Today, except for a scattering of uprooted trees, most of the area surrounding the Ross property largely resembles typical pastureland.

“We always, always watch the weather, our business depends on it,” Mrs. Ross said. “We know the potential for storms, but it’s Texas. We never get all worked up over it — even at that time, we knew the potential for storms was likely.”

On the day of the storm, Mrs. Ross was monitoring the weather radar well ahead of its arrival.

As the weather system grew in intensity, the neighboring town of Eustace was warned to take cover.

Mrs. Ross was phoning to checking on extended family when her husband — a longtime helicopter paramedic for Trinity Mother Frances — and son Jonathan decided to do a final check on the animals before the storm rolled in.

As the pair stood in the yard scanning the horizon, the men could see what appeared to be a solid wall of rain heading straight toward them.

“We could see sheet metal flying around,” Ross said. “We started heading toward the house.”

They dashed inside, dogs in tow, shouting for everyone to take cover.

The family raced toward the bathroom and as the door was closing, debris was already whirling around in the hallway, the couple said.

“We prayed,” Mrs. Ross said. “The louder it got, the louder I prayed.”

Her husband added, “It sounded like the rear rotor of a helicopter.”

The noise was so loud, the family could not hear the snap of falling trees, but they did feel the house vibrate as the wind began peeling away the roof and walls.

And then, almost as quickly as it arrived, the storm moved on.

“I was the first to check it out,” Ross said. “I wasn’t expecting what I saw.”

‘IT’S BAD’

He opened the bathroom door and stepped into the darkened remains of their collapsing home.

As his family waited inside the bathroom, Ross made his way outdoors to inspect the area for downed electric lines and a safe way out.

“I went back and told them, ‘It’s bad … and it’s OK if you get upset,’” he said.

The family climbed over trees to leave their farmhouse and sought refuge at a nearby neighbor’s home, which was largely unscathed by the storm.

With his family out of harm’s way, Ross returned to the devastated neighborhood to search for victims, ultimately assisting an injured woman until medical transport could arrive.

Suddenly homeless, the family spent a restless night in a neighbor’s RV and returned home the following morning to assess the damages.

“The sun was out, it was a perfect day,” Mrs. Ross said, recalling the walk back to their property.

As they cut across a pasture heading for home, the power of the storm became clear.

“We topped the ridge,” Ross said. “It took a while to recognize our property.”

Their home was a battered shell, the fleet of family vehicles smashed — except for their faithful brown 1981 Ford Bronco, which sustained only a dent and broken tail light.

“Old Brown” later became the family’s daily driver as they worked to assess and reclaim what remained of their old lives.

LONG JOURNEY HOME

By morning, members of their Victory Church family, Mercy Ships and a host of loved ones soon arrived to help clear debris and safeguard personal possessions left behind by the storm.

At day’s end, the family sought refuge with Mrs. Ross’ grandmother, June Nelson, who lives nearby.

“I asked, ‘What can I do to help,’” Mrs. Nelson said recalled. “She (Holly) said, ‘You can fix us something to eat.’”

Mrs. Nelson delivered, turning out heaping helpings of family favorites: meatloaf, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, pinto beans and cornbread.

“Hmmm, my favorites,” Mrs. Ross said, giving her grandmother a big squeeze. “I’ll never forget it … good ‘ol comfort food.”

As days turned into weeks, the couple started weighing whether to return to their property or find a new place and start over.

Their old property held myriad memories and offered the right conditions to grow organically, on land carefully tended and enriched through natural means.

They decided to stay, not only for sentimental reasons, but also a passion for supporting people with medicinal herbs.

“My grandmother had an RV and we bought it from her,” Mrs. Ross said. “We came back … but it still looked like a war zone.”

The hot August day they hauled the RV to the property was a bit like returning home, only different.

In years past, the couple spent countless hours sitting on the front porch of the farmhouse, drinking cold sweet tea and watching the leaves of an old nearby oak tree flutter in the summer breeze.

With the tree and the porch and the house all gone, they positioned the RV to face the spot where their new home will one day stand, adding later a front porch with comfortable metal chairs.

“The thing I remember about that first day is looking out at my property and looking at my dogs asleep in the sun and feeling like, ‘We’re home,’” Mrs. Ross said.

Now that another spring is well underway, the couple’s attention today is focused on healing their changed and evolving landscape.

They recently planted baby trees and new, sun-loving landscaping, so the yard is again bursting with color and the contented buzz of curious pollinators.

They’ve also added a greenhouse, sales area, flower beds and fortified housing for the resident rabbits, chickens and goats, coveted for helping fertilize the soil and charm the customers.

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