Paul Kingery

The Deer Lady Paul Kingery

Ina Bessie Collins Pruitt was a very special lady. She spent her summers on top of a high mountain in Oregon in a little cabin. Over time she made friends with a wild mule deer doe that lived on the mountain. The next year she brought her fawn, a little buck, and Ina made friends with him too. Each year the doe returned with new fawns, and Ina's deer family grew. Ina had other animal friends there too, including a little cold called Redwing, an owl named Tuto, a burro named Sunny, and a puppy named Penny. Ina was so gentle with all her friends and shared them with the children who came to summer horse camps there. Ina's patience and kindness made everyone love her, and encouraged many children to be like her.