I may be from the show me state (Missouri), but I almost believe her..............
We had huge dragonflys (up to 4 inches long with a five inch wing span) don't know the species, but they had black bodies and clear, black laced wings. They would show up out of no where, about August (the closest pond being about 5 miles away), and dozens would circle around the front yard for a hour or two before night fall. This would last a week or so, and then they would all disappear until the next year.
I lived at that farm for eight years and they never failed to show up, and though I never saw one attack anything larger then themselves, if they flew into you (which sometimes happen) they would either bounce off and go their merry way or hold on (which felt like they were biteing) for a few minutes then take off again..........