June 7, 1959 ~ Forever!

Mom was beautiful and 16....Dad was 18 and killer handsome! Daddy drove a school bus (not Mom's) and was dating one of Mom's best friends. The story goes that she rode his bus with the intent to catch Dad's eye. At the end of the ride Mom had paid this kid a quarter to give Daddy a note asking him out. Mom came from a large family (there were 5 girls all together and 6 boys), and Dad didn't know who he was going out with when he showed up for the date. It worked out (obviously) because here I am!

I'm sharing the words of my oldest brother ~ he spoke them at Mom & Dad's funeral:

"For 9 1/2 months, Our Mom stood beside our Dad, giving him comfort and the courage he needed to get better. She held his hand, she combed his hair, she brushed his teeth and she rubbed lotion on his arms when they got dry. She did all these things he couldn't do and never had to be asked to do it. Somehow she knew what he needed at the moment. She celebrated Easter, their 50th Anniversary and her birthday by his bedside. During these long 9 1/2 months, our Mom showed everyone how a wife should love her husband.

Our Dad always made our Mom first in everything he did. When he spoke of them, her name came first. Anytime there was a door to be opened, our Dad opened the door and let our Mom walk through first. Our Dad showed us, especially me how a husband should love his wife and respect her. Since our Dad was too weak to open the door December 29th, and God knew how much he loved her, God himself opened the door to Heaven for our Mom. Therefore, as our parents travel to their final resting place, our Mom will always be first.

50 years and 6 months ago, their hearts were joined together to form one heart that would beat as one forever.

56 hours after our Mom passed away, our Dad joined our Mom bringing these two hearts back together to beat as one for eternity."

They were married June 7, 1959. Today would be their 51st wedding anniversary.

There's not a day that goes by that I don't miss them from the deepest part of my soul.