My name is Mary Andrea, daughter of Mary Margaret, granddaughter of Mary Elizabeth and mother of two Mary's of my own. I'm proud to raise daughter in such a rich legacy of strong women who have balanced an appreciation for adventure and service with a dedicated love of God and family.
You are each here today because my grandmother touched your life in some profound way. I'm speaking to her friends, her children and grandchildren and her community.
You know that for Betty Harris Hillery it was all about capturing the picture, about telling the story and, ultimately about the people behind the story
It only makes sense then, as I consider my grandmothers life and legacy, that we tell her story in snapshots and in chapters.
Images have captured her as the eldest of the Clayton sisters, sometimes poised, sometimes playful, as a starry-eyed university girl, a war bride, a working mother, a young journalist with access to some of biggest names in the rock music industry, and as a more seasoned journalist filling her columns with warmth, wit and humor.
In her middle life chapters she was an invested grandmother traveling far and wide to be present for births, vacations, and milestone events.
In 1978 Grandma and Grandpa came to Portugal to meet Joel Erland, their newest grandson and Grandpa's namesake. As he was three weeks late, though, he had not born when they arrived. I remember a trip to the market the day before Joel made his leisurely debut. Grandma took pictures of us playing with baby chicks and David dressed in his ubiquitous red cowboy vest and hat.
My family lived with Grandma and Grandpa for my 2nd grade year. During these months she fried eggs for breakfast, picked berries from her little garden, monitored spelling words and piano practice, proudly showed off her new word processor that would change typing forever, and helped plan my strawberry shortcake party for my 7th birthday.
In high school, grandmother made several trips to Portugal where we lived. Camera in hand, she captured so many of the images that endure as my childhood memories. And always the print woman, she published one of Joel's elementary school stories and my high school history project on the history of the Azores islands.
As we moved back to the States, Grandma was present for the little moments. She'd fly in for the big events, for graduations and weddings. And she'd fly in "just because." She shopped for groceries with us, chatted about school and work, and read books to her great grands. One time, in fact - while I don't recall exactly why - I remember she flew to Boston and met us for lunch at Logan airport.
In 1995 Grandma and I both got married. With John Hillery as her daily companion, she gained the network of a second family and her world and her heart expanded to include stepchildren and grandchildren.
She continued to write for the senior scene and enjoyed her third age theater troop where she played and sang Betty Boop, and wrote Hattie.
After John's passing grandma reprised two early roles. For 22 months she returned to the role of sister in law under Jinny Calaway's cheerful and loving care, and for 6 months she was mother in a final vacation to beautiful Washington State. During these months she enjoyed togetherness and simple songs: White corral bells, You are My Sunshine, A Bicycle built for Two.
When Grandma's health began to decline some years ago it seemed ironic and sad that her beautiful mind began to slip first, with its encyclopedic knowledge of facts and dates and details. As her memory faded, though, her love of people remained, her well trained ability to look right in the eyes of the person next to her and make them believe the story was all about them.
As we celebrate Easter this weekend, we consider Christ incarnate in space and time, in the here and now. Grandma had a Christ-like ability to be in the present moment, to acknowledge that the most important person in the world is the one you are with, the most important moment is now.
Eulogizing Betty is a bit like rummaging through one of her rooms full of boxes, boxes full of clip outs , awards, stellar black and white shots and full color photographs. We could rummage for days and still have piles of boxes untouched.
Today, I would love to hear your stories, as I know I have only experience a few chapters of Grandma's long and rich life.
In rummaging through these snapshots, however, one thing is clear.
Betty Harris Hillery knew that the secret to life - just like great journalism - is not just about the headlines, but capturing the candids too. As we consider her legacy today, I would challenge us each make time for the adventure, for the story, and for the present moment, and to make time for the people we love, to celebrate their life, and be present for the moments big and small.