I miss you Mom, every single day.

"I first met Marcella as a young girl. She lived in an apartment behind Uncle Goebel and Aunt Molly's home on Elm Street in Pikeville. I sang at Bill and Marcella's wedding which was held at the Compton home. I saw a lot of Bill and Marcella when I lived in Fort Pierce early 60's. I must say that her family was her true love! I will miss her, but I know she is rejoicing in heaven will her soul mate, Bill Goebel."

There is a poem titled The Dash by Linda Ellis. In this poem, it tells a story of a person’s dash, which is the time spent in between birth and death. Our birth is so special and our death is inevitable but it is what we choose to do with all the years in between that is what matters most.  Our dash is what defines us.

Marcella Compton Huffman, mom, Aunt Marcella, mom-mom lived her dash to the fullest.  She touched so many lives and our hearts and souls are forever changed because she shared her dash with us.  Mom-mom was kind, loving, patient and soothed our souls with her cooking.  There were so many memories of watching her peel green beans, core and slice apples to put up, making biscuits from scratch, stirring yummy gravy and her unforgettable peanut butter pies that filled the house with sweetness.  There was never a time when mom didn’t have something made to comfort us with.

 (Kathy) I remember looking forward to our weekly family dinners and holidays so we could gather around the table and share her love and soul food.  I even looked forward to sneaking into her cookie jar, because she always had a fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies just calling my name.  We had many nights when we played games and boy she loved playing Rook and Uno.  There was never a time she didn’t want to play a friendly game of cards. We are blessed with so many memories spent around the table, laughing, winning, losing and sometimes there may have been a little cheating by some.   We will always cherish our very special mommom.

(Jennifer) I will miss her humming and singing around the house while doing the laundry, dishes, or cleaning.  She always had the most beautiful singing voice and would always want me to sing with her at church and at home, especially during the holidays.  The old organ in the living room would always be our accompaniment with the family during Christmas.  But it will be Christmas time, for me, which will always bring back the fondest memories of our family being in the Florida room, opening gifts, around the most exquisitely decorated Christmas tree which, to this day, I have ever seen.  Mommom, was and always will be an inspiration and guide for my years ahead, she taught me quite a bit about life and taking things in stride.  She always knew how to make the best out of the situation, and I’m sure as most of you already know of the event when I locked both myself and Mommom, in the small closet off of the bedroom.  Mommom made the most of the dilemma, by singing, napping and even feasting on canned goods until hours later Grandaddy discovered us after work. Granted, I was only five then, and fairly mischievous; I even loved to get lost in the clothes racks at Orange Blossom Mall, which scared the whole family from time to time but this closet event had been regaled to me in detail throughout the years and every time she would be laughing when she told the story. 

She was always so loving and kind-hearted, you would always have a kiss and a hug right when you walked in the door, followed by the enticing aroma of the family dinner, prepared with love and care.  To this day, no one can replicate it, not even me, who was watched her all of those days while she cooked.  There are many other wonderful attributes to mommom which I could go into but it would take me a lifetime to explain.  In the end, I am left with the most precious of memories to take with me for my remaining years and journeys.  Even though, I cannot be with her at this final viewing, I know she is always by my side.   All I have to do is sing because I hear her when I am singing and the words that I want to say, I will whisper because she will be with me always.  I love you mommom and will miss you dearly.      

As we share our memories we know each of you have your own wonderful memories of Marcella too, and many can recall the times she loved on you and made you feel like you were at home, no matter the location.  She defined her dash in so many ways being a daughter, sister, a wife, a mother, an aunt, cousin, friend and simply mom-mom. Let us all remember her kind heart, patience, love, warmth and sense of family.  May we all live our dash as full as she lived hers.