This may be strange, but I don't think it got shared at the time.  Mom always loved a box of chocolates.  When she was living in the Dalles there weren't a lot of things we could get her.  Her place was small, and she had pretty much settled in with the things she liked, so we bought her chocolates.  Towards the end, though, she would complain that people were stealing her chocolates.  It distressed her a lot.  We think she just may have forgotten that she had eaten them.  But we made sure the problem was taken care of for eternity.  When she was buried, we buried a box of her favorite PREMIUM chocolates with her.

I would like to express some thoughts on the qualities of my Aunt Betty who I held in high esteem and had great value in my life.

Aunt Betty was a one of a kind woman.  It cannot be said of Betty that she reminded me of anyone else.  Betty lived her life in what could be considered “the middle class”.  However, there was always something “upper crust” about the way Betty carried herself.  She was classy.  She loved fine art, crystal and nature.  She loved academia and to teach.  Betty was not the jokester in the crowd, but she had a healthy sense of humor.  I loved her laugh.

On one of my trips to the Middle East, I was close to the end of my time in Israel, and had not yet found a gift for Betty.  I just hadn’t been able to find the right thing.  There was a delay in departure, so I got off the bus and ran to a jewelry store near the hotel.  Right there in front of me was a sapphire ring that could not have been more perfect for Betty.  The jewelry settings done in the Middle East were always kind of roughly formed.  The rings, necklaces, and other jewelry were not as refined and smooth as we are use to in the U.S.  But this ring was very well made.  The gem and the setting was tailor made for Betty.  It was simply elegant, but not gaudy.  When I think of Betty’s persona, I think of that ring…very classy, beautiful and elegant.

Betty was always loving, kind and caring to me.  But one thing about Betty stands out as my fondest memory, and that was her loving relationship with my mother.  They were best friends.  I don’t remember them having a cross word with each other, ever.  My mother had reclusive like characteristics sometimes but her relationship with Betty helped to keep her feet on the ground.  They were there for each other during the best and worst of times.  I am so happy that my Mom was always there for Betty and that Betty was always there for Mom.  They were safe with each other.

Aunt Betty and my mother are safe in God’s arms.   He loaned them to us for a time.  Now He has them back.

I love you, Betty!

Your niece,
Rebecca 

I have so many wonderful memories of spending time with Grandma.  In fact, way too many to eloquently weave into a nice piece of prose...so here is a list of a few, mainly from my childhood, that make me smile:

-The excitement as we drove over the ‘Orange’ bridge into Dallesport and knew that our ‘long’ car trip was over and we were going to have a lot of fun at her house!

-Endless orange sodas and sherbet dixie cups when my sister and I visited for the summer.

-She would rent my favorite childhood movie ‘Rad’, over and over and over again, and patiently watch it with me every time (or most times!).

-As many quarters as I wanted to play video games at a pizza parlor in the Dalles.

-Receiving what felt like a million GI Joes for Christmas one year from her.  These were, at the time, my favorite toy, so she made her 8-year old grandson VERY happy.

-Cousins’ Restaurant.

-And my favorite was her being able to make the trip to San Diego for my wedding 5 years ago.

Love and miss you,

Your Grandson,
Justin