There are so many stories of Deni I am not sure where to start.  I think what I miss the most about Deni are her smile, her giving me and her friends a hard time just because, her willingness to go on an adventure anytime and her constant support as my best friend no matter how I messed up.

Deni always saw what were obvious obsticals to her when others were focusing on everything else.  One adventure we took was hunting for a live Christmas tree.  We were driving the blue Pinto around Southern Illinois and found signs for a Christmas tree farm between Herrin and Johnston City and I was doing the driving.  We headed up a long long long gravel road and Deni suggested we just turn around and go to where we'd been before but no, I wanted to try a new place.  All of the sudden the pinto was stuck up in the air on this enormous boulder.   Deni couldn't believe it.  After hearing "Damit Diane" a couple of times she asked what I was thinking and how did I not see that boulder in my path.  I told her I was so busy concentrating on the obvious pot holes that I didn't see the boulder.  Of course the muffler was drug off the car so Deni put it in the back seat and we drove home trying not to accelerate when we were around police to not get a ticket.  Deni laughed and laughed and gave me such grief for years.   

Every trip to anywhere, even work, was an adventure with Deni and the best part was the laughter that always followed.  I miss her smile and her giving me grief so much.  I'm not sure my heart will ever heal but I know I am a better person for having her in my life for so many years.

There are many things that make me remember Deni..Busch beer, pepper jack cheese, El Rancherito, lawn mowing,Claude, Jay, and her laughter.  More than one meeting we had ended in hugs.  I loved the team work  and laughter we shared everytime we had an important problem.  I loved her "the acks came back" song when we were testing.  I will miss running up and down the halls telling Diane on Deni and vice versa! I will miss her fussing about Dave and his "workarounds" That was alot of fun!

It has been hard to come to work the past 3 weeks but slowly we are getting our feet and our hearts back together.  We are trying our best not to mess up Deni's machines and Pam is very patient teaching us new things.  We are just like Deni was when she started...scared to touch anything.  I don't know how many time she told me"Leigh Ann- i don't think I want to touch that.." but she would do and do it amazing.. And then laugh at us when we were scared.

We will continue to laugh and tell stories about her because she will always live in our hearts and be apart of our teamnd our family.

She was the funniest person to be around. Never a dull moment with her. I remember when I first got hired downstairs, she had asked me if I got the job and I said "No". Oh she was so upset and didnt understand why they wouldnt have hired me. I let her think that for a little while, but I finally had to tell her the truth. When I did, she just laughed her silly laugh and said, "You Really got me good". She never forgot that and we would bring it up once inawhile and have a laugh over it. I will miss Deni VERY much and miss her sweet smile everyday I walk thru the office doors. I know she is lookin down on all of us right now and thinking, "Would you all just stop? I'm in a much better place now." So for you Deni, I will pray that someday I will see you up there in heaven. For now, I will always keep you in my heart and think of you often. As I have always said, I wil never say bye, its forever. Always say see ya.  So Deni, I will see ya later.  MIss ya! 

Tammy Wells