Living without my mother is difficult but I've adjusted.  My husband and I reminisce a lot at night about seeing both my mother and father soon.  His parents are awaiting him in death to see that he indeed had gotten the "truth" and will be on the earth ready to greet them when they come back to live again. 

I'm not sure if I should leave this memorial up or just be happy that it was used to express our thoughts.  No one additionally leaves a comment so I'm thinking that it has earned it's reward and that I'm happy that it served a good purpose.  If anyone visits and thinks that I should keep it up, please leave a message.  Love to all.  Gail

Coffee, coffee, and more coffee.  Can't wait to see you two drink coffee again.  I loved how mom and Betty came into the truth together and were such loyal friends.

I miss her so much.  She was my existence.  I will keep my appointment.

It is indeed going to be a great day when you are resurrected.  Can't wait to see your smile and you will be so happy to see Aunt Ida again and all those that you have loved.  I will sit back and watch your joy.  Love you so much.

Rob has quite a nack for taking pictures of his lil' gal.  This one was expected by his friends. 

Mommy loved to go out to breakfast and bacon was her favorite meat.  Go Mom when Bacon won't kill us in the New World.  Hope it's there for you. 

She would have glowed.  I can't say anything that my son Rob didn't say in "HIS" story about his Mammaw.  He made me proud.  He makes me so happy that he is such a good father to Maxine...Amber is a wonderful mother too.  Love them both.

Once upon a time their was a family.  One that loved Jehovah and kept his commands.  Life happened and broke that family to pieces.  Will God's glue put that family back again?  Hope so.  It's a serious situation to disregard the commands of God to walk that "narrow path".   I would wait a long time if I thought I would get a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.  Test, and see that Jehovah is good.  He does not lie.  Every step a child takes in this rotten old system is viewed by God and he will bless the forward motion, no matter how small it is.  He who is taught by parents who teach God's way are loved by all who experience that "goodness".  That parent has done their job and that child will be reminded "daily" that they were taught well.  Jehovah will continue to "watch" them and notice those "reminders" and perhaps one day they will draw to Jehovah again and he will draw to them as well.  My prayer.  Mammaw's prayer though not now...her hope is in Jehovah and wants their return to see them again.  She so enjoyed them. 

We are from Baltimore and it became a joke that if Mom's fingernails were painted with purple and yellow "crackle" paint that they would win.  She was a good sport and stood still for the epic event but she knew full well that it was because they are the best sport team in the states...ha ha

Mammaw wanted this bear on her hospital bed and Julysia "inherited" it.  Thanks for your loving kindness to Mammaw.

The short one is Jasmine who loved and warmly regarded her "New Grandmaw"...the other is her friend I do not know.  Jasmine took a strong stance to fight breast cancer and her and her family continue to feel strongly about it's irradication.  Jasmine has a big heart and Mammaw and I are both indebted to her visits, gifts and hugs throughout Mom's illness.  Thank you so much dear heart!!!

Heather was Mammaw's part time caretaker.  I arranged for that to happen for both my self, my mother and her.  I can't stand the pain that my daughter has already had to hold her short life and since her responsibility to her grandmother was formost at that time...  Nothing stopped her from saying goodbye to her dying grandmother in a way that she could endure her death in the most humane way for her and her grandmother.  She and her family did a wonderful job in making mommy smile even though it was difficult.  The cute lil' girls of Stephany Riley were supportive, loving, caring throughout the whole ordeal and they helped me say goodbye to my dear mother in a most healthful way.  Having them attend the memorial and hear the glorious words that came from her other "grandson's" lips about her life left me with a happy and joyful experience when I said I could not even attend her memorial I would be such a mess.  So they are forever in my hearts.

Leeann, Heather and Kelly...George loved them all.  Leeann virtually asked me to marry her Daddy and Heather...well, she was the best thing that I could have asked for since I had 10 dresses hanging in the closet...I so wanted a lil' girl.  My son's were treasures as it's just easier to raise son's.  Duane and Michael had a wonderful mother who loved them and I only added to that as they were indeed good step-boys.  Rob and Heath were my "easy's" and well Eric and Bill are my spiritually adopted sons and they have given me pleasure as well.  Mommy benefited from the spiritual adoptions and her grandkids in a way that made her life complete. 

A Kelly and Eric surprise for our anniversary.  How nice of them to treat us to a wonderful vacation.  Don't we make a handsome couple?  Hope we make our 50th.  Hope my children will be there to share.  Marriage is hard work with lots of failings but Mom set the right example and I keep "trying" to do my best too.  May Jehovah reward us all with the perfect marriage in the New World.  May George and I both keep our appointments to see Mom and Dad both.

Kelly and Eric have been so supportive of my mother's passing that they were truly my lifeline.  They supply my every need.  They give me such happiness.  My grandkids are my grandkids, nothing else to say.  They love me and I love them.  Alonna is my soul mate.  Houston is my "higher intellect" conversation partner and keeps an open door to my "ministering" even though he has strayed from our flock he keeps close through our "hootie" talks.  I love him with all my heart!!!  James, well Katrina and company have done well with him and he and Alonna love going in field service, so we have lots of sometimes silly "practice" sessions.  Thanks guys for the "family times".  Hoping Pappy will be able to join us soon.   (Update)  Pappy's baaaack and having fun with his "kidzez".  You make us happy pappy!!!

James didn't have much time with Gigi but he remembers her fondly.  He is quite like her in his gentle countinence but large in the smile category.  James is helping Mason with his own "spirituality".  He tries to replicate James in accepting "hardships" which is not a Pierce quality.  Thank you James.

James is gifted with a quiet resolution to enjoy life and serve Jehovah without complacency.  He is a gentle giant and shares in helping Mason grow with a heart towards Jehovah.  Mommy would be proud of him as he takes his allegience to the supreme God much like she did.  Go James, we love you. 

One daughter...One son in law...family~Could a lil' girl be any cuter?  Yup...Maxine has fallen in line.  Heather was indeed our cute lil' quiver filler...her grandma loved her emensely.  Whatever phobia one has is only fed by circumstances "YOU" control so we could say Jehovah is wicked phobic as he will not allow wickedness of any kind to continue.  Soon whatever words designed to "stereotype" either side, right or wrong will be non-existent and the loving yet judgmental God our creator is will finally right the wrongs that pervail.  I only pray that the world's philosophy will not strangle ones insight to see it "Jehovah's way".  The love that I have in my heart for all my children is encapsulated in a way that they who gravitate to that which is "Healthful teachings" will bust open the floodgate of tears held back until that time.  Good thing the rainbow provides a promise that there will never be a destructive worldwide flood again!  I love them all.

Mommy's cousin...she will welcome her again in the New World with open arms and without fear of mountains.  Mommy and Donna shared that same fear and there  were mountains between the two girls where they lived.  Mommy so wanted to visit though this summer and well...the winds will blow between them without seeing them together until Jehovah delivers them from the fear that kept them apart.  Come Lord Jesus...

 Matthew 6:33 tells us to "seek first [Jehovah's] kingdom." To do so is to put Jehovah first in every aspect of our lives. And as faithful servants of him, we strive to do just that. But when one thinks about every decision he makes, is it possible to literally think of something else before making it? Just the time involved to think about how Jehovah feels about the decision you're making seems impossible. But when one meditates on the the Bible and the principles found therein REGULARLY, this "secondary decision process" becomes natural. One doesn't even realize they're asking themselves "How does Jehovah feel about this?", it's a given.
My grandmother possessed this unique ability, and over her lifetime, she mastered it. It was never a question of whether she would compromise her relationship with her God Jehovah. She never even came close to bringing reproach to his name and what it means. EVERY decision she made was in conjunction with her Bible based faith. EVERYTHING. Even simple thought processes that often times we, as imperfect humans, take for granted, were made with Jehovah's thoughts in mind.
She was the superlative example of a submissive wife, even in a tough situation. The Bible says at 1 Peter 3:1,2: "In like manner, you wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, in order that, if any are not obedient to the word, they may be won without a word through the conduct of [their] wives, because of having been eyewitnesses of your chaste conduct together with deep respect.”
Do you know anyone who fits this description? I do. My grandmother. For years she struggled, well not really, I recall it seeming quite easy for her, to be submissive to a husband who didn't share her beliefs, while the same time serving her God Jehovah in full-time ministry service. The outcome? Pop died a faithful servant of Jehovah. Who knows how many people have a chance at everlasting life thanks to the efforts of this loving person.
She never argued with ANYONE, even when it was obvious she was right.
She never missed an opportunity to share the Bible with all she met, a quality that she passed on to her daughter.
She always spent time, even if it was just a few thoughts or expressions, sharing a spiritual "nugget" with her grandchildren, and later even her great-grandchildren.
She had but one enemy: death. And she would not even "argue" with him. She knew what she awaited and she embraced the opportunity to accept the gift Jehovah will soon give her: EVERLASTING LIFE in a peaceful new world.
All that I am spiritually is because of her and my mother, and I pray that I can be a fraction of what she was in her devotion to Jehovah.
When she passed, my wife and I were sleeping in a hospital, after receiving our wonderful new daughter. I was awakened by my phone at 1:30AM....I knew what it was for. In a droggy haze one has trouble putting together ANY thoughts, let alone the word's that we wouldn't have anyways. But from somewhere my thoughts to my grieving mother were to "Blink her eye." And she did. And that's all my grandmother has to do now. As we struggle with this wicked system of things (1 Tim. 3:1-5) she is in the middle of a "blink" and when she finishes that "blink" she will see the world as it was intended to be seen, a perfect paradise.
I pray that all her loved ones can be there to welcome her back from her "blink".
To me, she was perfect.

You can shed tears that she is gone or you can smile because she has lived. You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back or you can open your eyes and see all she's left. Her bible students would not have a hope if she hadn't shared.  She shared because she heard the command...Feed my little sheep.  She fed, she satisfied the hungry for spiritual truths.    Your heart can be empty because you can't see her or you can be full of the love you shared. You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday. You can remember her and only that shes gone or you can cherish her memory and let it live on. You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back or you can do what she'd want... smile, open your eyes, love and feed his little sheep yourself...Beg the master...

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mother and grandmother as well as MOTHER-IN-LAW LOVE ya

My grandmother was the strongest woman I know. Never did she get angry never did she raise her voice never did she have something nasty to say about anyone. I look up to her and forever wish that I could be just like her. She is and forever will be in my memories and my heart. Going to her and Pops when they lived in there red cabin, the sugartit she gave me as a baby to dry my tears, playing cards, going to the root beer float place in Baltimore, driving not having a clue as to where we would end up but it was always a "short cut" to somewhere or scenic route. I could go to her about anything and she would smile and say it will be all right. There are not enough words to express how much I miss her and love her. Treasure the moments you have as a gift for you never know when they will be taken!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yup...she loved to play cards...Hand and foot, crazy eights, Rummy...I hated to play rummy with her coz' she could not lose...or I couldn't win, whichever...but solitaire...she could play on the computer for hours...by the way did you know that my name has two syllables and not one...she would bump the game away and call me gay-all...see... two syllables!

My helpers!!!
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Thank you so much

Now you know...for all those who may have kissed my mom..."Romeo was there" should have been noted on her lapel...don't worry, It's not my thing...I can still get kisses.  She loved this little loyal Yorkie that her friends Linda and Bill Lady brought to her...that pup never whined, cried, or in the least made mom feel like it was lacking that night.  It never left her side and in fact layed at her back where the cancer was the worst in her spine.  She didn't suffer with too much pain and I'm so glad...we only  had to give her morphine at the end to calm her breathing nothing else.  She had pain during her radiation treatments...but not really horrific pain that they prepared us for.  Thank you Jehovah!

Mommy had such pretty hair.  Dad would always come home and go over to her and pat her curls on the top of her head.  He died that way too.  He couldn't speak and the day he died he got his hand to the top of her head and patted those curls one last time.  They are both going to be at Indian Town Gap Cemetary in Lebanon, Pa.  Military Cemetary, He served in the CB's of the Navy.

Good friends were never hard to come by for Mommy...Janet was a long time friend that could pick up where they left off immediately...thanks Janet for being such a good friend to us both.

Wow...was she proud...did very good too.  Poor Bro. Goomey...well U try to spell  his name...anyway, he would try to get mom to understand what he would sign to her and she would look to me for help and he would stand in front and say no no no...you can do it...but she would freeze and he would have to help her.  She could understand doing it better than reading it...but she had lots of fun...and as already noted...she inspired many.

One of the happiest times in Mom's life was when she went to Florida with her friend Henny...I was home wallpapering the house and she comes back home and tells me she is moving to Florida.  Well, she didn't move and was I ever grateful...like now I don't know how we could be apart.  I'm relying on Jehovah...coz' she's in the "sleeper" car of the same train I'm on, but I'll need a lil' help from my "friends"...Thanks Henny for giving my mom that "fun time"...

Mom had taken on a stipend job called, "A senior companion"...Marje Almony, Bobbi Smith, Me, Pat Wilhide, Cindy Rivera all took care of one of the nicest Ladies to grace the streets of Spring Grove.  She had Alzheimers and passed away just a few months previous to Mom's death.  Mommy would end the day with a bible study...nearly every night...she would begin the day with Shirley in their pj's doing the text.  Shirley went to the meetings with her and soon learned the truth and had faith that Jehovah could move mountains...at least cabinets...we were struggling to get a desk out the back door of mom's mobile home...when it finally came out, Shirley said, "Thank you Jehovah"...now where did that come from?  Constant Bible reading...it just makes sense...

Pioneer Service School...on the Eastern Shore of Md.  As anyone who has gone knows...it's not fashionable, it's Spiritual...so encouraging and wonderful ...you never forget!!!

Diane Smith Nee Day, mommy's niece.  Diane was close to Mom in her later years which I greatly appreciate.  It's nice to have family to call periodically.  Diane lost her mom early on and I think Mommy worried about her more when she did.  She felt like she should be a mommy to her...but Diane has Charlie to look after her and he's a good guy...Mommy was happy that Diane found "a good man"...

Hallie Elizabeth Hager Nee Bass   Daddy's mom.  She died of Amyotrophic Lateral Schlerosis, Lou Gehrigs disease...she was also Mom's bible study and came into the truth before she died.  I guess if I take after anyone the most it's she...mommy was too quiet to say I took after her...

Junior was told he could not go to the carnival and like lots of kids when it comes to carnivals the draw is bigger than the testiment...he went anyway and while crossing the street the back end of a truck hit and drug him to his death.  Eleven years old,

Wobbie...he turned my mom into a "Driving Miss Daisy Crazy"...he had gotten a chair up to the counter where a pot of coffee was brewing and pulled it onto his hand...he was in shock and couldn't lift his hand...we watched while scalding hot coffee poured onto his hand and well...she had just read in the Awake what to do for a bad burn and while the telephone man offered ointment...she said, "no, I'm supposed to put it under cold water"...and although we literally watched as his skin  melted and fell off his hand into the sink the hospital praised her and said that she had done the right thing.  However, driving to the hospital was like being in the car with a madman...can you imagine for one minute "MY" mother yelling at drivers to stop she had an emergency and had to get a burn victim to the hospital...his fingers grew together like webs and they had to cut them apart each time they would heal...even today, when he tans his scars do not...creepy.  Maxine will have her day with them...wanting to know what happened to her daddy's hand,,,

Machai, her great grandson,  could turn her into melted chocolate...he had such a sweet disposition.  He loved the "David" CD...and he loved his Gigi...I'm so glad she lived long enough to know him well. 

She saw one grandson get married.  She got the best grand-daughter-in law...they went to teas, out in service, out to lunch, etc.  She loved Amber.  Maxine got to lay on mommy's lap when Amber bent over her to kiss her.  She also got to go see the baby in 4D.. Gone too soon...Maxine will have to wait to experience her "Gigi"...

Her "HUNKA<> HUNKA"...My Dad was going to date my Aunt and when he called to make arrangements he talked to my mother...something clicked and although Aunt Ida was the Knockout at the time...he liked my mother's demeaner.  She was a waitress and he ordered Spaghetti and he said, "if you cooked this I'll marry you"...he soon found out she was no cook...but they liked to eat out and did so their whole married life.  Dad was not the social person, so eating out was like their entertainment.  He also liked to take weekend trips...but mom and I fell fast asleep three minutes out of the driveway...so it frustrated him...he kept waking us up to view the scenery and then boomp...we were asleep again.  He was quite the romantic and did awesome things on their anniversary.  I remember their 25th he gave her 24 red roses and a silver one in the middle.  I asked her recently what she wanted the most...she said, "Daddy"...well...I guess she'll  get it sooner than she thought...

Yes, my mom served in the Sign Language Congregation for about two years...she tried so hard.  She completed Sign Language class given by the Watchtower Society.  She served in the ministry and supported the younger ones because they said if she could at her age attempt to learn a new language they were also inspired to do so.  She had fun and didn't allow frustration to make her "quit".  Even though her "chosen" sign name was  L L L after Libby, Libby, Libby on the label label label...it really meant "landlord"...but she was so amused when she would look at her finger and if it looked like an "L" she would then scoop her chest with it three times and the deaf allowed her to keep it because she was so cute. 

Thanks Heather for making Mammaw's life good when I could only see bad...your help was so appreciated.  Stefani was the best hairdresser she ever had...them Raven's nails really impressed her although she could care less about the Ravens...sorry Gretchy...I'm so glad I named you "Elizabeth"...it will be something to remember your Mammaw with everytime you write it...it was a good name...do all you can to live up to it.  Be proud.  She may be gone to soon, but her legacy could live on...

Wow...she came into the delivery room to be my coach...sure, until he started to come and I was dropped like a hot potato so she could see him come.  She shared in his homeschooling...although "health" was not his favorite subject...she liked it and that was all that mattered.  Mom had him for a pioneer partner when he was 14...she enjoyed all her "grands"...their "practice" sessions were her favorite times.  His name Heath and the Er in Eric spell Heather.

in Mommy's eyes.  Big day for a mom to lose her "cook"...yeah, she told George that he had stolen her cook.  Mommy didn't like to cook and I didn't like to do dishes...still don't.  I'd rather have a dishwasher than a "flushing toilet"...but she gave me up perfectly to have a family, to be a wife, to replicate her example.  She had taught me well.  So, she was happy.  I had been given the best wedding by my parents...lots of extras they probably couldn't afford...but they only had one.  The pain would not return...Mom was the perfect mother in law...she stayed out of "business"...George gave mom beautiful flowers on her last hospital visit and it meant a lot to her.  She wasn't awake when he came but she knew that he had come because of what he left.  Thanks George!

These two came from a generation of "humility"...Dorothy and Libby...the "right" girls...GONE TOO SOON  Seems so appropriate to have Brent Neal, Dorothy's grandson my son's best friend growing up...my well... "beloved like a son" to give the memorial talk.  Mammaw was his Mammaw too...I can still hear his voice call her that.  Elna knows more about my life than I do.  She can recall the lovely things that my mother and Dorothy, her mother shared.  Coffee...too much cake, etc.  But the one thing they truly shared was their love for Jehovah.  It was just the thing to do...no credit, no glory, all to God...and wow did they have some beautiful girls...yeah, yeah, me included because my beauty is in my love for Jehovah too...I cherish the memory of "mom-mom"...and Elna, well, keep on remembering...my memory has no longer faded...it's gone too soon!!!

Notice the spelling?  Yes, this dear boy became a shining example of what "theocracy" means.  He delights in probably all the activities available to "servants" in Jehovah's organization.  Here he served at Bethel after leaving us from the Joppa congregation in Baltimore.  He kept mommy amused many, many days in service.  He is now ready to go back to the Dom. Rep. for the gazillioneth time.  He is like a son to me and well that makes him a grandson that has lost a "grandmother" he loved.  Thanks for adding to mommy's good life...

How can I write a story for this when she looks just like me or I look just like her...Dad was always finding some unique way to take her picture.  Someone else I know has a photo bug personality.  Someone who shares his name...can you imagine that Miss Maxine has had so many pics taken of her by the daddy that shares his pop's name and now lil' girl does too..."Clare".  Dearheart, you will have a camera too at some point and I hope you can capture pics like your Daddy and your Pop...

My second mother...gone too soon as well.  Oh how I loved her.  She was our pioneer partner.  Mommy and I had many wonderful times in the ministry with her.  She and mom also shared a sweet disposition that many ladies ...like me, couldn't achieve.  It broke our hearts when Leila passed away...she was a shining star in our lives.

Well, I'll have another story if someone else memorializes me...but Janet was mom's right hand "man"?  Nah...quite the lil' lady..."her" man was the "MAN"...they made life easy for mom in her later years...especially when Daddy moved mom up to the mountains of McConnelsburg...Mom "hated" the mountains...but she submissively went...how she hated going "up"...sometimes she would ask the car driver to let her out while they went "up" the hill...to the house.  She had been thrown from a horse when she was younger and it left her with a phobia of heights...my poor Dad loved the mountains and well...it was a difficult transition but she actually cured herself a tad because she had to drive herself up and down those mountains.  Life...  Thanks Terry and Janet for your "kindnesses"...

Dad and Mom would visit Mom's hometown in Ohio and soon found out that she had a cousin who had come into the truth.  I'm not sure if my Aunt Ida had something to do with that because Donna Jean just loooooved Aunt Ida.  Dad came home from a visit and had a picture of Donna Jean that he just swore looked just like me.  You'll all have to decide for yourselves...anyway, Donna Jean and her children, Eddy, Penny, Patty and well, I can't think of everyone's names at the moment but you know who you are and when you read this know that you made mommy so happy when you would call or "not call" as was the case a few times that mom paniced that Donna Jean had perhaps fallen in sleep before she had and she just couldn't bear that...Penny kept sending sweet little messages over her phone were to mommy just like "cards"...you all know how much mom loved her mail...she drove us all insane that she always had to drive to the mailbox to get her mail...junque most of the time but she had it in her sweet little hands...she tried to convince me to go get the mail all the time telling me their was a check waiting for me...I wasn't convinced, but I went anyway, just because she wanted me to.  It was hard for me to say no to her.  So to those wonderful people who find it "easy" to send cards and letters and did so...she thought you were wonderful and so do I.  They made her so happy...Gloria...u were the "best"...