To the Salvation Army 100;$ amen

Thank you Kevin,you and your brother are still a blessing to my family where ever they are in this Country of our family at this time of year ! Uncle Neil .

I did not get to see Aunt Irene (and Uncle Neil) as often as I would have liked, but it was always a treat when I did! I feel blessed that Yancey and I were able to have a wonderful visit with them in Palestine back in 2016. (I’ve posted several photos from that trip. The “Pilgrimage to Palestine” I called it!) As always, they were generous and accommodating (as were Colleen, Molly and the entire family: No doubt traits passed down by their Mom/Grandma) and it’s a time I will always treasure.

Seeing Irene after any period of time was always a joy: That big smile and a huge hug and then the greeting of “well, hello, handsome!” (I’m going to believe she only saved that line for me…Haha!)

She was a wonderful woman and I will miss her greatly. Love to you all…Cousin Brian

Memories of my Mom:
  My Mom loved the Lord, she loved her family, she loved nature, and she loved music :—)
Back in the early 1960‘s my parents already had four children and the births took a toll on my mom, so her doctor warned her to not have any more children . . . but my parents took a chance and went ahead and had me . . . by God’s grace we both survived ! !  As a child there was nothing more wonderful than hugs from my Mom.
  I was blessed to grow up with a brother and three sisters. They were the ones who helped me remember what Mom & Dad wanted and expected of the five of us. I remember Mom sharing her Catholic faith with us and teaching us how to pray when we were young. In my early teens my brother Wes led me to a deeper, more personal, saving knowledge of Jesus. I couldn’t ask for a more precious family, especially since we all came to share the same faith !
  My Mom loved all kinds of music—while I was growing up I remember that very frequently music was being played on the radio, on the record player, or by one of us children. Mom gave me my first instruments: a recorder and a banjo ukulele. She was invaluable in helping me tune guitars as her sense of pitch was much better than mine.
  A little later in life my Mom was there to see me head off into the United States Air Force. While in the service my parents were able to come visit me in Germany after the birth of my first child—what a blessing to share family and Europe with my parents ! And later on in my career they blessed me while I was at school in Texas by loaning me their car so I could get around and see them on the weekends. It was such a great experience to have them there when I graduated from that course !!
  I remember introducing my girlfriend ( and later my bride ) Melinda to my Mom & Dad—they made that visit so memorable as they welcomed my Mel with love and acceptance. We played their favorite card games and they were so patient with us learning / re-learning how to play. That was the only time we got to be together with both of them and I’m so glad that our visit was so incredible !
  When I think of Mom, I mostly think of Dad & Mom, and not usually separate as “just Mom” or “just Dad.” It makes perfect sense for me to think of them as one. In the two of them I see God’s word in action—His word that says the two become one ( “one flesh”/ “like one body” ). I can only imagine what my Dad is going through with this physical separation . . . ( Lord God, please bless and comfort my Dad as well as all those grieving our loss of Mom / Irene ) . . .
But. We. Have. This. Hope !!! This amazing, glorious, love and faith and hope in the One who created us all, yes, we know that we will see Mom again ! ! !

What can I really say about my Grandma who I haven't even seen or talked to for more than half my life?... The words are hard to come by. However, remembering growing up when she was around, might not have been about how much everyone ran to her for comfort, as much as who to look up to when you needed the right path to follow.  She was the person that would never back down out of fear of the unknown. She was the person you thought about when you needed to stand strong and push head on into the hardest parts of life. Our family wouldn't be what it is today without her. Thank you Grandma for showing all of us how to be who we want to be and how we should be. We all love you forever.

YOUR TROUBLES WILL END SOON❣️❣️❣️
“Whom HE justified HE also glorified❣️” 
Romans 8:30

Here is a precious truth for you, believer. You may be poor or suffering or unknown, but for your encouragement take a moment to review your calling and the consequences that flow from it, and especially the blessed result spoken of here. As surely as you are God’s child today, so surely will all your trials soon come to an end, and you shall be rich to an extent that is hard to imagine.

Wait awhile, and your weary head will wear the crown of glory, and the worker’s hand shall grasp the palm-branch of victory. Do not bemoan your troubles, but rather rejoice that before long you will be where no longer “shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore.” The chariots of fire are at your door, and it will take only a moment to transport you to the glorified. The everlasting song is almost on your lip. The portals of heaven stand open for you.

Do not think that you can fail to enter into your rest. If He has called you, nothing can divide you from His love. Distress cannot sever the bond; the fire of persecution cannot burn the link; the hammer of hell cannot break the chain. You are secure; that voice which called you at first shall call you yet again from earth to heaven, from death’s dark gloom to immortality’s unuttered splendors. Rest assured, the heart of Him who has justified you beats with infinite love toward you. You will soon be with the glorified, where your portion is; you are only waiting here to be made ready for the inheritance, and with that done, the wings of angels shall carry you far away, to the mount of peace and joy and blessedness, where
far from a world of grief and sin, with God eternally shut in, you shall rest forever and ever❣️

TRUTH for Life
Allistar Begg

My Mom was an incredible worker. She cleaned our floors on her hands and knees. She taught us good work ethic. She made fantastic meals. Her pies were famous in our family. The cousins would ask if Auntie Irene if she would make them pumpkin pies. She made herself and is girls dresses and Dad and the boys matching shirts. She took in ironing to help pay the bills. She had a terrific green thumb. Her gardens were always near and tidy. She loved crossword puzzles and reading. She loved her dogs who miss her greatly. Mom was an amazing woman who loved the Lord. I miss her very much.

My Mom was a perfectionist. It always had to be the best was her work ethic. She taught us all to take great pride in our work. I remember her working all night long to get a sewing job done. She fasted sleep to clothe her kids. She sewed for a Bride once. That’s a great honor to sew a wedding dress. She did it for our neighbor. His Bride.
 She worked very hard to keep us clothed and fed. She definitely was a Proverbs 31 woman. She did yard duty just to be with us at school.

Mom was definitely a Proverbs 31 Woman❣️ She worked with skillful hands sewing clothes for her whole household, even creations for our Barbie dolls❣️ She knew how to cook such amazing meals that there were no leftovers❣️We would come home from school to the smells of dinner cooking on the stove and fresh baked cookies to enjoy❣️She made our Birthday cakes and let us choose the menu❣️She taught us to respect her and to not ask for treats so that we were all able to enjoy many wonderful gifts for our Birthdays and Christmas❣️ We learned at an early age to do our part to keep the house clean. I remember helping with dishes while standing on a chair at the sink. I can still see her hanging out of one of our windows as she cleaned the outside with vinegar water and dried it with newspapers❣️The screens would be drying on the lawn❣️
“Strength and dignity are her clothing and she smiles at the future❣️She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness❣️Her children rise up and bless her❣️ Her husband also and he praises her, saying, “Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all❣️“ Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who reverences THE LORD, she shall be praised❣️“ Proverbs 31:25~30

My Mom brought up us five kids to be independent, hard working, self reliant, and respectful adults. She took us to the library and encouraged reading. She was a great cook, and for our birthdays she’d make whatever we wanted for dinner. She was a bookkeeper for our church, a pharmacy tech, and a great mom. Mom and Dad encouraged us in our Christian lives and loved to share blessings. I love my Mom and will miss her and her great laughter and smiles. Every time I hear a Neil Diamond song, I always think of how much Mom loved music. She taught us girls to cook, all of us how to keep a clean clean house, how to sew and crochet, and how to pray. Her hugs were big, and her love was huge.

Irene Ellen Meeker
December 8, 1937 - May 23, 2021

Irene Ellen Meeker, 83 years old, went home to our Lord on Sunday, May 23, 2021 in Palestine, TX. She was born in Santa Cruz, CA and raised in San Jose, CA before marrying the love of her life. She moved to Texas upon his retirement in 1993, where she lived until her passing.

She is survived by her husband, Wesley Neil Meeker Sr, her brother Bud, her sister Joan, her five children: Colleen, Wes, Kitty, Christine, and Jim, 18 grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren, and many cousins and extended family.

She loved to laugh and make others smile with her weird sense of humor. She looked forward to talking to her children on the phone. She loved her flowers and watching animals, especially birds and deer. She was well loved by her family and friends and she will be sincerely missed.

As per her final wishes no services will be held.