She's Gone Home to Jesus

November 2007, age 81

                On Thursday, 16^th May 2013 I wrote a blog entry regarding my Mom; not knowing just how soon she would be going on to our heavenly home.  Mom passed away at Manatee Memorial Hospital on Wednesday, 29^th May—just two days shy of her 87^th birthday.  She had fought the fight of faith over the years with honesty, courage and patience.  That honesty included her fears, her doubts, the questions she had.  Did she miss “God opportunities”?  Yet, Mom’s trust in God’s never ending love was unshakeable.

                To lose someone who was a life-long emotional and spiritual mooring point is, at first, shocking.  As the numbness begins to subside, feeling disorientated is natural.  No one will ever give the same kind of insight, correction and/or encouragement as my Mother gave to me.  Although I am close to my sister, the way in which she knows me is different from how my mother knew and loved me. 

                Born 31^st May 1926, “Bea” grew up in Greene County Indiana.  Greene County is primarily a farming area.  Mom was brought up in town, until she was about sixteen, when they moved out to the farm. 

                Mom had started school, but fell ill with double pneumonia when she was about seven or eight years old.  She nearly died, and surprised her family by recovering.  She missed so much school, she had to repeat the second grade.  Being a small city, there were only about 35 people in her class.  They all attended Bloomfield School, and graduated in 1946. 

                One of Mom’s first jobs was working on an assembly line at RCA in Bloomington.  Eventually, she got a job at Rural Electric Membership Cooperative.  There she met Catherine L, who was instrumental in introducing Mom to the man who became her husband, and my father.

                Dad and Mom married 1^st March 1958.  Daddy was a Staff-Sergeant in the US Air Force.  Stationed in Kansas, Daddy drove to Indiana on a weekend pass and married Mom at the minister’s home.  After the wedding, they drove to Illinois, to his mother’s home.  The following day they drove back to Kansas. 

                Both of them in their 30’s, and having been married and divorced before, they were not hesitant to have children.   So, when Mom became pregnant immediately, not only was Daddy pleased, but “Dwayne” was also.  “Dwayne” had been born 19^th August  1953, the son of her first husband. 

                Within weeks of arriving in Kansas, Daddy finished one training programme and was sent on to Texas.   That training school was also about three months long—and when it ended in mid November, he and the family were sent to California.  Mom was eight-and-a-half months pregnant with me. 

                Being weary from the stress of moving, she started spotting blood.  Travelling in tandem with another couple, they stopped in Bakersfield.  The other couple had family in Bakersfield.  So they took Mom to the hospital.  On 19^th November 1958, I was born about two weeks early in the Catholic hospital.  Daddy went on to Travis Air Force Base, coming back a week later to get Mom.

                My sister, “Sissy” was born sixteen months later on 16^th March 1960. 

                We moved several times between 1958 and 1969, the years my Daddy served in the US Air Force.  At the heart of the home, dealing with the challenges of moving, resettling and keeping us together as a family was Mom. 

                Our family moved to Indiana in January 1970.  Daddy had found a job, working as a barber. Mom first worked in a child care centre.  Then she opened one in her home, with about six children.  Although it was work Mom enjoyed, our family had no health insurance.  This led to Mom working as a nurses’ aid at the local hospital.

                As a child, Mom had damaged her right ankle.  Because of cut ligaments, she couldn’t work long hours on her feet.  This was a disappointment for Mom as she really enjoyed the work.  However, this created an opportunity.

                Indiana Business College provided Mom with an Associate’s degree in bookkeeping, which she enjoyed.  They also helped her find employment.  So, Mom went to work in Indianapolis, commuting by car pool.  Although she wanted to be a home-maker and stay at home until her children finished school, she was willing to keep her mind and heart open.  She enjoyed her work, glad she could find work that provided the needed health insurance coverage for the family.

                Mom retired from work in 1991, at the age of 65.  She looked after my Dad until he developed Alzheimer ’s disease and had to be put into a nursing home.    Although she legally divorced my Dad in 1994, she was faithful to see him at the care facility.  Love doesn’t die simply because of a piece of paper.  Daddy died in 1996.  It was a very difficult time.

                In 1997, after a routine mammogram, the doctor decided to perform an aspiration.  This revealed cancer cells.  So, she was immediately wheeled up to surgery.  The tumour was about the size of an eraser (rubber) on the end of a pencil.  Mom was treated with a prescription and a series of radiation treatments.  After her appointments we’d drive around country back roads, maybe have a meal out.  She was clear of cancer for the rest of her life.

                Mom found a part-time job through the Green Thumb organisation.  She worked as a receptionist about four-hours a day at a school right across the road from the apartment building she lived in.  She also attended church each week. 

                In 2003 I married The Maverick and moved to England.  “Sissy” moved Mom into her home.  In August 2003, they moved to Florida.  Mom had wanted to live in Florida for many years.  In 2006, Mom celebrated her 80^th birthday.  I was so glad to be in Florida to celebrate with her.

                Mom accepted her many challenges with grace and the peace that God provides for us.  She is missed by her son and two daughters, and five grandchildren.